Hi, friends! Today, I’m dishing out some great tips for how to achieve that perfect Invitation Suite that you see in all the most beautiful wedding publications and albums! The invitation suite (or paper goods) is important to capture on a wedding day because it is part of your wedding story. Even though it is not commonly used practically on a wedding day, it is where your story began. You packaged up every piece so carefully, straightened every ribbon, bow, muslin slip, and more. It also helps set the stage for people who are only experiencing your wedding through your photographs. As a photographer, I’m going to give some examples and let you in on my thought process so you can better grasp the tips I will give you!

Ok, first things first. A #kindredbride loves the details. While there is no perfect suite, she understands the fine balance between the details of the day and the big picture. An invitation suite is the first taste of your wedding day that your guests will receive. Once the day arrives, invites are sort of old news and everyone is ready for the joyful celebration at hand. BUT a #kindredbride (yes, you have a special name, past and future brides!) thought ahead and carefully designed her invitations so that it would flow smoothly with the rest of her day. Here are some ways you can knock it out of the park!

Tip 1: Color Coordinate

If anything, this is the most basic, simple thing you can do to make your suite beautiful. Usually, a timeless suite is one of your two or three wedding colors, and NOT the color of your bridesmaid’s dresses. I reccomend this because I often use a bridesmaid dress as the background of the flat lay. If they are the same color, they blend togehter and dont’ POP! If your maid’s dresses are the same color as your paper goods, that’s okay! I can find another backdrop at your site. But, a word of caution, if you go this route, there often aren’t wide selections of neutral, minimalistic ground spots that aid to that refined, timeless look. Notice how #kindredbride Melissa chose earthy tones paired with rosy pinks for her October wedding! her jewelry was elegant and a perfect match to her refined day.

Tip 2: Highlight The Details

So, this blog post isn’t just about designing your paper goods, but also about how to think about them in terms of the flat lay I design to photograph on the wedding day. Highlighting your accessory details can be a way to elevate your suite, or add a fun twist to the ensemble. This is also great if you have a minimalistic theme and are concerned that your suite may look below budget or lack that high-end quality. Design it like you want and then choose your jewelry/tiara/bracelet/perfume bottle/earrings, ect. with the remembrance that they will be in the suite photos. See how #kindredbride Samantha chose to keep her invite simple, but chose some seriously beautfuil glitz and glam details? Check that tiara and shoes!!

Tip 3: Consider The Florals

Flowers and greenery can be one of the most expensive elements of a wedding day. But it’s with good reason- they are GORGEOUS and add such a lovely element to your wedding day. I prefer photographing fresh florals, but if you choose silk, that’s okay too! If you choose the silk route, I highly reccomend investing in a fresh bouquet for yourself, and maybe your bridesmaids, and then a few extra loose peices for your ssuite photographs. I reccomend this becuase I usually use florals for multiple purposes throughout the day, and most of it is with a zoom/macro lens. That means that I will be very up close and personal with your bouquet, and honestly, silk or fabric flowers don’t photograph well up close. My high megapixel gear captures the fabric threads and I’m not a big fan of the look. Fresh flowers will definitely elevate your suite photographs and be a gorgeous addition to your day instead of a painstaking last minute addition. Notice how #kindredbride Lilly chose shades of pink and white florals to accent her day. The suite on the left is so perfectly coordinated that I could squeal! I also added a florals photo on flm on the right to show how well real florals photograph in digital and film. (Fact: I ADORE the fresh florals on film combo!)

Tip 4: Simple Fonts and Cleaner Backgrounds

I know this sounds really hard if you’re not a creative, right brained person, but trust me. All this is, is stayinga away from crazy fonts and keeping the background/colors very streamlined and minimalistic. For example, I wouldn’t choose a wacky curly font with an iPhone family pic from your last family reunion as the main photo or background. Instead, choose a pronounced, clean font against a single shade background with only one or two extra details for flair (like a border or gold foiling). The cleaner, the better. Notice how this suite has one or two simple fonts on a clean background, and some simple emphasized serifs for flair. This outline would be great for any high-end invitation suite!