Oh So Beautiful Paper

With last weekend’s premiere of the new Great Gatsby movie (Who’s seen it!?), I thought it was high time I did a roundup of Art Deco inspired wedding stationery! While we know it will be a trend now, a lot of the distinct typography and unique motifs are timeless! You can also play around with some dramatic hues, mixed with black and gold. Talk about a statement! — Kelly

Photo by Julie Roberts Photography, Table Number by Be True Designs via Ruffled

Photo by Michelle March, Menu by Peplum Events + Design via Ruffled (left), Photo by Locally Grown Weddings, Escort Cards by Marit Hanson Weddings via Style Me Pretty (right)

Photo by Julie Roberts Photography, Menu by Be True Designs via Ruffled

Wedding Program by Hello Tenfold

 

Photo by Locally Grown Weddings, Menu by Marit Hanson Weddings via Style Me Pretty (left), Photo by Hazelnut Photography, Menu by Mintwich Design via Green Wedding Shoes (right)

Photo by Heidi Ryder Photography, Menu by Simply Letterpressed via Green Wedding Shoes

Photo by Lauren Scotti, Escort Cards by KM Paperie via 100 Layer Cake

Photos by Kate Harrison Photography, Paper Goods by Hello!Lucky

{images via their respective sources}

You already know about my deep and abiding love for beautiful calligraphy – I’m in constant awe of those with the talent for such beautiful lettering! Photographer and aspiring calligrapher Katie Decker created these gorgeous calligraphy invitations and stationery for her wedding in April, all inspired by her love for all things Italian. The pieces include rehearsal dinner invitations and menus, along with invitations, menus, and place cards for a bridesmaid luncheon. So pretty!

 

From Katie: My inspiration came from my love of anything Italian and our planned Italian honeymoon. I chose to go the rustic route and used a transparency paper which wrapped around a lovely deckled edge ivory paper. My lettering was therefore a little on the “rustic” side as well to fit with the theme – meaning it was not by any means perfect, which is what I love so much about hand lettering.

 

My mother and I also threw a luncheon in honor of my bridesmaids. The inspiration was a light Southern 1920s feel that stemmed from my wedding theme. I wanted to keep everything casual, but still sophisticated at the same time. We had a light Southern fare (since the wedding was in Savannah) and I really wanted the invitations to reflect the light but elegant feel.

 

 

Thanks Katie!

Photo Credits: Laura Catherine

Spring has arrived and we couldn’t be happier! It’s always a refreshing and inspiring sight to see all of the little buds form on branches, knowing that soon they will burst into a gorgeous show of flowers. With this save the date design, we wanted to capture this brief moment in time and create something fresh and beautiful. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

Step One: One of the key elements to this save the date is the border card on which you will print your stamp. To start, print out the border card file onto heavy card stock (as heavy as your printer will allow) and trim to size. If you would like to use this spring blossom border design, email us for the free printable download! Other borders can be found on Graphics Fairy.

Step Two: Now that you have your cards printed and cut, you will want to print your stamp (we used our Calligraphy Save the Date Stamp, No.2). Set your card on a firm, hard surface. Ink your stamp well and center it over the card. Press down firmly, making certain that you apply even pressure to all areas of the stamp. Lift the stamp off and set the card aside to dry. For more information about this process, please watch this video.

Step Three: We’ve dressed up the save the date card with a gorgeous sage gray ribbon. Simply cut a length of ribbon and tie it into a bow. Trim the ends with sharp scissors so that they are even and do not hang off of the edges.

Step Four: Next, you will want to stamp your return address (we used our Calligraphy Return Address Stamp) on the back flap of your envelope. Follow the same printing instructions from step two.

Step Five: Now all that’s left to do is to address the envelopes, add postage (we used vintage postage from Verde Studio) and send them on their way! This design is sure to bring a fresh dose of spring to every single guests mail box.

Materials:

Calligraphy Save the Date Stamp, No.2

Calligraphy Return Address Stamp

Stamp Pads (in Wicked Black & Seattle Grey)

8.5×11 Cover Stock (needs to be able to run through your home printer) in Eco White

Free Border Card Download (Please email us for the file)

Scissors (or an X-acto Knife & Self Sealing Mat)

A7 Envelopes-in Sage

Hug Snug Rayon Seam Binding in Khaki #503  (it’s actually a sage-grey color)

Verde Studio Vintage Postage

Anti­quaria is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Antiquaria

Clearly I’m loving large-scale stationery statements at weddings lately! My motto for the year is “giant is the new mini,” after all. Today we’re talking signs for the ceremony. For those brides out there who want a special introduction (and why wouldn’t you!?), why not have the little ones in your wedding party carry down a “Here Comes the Bride” sign? A little fancy calligraphy, a colorful DIY variety, I love them all! Here’s a few fun banners to get you started (and a few adorable kids sporting them!). — Kelly

Photo by Nancy Neil, Sign by Sweet Emilia Jane

Photo by Amy Arrington via Southern Weddings (left), Photo by Michelle March via Southern Weddings (right)

Photo by Christian Cruz via Ruffled

Photo by Imago Vita Photography, Sign by SwellMail Designs via Style Me Pretty (left), Photo by Max Wanger, Calligraphy by Love Jenna Calligraphy via 100 Layer Cake (right)

Photo by Sarah Kathleen, Banner by Ready Go

Photo by I Love That Glove via Wedding Chicks

 

Banner by BHLDN (left), Photo by Elizabeth Wertz via Style Me Pretty (right)

Photo by Gary Ashley of Wedding Artists Collective, Calligraphy by Little Miss Press via 100 Layer Cake

{images via their respective sources}

We’ve always had a love affair with indigo – in fact, the wedding quilt that Emma’s mother created for her is made from scraps of vintage Japanese indigo fabrics. With its recent rise in popularity we decided that indigo would make the perfect inspiration for an invitation suite. The deep blue and white color scheme, mixed with floral elements and classic typography, makes it a design suitable for any season! – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

Tie the square invitation and enclosure pieces together with indigo dyed twine and your guests will feel like they’re opening a gift!

Step One: Lay a  5.5″ square card down on a firm surface. Ink your stamp (we used our Sophisticate Invitation Stamp) thoroughly and center it over your card. Once it is positioned correctly, press down to make a print. Use both hands to ensure even pressure. Lift off and let the print dry. For more information on this process go here.

Step Two: You will repeat the printing technique from Step 1 for your reply card (we used our Sophisticate Reply Card Stamp) on a 4bar (3.5″x4.75″) card.  This time, instead of centering the stamp, you will print it toward the bottom of the card. This leaves space to print the floral pattern (we used our Daisy Pattern & Small Leaves Pattern Stamps) at the top. It’s best to start with the larger pattern stamp and then fill in with the smaller leaf stamp.

Step three: We love to incorporate patterns in to our invitation suites, whether it’s an envelope liner, backer or belly band…it adds so much style and personality to the design. We created this indigo pattern by randomly stamping pattern stamps (we used our Camellia Pattern, Daisy Pattern and Small Leaves Pattern Stamps) in frost white ink on 8.5″ x 11″ card stock. The effect that it creates is so lovely!

Step Four: To make the accommodations card, you will need to cut the 8.5″ x 11″ patterned paper into 5″ squares (you will get 2 per sheet). Next, ink and stamp your accommodations information (we used our Calligraphy Accent Accommodations Stamp) on the front of the navy blue card.

Step Five: Using the same printing technique as above, you will print your return address and reply address (we used our Wildflowers Return Address Stamp) on the outer and reply envelopes. Now all that’s left is to tie everything together, address your envelopes, add postage (we used awesome blue vintage postage from Verde Studio) and send them on their way!

Materials:

Sophisticate Invitation Stamp

Sophisticate Reply Card Stamp

Calligraphy Accent Accommodations Stamp

Pattern Stamps – Camellia, Daisy, Small Leaves

Wildflowers Return Address Stamp

Stamp Pad – Frost White, Midnight

5.5″ Cards in Luxe Cream

5.75″ Envelope in Night

4bar Flat Card in Luxe Cream

4bar Envelope in Night

8.5″x11″ Cardstock in Night

Vintage Postage Verde Studio

String or twine

Anti­quaria is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Antiquaria