Wedding stationery isn’t what is used to be. 

“For a long time, white and cream stock were your only options, with just a few type styles to choose from,” said Terri Trepeck with Invites Ink in Bloomfield Hills.  “Now brides don’t feel like they have to be so traditional anymore.  Anything goes, so they can really set the mood for the wedding.”

Trepeck will be among dozens of vendors showcasing the latest wedding trends at the Joe Cornell 10th Annual Event Planning Expo, held Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Jewish Community Center, 6600 W. Maple in West Bloomfield. 

Kim Kraus, who will also be there, said invitations with color top the list of stationery trends. 

“Color is in. If you open up an invitation book, you’ll see color everywhere,” said Kraus, who owns Just Write Invites in Farmington Hills.  “The ‘it’ color for fall and winter is a gorgeous mulberry red. Orange is big, too.”

Letter press—a relief printing process in which the type is pressed into the paper—is also popular with engaged couples. 

“The look is unique and modern but still simple and elegant,” Trepeck said. 

For people who want to make a big impression on their guests from the moment they open the envelope, invitations are offered with elegant lace, extravagant feathers, and even faux fur. Customers can also experiment with type options and placement.

Save-the-date cards are more common than they were a decade ago, but not necessary.

“Many couples are sending out their own save-the-dates in different forms, like magnets or postcards,” said Kraus. “Or we can do them and coordinate them with the rest of the wedding stationery.” 

Shopping online for invitations is convenient, but the process has its drawbacks.  Customers want to be able to feel the paper stock and see the invitation in person before ordering.  Most local stationers, including both Invites Ink and Just Write Invites, sell their products on-line and in their stores.

“A lot of people don’t have the time to find the right invitations,” Kraus said.  “If they can browse online first and then come in, it can save them a lot of time, and my clients appreciate that."

Planning Expo lineup