George Boyle
Choosing the right font for your wedding invitations can be a daunting task, but it's an important detail that can help set the right tone for your wedding day. There are thousands of fonts available, from sophisticated scripts to clean, modern looks or handwritten styles. When selecting a font, it's essential to consider its legibility, whether it adds to or takes away from your wedding theme, and if it pairs well with other fonts you might use. You should also think about whether you want custom invitations or semi-custom options, as this will impact the fonts available to you. Understanding the different typeface styles, like serif, sans serif, script, and display fonts, can help you make an informed decision. Ultimately, the font you choose should reflect your style and the overall vibe of your wedding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fonts | No more than 3 |
| Font style | Serif, Sans Serif, Script, Display |
| Font choice | Should add to the wedding theme |
| Legibility | Should be easy to read |
| Accent fonts | Can be used to break up the design |
| Font pairing | Should complement each other |
What You'll Learn
Font legibility
When it comes to wedding invitations, legibility is key. While there are many fun and creative fonts to choose from, it's important to remember that your invitation needs to serve its function of informing your guests of the event details. Some fonts may look great, but are difficult to read, especially highly-scripted or thin fonts.
Serif fonts are a good choice for legibility, as they have extra 'feet' that help bridge the lines between each letter. There are two types: traditional, which feel like they belong in old history books, and modern, which is more elevated and borrows from current design trends. Sans-serif fonts are also a good choice, as they are the cleanest letters with no extra flourishes or feet. They are excellent for digital invitations and are the most legible option.
If you want to use a script font, which resembles cursive handwriting or calligraphy, it's best to reserve these for headings or accents, rather than the main body of text. You could also consider using a combination of fonts to highlight important information, such as names or the wedding date.
Remember, you want your guests to be able to easily read the details of your wedding, so choose a font that is legible and fits with your wedding aesthetic.
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Font pairing
When it comes to font pairing for wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to choose fonts that are easy to read and that complement each other. You can pair a decorative or fancy font with another decorative font to create balance and prevent one font from becoming the focal point. This will also make the design appear less busy.
Another tip is to use opposite fonts. A curvy, elegant text can work well with a more structured font. For example, you can pair a script font with a serif or sans-serif font. Here are some specific font pairing ideas for wedding invitations:
- Great Vibes + Montserrat: This combination pairs a cursive font with a sans serif. Great Vibes is a highly readable font with a subtle slant and medium weight, while Montserrat balances it with uniform, straight lines.
- Playfair Display + Montserrat Light: This pairing combines a classic-type serif font with a light version of Montserrat, creating a timeless appeal. The subtle transitions between thick and thin lines in Playfair Display are accentuated by the linearity of Montserrat Light.
- Josefina + Times New Roman: In this pair, the sans serif font Josefina takes the main headline role, while the serif font Times New Roman plays a supporting part. The line weight of Josefina holds its own against Times New Roman, creating a harmonious hierarchy.
- Bodoni + Josefin Sans: Bodoni is a modern font with high contrast between thick and thin strokes and flat serifs, while Josefin Sans is a geometric, vintage-inspired font. Together, they create a vintage-contemporary pair that works well with simple designs.
- Pinyon Script + Josefin Sans: This pairing combines a classic script-type font with a contemporary font, giving your invitation a traditional yet modern touch.
- Neutraface 2 Text Light + Script: For a highlighted effect, you can combine the highly legible Neutraface 2 Text Light with a script font.
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Font style
When it comes to font style, there are a few key things to consider when selecting the right one for your wedding invitations:
Legibility
It is important to choose a font that is easy to read. While some highly-scripted or thin fonts may look attractive, they can sometimes be difficult for guests to decipher. If you have your heart set on a particular style, consider using it for headings or names, and pairing it with a simpler font for the main body text.
Suitability
The font should align with your wedding theme and style. For instance, serif fonts are elegant and classy, suiting more formal weddings, while sans-serif fonts are modern and clean, working well for digital invitations. Script fonts are formal and traditional, and calligraphy fonts are perfect for accenting names or headings. If you are having a whimsical event, a font like Carried Away (Ballerina Script) could be a good choice, whereas a bold, timeless font like Darleston might be more suitable for a vintage-style wedding.
Number of Fonts
Try not to use more than two or three fonts in your invitation design. Using the same font in lower case, all caps, and italics can be an effective way to create contrast and highlight important information, without overwhelming the design.
Font Pairing
Consider the relationship between the fonts you choose. A classic wedding invitation combination is a cursive font for the headings, paired with a simple sans-serif font for the body text. Slanted letterforms can add interest to the design, but be mindful that the text remains legible.
Accent Fonts
Using an accent font for names or important dates is a great way to draw attention to key information.
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Font size
When it comes to font size, the most important thing to consider is legibility. You want to make sure your guests can easily read the details of your wedding invitation. The font size you choose will depend on the font type you've selected, as different fonts will appear larger or smaller at the same size. It's a good idea to print out some samples to get a sense of how the font size looks on paper, rather than just viewing it on a screen. Ask a few friends or family members to read over the invitation to ensure it's legible.
As a general rule, you shouldn't go smaller than 7 or larger than 12 for the font size on your wedding invitations. For names or headlines, you can go as large as 24, but for the main text, 12-18 is a good range to aim for. If you have a lot of older guests, it's advisable to go for a larger font size, with nothing under 10pt.
To create a visual hierarchy of information, play around with different font sizes. You might want to make the event name and date larger than the location or address. This will help guide your guests' eyes to the most important information first.
Remember that white space is important in graphic design. Leave a similar amount of white space on the left, right, and bottom sides of your invitation to achieve a visually balanced design. This will also help ensure your text isn't too crowded and remains legible.
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Font consistency
When pairing fonts, consider their visual weight and style. For instance, if you choose a bold, decorative font for your header, opt for a simpler, lighter font for the body text. This ensures that the fonts do not compete with each other and that your invitation remains legible.
You can also create consistency by using the same font in different ways. Play with variations such as lowercase, uppercase, and italics to add interest while maintaining a cohesive look. This technique is especially useful if you want to emphasise certain information, like the names of the happy couple or the wedding date.
Another way to achieve font consistency is to carry the chosen font(s) across all your wedding stationery. This includes save-the-date cards, place cards, thank-you cards, and any other paper goods used on the day of the wedding. This creates a unified look and feel for your special day and ensures that your invitations set the tone for the entire event.
Finally, consider the legibility of your chosen font(s). While a highly scripted or thin font may look appealing, it is important to ensure that your guests can easily read the information. Remember, the primary purpose of your wedding invitation is to convey the details of your event clearly and effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
The font you choose should add to your wedding theme. For instance, if you're planning a funky, retro wedding, a retro typeface could work well. If you're having a garden-inspired wedding, a romantic, handwritten font could complement the vibe.
The main styles of font are:
- Serif: These fonts have extra 'feet' at the ends of letters, which help to bridge the lines between each letter. Examples include Times New Roman, Playfair Display, and Bodoni.
- Sans serif: These fonts don't have the extra lines of a serif font, and are therefore cleaner and more modern. Examples include Arial, Helvetica, and Montserrat.
- Script: These fonts resemble cursive handwriting or calligraphy and are often used for names and headings. Examples include Alex Brush and Carolyna Pro.
- Display: These fonts are more artistic than legible and are best used sparingly.
It's best to use no more than three fonts, and perhaps as few as one or two. Using too many fonts will make your invitation look cluttered and busy.
While it's important that your font choice looks good, it's also crucial that your guests can actually read the information on the invitation. Some fonts may be difficult to read, especially if they're highly scripted or thin.
A good way to highlight names or important details is to use an accent font that stands out from the rest of the text. You could also try pairing a script font with a sans serif font, or a serif font with a sans serif font.
