There’s a kind of magic in designing wedding invitations. It’s not just about setting the tone for a celebration—it’s about crafting a tangible piece of the couple’s story, something guests can hold in their hands and feel the weight of meaning within.
For one recent Indian wedding, we created a layered letterpress suite that became not only an invitation but a sensory experience of color, texture, and tradition. This wasn’t just about delivering information; it was about honoring heritage, celebrating love, and building a bridge between the modern and the traditional.
The suite is a layered stack of five letterpress-printed cards, each slightly larger than the one before it, a crescendo of color and detail, each piece reflecting the essence of the event it represents.
Turmeric yellow stock was used for the Haldi ceremony, the warm, golden hue reminiscent of the turmeric paste traditionally applied during this auspicious pre-wedding ritual. We found the perfect henna green shade fo the Mehndi (henna) ceremony, a nod to the deep green of fresh henna leaves and the lushness of its artistry. The rich red of the Sangeet invitation burst with the vibrancy and energy of music, dance, and celebration.
We turned to traditional Indian henna patterns as inspiration for the suite’s ornamental design but gave it a contemporary twist. Instead of a dense field of intricate designs, we chose to focus on individual elements, like two paisley swirls—symbols of fertility and life—framed in negative space. The effect is both modern and timeless, a balance between cultural roots and the couple’s unique style.
On the wedding invitation itself, the paisley gave way to a light taupe floral pattern inspired by henna’s fine linework, providing a subtle backdrop to the rich burgundy text.
Every element of the suite was brought together, both literally and symbolically, with a thin burgundy thread. Tied delicately around the stack, it was sealed with a custom wax monogram featuring the couple’s entwined initials.
This monogram was a labor of love, weaving together the paisley-inspired floral details from the invitation into a personal emblem of their union. It didn’t stop at the invitations—the design motif repeated throughout the wedding celebrations, appearing on ceremony programs, a custom-engraved ring box, and even in the bride’s henna.
A thoughtfully designed invitation suite sets the stage for everything to come—but for us, the design doesn’t stop there.
For us, the invitation suite is the beginning of a story that carries through the entire celebration, weaving its way into every detail. By extending the graphic framework and color palette into the day-of paper goods and the wedding day itself, we help create a celebration that feels beautifully intentional and deeply personal.
This holistic approach ensures that guests don’t just see the design—they feel it. From the moment they open the invitation to the moment they find their seat or hold the program in their hands, they’re stepping into a world where every detail reflects the couple’s story.
In the end, it’s about more than beautiful paper. It’s about creating a design that becomes part of the celebration itself, a thread of connection from start to finish. And isn’t that what a wedding is all about?
Photo credits:
Invitation styling and photos: Peterson Design and Photography
Wedding day photos: Nicole Chan Photography