As in fashion and interior design, invitation styles come and go. Trends in fonts, colors, paper textures, inks, and processes change not just yearly but by the season as well. The bulk of invitations in May, the season of graduations, will of course be different than those during the holiday season of December. Seasonal changes are easy to predict, but what’s to come outside of these variations?
How is the world of invitations evolving as a whole?
Playful and Personal
If recent trends are any indication, then invitations will become even more personalized, offering greater self-expression and personal connections. Photo cards that double as keepsakes, invites featuring recipes or games, and other playful formats are all examples of more recent developments that point to a more diverse marketplace.
This type of movement is especially seen in the wedding invitation area. Couples choose to include more modern and personal touches to their invites, from handwritten notes to unique accessories and photo save the dates.
Tradition and Technology
Another big change to the world of invites and stationery is integration with technology, specifically with online tools. E-cards are popular, but if you want to make an impress nothing surpasses the tradition of a paper invitation.
With new online tools, customers no longer have to choose between software and stationery because these programs join technology like online RSVP tracking with the traditional mailed invitation. It’s truly the best of both worlds. A bride can design her invitation completely online, choosing paper quality, fonts, accessories, and wording, and have it sent to her house or straight to the guests.
She can also create the guest list online, monitor responses, remind unresponsive invitees, and share information with caterers and wedding planners via email.
The Next Step?
The future of invitations is created by using the past as a base and the present as inspiration.
Designers around the country and around the world are creating tomorrow’s invites, but they aren’t alone: customers are also shaping the development of design using online tools and their own imaginations. To be sure, it’s an exciting time in this industry, and with all the changes going on, you just have to wonder: “What’s next?”
