♥ Wedding Solutions received several media requests recently asking about trends in wedding invitations ... so here are a few tidbits about what's big right now.

Traditional invitations are white, ivory, eggshell ... etc. However, WeddingSolutions.com is seeing invitations go away from the traditional and becoming more colorful, bold, and DIY. You want to create something your guests will proudly display on their refrigerators. Postcards with a personal, informal picture are very popular right now, as are embellishments, such as rhinestones. Graphic or vintage prints are a great option to stand out. One of our brides recently chose a subtle black bird print, with tiny rhinestone accents - it lent a very sophisticated, vintage feel.

Monogramming is also very popular right now and not just for invitations. Couples are having companies design custom logo with their initials and using it to brand their invitations, as well as the menu, favors, and even the cake.

Shapes are changing as well. Round, oversized, tea-length, and tri-fold invitations are replacing the standard rectangular card. Pockets that hold the response card and other inserts are very trendy as well. We are also seeing boxed invitations, where a small memento comes with the invite. Just be aware that anything oversized will cost more in postage!

URLs are showing up more and more on invites. Couples are using WeddingSolutions.com to create wedding websites where they can post details of the wedding and all events, such as the bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinner, and bridal shower. Couples can also post maps to their ceremony site, restaurants, and accommodations; pictures and descriptions of the wedding party, and any other details they choose.

The "eco-chic" trend is all the rage as well, and invitations are an easy place to go green. Some green options:

· Use organic or soy ink on recycled paper.

· Choose paper not made from trees. Paper alternatives include bamboo, hemp, banana stalks, and even cotton.

· Save paper by skipping the multi-envelope invitations and using a postcard for your Save the Date

· Use online invitations or create a wedding website

Plantable invitations are one of our new favorite trends! Sites like www.botanicalpaperworks.com/ offer beautiful invitations made with wildflower seeds that your guests can plant. The blooming flowers are a great way to recycle the invite and will remind your guests of your special day.

WeddingSolutions.com offers beautiful recycled invitations from Carlson Craft, as well as DIY invites that couples can print at home ($25 to $50 for 100). More and more couples are going the do-it-yourself route, to make their invitations more personal and unique, and, oftentimes, to save a bit of money.

Another fun trend we're hearing about from brides, is enrolling in a thermography class, to cut back on printing costs. Thermography, if you aren't familiar with it, is a process that fuses powder and ink to create a raised letter. It's cheaper than engraving but still costs more than offset printing. Enterprising brides are finding local classes and tackling the printing of their own invitations. What a great idea! ♥