Award-Winning
On April 25th, 2024, I will be receiving an award for this project from the PIA MidAmerica Graphic Excellence Awards in Overland Park, Kansas.
Print & Finishing
Purpose
In 2023, I got married. My then-soon-to-be wife and I wanted a wedding invitation that would be "funky fresh," and we wanted something that would stand out and "wow" our guests. While we used a wedding website that contained all the information guests would need about the big day, the invitation itself also needed to contain key information so people of all ages and tech proficiency could be well informed.
Target Audience
This wedding invitation was directed to those who were being invited. That's granted. But as a design piece, the invitation was meant to appeal to young adults, women ages 18-28, who are scrolling Pinterest for wedding inspiration.
Goals
The goal I had when creating this invitation was to produce multiple pieces that would exist within an enclosed folder that could all fit in an A7 envelope. I wanted to focus on the shapes of each piece and how they would look when displayed together.
Software
Illustrator and Fiery Command.
Hardware
Ricoh 7200 Digital Press, ALM-3222 Auto Laminator, Duplo DC-616 Finisher, Champion Challenge 305 Paper Cutter, Graphtec Flatbed Plotter Cutter.
Design
The color palette I created for my wedding was meant to be bright and fun while also aligning with the muted fall season. The fonts chosen provide great contrast from each other allowing for a variety of combinations. Each personally designed element allows for a strong visually consistent style that can be applied across all designs.
Invitation
Details
Map
RSVP
Folder, Bellyband, and Dimensions
The folder of the invitation was designed so four slits would be cut to secure the main invitation in place. The pocket was adhered using double-sided Scotch tape so that the accompanying cards could be placed inside and stacked on top of each other. Double-sided tape was placed on the left inside flap to secure the folder when closed. The bellyband was then wrapped around the folder and secured using double-sided tape, and then the invitation was sealed in an A7 Solar White Linen envelope.
Print Set Up
Each piece of the invitation was ganged up on 13 x 19 inch 100lb uncoated cover stock with registration marks for duplex and plotter-cutter alignment. The inside invitation pieces were laminated with 3mil Soft Touch lamination to enhance the guests' opening experience.
Plotter Files
The folder and inside pieces were then set up to be die-cut on a Graphtec flatbed. In total, it took five hours to cut down each printed sheet on the plotter.
Finished Invitations
Bonus Designs
Along with the multipiece invitation, I designed and printed everything that we used in the wedding including:
Personalized notecards for the bridal party
Labels for the vinyl record guest book
"Sign Our Guestbook" label (printed in white ink on clear vinyl)
"Cards and Gifts" sign
Menus
Name place cards
Table activity sheets
Table numbers
Welcome sign
Unplugged sign
and my wife's and my vow books.
Below are photographs from our wedding photographers of these designs being used in the wedding.
Credits
All designs created by me. Finished invitation product photos acquired from Allie Conrow. Wedding day images acquired from the Grotheers.
