Oh So Beautiful Paper

The details are part of the fun of creating an event – be it a wedding, dinner party or bridal shower.  Those details make the event special, unique, and totally you!  Remember the Western Save the Date & Invitation DIY we did a few months ago?  It was one of our favorite tutorials… so we decided to expand on the theme and offer up some ideas for how to embellish a Western reception. – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

A simply set, color appropriate place setting is ready for your guest as they approach the table.  Kraft tags tied around the napkin, are embellished with a monogram and serve as place cards for this casual, fun fete.

To make the place card yags: Ink your monogram stamp (we used our Vintage Horseshoe Initial Monogram) and center it on the bottom of a kraft paper gift tag (or manilla shipping tag).  Press stamp down moderately and remove from surface.  Set aside to dry.  Once dry, write your guests’ names on the tag.  We love the way that the opaque white calligraphy ink looks on kraft paper.  Next, cut about 2 feet of rustic twine and wrap it around a pressed napkin.  Tie in a knot, thread the tag on to one loose in, and then tie the twine in a bow.

A collection of goodies for the reception.  They all look so cute together!

How to make the stamped escort cards: Our escort card stamps are some of our new faves in the shop.  For this western themed card, cut kraft paper into 3.75″ x 2.5″ inch rectangles.  Ink your stamp (we used our Howdy Escort Card Stamp) and center over the card.  Press down moderately, using the handle as the main point of pressure.  Remove stamp and let dry.  Once you have your final seating arrangement, fill in the cards accordingly.  We repeated the white ink for the names to have continuity throughout the event.

p.s.  Ed Note: Confused by the difference between escort cards and place cards?  Escort cards are typically displayed together at a central location near the reception entrance and include the guest’s name and table number, guiding your guest to the appropriate table where they can then find their seat.  A place card with the guest name then sits at the individual table place setting, indicating an assigned seat where a guest should sit at their table.

We racked our brains to figure out a cute and unique way to display all those howdy escort cards to no avail… until we stumbled across Emma’s mother’s vintage wooden spool and bobbin collection.  Perfect!

Bobbin Card Stands: Troll the internet or thrift stores for vintage wooden spools or bobbins (bobbins will be smaller).  Once you acquire the number that you need, you’re ready to start converting them into escort card holders.  Lightly draw a pencil line across the diameter of the top of the spool. With a small hand saw, saw down about an eighth to a quarter inch (so that the card can slide in).  Now your ready to set them all up and put them to work directing your guests to their tables!

We’ll be back with more Western wedding detail ideas in our next post!

Materials:

Vintage Horseshoe Initial Monogram Stamp

Howdy Escort Card Stamp

Stamp Pad (in Chestnut)

Metal Eyelet Gift Tags in Kraft

Rustic Twine

White Calligraphy Ink

Kraft Card Stock

Ruler and x-acto blade

Wooden Spools and Bobbins

Hand Saw

Photo Credits: Intertwyned for Antiquaria

I hope you enjoyed the earlier installment of creative escort and place card ideas!  There are so many great ideas, one post couldn’t possibly contain them all.  Here are a few more ideas to help inspire your wedding day stationery!

How cute are these escort cards? Let me count the ways: The type!  The twine!  The glitz!  Designed by Amy Hardy -  Design8days, photographed by Paper Antler via 100 Layer Cake.

An example of how some of the most beautiful escort cards are the most simple.  Calligraphy by Love, Jenna via A Lovely Morning (left).  Martha Stewart suggests welcoming guests to your reception with these mint lemonade escort bottles – so lovely! (right)

These succulents/chevron cards make me think “Palm Springs.”  Photo by Erin Hearts Court from Yes, Please Design.

Um, how cute are these library-themed escort cards?  The bride and groom displayed them card catalog-style.  Designed by PAPERjo, photo by You Look Nice Today Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs (left).  Creative and perfectly rustic mini-stump escort flags.  Photo by Vantage Pictures via Poppytalk (right).

Neutral escort cards are most definitely not boring.  Photographed by Nessa K Photography via Style Me Pretty (left); Calligraphy by Neither Snow via Once Wed (right).

This rustic escort card display could be so easily replicated at any type of event. Photo by Amanda Bevington via Snippet and Ink.

A gorgeous place setting that works for your wedding OR your next dinner party (left).  A luggage tag escort card idea for your destination wedding or hotel gift bag (right).  Both by Martha Stewart Weddings.

This bride and groom invited guests to “take a little piece of Arizona home with them.” Photo by Kimberly Jarman via The Bride’s Cafe.

Paper rosette magnet escort cards – so easy to DIY!  via Ruffled

Love the use of stamps or symbols in lieu of table numbers/names.  Photo by Cramer Photo via The Bride’s Cafe.

So often escort card holders are overlooked.  These mini-pomander balls are so unique and pack a visual punch.  Photo by Apertura via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

Thanks so much for joining me today – I hope these creative escort and place card ideas serve as inspiration for you as you plan your big day!

{images via their respective sources}

You already know how much I love wedding invitations, but I also love day-of wedding stationery – place cards, ceremony programs, menus, and all sorts of other fun papery goodness.  Today we’re rounding up some of the prettiest and most creative ideas as inspiration for all of you, starting with escort card and place card ideas!  There are so many ways to get creative with escort and place cards for your wedding that everyone can find something that fits in with their style or theme.

You can’t go wrong with a silhouette escort card for a classic wedding (left), and this “seating cards in a bottle” idea is so creative!  Both from Martha Stewart Weddings

Beautiful calligraphy and neutral cards by Neither Snow

I want to go to a wedding that features these adorable button escort cards! (left)  Equally adorable is using a typewriter to type each person’s name and then attaching a vintage typewriter key (right).  Both via Martha Stewart Weddings.

Another button idea, perfect for a rustic wedding. Photo by Max Wanger via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

This escort booklet idea is so versatile – featured in Martha Stewart Weddings (left).  Photo of cupcake escort card by Jill Thomas, card by Posh Paperie via 100 Layer Cake (right).

How cute are these pinwheels for a whimsical, outdoor wedding? Photo by Jessica Stout via Style Me Pretty.

Love the color and types used in these cards.  Ruby and Willow via Oh So Beautiful Paper.

Great color and visual impact in this example; perfect for a casual wedding.  Photo by Studio Nouveau, escort cards by Strong Studio via Ruffled.

These fabric escort cards (left) were DIY’d by the bride and groom – so creative!  Photo by Brett Buchanan via  Style Me Pretty.  I also love the idea of beautiful calligraphy on green apples for a fall wedding (right).  Photo by Meg Perotti, calligraphy by Calligraphy Katrina via Style Me Pretty.

These wrapped succulents are perfect for weddings, showers, Sunday brunches…  Photo by Mary Swenson via Somewhere Splendid.

Skeleton keys and satin ribbon – so romantic!  Photo by Kate Headley via United With Love.

Stay tuned for more beautiful escort and place cards!

p.s. Do you know the difference between place cards and escort cards?  Simply put, escort cards guide your guest to their designated table, while place cards help guests find their assigned seat.  Escort cards are typically placed at a central location at the entrance to the reception.  Guests will find their card, then locate their table based on the number indicated on the card.  Place cards, which are only necessary if you have assigned seating at your reception, sit at each individual place setting – hence the name!

{images via their respective sources}

As a former French language student, I have a not-so-hidden love for all things French – from food to fashion to art – and of course the City of Lights, Paris!  And it looks like I’m not alone, as Nichole from Coral Pheasant sent over this stunning invitation suite that she recently created for a collaborative event, all inspired by Parisian details.

From Nichole: I wanted to share with you an invitation suite inspired by Paris, the city of light and love.  Ladurée, the historic Parisian tea salon, and the tulle and tutus of the French ballet were our muses.  The colors of blush, gold and the signature Ladurée green were woven throughout the stationery suite.

Golden cording and pale pink silk ribbon, reminiscent of ballerina slippers, wrap around a trifold invitation, introducing texture and further adding to the sense of grandeur.  The blush invitation unfolds to reveal a french love quote and the ceremony details. Shimmer gold outer envelopes are lined with a delicate green and gold leaf patterned rice paper.

The design of the stationery suite was carried over to paper elements used on the tables and dessert display.  Cut corner menus are backed with ruched tulle, banner-shaped place cards are anchored by macarons and Sucre pennants adorn rock candy.

Absolutely gorgeous!  Thank you so much Nichole!

Photo Credits: Coral Pheasant

Spring is almost here – which means that a new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings is just around the corner!  The Spring 2011 issue is all about wedding details, and the editors have put together an 8-page story all about beautiful calligraphy.  I’m thrilled to help share a little sneak peek!

The feature includes more than a dozen calligraphers (and even more calligraphy styles!) with ideas for incorporating the written word throughout your wedding – from traditional day-of wedding stationery to edible calligraphy on favors and food!

I already spy some of my favorite calligraphers in the images above, and you can check out the full story in the new issue on newsstands in just a few days!

Photo Credits: Cover by Con Poulos, Calligraphy Photography by Marcus Nilsson | Martha Stewart Weddings, Spring 2011