Stationers Share Contemporary Trend in All Things Paper Hidden inside the envelope, your invitation quietly awaits its unveiling in the hands of your guest. The small, yet important item will be their first insight into the tone and style that you choose to uniquely express your upcoming wedding day. Not sure where to being? These popular stationers all provide a personalized invitation-creation experience and share their expertise on contemporary trends in all things paper.

A recent trend features environmentally friendly, or "green" invitations, "Many brides want to "go green" and are asking us for recycled papers," explains Nellie Leis, Broadway Paper. Broadway parer offers a great deal for the environmentally conscious couple, in a comfortable setting with an emphasis on personal attention. A consultant sits down with the couple and goes through a variety of truly exclusive, unique custom print books. Broadway Paper also offers bridal seminars once a month on Saturday mornings as a fun way to learn all you need to know about trends, printing styles and much, much more!

Many brides are carrying their style throughout the suite of printed items, with graphics being highly favored. "I am noticing a lot of graphics-oriented invitations," says Debbie Pape, owner of Paper Envy. "The bride will choose a custom graphic and we carry that element throughout, from save the dates to thank you cards." "Letterpress, which is also very popular, is a printing process that presses the image into the paper to create a distinctive invitation with dimension. Graphics look beautiful with letterpress.", says Pape. She has also witnessed the eco-friendly wave, such as invitations printed with soy-based inks and designed using fewer layers of paper. "The letterpress technique combined with soy based ink is perfect for the environmentally conscious bride because it looks great on one layer and still creates an invitation with dimension." she adds.

Allison McWilliams, owner, Touch of Whimsy, agrees. "Letterpress is an old technique, and was unfortunately forgotten for many years. But now, it is highly sought after, and it goes hand-in-hand with the environmentally friendly trend because the technique works beautifully when using thicker, cotton-based paper that is tree-free." McWilliams emphasized the incredible amount of variety available to couples at Touch of Whimsy. "I spend a lot of time talking to the couple about what's available; there are so many choices," says McWilliams, "I let the couple paint a picture of their perfect wedding day to help them truly find the right match."

The vintage look is also a continuously popular choice. "We're seeing a lot of requests for vintage patterns and prints. People are looking for a more personalized looks, something unique to the couple, with a hand-made quality to the design," says Leis. McWilliams says many of her brides prefer a formal appearance to their invitations in the form of pure classic elegance and Pape too has noticed that many couples are after a simple sleek look.

Why not tie together these fantastic trends with a look that is unsurpassable in class and charm? Debi Zeinert at The Blooming Quill provides both the classic and the hand-scribed touch that many brides are looking for with the art of fine calligraphy. "I am blessed to be able to do this," says Zeinert, "It is truly a gift." Using a technique developed in the 18th century called copperplate calligraphy, Zeinert presents meticulous detail and uses only vintage nibs dipped repetitively in ink. Or, if you are looking for something a little more unique, Zeinert is brimming with creativity. "I create my own alphabets...A more free-form, contemporary style has become increasingly popular lately, especially on the East Coast, "Zeinert explains.

When it comes to your wedding invitations, whatever your heart desires is available. Invitations that are true to your self and your style are sure to set the perfect atmosphere for your wedding day, well before the day arrives!