One of our stationery experts in the US, Kate Price, has kindly written a post for us on current stationery trends in the US.  Kate works with Wedding Paper Divas, Tiny Prints, Treat, and Shutterfly. All companies are known for exceptional quality, great customer service, and stylish designs. All of these brands are part of the leading stationery and photo printing stores in the US.

Over to you Kate:

People today may be more apt to share milestones through Facebook updates or tweets, but the tradition of stationery is making a strong comeback. Sending a card or letter through the mail adds a personal touch and provides a long lasting message, something that gets lost through social media posts or email. So make sure that you send out birthday cards from Treat to your grandmothers or thank you cards from Wedding Paper Diva’s after your big day, because it will leave a good impression and shows the recipient you care.

Use of Stationery

Stationery has a variety of uses from the formal to the everyday. It can be used for formal events, such as weddings, birthday parties, and showers and for announcements such as a new baby or new address, as well as every day uses, like thank you cards and letters.

Types of Stationery
Today, consumers have a variety of styles to choose from. Some prefer a call to elegance with a modern feel as in the example below. It is your choice to keep some formality with a hint of personal flair.

When sending out invitations for special occasions, you can customize them to fit the theme or mood of the party. The beautiful, yet subtle example below would be perfect for a spring wedding or garden party.

For a less formal party, such as a bachelorette, an invitation with the popular chevron design in the hanger would be perfect. Three colors are available, allowing you to customize even further.

Another very popular, understated style is the ombre design below. Ombre (French for “shade”) designs utilize a gradient of monochromatic colors to create a vibrant feel and this is currently a huge trend in fashion, photography and even food. This design is a beautiful choice for a variety of occasions.

Personalized Stationery

Personal photos and customized text can now be added to a card, a popular service from the online stationery store Treat.com. From birthday cards that are specifically printed with the recipient’s name and picture (see below), to a wedding invitation with a picture of the bride and groom holding hands, this type of stationery not only communicates details, but is also an amazing keepsake.

Stationery Throughout the Year

People tend to think of Christmas cards and birthday invitations when choosing a card to send. It is also important to keep in mind stationery can be used for other holidays. From Halloween to Valentine’s Day, online stationery stores offer cards for every season. Many stores such as Tiny Prints are most well-known for their classic selection of holiday cards .

How to Choose the Right Stationery

In general, stationery should fit the style of the sender, the mood of the event and convey the message clearly. Utilizing creativity and tastefulness can create a memorable, unique and beautiful card that the recipient will enjoy receiving.

With emails and e-vites being more popular a common misperception is that stationery and handwritten notes are a thing of the past. In fact, stationery is thriving and evolving with technology! Technology allows users to create excellent custom stationery at great prices. You can even include your own pictures and text in personalized greeting cards and wedding invitations. No matter the occasion, custom stationery is a superb choice.

Tagged in: industry experts, stationery, wedding trends 2012