Black paper and gold foil were just MEANT for gorgeous 1920s-inspired designs! Alison of One + Only Paper created these black and gold foil Art Deco birthday party invitations for a surprise (!!!) 50th birthday party. Alison channeled Baz Luhrmann’s edition of The Great Gatsby with Art Deco-inspired monograms, wax seals, and festive watercolor illustrations. So fun!

From Alison: I was so excited to be contacted for the most fabulous surprise birthday party, taking place over the course of a weekend at a mansion in North Carolina. The theme was the Great Gatsby, the Baz Luhrmann edition, and no corner was to be cut in creating a weekend of surprise and delight. Guests were to be transported back in time with this fun weekend, and we knew that the invitation would have to be the first indication that this was going to be the party of the century.

The standout piece of the suite was the invitation, we went with a thick black card stock, and gold foil printing, to ensure that guests knew that this was going to be a party unlike any other. For the design, I wanted it to feel like a jazz era invitation, without going too cliche, so I created a feminine and Art Deco inspired line drawing, and kept the typography simpler, in order to not feel too cartoonish.

The secondary pieces were flat printed on cream paper, and we kept everything small, reminiscent of smaller ‘calling cards’ that people who lived in the 1920s may have used. I created watercolor illustrations to help guests know what the dress code may be, and used pieces from the invitation drawing to carry the intricate design throughout the suite.

We finished the suite by wrapping it in a smooth vellum belly band, and sealing it with an oversize wax seal. It added the perfect touch of red, and was another old school accent.

Overall, this suite was fun and gave a vintage feel, while keeping one foot in the 21st century. I loved creating an over the top invitation for such a fun surprise party; it was different from my usual wedding fare, and gave me a chance to flex some creative muscles!

Thanks Alison!

Design: One and Only Paper

Planning: Kelley Ann Ward

Calligraphy: Quietude Co.

One and Only Paper is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their work right here!

Photo Credits: Mikkel Paige