27 Unique Wedding Invitation Ideas for Every Wedding Style

invitation suite with vineyard motifs and illustrated liners — Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography

Invitations set the tone for a wedding, and you don’t want to call on your guests with something that's not your style. So if you're open to surprising your guests with an invitation suite that feels more personal than traditional, there are endless ways to amp up the creativity level in your wedding invitations.

You can customize every detail of your invitation suite, selecting everything from the paper it's printed on to the stamp that seals the envelope. But remember: There's a lot more to your invitations than what they're printed on. Consider using fun shapes, mixed materials, and hand-painted artwork to create the vibe you want.

Want to get inspiration for your own unique wedding invites? Read on for unique wedding invitation ideas to help inspire you.

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Choose a Motif

white invitation suite with rough edges and olive branch motifs — Photo by Karen Hill Photography

While this invitation for Rhode Island nuptials is quite classic and minimal, an olive branch motif throughout ties the suite together.

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Mix Linen and Leather

linen invitation — Photo by Hey Beloved; Invitation by Isidore and Augustine

Make your invitations match the theme of your garden party wedding with a Jane Eyre-inspired design. Linen and letter-pressed invitations are understated elegance, complete with torn edges that exude vintage romance.

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Find Inspiration From the Outdoors

yellowstone wedding invitation suite — Photo by Norman + Blake

Take a cue from the locale of your wedding and tie in natural elements from the location into the design. We love the buffalo illustrated in the liner and the local florals in the insert from this Montana wedding.

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Consider Chinoiserie

floral invitation — Photo by Josh & Dana Fernandez; Invitation by Nib & Pixel; Florals by Mibellarosa

This colorful invitation suite is inspired by a Chinoiserie, the European interpretation of Chinese motifs. A teal and aqua color combination with hints of pinks illustrates cherry blossoms and bas relief birds.

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Have Fun With Illustrations

illustrated invitation — Photo by Experimental Vintage; Invitation by Wide Eyes Paper Co.

Illustrated fold-out watercolor invitations are a fun alternative to the traditional wedding invitation suite. This whimsical design features the bride and groom alongside a scenic landscape of the vineyard where they’ll tie the knot. The fourth panel is perforated so guests can tear it off and send in their RSVP.

If you're looking for a way to personalize your wedding invitations, hiring an illustrator may be your best bet. Illustrated wedding invitations not only add artsy flair, but there's something so special about having an invite that's truly one-of-a-kind. Anything from a custom portrait of you and your partner to a hand-drawn family crest can be turned into an illustration.

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Bring Out the Desert Vibes

desert invitation — Photo by Joe + Kathrina; Invitation by Minted

Desert nuptials? The indie cactus print on this all-in-one invitation is sure to set the tone for your wedding day. Bonus: The perforated RSVP postcard is ready to be dropped in the mail.

07 of 27

Design Your Own Royal Wedding

blue invitation — Invitation by Penny Lane Papery

Create an invitation suite fit for a royal. Complete with illustrations and a custom-designed crest, these teal-themed invites are as fairytale-esque as it gets.

08 of 27

Include a Wax Seal

Nicole and Tyler's paisley-printed envelope lining — Photo by Megan Robinson

Wax seals might have been a regular addition to postage in the past but the addition of one today lends a unique vintage touch to an invitation. We love how this invitation uses a turquoise one to channel the western feel of the Utah wedding.

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Think Transparent

A transparent acrylic invitation with simple white lettering achieves contemporary minimalism. The "less is more" aesthetic uses a visual hierarchy of text to highlight only the most important details.

10 of 27

Channel a Vineyard

Invitations with vineyard envelope lining — Photo by Rebecca Yale Photography

For this Napa Valley wedding, the couple decided to channel the vineyards of their venue for their invitation suite. A stunning illustration and floral touches throughout add a lovely elegance to the design.

11 of 27

Use a Rustic Palette

rustic invitation — Photo by Dawn Derbyshire; Invitation by Oh Joyful Day

A violet and copper palette is rustic and elegant when combined with wax seals and silk ribbon. Deckle-edge invitations and calligraphy wedding envelopes really make this suite stand out.

12 of 27

Channel a Work of Art

Starry Night Van Gogh-inspired invitation suite — Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie

Couple Annie and Spencer channeled Vincent Van Gogh's "A Starry Night" throughout the design of their wedding with a unique floral wall and coordinating palette. Naturally, they decided to give a preview of the theme with their invitation suite. A recreation of the painting in the envelope liner, as well as star motifs, perfectly bring the theme together.

13 of 27

Personalize it With Your Portraits

Invitation with the couple's faces — Photo by Emily Melissa Photo

For a creative modern couple, you can really have fun with the personalization of your invitations. DeYandré and Vishal had friends create their line-drawing caricatures for their suite. DeYandré says, “The style is often depicted in minimalist black and white, but our friends knew the importance of color for us. They grounded a deep plum line with bright abstract shapes in the background.”

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Invitations

14 of 27

Make an Illustration the Focal Point

Chloe and Jim's stationery suite with an illustration of their venue, a quote from their favorite song, and a bear and bald eagle drawing — Photo by Shane Macomber Weddings

At this Colorado wedding, a large foldable illustration of the venue served a cover for a number of small inserts with all the details of the event and weekend festivities.

Depending on the complexity of your wedding invitation suite, you should contact stationery designers nine to 12 months before your wedding. If you're looking for a custom seal or illustrations, then you may want to reach out even sooner.

15 of 27

Embrace Warm Tones

Burnt tones add a splash of color in this Indian-inspired invitation complete with gilded lettering and patterned corners. For a traditional Hindu wedding, we'd expect nothing less.

16 of 27

Stick With Patterns

Bring the Roaring ‘20s to life with an Art Deco invitation suite that exudes class and sophistication. Crisp lines, geometric patterns, and a black and gold palette strike a chord.

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Keep it Neutral

Kenzie and Jake's wedding invitations in brown and white tones — Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography

A neutral invitation suite is a great way to welcome guests to a modern and bohemian celebration. Rounded edges and a textured envelope add to the natural feel of the design for this Santa Barbara wedding.

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Try Desert Glam

desert glam invitation — Photo by Lauren Mihae Photography

Boho desert vibes, anyone? A dreamcatcher, feather motif, and desert landscape artwork combine for the most free-spirited invitation suite we've seen yet.

19 of 27

Throw It Back To the '70s

disco invitations — Photo by Lauren Miles; Invitation by Letters & Dust

Acrylic invitations are taken to new heights when they sparkle with glitter. This groovy disco-inspired invitation set puts a modern twist on the 1970s. Our favorite part? The RSVP cards prompting guests "Ready To Dance?"

20 of 27

Choose Fun Stamps

Wedding invitation suite with rustic elements and a mountain illustration — Photo by Liz Banfield

No need to select the basic stamps you can grab at the post office. This couple chose western-inspired designs to add to the aesthetic of their Jackson Hole wedding suite.

21 of 27

Include a Ribbon

pastel wedding invitation with ribbon — Photo by Etcetera Photography

One charming touch you can add to your invitation suite is to add a loose ribbon to tie together your suite in a romantic package.

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Allude To Your Destination

map invitation — Photo by Carmen Santorelli Photography

Destination wedding? A watercolor map drawing will give your invitations some local color in more ways than one. Even the tile patterned liner found inside the envelope hints to a Positano wedding.

23 of 27

Think Vintage

wedding invitation — Photo by Noel Perrone; Invitation by Elins Art Studio

An invitation suite with a color palette of warm greens, blues, and gold is inspired by the Bethesda Terrace in New York City’s Central Park. Watercolor splashes, elegant calligraphy, and parchment paper are reminiscent of a vintage painting.

24 of 27

Incorporate Geodes

geode invitation — Photo by Green Antlers Photography

Create an edgy, earthy feel with a geode-inspired print in vivid turquoise and metallic gilded edges. While the design is effective in conveying important wedding day details, it's also easy on the eyes.

25 of 27

Stick With Simplicity

modern pastel wedding invitation — Photo by Katie Ruther

Sometimes simple and understated is best, especially when it sets the tone for a mmodern wedding. Clean type and a cohesive palette does the trick with this design.

26 of 27

Remember Less Is More

simple invitation — Photo by Miss Gen Photography; Invitation by
Melanie Johnsson

For this bold and clean invitation suite, layered elements combine for a design that's ripe in simplicity and beauty. From the couple's mantra (Who Loves Wins) to the modern palette consisting of black and deep burgundy, no detail goes unnoticed.

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Play With Shapes

circle invitation — Invitation by Swell Press Paper

Nothing says time to party like a bunch of circular-shaped wedding invitations! For a playful twist, the orange invites are topped with a holographic foil lettering. The top vellum paper portion swivels to reveal the details for the day.