If you are the fashionably discerning bride who knows true quality letterpress invitations when she sees them . . .

Then you must see the works of art that Plume Press creates!  I received their sample packet in the mail this morning and have been fawning over it all day.

The Plume invitations are all exquisitely detailed designs.  Royalty meets Moulin Rouge.  Letterpressed tendrils mingle with broad regal calligraphic swoops.  Delectably delicate and demure but THE showstopper invite that no one else in your circle will be able to top!

Plume Press offers both retail packages and custom designs.  

Ms. Rachel Cary, the Creative Director for Plume Press, is a delight to work with and I highly recommend contacting her.

Samples are available to order on the Plume Press website.  You must visit!  Now!

This festive rehearsal dinner invite was only part of a set that Elizabeth Hubbell Studio designed for a wedding.  The coordinated favor tags, menus, all of it, are featured on the site. 

Refined and elegant simplicity is the focus of Elizabeth Hubbell Studio, and once you view her website, I think you'll agree.

This invite from April Studio certainly pops out of the envelope.  For couples who would rather go bright and lively than the whites and pastels, April Studio  may be your place!

The site features plenty of interesting color combinations, and colors, fonts, and graphics are all customizable.

This invitation, yes, invitation, from Paper*Girl, may not be the most . . . mature . . . or classically refined . . . invitation, but it certainly gets points for creativity!

The journal-esque invite consists of faux fur sewn onto cover stock, all the expected accessories tucked inside.  The invite comes with a bubble mailer instead of envelope.

I could probably see this coming from the Paris Hilton types . . . but not from anyone that was serious about their wedding . . .

The description of this invite, "Printemps" at Bella Figura, is one of delicate buttercream and fondant-sculpted floral garlands.

I think this pretty much sums it up.  We love letterpress invites, we love flowers, we especially love cake!

You can order samples from Bella Figura, but unfortunately not online.  One must call or fax/mail in their order form. 

Faux Wax is a godsend.

I myself do not even pretend to be a crafty person.  Signing my own name is enough of an artistic endeavor.  I envy those brides who decide that they are crafty enough to construct their own invites, I really do.

But since I am the bride who must have her invites professionally printed, then sent to a calligrapher, my wedding invites tend to look a bit impersonal.  Faux Wax was a quick, fail-proof product that lent the perfect finishing touch to my otherwise bland invites.

The faux wax is shaped into thin tubes and slides into your mini glue gun.  You apply just like you would regular hot glue, a dime-sized circle, and then apply your seal.  There is also an easy-to-apply silver or gold dust available to add extra dimension to your seal. 

For use on your invites, your place cards, your favors, for a bit of personal flair or to lend a bit of continuity throughout your event.  I also found the customer service at Faux Wax to be extremely expedient - my own order arrived in less than three days.  Definitely a recommendation.

For the bride whose invitations must match her china (or handbags for that matter), Kate Spade's invitation line features her trademark dragonflies and Larabee Road dot pattern, backed with the traditional Kate Spade green.   You can order samples of the Kate Spade line at Fine Stationery .