Art deco is the look of the 1920s and 1930s: geometric sunbursts, fan shapes, strong lines, black lacquer and gold. For weddings it means glamour, champagne and a black tie dress code, which is why it is a favorite for city venues, historic hotels and New Year's weddings. The invitation sets that expectation from the first glance.
This guide covers formal and Gatsby-style wording, black tie guidance, design ideas and when to send. Ready-made designs are on our wedding invitations page, each with RSVP built in.
Art Deco Style Guide: Motifs, Palette and Type
Art Deco is one of the few invitation styles that tells guests what kind of evening to expect before they read a word. Four design elements do most of the work, and the same four should carry through from the invitation to the reception.
- Geometry. Fans, sunbursts, chevrons and stepped borders are the signature shapes. One strong motif, used in the frame and repeated on the menu or welcome sign, looks more deliberate than several competing patterns.
- Palette. Black and gold is the classic pairing. Ivory and gold reads softer for a daytime or garden venue, while emerald, sapphire or burgundy with metallic accents feels richer for an evening ballroom.
- Typography. Tall, condensed capitals with generous letter spacing signal the 1920s. Keep body text in a simple, readable face so dates and addresses stay clear on a phone screen.
- Symmetry. Centered layouts inside a strong frame are typical. Resist filling every corner; negative space is part of the look.
- Carrying it into the day. A champagne tower, black-and-gold tablescapes, fan-shaped table numbers, a sunburst welcome sign, tall feather centerpieces and a jazz or swing playlist for the first hour all echo the invitation. If you combine a video invitation with printed menus or programs, repeat the same motifs and palette so guests feel one wedding rather than mixed decades.
What to Include on an Art Deco Wedding Invitation
Formal design invites formal expectations, so the invitation needs to be complete and precise. Include:
- Host line and full names: Parents, the couple, or "together with their families."
- Date and time: Written out in words for a formal invitation ("Saturday, the eleventh of September").
- Ceremony and reception venue: With a separate line if cocktails start somewhere else ("cocktails at five, ceremony at six").
- Dress code: Spelled out, never implied by the design.
- Reception line: "Dinner, dancing and champagne to follow."
- RSVP deadline and wedding website: For travel, hotel and parking details.
The dress code deserves its own line because "Art Deco" alone does not tell guests what to wear. Common phrasing:
| Phrase | What guests usually understand |
|---|---|
| Black tie | Tuxedos and floor-length or formal gowns |
| Black tie optional | Tuxedos welcome; dark suits and cocktail or long dresses fine |
| Black tie, twenties glamour encouraged | Formalwear, with feathers, fringe and pearls welcome but not required |
Art Deco Wedding Invitation Wording
Formal Black Tie
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Avery
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Vivian Rose
to
Jonathan Reed
Saturday, the eleventh of September, two thousand twenty-seven
at seven o'clock in the evening
The Grand Ballroom, Hotel Meridian
Black tie
Gatsby Glamour
Old sport, you're invited.
Join Daisy and Max for a wedding celebration of the roaring kind
Saturday, June 26, 2027, at 6 p.m.
Black tie, twenties glamour encouraged.
Champagne, jazz and dancing till late.
Couple Hosting
Together with their families
Clara Bennett and Owen Hart
invite you to celebrate their marriage
Saturday, October 9, 2027, at 5:30 p.m.
The Atrium, downtown Chicago
Black tie optional.
New Year's Eve Wedding
A new year, a new chapter.
Join us for the wedding of Iris and Leo
Friday, December 31, 2027, at 8 p.m.
Black tie. Champagne at midnight.
Reception Insert
Dinner, dancing and champagne
immediately following the ceremony
in the Gold Room
Short Save-the-Date Message
Save the date for a little glamour: Vivian and Jonathan, Sat 9/11/2027, Hotel Meridian. Black tie. Invitation to follow.
For more formal examples, see our wedding invitation wording examples.
Save-the-Date
- Save the date
Vivian and Jonathan
September 11, 2027 · Chicago
Black tie. Formal invitation to follow. - An evening of champagne and jazz is coming.
Clara and Owen are getting married
October 9, 2027 · The Atrium, Chicago
RSVP Card Lines
- The favour of a reply is requested by the eleventh of August.
___ Delighted to attend ___ Regretfully decline - Kindly reply by August 11 so we may save you a seat at the table.
Choosing a tone. Decide whether your invitation is playful 1920s pastiche ("Old sport, you're invited") or classic geometric formal. Mixing a joke-heavy opener with traditional family host lines can feel uneven. If parents are hosting, keep the main invitation traditional and save the Gatsby flair for a reception card, the save-the-date or the after-party note.
Art Deco Wedding Video Invitation Designs
Art Deco Noir is the most literal match: a gilded entrance with a geometric sunburst over the doors and a vintage car outside, a glittering hall under a tiered chandelier, and a tall deco building lit up at night.
Black Velvet is minimal and moody: candlelight, champagne glasses and a black envelope with a black wax seal holding an ivory "You're Invited" card embossed with a sprig, a quiet fit for a black tie dinner wedding.
More glamorous options in the library: Champagne Lumiere (a champagne tower and white flowers in a mirrored ballroom), Crimson Court (gilded doors opening onto a red-carpeted palace hall, ending on a burgundy velvet card with a gold monogram) and Ivory Nocturne (an ivory dining room with candlelight and a "You're Invited" place card).
Choose a design in the TwistInvite app, add your formal details and dress code, and send the link to guests. They open it in a browser and RSVP with no download, and you follow replies in the app. Get the App.
For a glittering ballroom feel, Champagne Lumiere opens on a white-and-gold reception hall with chandeliers and a table of champagne flutes, a natural match for the champagne-tower moment.
Formal Etiquette: Dress Code, RSVPs and Seating
The etiquette notes here are general advice; follow your venue’s rules and your family’s customs where they differ.
- Give guests time for formalwear. Black tie and jewel-tone palettes can mean tuxedo rentals and gown shopping. Say "black tie" or "black tie optional" explicitly and send invitations early enough for fittings, especially for New Year’s Eve or holiday-weekend weddings. If you have preferences, such as velvet jackets or metallic accessories, mention them on the website rather than crowding the invitation.
- Firm headcounts for plated dinners. Formal receptions usually need a final number for the caterer. Set the RSVP deadline about a month before the wedding and follow up once with anyone who has not replied. If your venue needs meal choices, collect them in a personal follow-up after guests say yes.
- Seating. Assigned tables suit a formal dinner. Fan-shaped or numbered table cards in the same style as the invitation help guests find their seats quickly.
- Common mistakes to avoid. Writing "Gatsby casual" when you mean black tie; gold text on black that is hard to read on a phone; leaving out parking or shuttle notes for downtown venues; and assuming guests will infer a dress code from the design. Proofread names and times carefully, because typos stand out on a formal layout.
Printed Suite, Video Invitation or Both
Art Deco looks at home on heavy card with gold foil, and it also translates well to a video invitation, where a sunburst frame or a glittering hall can move. Many couples now combine the two, and each format has a clear job.
- Printed pieces work well for the people who will keep them, such as grandparents and close family, and for day-of items like menus, place cards and the welcome sign. Foil and letterpress emphasize the geometry, but they add production time, so order early.
- A video invitation reaches every guest instantly, is easy to share by link or SMS, and keeps replies in one place. With TwistInvite, you create it in the app, guests open it in their browser to view and RSVP, and you follow responses with RSVP tracking and guest response management.
- Using both. Keep the same motif, palette and wording across formats, and make one of them the place where RSVPs happen so you do not track replies in two systems.
When to Send Art Deco Wedding Invitations
As a general guide, send invitations six to eight weeks before a local wedding, and about three months ahead if guests travel or the date falls on a holiday such as New Year’s Eve. Black-tie events benefit from the earlier end of that range so guests can arrange formalwear.
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| 6–12 months before | Save-the-date with city, date and dress code |
| 6–8 weeks before (3 months if travel) | Formal invitation |
| About 1 month before | RSVP deadline; finalize seating and meal numbers |
| 1 week before | Reminder with parking, shuttle and arrival times |
If you are hosting a welcome drink or an after party, include those times on the website so guests can book hotels and transport around the whole evening.
Conclusion
Art Deco wedding invitations promise an evening of glamour, and the best ones back that promise with clear details. Choose one geometric motif and a black-and-gold or jewel-toned palette, decide whether your tone is playful Gatsby or classic formal, and spell out the dress code in plain words. Send invitations six to eight weeks ahead, or around three months when guests travel, and set the RSVP deadline about a month out so seating and catering are settled in time. Then carry the same motifs into the save-the-date, menus and signage so the whole day reads as one considered set, from the first envelope to the last dance. For more ideas, see our luxury wedding invitations and vintage cocktail party invitations guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an art deco wedding invitation?
An invitation inspired by 1920s and 1930s design, with geometric shapes such as fans and sunbursts, black and gold palettes and tall, condensed lettering.
What does black tie mean on a wedding invitation?
It means formal attire: tuxedos and floor-length or formal gowns. Black tie optional means tuxedos are welcome but dark suits are fine.
How do I word a Gatsby wedding invitation?
Start with a playful line such as old sport, you're invited, then give the formal details and a dress code such as black tie, twenties glamour encouraged.
What colors suit an art deco wedding?
Black and gold is the classic pairing. Ivory and gold, emerald, sapphire and burgundy with metallic accents are also popular.
When should art deco wedding invitations be sent?
Six to eight weeks ahead, or about three months ahead for destination or holiday weddings.
What is the difference between black tie and black tie optional?
Black tie means tuxedos and formal gowns are expected. Black tie optional means tuxedos are welcome, but dark suits and formal dresses are also appropriate.
Can art deco invitations work for a daytime wedding?
Yes—use ivory, gold and softer geometry, and choose a daytime dress code such as formal afternoon attire instead of black tie.
What fonts feel art deco on a wedding invitation?
Tall condensed lettering and strong geometric wordmarks fit the style. Avoid overly frilly scripts that fight the 1920s geometry.
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.