The wedding invitation rules
Watermarx deliver tradition with a twist for gay grooms
Words: Damien Woolnough
31th August 2018
When companies such as GQ Australia, Paspaley pearls and even the Logies need an invitation with impact they call Watermarx Graphics but co-founder Ange O'Dea needs more love in her life.
"We have already done a number of same sex weddings," O'Dea says proudly, "I’m working on one right now. But I’d love to do more. It's an exciting time."
Ange and her partner Alan have been creating exquisite letterpress invitations for 15 years with deep embossing, glittering metallics and unusual shapes that have garnered a cabinet's worth of awards.
"We really try to be innovative and out clients appreciate that," she says.
What has been the major shift in wedding invitations?
"Digital printing has taken over for so many aspects of life but when it comes to weddings letterpress just keeps trending up. I think people are becoming more aware of it, and there’s something about the aesthetic – the fact that it is tactile- that triggers nostalgia and a sense of luxury.
"There’s something very special about sending (and receiving) a beautifully printed invitation. It speaks to care and thoughtfulness, and it inspires the idea that this is a momentous occasion. Who doesn’t want to feel like their marriage is momentous?
"Couples are starting to realise that the invite is important for setting the tone for their occasion."
What is the most requested style?
The classic look is a letterpressed invitation on a thick, heavy cotton stock with a touch of detail such as foil (usually in gold or silver, but black and white are also becoming very timeless) and an embossed motif or monogram.
How can you stand out from the crowd?
Couples are starting to realise that the invite is important for setting the tone for their occasion, and clue people in on what to expect from the event. It begins with colours, from bright, bold statement envelopes to pops of colour in the foiling or inserts.
The style of typography and the wording chosen also gives your guests a hint about what your special day is going to look and feel like.
"We have had a few couples forget really basic details, but they are swept up in the moment, so its understandable."
What is the most challenging invitation that you have had to work on?
We did this year’s invitation to the Logies with the amazing designer Nick from Blow in Potts Point. We work very closely with designers to plan the best way to achieve their vision and the result was fabulous. But five different shades of gold foil were complicated, to say the least. By the time we had finished it, we felt like we had earned a Gold Logie.
What do people most often forget to include on an invitation?
The date always helps! We have had a few couples forget really basic details, but they are swept up in the moment, so its understandable. Luckily, to date we have never gone to print without a time and a venue address on paper. There is always time to review the soft copy proofs before we go to print.
How long does the process of creating an invitation take until you receive the printed product?
Depending on how elaborate or how many print processes the design demands, it can take anything from five days to three weeks. We recommend that you give yourself (and us) a little bit more time than that. We live for this stuff.
