Designing card invites is a part of creative art. Along with layouts, color schemes, and the type of paper you use, there are some vital designs that you shouldn’t miss. Here’s a simple guide on what to include when designing an invitation card.
The Basic Guidelines
Before going deeper into the world of card invites, the first thing you need to do is understand the basic guidelines of an invitation. Generally speaking, the invitation you send must include five W’s elements: who, what, when, where, and why. Each detail of those elements will be explained later, but with such guidelines in mind, you will know what to include in the invitation card.
Font sizes and styles are the elements that matter the most, so be sure you stick to the standard. The font of a good invitation card is not really varied in size or style. For a slight variation, you can only include four font sizes or less. As for the style, two different fonts are considered the right amount. Featuring fonts that are too different from one to another will make your invitation card look too overwhelmed to the receivers.
Another important thing in the basic guideline is being consistent. If your card invite is accompanied by other printed pieces such as RSVPs or invitation programs, make sure that the style is harmonious.
The Details
Once you’ve understood the basic guidelines of an invitation, it’s time to provide the details of your card invites. The standard format usually includes the following information:
The invitation’s purpose
The main element of an invitation is stating its purpose, which is something that can answer the question of “What’s the occasion?”. Is it a birthday party, a wedding, a graduation celebration, a baby shower, or an open house? The purpose why you invite the receiver must be included at the top of the list.
The honoree(s)
Among the first things that come up to the receiver’s mind when getting the invitation is: “Who invited me?” or “Who’s holding the party?”. Of course, this element is also important to highlight when you are designing a card invite, so put the name of the honorees—a birthday person, bride or groom, and so forth—into the highlight they deserve.
The complete time
It is crucial for the guests to attend the occasion at the right time, from the date to the hour. Therefore, a card invite with a good design should provide such information in the best way, including day, date, and time.
An important thing to consider is the party’s degree of formality. On a full formal occasion, the time information is usually spelled out in sentences and not in numbers. Meanwhile, a common format combining letters and numbers can be used when your event is informal or slightly formal.
The location
Nobody wants their guests to get lost when trying to find the party location. That is why this information should also be provided correctly. Make sure to put the name of the place and the exact address of the location on your card invites. Luckily, with the popular use of GPS today, you can also give your guests an easier direction using the QR location codes.
The dress code, if there’s any
Are you expecting your guests to wear all white on your wedding or cocktail attire for your open house celebration? Or do you want your guests to wear whatever they are comfortable in? More often than not, the invitation receivers feel a slight bit of confusion about what they are going to wear. For this reason, you can include dress code information if there are any.
The additional components
Although an invitation card looks for a more simple presentation, it doesn’t mean that you should avoid other additional components entirely. If you think it is necessary, do include an RSVP card alongside the main invitation. When you do, though, make sure to harmonize the design of both components, so they will look good together when your guests receive them.
That concludes some basic guidelines and important elements of card invites that you should include when designing one. Before handing them out, the last thing to do is proofread each of those elements until you can be sure that nothing is missed out. Once everything’s done and sent, all you have to do is wait for the guests to come over and celebrate together with you.
