15 Wedding Invitation Trends for 2025
As we head into 2025, I’m thrilled to update my guide to wedding invitation trends and expand on what I see will be trending in stationery for the new year. We’ll see some trends that are sticking around from last year, as well as some new exciting trends for 2025!
First, an introduction to me, Jaime Coast. I am a professional stationery designer and contributing writer so staying on top of and ahead of the trends is part of my job. I got into stationery design because I loved traditional paper-making techniques, creating unique and personal stationery, and the long lost art of sending love in the mail.
My knowledge of trends is based on my personal experience with couples as we work through save the dates and invitations for 2025 weddings, I can see what keeps coming up for requests. And I also do a ton of research looking at everything from bridal fashion trends, to research reports from industry leaders like Minted, The Knot, Etsy and Pinterest, and also what I see the leaders and trend setters in the stationery world creating for their clients.
The top 15 wedding invitation trends for 2025 are Rococo, Bows, Whimsical watercolor, Doodle and squiggle, Textural and sculptural, Old Money, Monochrome, Pastels, Black accents, Fun shapes, Custom patterns, Mirrorball, Fairy garden, Embroidery, Matisse
Let’s dive into what each of those trends look like for wedding stationery.
Curious what was trending in 2024? Check out this article for 2024 Wedding Invitation Trends.
1. Rococo
Rococo in the art world refers to an architectural trend from the 1720s to the 1770s in France. It is typified by dramatic flamboyance, curved asymmetric ornamentation, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colors, and sculpted moulding.
The last few years, Bridgerton sparked an interest in the royal, english garden, early 1800’s aesthetic. And the Rococo trend in wedding stationery is the latest evolution of the trend.
I’m seeing a lot of curved asymmetrical invitations, lots of romantic drama, sculptural embossing and other appliqués, heraldic crests and borders, handmade paper, and other very French-inspired elements in Fine Art stationery these days.
One of the style shifts from Baroque to Rococo was a little bit more whimsical motifs, and lighter airiness in colors. I think we’ll see this evolution as couples move towards lighter colors, airy and whimsical designs, and less of the dark, heavy exuberance that typifies the Baroque style. Rococo was also more feminine and inspired by natural motifs.
Here’s a mood board that AI came up that I think goes a good job of showcasing the style and popular motifs.
2. Bows
Bows are still a big trend for bridal fashion in 2025 according to Vogue. Several designers featured both larger statement bows and smaller all over bow details in NY Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025 collections. And that trend still translates to invitations.
I think we’ll see more dramatic interpretations of bows and a crossover with other trends. Like black accents, pastel colored ribbon, squiggle and doodle drawings of bows, and bow-shapes or appliqués.
Handmade paper menus and place cards with bows available in the shop // Photography by Aljaz Hafnar
3. Whimsical Watercolor
Watercolor is still going strong. We’re seeing a lean towards more whimsical, almost child-like drawings in the style. This crosses over a lot with the doodle and scribble trend that I’ll get into a little later in this article. But the watercolor style is still very distinctly different artwork. It’s often being paired with hand-drawn casual calligraphy or dressed up with more formal styling.
It’s mainly a way for couples to personalize their wedding invitations by adding maps, venue illustrations, couple illustrations, even pet portraits into their wedding invitation suites and day of details.
Check out our semi-custom watercolor venue collection to take advantage of the trend.
4. Doodle and Squiggle
The mediterranean doodle and squiggles trends is still very much going strong. It is typified by hand-drawn elements, wavy borders and shapes, bold colors. It can seem French seaside inspired at times, or Italian country-side. Last year it was in rich blues, bold reds, and lush greens. This year I think we’ll see it cross over with other trends into more pastel colors, act as the hints of black, or be combined with more three-dimensional techniques.
Custom save the dates for Chrissie and Kyle – Contact for details.
Before we keep going, if you’re not sure what stationery you need for your big day, check out this free wedding stationery checklist.
Seating chart cards available for sale in our shop.
Custom day of items for Emily and Dylan – Contact for details.
5. Textural and sculpted
I’m seeing a lot of stationery designers experimenting with this classical print technique called sculpted embossing. And I think we’ll continue to see it into next year as the evolution of the letterpress and embossing trends.
It’s gained popularity recently because the dies have become cheaper to make and more widely available. But the technique has been around a long time. Two plates are made for the embossing and debossing and the paper is heated and pressed between the plates to make a three dimensional image. I just took an interesting class on it taught by JR Press in Design by Laney’s Stationery School membership. I’m excited to put it to the test for some couples this year.
We will see this trend popping up in other ways with textured paper, three-dimensional appliqués, even origami or rolled paper as people push the limits of the traditionally two dimensional invitation into the three-dimensional. This will also increase the popularity of tracked, boxed mailings since an envelope would crush what’s inside and the expense of production will make couples want to protect their invitations more.
Another example of three-dimensional invitations from Ceci New York for The Knot Gala.
6. Old Money
The Old Money trend that’s been popular on Instagram and TikTok in fashion all summer is making its way into weddings and stationery this year. While a lot of the elements aren’t new – couples have forever loved traditional, classic details that give their weddings a timeless elegance – I think we’ll see it popping up a lot more as a trend this year in a bold contrast to the more whimsical, hand-drawn look. You’ll either be team whimsy, or team Old Money in style. The Rococo and sculptural embossing trends fit into this aesthetic nicely. So do the monochrome and hint of black color trends.
Custom letterpress invitation for Sydney and Mark – Contact for details.
Source: Brides.com
Custom invitation suite for Brittany and Michael – Contact for details.
7. Monochrome
For color palettes, one of the trends this year will be monochrome. You’ll see a lot of people choosing shades of white, or dusty blue, essentially a single color that they expand into a palette instead of trying to build a palette of multiple coordinating colors like they did in the past.
Florals is a big place where this trend will take place. I saw a lot of cascading baby’s breath in 2024 for example. And lots of couples using just a few flower types but to the max for a grand effect.
Image found on Pinterest.
Source: Katelyn Bradley Photography
I think we’ll see this extend to stationery more in the sculptural, old money group than the whimsical, hand-drawn group. The white on white textural contrast that you can do with letterpress and sculpted embossing will work well here.
8. Pastels
Another color trend we’ll see this year is pastels. This will be popular for bridesmaid dresses, florals, and paper goods. This harkens back to the ombré trend from a few years ago, but instead of one color you’ll see a range of pastels that develop an ombré-like palette.
Pastel watercolor floral vellum wrap available in the shop.
Custom lavender envelopes with vintage postage for Emily Y. – Contact for details.
9. Black Accents
This is another trend inspired by NY Bridal Fashion Week. Black accents were all over the runway in the form of black gloves, bow details, and other unexpected pops of black.
Source: Vogue Mark Ingram spring 2025 bridal. Photo: Madison Aycoth
You’ll see more and more of the “Old Money” traditional brides mixing in pops of black through ribbon, wax seals, cocktail napkins, RSVP envelopes, and more accessories for their wedding invitations, save the dates, and day of stationery.
Custom design for Société Privée – similar menus and place cards available in the shop // Photo: Kimberly Hidore Photography
Custom save the date for Adriana and R.J. – Contact for more information
10. Fun Shapes
We saw a lot of fun shapes last year trending – specifically scalloped or wavy edges.
We’re going to see even more unique shapes this year as stationery designers seek to differentiate themselves from Canva and other DIY options. (After all, it’s much harder to DIY something that’s cut into a shape at home! So if you want the look, you’ll likely need to hire a professional.) Companies like Minted also offer die cut shapes in their designs, and more printers are expanding their laser cutting capabilities for professionals and DIY couples, so we’ll see more and more couples experimenting with funky, non-traditional shapes in 2025.
Custom wedding invitations for Ali and Chris // Photography: Whitney Rae – Contact for details.
11. Custom Patterns
This trend will definitely continue into 2025. 2024 saw a lot of custom toile, hand painted scarves, floral patterns inspired by the wedding dress, and more. A custom pattern is a great way to create a brand for your wedding that extends from the invitations into the day of stationery and design. A pattern can be applied to linens, the dance floor, favors, even bar wraps and escort card displays.
12. Mirrorball
The discoball trend is here to stay for 2025. I think the big shift we’ll see this year is a move away from the boho, retro combination of pampas grass, browns and burgundys, mixed with discoballs. And instead people will be embracing just the discoball as the mascot of after parties everywhere. The discoball is going to be mixed with more classic, traditional black and whites to add a little fun and sparkle to the Old Money vibe events.
Custom wedding invitations for Hannah and CJ // Photography: Michelle Beller – Contact for details.
13. Fairy Garden
Another update and evolution of a trend will be Fairy Garden. Garden weddings are always a popular aesthetic. Last year, rustic botanical was very much trending. Think vintage academia vibes mixed with botanicals. It was a little moody, filled with white and greenery, pressed flowers and other vintage elements were ever-present. This year, as Rococo influences, pastel color themes, and the whimsical hand-drawn style continues to trend, we’ll see garden weddings lighten and brighten up as well.
Butterfly wildflower envelope liner available in the shop
Another influence I think we’ll see is the Faerie universe come into play. In some ways, this will play out literally, as romantasy-#BookTok-Sarah J Mass fans will be inspired by the Fae pop culture influences in their reading and watching to bring these elements into their weddings. The couples who might have considered a Twilight or Harry Potter themed wedding will be all about the ACOTAR and other universes for inspiration. And in some ways, this will be more figurative influence on others with things like butterflies, twinkling fairy lights, lots of blush pink creeping into their garden wedding mood boards.
I can’t wait to see this trend come to life in stationery. I’m currently working on submitting a few designs with this theme to licensing partners for semi-custom designs and might include a few in my own semi-custom collection as well.
14. Embroidery
This technique is centuries old and I think we’ll see a lot more of it, especially in high-end wedding invitations. As fine art stationery designers embrace old traditions like sculpted embossing and handmade paper. They’ll also break out the sewing machine to bind pieces together into books for day of programs and welcome booklets. And as a decorative element to invitations and save the dates.
Inspiration by Tiny Pines Press
As AI and Canva become more and more mainstream, stationery designers will be looking for ways to give couples techniques and materials that they couldn’t possibly find anywhere else or DIY. And I anticipate an AI backlash from couples themselves who are looking for more heirloom-quality pieces that really knock the socks off their guests.
15. Matisse
Matisse as a Fine artist has been an inspiration for artists all over the world for more than a century. And his influence has made its way into everything from home decor to web design. His free form paper cut out shapes in particular will be trending this year as designers look to art and other mediums for inspiration. Matisse feels like a fresh influence that I expect designers will be turning to this year as an alternative to someone like William Morris because it feels whimsical and funky. Something old that feels very modern.
Matisse Collage
William Morris has been a huge influence the past few years in wallpaper and rugs specifically that’s exploded into everything else including wedding invitations. Rifle Paper Company is a great example of a design company that was clearly heavily inspired by William Morris’s patterns in their work. It feels very integrated into trends like Grand Millennial and rustic botanical. And while some of this influence is very classic and timeless, I do feel a shift towards the more abstract coming into play.
William Morris
Source: Brighten Made
Brighten Made is an example of a very popular graphic designer who uses Matisse as an influence in her signature style. Her muted colors and playful designs are very reminiscent of Matisse’s cut outs and collage but she puts a modern, feminine spin on it that feels very elegant and as I’ve been saying throughout this article, very whimsical. Which is one of our major two themes of the year in wedding decor and stationer.
If you’re wondering how this translates to wedding invitations still, take a look back at the loose hand drawn style of the Doodle and Squiggle trend. That trend is very much inspired by the work of Matisse and other artists like him. And the die cut shape trend is also influenced by this – the wavy shape that seemed to come out of no where last year and became very popular was in this same more organic, paper-cut style. So if you’re looking to see where stationery designs and planners are going to look for the next big thing, it will be in this aesthetic.
What’s out for 2025
Some trends from 2024 and prior years will be decidedly out in 2025. Here are some of the trends that you’ll start to see fade away or look dated:
- Pearls
- Grand Millennial
- Black with white text
- Acrylic invitations
- Lacy laser cut pockets
Pearls had a big moment in bridal fashion last year and I haven’t seen it come up as much this year. There’s a lot more of a move towards crystals and black accents. So I think you’ll see that shift in invitation as well. I’m glad for this one since pearls are a bit of a pain to ship via regular mail for invitations. They do feel very in line with Old Money though so you may see some pearl accents sticking around.
Grand Millennial is also on its way out with the generational shift in who is getting married. Couples are increasingly Gen Z and inspired by Gen Z’s sense of fashion and style. Which tends to be a bit more casual and grungey, less polished, preppy and stuffy.
The all black with white text look is on its way out in favor of more white with smaller black details. So you’ll still see it as a technique but it will be used more sparingly.
Acrylic invitations have also been on their way out for a while in favor of more organic materials like linen, leather, cane, and wood. I think we’ll see more of those non-traditional, non-paper materials instead of the clear lucite aesthetic.
And lastly the lacy laser cut pockets haven’t been in style for a while either. We’ll see those really fade away with the grand millennial trend, in favor of more organic, free-flowing shapes as well.
Feeling inspired? See if it’s time to send your wedding invitations in this article.
Looking for a way to incorporate these trends into your wedding invitations?
Reach out to schedule a call to talk about your wedding invitations. A custom invitation design can give you the exact look you’re going for with original artwork and personal touches. Or semi-custom suites built from existing artwork are available as well.
Not sure if custom wedding invitations are right for you? Check out this article all about custom wedding invitations.
