Invitation guru Laura Paladino got started in the biz when she created invitations for her own wedding. Drawing on her background in interior design, the creations were an aesthetic triumph. Compliments poured in, followed by commissions. Her forte is combining high-end papers and techniques with an eye for telling detail. Though she has a knack for the elegant—think toile patterns and sepia tones—Paladino is just as good at thinking outside the box. For a recent 25th anniversary bash, she created an invitation inspired by the couple’s courtship; the husband had proposed to his wife by writing in lipstick on her hanky, so guests received vintage hankies embroidered with party details.