Stationery Themes

"1. Illustrations - We're seeing more clients commission hand illustrated designs of their party venue or venue area, and even use this as a unifying narrative throughout the decor. This can be used throughout the suite, and completely customised to the style that suits the theme of the wedding - for example including watercolour or foiling.

2. Experiential Weddings - We continue to see an exploration of 'experiential' wedding design, with more installations, interactivity, and a focus on the guest 'journey'. For stationery, this means elevating suites with more hand-finished touches, tactile mediums, and unexpected elements - for example, through statement placecards that wow guests as they reach their seat.

3. Sustainability, 'slow weddings' - Increasingly we're seeing couples trying to incorporate natural materials, and have plastic-free weddings. This is not a passing trend, but is becoming a global movement, with all suppliers recognising the damaging effect of the wanton use of plastic. Sustainability, mindful planning and a personal, individual process are at the heart of a slow wedding theme."

Vaishali Shah, Founder & Creative Direct or, Ananya Cards

- abstract art

- storytelling

- highlighting the history of your venues

- celebrat ng community

Matthew Wengerd, Owner, A Fine Press

"We are seeing a huge resurgence in artisan crafts, and this will be reflected in stationery too. Letterpress printing is enjoying a renaissance as a younger, more female-led generation of printers breathe new life into the craft. This ties in with "perfectly imperfect", embracing more natural colours and textures, and the idiosyncrasies of hand-printed stationery. This was after all the year that GF Smith launched new "Extract" range, with papers made from recycled coffee cups and coloured using natural dyes such as avocado."

Grania O'Brien, Creative Director, Ink & Paper

"Florals are trending, but we're going to see new takes in stationery in the form of fresh, unexpected layouts, bold colors, spare graphic int erpret at ions, and prairie- influenced woodland flora. When we launched our Anita Dongre collaboration, we found that sust ainability is increasingly driving t he couple's decisions. When she used digital invitations for her son Yash Dongre's wedding earlier this year, she discovered that it was an environmentally conscious way to share a special milestone wit h friends and family."

Katie Covington, Editorial Director, Paperless Post

Stationery Trends

WITH VAISHALI SHAH, ANANYA CARDS

What are your top stationery trend predictions for 2020?

1. Sustainability, eco-luxe weddings - Couples are more eco-conscious than ever and want to play their part; whether it is by only using recycled paper or paper from sustainably managed forests, replanting trees or wildflower seed packets as a wedding favour, using locally sourced produce or eliminating the use of plastic. Couples will be thinking of ways to preserve their stationery such as keepsake wedding favours - for example, paper flowers as everlasting place cards. Soy and vegetable-based inks can be used for printing. Upcycling where possible and a commitment to zero waste are ways couples can demonstrate their alignment with all that sustains our planet.

2. Individual, intimate and detailed - Small and intimate will definitely be a big trend in 2020. Couples want more quality time to spend with their guests and add all the significant personal details meaningful to them to create a sumptuous wedding that is all about their individuality.

3. Bespoke illustrations - Illustrations are a beautiful, unique, and very personal way of bringing a couple?s story to life. Incorporating bespoke stylised illustrations of a couple, wedding venue or meaningful symbols (such as favourite flowers or religious symbols) in the stationery can tell a love story in a compelling way. Illustrations are a beautiful art form, including delicate sketches, watercolours blended together and stylised line drawings.

4. Handmade paper - The desire and appeal of all things natural and handmade stretches to the paper and cardstock itself. The trend for tactile, earthy, and organic materials continues into 2020. Handmade paper can be found in beautiful shades dyed with natural, plant-based dyes. The paper with its natural look has a texture that gives it an added charm and dimension. Hand torn edges complete the unique look that can be rustic as well as luxe depending on what else you do with it.

5. Watercolour wonder- Watercolours are still going strong. They are very versatile as they work well with both a soft, muted and romantic colour scheme as well as a bold and vibrant one. Dipped or ombré, watercolours can be used as a background but can also be used to great effect in floral designs.

6. All lined up - The popularity of envelope liners shows no signs of abating! There are lots of creative ways to use them to add extra glamour and dress up the invitation. Using patterns, solid colour or illustrations, they coordinate with the invitation design, giving them an extra dimension and accent.

7. Not your typical cardstock - Thinking outside the box when it comes to printing on anything, but usual cardstock will be a major trend for those who love experimenting. All kinds of materials such as vellum, acrylic, stone, slate, wood, leather, crystals and metal are worthy subjects. Expect the unexpected!

Are any trends from 2019 carrying over into 2020?

1. Personalise personalise personalise - Being different and original continues to be the name of the game; this applies to every part of the wedding. Couples want to put their own individual stamp on their stationery. This can be achieved through hand illustrated designs that give the invites a more relaxed, informal look. It could be the wedding venue and its surroundings or the couple themselves which can become the theme of the whole stationery suite.

2. All things floral - Plants and flowers resonate with our growing love and appreciation of nature. They will continue to be on trend in 2020 like they have been in 2019, but with more emphasis on flowers rather than leaves and vines. Flowers are so versatile in their appeal as they can represent the different seasons.

3. It?s up to the heavens - There?s something very romantic and mystical when it comes to all things celestial. Floaty, fairy-like and star studded or a moody and mysterious moon on an indigo coloured night sky. Metallics go brilliantly with the celestial theme as do pearls and crystals for twinkling stars.

4. Destination inspired - We are seeing more of our couple host weddings abroad. This echoes in their stationery through the incorporation of maps, travel inspired visuals, and even scents or flowers local to the country.

What's Still In

Grania O'Brien of Ink & Paper says...

We'll see a continuation of eco aware trends into 2020 and beyond as sustainability remains front of mind. Additionally, high tactility, textural, modern boho and Matisse-inspired imagery will remain hugely popular in 2020.

Kat ie Covingt on of Paperless Post says...

A trend that will carry over to 2020 is tying the invitation to the specific details of the wedding, whether it's the destination, the fashion looks, or the florals. It's a great way to give guests a sneak peek at the vibe of the event. Our Rifle Paper Co. destination save-the-dates get guests excited about the traveling for the wedding weekend. Suites from Oscar de la Renta, Brock Collection, and our newest partner celebrated Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre, use elements from their fashion collections in their stationery collections. In their invitations, we see embroidered vines inspire creeping prints, gold beading inspire gold foil details, lace and vint age florals inspire repeat ing sun- kissed patt erns. Using in-season florals is a trend we love to see carrying over, and our design partners, celebrated florists Putnam & Putnam, have created suites for us that incorporate delicate spring blooms or lush, ethereal fall flowers that tie in that hyperseasonality to the invitation as well.

Matthew Wengerd of A Fine Press says...

Couples will continue to engage fine artists in their weddings through invitations, live-painted ceremonies, and performance art in their receptions. I think the ultimate expression of this will be commissioned fine art- as- invit at ion.

What's Out

Matthew Wengerd of A Fine Press says...

- Wax seals

- Ribbon wraps

- 5x7" invites

Vaishali Shah of Ananya Cards says...

1. Geometric shapes will be less popular in 2020.

2. Acrylic and perspex will not be so popular in 2020 as we embrace more plast ic- free, sust ainable weddings.

3. Succulents and cacti will be out for 2020. In 2019, we saw florals with pampas grass, proteas, and other textured grasses.

Katie Covington of Paperless Post says...

Getting stressed out over stationery! We see a shift toward couples wanting to their planning process to be fun and are turning to digital tools to make a busy time easier for themselves. Even if they are sending paper wedding invitations, we see couples using their digital save-the-dates to streamline the process??collecting mailing addresses and following up with guests.

Grania O'Brien of Ink & Paper says...

Rose gold is OUT! Finally! 2019 saw rose gold starting to tail off a little, but I think the colour has had its moment. We are also seeing a reduction in more utilitarian design - while I think using more natural base materials is here to stay (possibly in a reaction to an unstable political climate?), people are moving away from an entirely less is more aesthetic to embrace the finer details.