Wedding Invites by Elegance by Design
With years of experience, Sanjeevane Karunadhara is following a career she’s passionate about and her work reflects it! She speaks to us about the traditions and trends behind wedding invites.
Tell us a little about what you do.
Well, I’ve been doing wedding invites for 15 years. I like to do something different from one bride to another so I never follow a set format. It all depends on what my clients like. When a client comes to meet me I discuss the theme, the colours, the plan to incorporate everything and then when I get an idea of how and what they like I create an invite. I like to do things out of the box but at the same time I like to stick to simple elegance and not overdo it.
Wedding invitations create the first impression so is that also the first thing a couple must get into when planning their wedding?
In some kind of way yes, but still the couple first needs to know who their service providers are and book them and then start on the wedding invite. Overall, they should at least plan the overall wedding 6 months prior and start designing the wedding invites 4 months prior to the ‘day they plan to present the invites’.
What’s the tradition behind wedding invitations in Sri Lanka?
Normally, in Sri Lanka we give the invites 3 weeks or one month prior to the wedding. If you have a large crowd and is depending on RSVP’s to give your second set of invites then it must be given one and half months prior to make sure no one feels like they are the second option!
When it comes to traditions, from the olden days we give the betel leaf. It’s the values we have in us that makes us not just give it but rather present it in a cultural way. For example, Hindu’s always serve with sweets and Sinhalese with the betel leaf. It’s always nice to give it a personal touch. It’s these tiny details that create value to the invitee and even the calligraphy in an invite is something that creates a great first impression and that’s important because it will build up the anticipation for how the wedding is going to be!
Are there any specific colours designated for wedding invitations?
A lot of people use white, silver, gold and ivory but now there are different colours like black and gold or black and red. It all depends on the customer. I also see floral trends and English styles coming up with the young crowd.
What should be in the wording of the invitation and what shouldn’t?
Normally, there is a set way of writing like who’s inviting? The groom’s parents or the bride’s parents or both? Those are a must. What people shouldn’t do is that if they have registered gifts they should not cram it in the invite but instead use a small separate card to subtly give to your invitees in a non-offensive way.
How has wedding invitations evolved over time? From back then to now?
Things have changed rapidly! Back then it was very traditional and basic, folded cards with little involvement. Now it has changed massively, the style, the detail, the creativity and presentation. Now it adds more value.
What’s the most creative wedding invite you’ve ever had to do?
I’ve done quite a few! I recently did a cinnamon card and I had to find a way to use cinnamon in it but also not overpower it and it was a challenge. Sometimes it’s very simple, yet the challenge is in the fonts, the wording, the structure and things like that.
What’s the worst thing that a couple can do when they are picking out their invites?
Recently I got a bride who wanted everything in her card! Invites are a small area and you can’t have everything because then it looks weird. Brides need to know exactly what their theme is and what they want to put in the cards.
Interviewed by Panchali Illankoon
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