invitations

Invitations are straying from more classic designs to embrace quirkier patterns and themes. For a “sci-fi circus”-theme commitment ceremony, designers Arley-Rose Torsone and Morgan Calderini of Ladyfingers Letterpress in Black Forest, Colorado, created an invitation design featuring funky hand-drawn characters.

Many designs at the National Stationery Show were printed on real wood, like the retro-patterned one from Designers' Fine Press.

Planning a country-western-themed event? Luscious Verde's poster-style invitation, framed with a faux bois border, has an appropriately rustic horseshoe motif.

The poster-style invitation suite from B.T. Elements comes with a ticket-style enclosure (pictured, top right).

Artsy, watercolor-painted designs, like the letter-pressed Watercolor invitation suite by Printerette Press, were popular at the show.

Blue and green brushstrokes on a flat-printed design from Tag & Company offer a summery feel.

No longer confined to squares and rectangles, invitations and envelopes featuring unique die-cut shapes—as exemplified by the invitation from Roxylou Design & Press—are on the rise.

Ombre, a style in which colors subtly transition from one shade to another, is trending in the event design world. One of Tag & Company's invitations featured the sought-after look.

Kraft paper is ideal for signaling a casual, laid-back affair. The Hadley suite from Something Detailed's 2013 wedding collection employs kraft paper.

Ladyfingers Letterpress created a book-like baby shower invitation with quotes and sentiments from the mommy-to-be’s favorite children’s stories. The cover was hand-sewn with gray-and-white baker’s twine, and a library card served as the R.S.V.P. card. Guests were encouraged to bring their favorite children’s book to help build the little one’s reading library.