Thursday, October 9, 2008

A New DIY Invitations Website


I'm very excited to announce a new DIY Invitations website for brides looking to create their wedding invitations on their own. CardgirlDIY is a terrific new resource site brought to you by Cardgirl Invitations & Stationery.
This site was designed to fill the gap in resources for the large numbers of brides interested in creating their own wedding stationery. There was no "one" place to go to find practical information about where to buy paper, what size the cards should be or how to best print them. Although it was started with brides in mind, Cardgirl DIY has turned into an everyone site. It's even a good quick reference for those in their own custom invitation business...so everyone take a look.
In celebration of CardgirlDIY & a general love of letterpress, Cardgirl Custom Invitations is offering 15% off all letterpress orders placed before the end of October. This includes holiday cards, birth announcements, stationery & wedding invitations. Nessa is truly a leader in the letterpress stationery world, and I look forward to reading more of her tips and tricks for creating "the perfect" wedding invitation!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I just got this promotional email from The Wedding Library in NYC announcing a special offer from Thread Designs for 10% off all orders placed in October, plus some proceeds will go to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness. You must have your order completed by October 31 to qualify though. So go, save some cash on your bridesmaids dresses and do a little good for women (and men) everywhere by supporting Breast Cancer.


Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Blair and Ryan's Arizona Wedding


I just had to share the map from my real life couple Blair and Ryan from last week's post Picking Your Perfect Icons. Blair and Ryan chose to put particular emphasis on the Arizona Biltmore, as it was extremely important to them that the reception is being held there. It's an iconic Phoenix landmark and so it is placed right in the center of the map. There are lots of other fun things, we put on their college mascots, and other important places in their history of togetherness.


Here's some of what Blair had to say about her maps:


" Thank you SO much for all the work you’ve put into our Save The Dates… We L-O-V-E your map. LOVE. I’m seriously all teary over here! I’m crying over a map! It is so BEYOND perfect, I don’t even know what to say! Thank you SO SO SO SO much, you just made me the happiest girl in the world!! "



I'm so pleased to make a client this happy! Now I'm off to work on more maps for a while....


Monday, October 6, 2008

Thank You Signs

Loving this sign my client Sheryl just sent from her September Wedding. We created a custom Thank You sign in Parisian Script with a rose border in her favorite pink and chartreuse green colors. The photo, taken by Stephanie Williams of Next Exit Photography, will be used on their thank you cards.


Saturday, October 4, 2008

More Seating Arrangements for the Reception

One of my favorite event planners, Beth Helmstetter, sent over these photos of escort cards and table numbers for an event I worked on for her last week. These reception cards were handwritten in Cherise script on ivory cardstock in chocolate brown ink.


Here's a zoomed out shot of the table numbers we made for the wedding as well.


I love how organized the cards look lined up in their wooden boxes and surrounded by moss.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Sparkling Details

Joannna at Nickelson's Invitations has done it again. These delicate placecards and menus are painstakingly adorned with beautiful crystals. When I was writing the calligraphy I had no idea they would look this good! Each placecard has a table number written inside to denote table assignments and each menu as a bellyband wrapped around it with each guest's name on it. They turned out great. Photography by Melissa Musgrove.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Signs, Signs, Signs!


If you want a creative way to tell your guests what's happening in each area of your venue, try something like these cool signs we wrote on for one of Rebecca Stone's couples. Calligraphed on black, chalkboard-like pieces in white paint, these signs make a stunning addition to your decor. For more on this wedding, please visit Rebecca's blog.





Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Hanging Tag Placecards

I love this idea for placecards: My client, Ashley, used hangtags with little pockets where I wrote each name in pink on the pocket and the table on a white insert card. Photography by Jennifer Domenick of Love Life Images. Letterpress cards by Rebecca Shriver.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Vintage-Inspired Palm Placecards

These placecards from our Antigua Suite of Lucky Orchid invitations make a great statement at any reception. Hand-lettered in copperplate script, they suggest a subtle but classic theme for your event. Stay tuned for the matching programs!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Personalized Wedding Menus










Assign seats to your guests in style with these personalized wedding menus. Each menu features a guest's name written by hand at the top of each. Folded into a napkin this is the perfect addition to your reception decor.We offer over 20 design motifs for menus and calligraphy is included. Available in any style off our website. Matching backer paper is included also.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Your Map: Picking the Perfect Icons


If you are like many of my clients and you are in the market for a map, you might feel some anxiety or confusion about what points of interest to put on your map. One of my couples in particular even went so far as to send me a breakdown of their conversation about their map. It was so hysterical, it brightened my day and I have to share it, if only so that I can provide guidance about the maps and maybe elicit a chuck or two from my readers:


Blair: “We need to think of fun things we like to do together to put on the map for save the dates. What are our interests?”
Ryan: “We have lots of interests!”
B: “Like??”
{Insert solid minute of awkward contemplative silence}
R: “We like to ride bikes.”
B: “Ryan, we’ve never ridden bicycles together before. I haven’t been on a bike in at least 5 years.”
R: “Um… Well… We like to go to London together… and we like hiking…”
B: “We’ve only done both of those once. And I don’t really know how to put Phoenix next to London on a map.”
R: “Skiing and snowboarding?”
B: “Again, not so fitting on a map of the desert.”


"There was also a long diatribe about how the hobby “going out” basically translated to “we like to drink”, and how it probably wasn’t very classy to highlight “Hi! We’re Blair and Ryan! We’re getting married and we like to booze it up!” on a wedding-related event. Probably not fitting for a blog, but thought you’d appreciate nonetheless. "

This conversation went on for a good 5 minutes back and forth .... But commissioning a map for your wedding {or other occasion} is a great way to create a cherished piece of art, and it can be expensive, so it is good to talk about what to put down on your map and think about what is meaningful to you.


In Blair and Ryan's case, they are very into a map however they aren't really having a destination "wedding weekend," so they were very unsure about what icons to put down other than the church where both the ceremony and reception were taking place. Just because your event is not taking place over a period of several days doesn't mean their aren't other icons you should denote.


For example, where are your favorite places to eat? Many of your guests will probably come from out of town and in that case even if you aren't having specific events they will be in town for several days and need to know where to eat, other than their hotel room service.


Main hotels, especially those you've booked block rates at should all definitely be put on the map.

Where is the rehearsal dinner? If you aren't inviting everyone to the rehearsal, perhaps don't label it rehearsal dinner but put the location name and icon on the map anyway.

Where is your honeymoon, or your hometown, and where did you go to college? It's fun to mark these with a small icon and arrow pointing in that direction.

What are the main tourist attractions? Especially for those not taking part in your big day, they need to know where to go to have fun. Do you have a favorite beach, shopping area, or park?

Other than the wedding, what things are important to you, individually and as a couple? Two of my couples have been very much into tandem biking so we put a little bicycle a deux on the map for them. One of my couples met in law school and for the compass we put a little scale of justice.

Where do your most treasured memories take place? Put down where your first date was, your first kiss, and where your FH proposed.


All of these make a map special. If you have ideas about icons be sure to put them down when you order, but that in itself can be confusing. If so, we can help figure it out for you. Hopefully, this will help you make your keepsake map more special, and even more cherished!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Back to Maps



I was MIA yesterday due to lots of hustle and bustle in the studio but I am back today and still talking about the maps. Other than Save the Dates, one of the most obvious uses for the maps is as an invitation insert. Shown here is the Venice invitation suite from the Lucky Orchid Line and I've created a coordinating map to go with the antique gold motif on the invitation. The map itself is a one color letterpress, but the letterpress look adds a subtle elegance so that it does not require a lot of color.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Photographers Week on Kelly Oshiro




{Photos by Katie Moos}


If you are like me and like looking at wedding eye candy all day then be sure to stop by Kelly Oshiro's blog where she is having Photographer's Week. First up is Mary Jane Photography, and will also include work by Katie Moos, Elizabeth Messina, and Tim Halberg. All have been published in very notable wedding magazines and are quite talented and accomplished photographers. Be sure to check it out if you are in the market for photography.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Itineraries

Here's a very cute map idea that incorporates weekend information to make an itinerary for guests. It's great to include with your invitation or in the welcome basket. This one incorporates my icons and Ella style with a computer text font for a stylish look. It's small, and folds to about 4.5x5 inches.




Here's the monogram from the front of the itinerary.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

One Week is Not Enough Maps!



We hope you've enjoyed the save the date maps on display this week. Since there are still many more maps we've done recently, next week will cover other uses for maps, such as itineraries, driving directions, hotel accommodations, programs and invitation enclosures.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Jamaica Save the Date Wedding Map

Another of our more intricate save the date wedding maps is the Bifold. This folded card is designed either horizontally or vertically depending on your location. It offers 4 panels for writing. This one of Jamaica includes the cover page, the map, the formal save the date, and hotel and travel information on the reverse. It is held together in the envelope by a double-faced satin ribbon in a pleasant mango color. It also incorporates a fun pineapple envelope liner.



Thursday, September 18, 2008

Cape Cod Tri Fold Save the Date

The Grand Poobah of our save the date line is the Tri Fold. With six panels available, you can include information regarding every aspect of your wedding weekend. I usually like to incorporate a cover, map, and formal save the date on the front, but on this save the date in particular we've got information provided on the reverse side as well. It includes an itinerary, accommodations, and travel and information as well.

In addition, the outer envelope is custom printed with a return address and matching lighthouse/lobster liner to tie in with the fantastic details of a wedding on the Cape.


Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Santa Barbara Save the Dates

Continuing on our theme this week of Save the Dates is this beautiful letterpress map, printed double-sided and with a matching accommodations card. Done in the Paris design of our Lucky Orchid Invitation Line, the color was specifically mixed to match the pool colored envelopes.

Since the Save the Date is double sided, it was printed on extra thick paper for a deep imprint. Though this design includes an envelope, this paper would actually work swimmingly for a postcard because the paper thickness would hold up well in the mail.



Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Save the Date Wedding Map


This unique map is a one-sided Save the Date, complete with a matching outer envelope and a custom designed envelope liner. It incorporates details of the wedding weekend, including fireworks from a pirate ship out in the bay, golf, and the boardwalk.



Monday, September 15, 2008

Save the Dates -- Wedding Maps Week!


This summer has been a very busy few months for our cute custom maps. I've been so inspired by the maps that I have created a new save the date line that incorporates these maps. Available exclusively through the Laura Hooper Calligraphy website, we will take your icon ideas and transform them into a couture save the date, designed specifically for you and your fiance. We have dozens of examples online to show you just how fantastic these map save the dates are. Also, we have created several layout options, so these save the dates will appeal to brides with different stationery budgets.



Stay tuned this week for numerous examples of Save the Dates, and other ideas for your wedding maps.