I was chatting with one of my clients last week and she mentioned that she needed to pick up some paint chips to match her wedding colors. If you're still early on in your planning, this is a SMART thing to do. It's a great way to show your vendors exactly what colors you'd like to incorporate into your big day.
Fabric swatches are also helpful but sometimes the beautiful sheen in textiles such as satins and organzas make them difficult to match. In regards to invitations specifically, matching inks to matte paint chips is a much easier task than pairing them up with luxe fabrics that could have different tones in various angles/lighting.
Who knew that a trip to the hardware store could be such an important part of your wedding planning?