Are Invitations Part of Decor?

Let’s talk invitations today. I get asked all the time “The invitations don’t effect the decorations do they?” The answer is yes and here is why.
Your invitations are supposed to be a preview of what to expect at the event. It’s supposed to feature your color scheme and theme as well as the important information such as time, location, etc.
This way the guests know how formal or informal the event will be, they can choose to dress in appropriate colors, or dress in matching theme. For example, let’s say you are inviting people to baby shower and you send out Winnie the Pooh invitations. You’re guests will expect that you’re having a gender neutral party in Pooh Bear colors. They will choose their gifts based on this invitation. Pooh Bear themed clothes, wrapping paper, and/or card. They might also choose neutral colors such as pale yellow, green, white, and gray in their gifts and wrappings. They may choose to wear a yellow sundress or in all neutrals to match the theme of the invitation. How shocked and possibly embarrassed this guest would be when they show up and you have had your venue decorated in bright pink with “It’s a girl” everywhere. It would be confusing to not see a yellow bear anywhere.
Another example would be if your wedding invitations are super fancy, intricate, and black and white. This invitation gives the guest the impression that the wedding will be formal so they go out and rent a black and white tux. To show up to a dressy casual burlap and lace themed wedding would be a bit embarrassing when a Sunday suit would have been fine.
So, even though the invitation is not technically a piece of decor it is definitely a big piece of your event. Make sure to save one for your decorator/coordinator as they’re going to ask to see it before the design process gets started. If they don’t…you might want to give them one anyways.