Designing Your Wedding Invitation: The Detailing on Your Invite Card is More Important Than You Think!

Much thought should go into the design of your wedding invite. This is what will help you create auspicious first impressions from your guests; and it is important that the energies associated with the card are all positive. This is created when auspicious motifs are added onto the card. Most powerful and popular amongst Chinese couples is the dragon/phoenix motif, as this is believed to bring about a long and happy marriage. There is also much to be said for symbolism when designing your invite, because what you put on your card will manifest what becomes reality for you as a couple. This is not a time to be subtle! The marriage invitation is probably one of the most important announcements in your life, so do be brave and courageous in singing your happiness to the world!

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1 COLOUR: While white is an extremely “bridal” colour, to the Chinese, white is more suitable for yin events such as wakes and funerals, than yang ones such as weddings. If you want to go for a classy Western theme and are insisting on white, it is better to go for a warm cream colour or an off-white shade than stark white. But there is nothing quite like RED for good old-fashioned yang energy. You will notice that all traditional Chinese invitations are designed in red or with prominent red elements. If you want a strong theme running through the wedding in a colour other than red, pick one that denotes lively, happy energy rather than dull, stagnant energy. Pinks, purples, orange and magenta hues are all auspicious. But avoid colors like olive, brown and black.

2 TEXT: The best colour for the text on the invite is black. This is a strong neutral colour that does not tread on any taboos. Avoid red text and gold text, as to the Chinese, these colours are usually reserved for use on headstones of those who have passed on. Ensure also that the text is not too small, as you do not want your older guests to struggle when reading your invite. Let not your INVITATION card generate any feelings of frustration or negativity. Relative size of text is thus important; the names of the bride and groom on the invite should be larger than the other details. Remember that on your wedding day, the bride and groom are the king and queen of the day.

3 DIMENSIONS: It is a good idea to tap auspicious dimensions when designing your card. Try to let at least one side of your card follow the Yi direction, which is especially suitable for marriage. This is between 16.2cm and 21.5cm long, as this dimension brings the couple the luck of a long-lasting marriage full of love and healthy, filial children. If you cannot tap the Yi dimension, you can also go for the Kwan direction, between 21.5cm and 27cm, which is also auspicious.

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4 SHAPE: Regularity and balance is important, especially for a wedding card, so do go for a regular shape when designing your card. A square shape is best, although you can also go for a rectangle, octagon or circle. Don’t design a wedding card in a triangular or star-shape, as the points on the card are inauspicious for an occasion like a marriage.

5 FOLDS: Avoid cards that open up in the middle (like a door), especially those where the names of the Bride and Groom are placed on either side of the opening. When the card opens, this splits up the couple. This kind of symbolism is extremely unlucky for couples, and can even cause them to split. Similarly, envelope seals are equally unlucky. While it may look elegant to have a sticker or wax seal of the bride and grooms’ initials to seal the envelopes, every time a guest opens the envelope and the sticker or seal is torn, it sends a new jab of bad energy to the couple.