Even better than incorporating silhouettes into your paper suite {in my opinion} is incorporating them into your wedding day. Here are some of my favorite ways to do so.

Instead of a photo booth, hire a silhouette artist for cocktail hour entertainment.

{via Martha Stewart Weddings}

Bonus? The completed works of art make fabulous reception decor strung on a line…

{photo by Leigh Miller Photography}

or hanging in a doorway.

{via Martha Stewart Weddings}

Silhouettes look great in fresh, bright colors…

{escort cards and favor boxes}

{out-of-town guest bags and matchbooks for sparkler exit}

… as in the above wedding from Martha.

You could use them on your bar menu, like Mrs. Cupcake, to give some variety to your paper suite:

{via Weddingbee; photo c/o The Wiebners}

Silhouettes can accompany coffee and tea at the end of the night.

{by Martha Stewart Weddings}

They can be classic and elegant, as in these table numbers…

{via Once Wed}

… or rustic and casual, as in this homemade gift wrap and these ceremony programs.

{via Once Wed}

A collection of family silhouettes can adorn an entryway table, a guestbook signing station, a gift drop-off area…

{via Country Living}

… or a cake table.

{Better Homes & Gardens via Classic Bride}

They can be a simple accent on a menu.

{by Artfool}

Or they can completely define your celebration, as in Karrie and Brian’s fabulous wedding.

Silhouettes were used in their save the dates and invitations,

their escort cards,

their programs,

and even their cookies!

{See more of this wedding on Style Me Pretty here and here and check out the business of this DIY bride here!}

Whew! If you can believe it, I’ve got even more silhouette inspiration for you tomorrow…

One of the things I love most in the world is a good silhouette. Lately, they’ve been coming back in a big way, so I thought I would share some of my favorites. In this post, I’ve rounded up the best invitations, notes, and other paper ephemera. Hold on, it’s a doozy…

{Champagne Toast from Chelle Paperie}

{Colby + Ethan from Mok Duk}

{Sophie from Abby Jean Press}

{Engraved invite by Wren Press on Brides}

{Sweet Silhouettes from Wedding Paper Divas}

{Custom Silhouette Crest from Chelle Paperie}

{from fizkik’s photostream}

{Blind Emboss Stationery from Chelle Paperie}

{from Weddingbee}

{Bedford by Mr. Boddington’s Studio}

One of my favorite vendors from the Well Wed event was Amelia Rose. Her jewelry collection is equally at home paired with jeans or a Jenny Lee, and I’m currently coveting many of her delicate designs for myself. Here are some of my favorites:

I’m not generally a big earring person, but these honey quartz drop earrings are calling my name…

Rose Quartz drop earrings on 14k gold wire

Honey quartz pendant and pink amethyst and freshwater pearl pendant

A new something blue, perhaps? London blue topaz single pendant.

My personal favorite isn’t on the website yet but should be soon:

Amethysts topped with delicate clusters of gold vermeil balls

The best news? Until March 31, get 20% off at Amelia’s store! Use coupon code “WINTER20” at checkout. Happy shopping!

We have some more reader mail! Today’s question comes from Marget, J’s sister. She’s a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding this summer, and is helping to plan a couples shower at a park in June. She writes:

“Actually, invitations have proved tricky – the groom is against any use of the word ‘shower’ because he finds it emasculating. I’ve found some very cute shower invitations, but you don’t have the option of editing all of the text. Short of getting formal custom invitations, we’d still like to have personal invitations printed.”

I spent some time browsing through my favorite invitation designers, and have come up with a few options. All prices include envelopes, they are all flat-printed, and all text is completely customizable (and most of the colors are, as well). Here they are, from least expensive to most.

Wedding Paper Divas is an unbelievable site for inexpensive, high style invites.

Solid Monogram Signature (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $33.50)

Budding Branches (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $34.75)

Rich Floral (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $33.50)

Modern Dots (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $33.50)

Up next: Minted! Another one of my favorite invitation options, this site aggregates some of the most talented boutique designers and presents them in one easy-to-navigate spot, Minted.com.

Opera invitation by Cococello (25 cards and 25 envelopes for $67)

La Fete invitation by Oscar + Emma (25 cards and 25 envelopes for $65)

Finally, we have Hello! Lucky. I’ve always admired their stunning letterpress invites, so was incredibly excited to see them debut a line of digitally-printed pieces. Note: These are all wedding invitations, but because the text is fully customizable, they can easily become shower invitations.

New York City Skyline invite (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $93)

Visit New York invite (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $93)

Oak invite (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $93)

Home Sweet Home invite (25 cards and 35 envelopes for $93)

And this is just a small sampling from each of these sites! There are so many more designs to choose from, and, because most of the designs here are available in at least four different color combinations, the possibilities really are endless.

Lastly, after just a little bit of searching, I came up with a few non-traditional options for invitation wording.

“The pleasure of your company is requested at an event in honor of ___ and ____”

“Please join us in showering ___ and ____ with love and best wishes at a party in their honor”

“We would be delighted if you would join us at a party in honor of ____ and ____”

“The bridesmaids of _____ and _____ invite you to a party in honor of their marriage” (Careful, the “their” could get a bit confusing here!)

I hope this helps!