50 Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, and Programs

Set the party mood by including a CD of your and your groom’s favorite toons. By Bird & Banner.

Put words into action via a flip book that showcases the two of you going in for a smooch. This invitation was designed by the couple and printed at a local print shop.

Loved passing notes as a kid? Fold the details up like an accordion and present them in a tiny TOP SECRET envelope. By Erin Jang of The Indigo Bunting.

Print your invitation on a map showcasing your destination (in this case, Yarmouth, Maine). By Foreshadow Press.

Try a twist on a movie poster (“FEATURING FALL FOLIAGE AND MICROBREWS OF THE MIDWEST!”). By Rifle Design.

Play up an outdoor vibe by letter-pressing your message in wood―a decidedly grown-up version of initials carved on a tree trunk. By Bird & Banner.

Have fun with a silhouette. Here, each “wave” contains wedding details. By Mélangerie.

Loosen up the language: “Alex and Meghan have been running partners, canine lovers, and beer connoisseurs…. Please join them…” By Foreshadow Press.

Use vintage handkerchiefs in lieu of traditional paper. By Bird & Banner.

“Frame” the invitation and label the “art” accordingly (A Marriage Celebration, 2009). By Bird & Banner.

Rethink formal. White script on black paper is eye-catching and unexpected. By Ceci New York.

Showcase your personalities―and wedding location―with a playful, customized illustration. By Rifle Design.

Embrace whimsical embellishments, such as this invitation-wrapping ribbon that serves as the scarf of a passenger en route to a wedding weekend in Vermont. By Ceci New York.

Prepare friends for a feast by mailing a lobster bib as a save-the-date. By Bird & Banner.

Get guests excited for an overseas fiesta with useful phrases (“Please! I beg you, no more tequila.”). By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Coordinate an entire stationery set―including thank-you notes and save-the-dates―in a muted letterpress design. By Dauphine Press.

Let bold typographical treatment take center stage. By Ceci New York.

Incorporate your beliefs into the design. Here, a red string is stitched to evoke the Chinese tale that an invisible red string ties the ankles of a man and woman destined to be together. It may stretch or tangle, but never break. By Bird & Banner.

Mix the past (in this case, the psychedelic 1960s) with the present. By Peculiar Pair Press.

Choose a mascot for your celebration (here, a moose for Wyoming). By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Nature lovers? Consider a simple tree silhouette. By Greenwich Letterpress.

Mix and match patterns and colors in your stationery set. In this case, an antique map style folder tied with twine secures enclosures, and the entire package is delivered in a kraft paper box. By Kenzie Kate.

Let the reception space dictate the style of the invitation. A sunny graphic feels appropriate for an art gallery affair. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Don’t take yourselves too seriously: Let your invitations be as whimsical and fun as you. By Two Paperdolls.

Enlist a designer to draw a cityscape. By Kenzie Kate.

Put your own stamp on your invitation: feature silhouettes of yourselves and your state. By Swayspace.

Give guests a way to cool off during a summer ceremony―with a multitasking program. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

If you’re not into frills, try a minimalist design. By Blue Pool Road.

Pick a chic color combo, like gray and teal. By Kenzie Kate.

Experiment with different design styles, like art deco. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Feature an iconic image of your hometown (here, the Brooklyn Bridge). By Swayspace.

Opt for a single magnolia bloom for a floral theme that isn’t overly frilly. By Kenzie Kate.

Tell the story of your courtship (“After chasing each other around the world, Amy and Robert are on their way to Mexico to get married.”) with a truly personalized invitation. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Saying your I-dos in France? Play up Parisian flair. By Dauphine Press.

A single flower can signify the growth of the relationship. By Blue Pool Road.

For a waterside wedding, try a sophisticated take on beach chic. By Ceci New York.

Work traditional elements, like wedding bells, into your program in an unexpected way. By Melangerie.

Convey a sense of fun for a campground wedding with symbols. By Moontree Letterpress.

A romantic font is pretty enough to stand alone on the page. By Blue Pool Road.

Announce overseas nuptials with a telegraph-inspired note. By Swayspace.

Commission a custom handpainted illustration, starring the two of you. By Rifle Paper Co.

Capitalize on the beauty of your wedding setting―in this case, a pier on the Hudson River overlooking the New York City skyline. By Swayspace.

Pick a plant native to the location, such as a hydrangea for a Martha’s Vineyard party. By Ceci New York.

Circle the big day on a straightforward save-the-date. By Wiley Valentine.

For a save-the-date, design your own poster (“They met in the lab; she made cupcakes...”) and send in a mailing tube. By Erin Jang of The Indigo Bunting.

Give guests a pocket-sized schedule of wedding festivities, from golf to rehearsal dinner to day-after brunch. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Skip the paper envelope in favor of a hand-stitched fabric envelope. By Bird & Banner.

Create activities for guests to do while waiting for your big entrance. Here, a program quizzes well-wishers on the couple’s favorite foods, nicknames, and attendants. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Make guests feel welcome with a tongue-in-cheek chart about their trip. By Mr. Boddington’s Studio.

Snap shots of the two of you for friends to put on their refrigerator. By Bird & Banner.