{happy weekend!}

You guys! Today is the big day! We’re off to meet with our agent for the closing, and after that we’ll officially be homeowners! And between the craziness of packing, some last minute shenanigans from the title company (ugh), and a million other things, I’m kind of amazed that we got through this week at all. We have just a couple more days of packing left, then we move in on Monday! Luckily my in-laws are coming down to help this weekend, followed by my dad early next week. Wish us luck with the move – we’ll definitely need it! But in the meantime…

Hello Spring

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

A big welcome to the newest members of the Designer Rolodex!

We have a fun cocktail coming up for you this afternoon, so check back a bit later for the recipe!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!  xoxo

Sarah + Ben’s Summer Camp-Inspired Wedding Invitations

These invitations from Samantha and Whitney of Gus & Ruby Letterpress were created for a summer wedding at a summer camp on a lake in New Hampshire – which in cold and dreary early spring pretty much sounds like the best idea in the whole world! Since the wedding festivities stretched over a whole weekend, the invitation suite included lots of fun extras for wedding guests, from a custom illustrated map and schedule of activities to signs, menus, and tags for the day of the wedding, all letterpress printed on thick cotton paper. So awesome!

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (20)

From Samantha and Whitney: This custom suite was designed for a lovely couple getting married at a summer camp situated on an island in Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. The couple wanted their stationery to reflect their love of the camp (where the bride’s family had summered for years!) and the great outdoors while also giving guests a hint at all the fun activities they had planned for the wedding weekend.

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

When guests arrived on the island for the wedding weekend, each received a custom letterpress printed folio with their names and bunk assignment calligraphed on the front. A custom illustrated map and legend was placed inside each folio, along with waterfall inserts of information pointed guests in the right direction for the various events.

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (11)

A clean and simple save the date featuring a belly band printed with a birch bark texture and custom seal set the tone while the primary suite featured custom illustrations depicting the camp and camp activities both in a palette of woodsy greens and natural browns. Hand-writing-inspired sans serif typeface mixed with a breezy script and classic roman font all helped to convey the elegant beauty of the outdoor venue while still having a natural, effortless feel.

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (18) Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (17)

Each invitation was mounted onto a solid green backing paper and then again onto an extra thick 100% cotton card letterpress printed with a pattern of hand-drawn trees. The duplexing gave the piece luxurious weight and an extra sturdy in-hand feel. All the pieces were lovingly letterpress printed by hand on our antique press (c. 1913) on beautiful, textural, super thick 100% cotton paper. The custom illustration was done by our talented friends at Brainstorm and calligraphy by the amazing Lindsay Letters.

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (15)

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (13)

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (19)

A double-sided schedule of events card featured more custom illustration showcasing the fun camp events taking place. All pieces in the main invitation suite were stacked and tied together with a very fine jute twine to create a little bundle for guests to pull out of the envelope. A fun chevron envelope jazzed up the kraft envelope that each invitation suite was mailed in.

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (10)

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (16)

In each bunk, guests received welcome bags complete with letterpress tags and even water bottles featuring custom labels! At the wedding ceremony and reception, coordinating letterpress programs, escort cards, buffet signage, menus, and favor tags kept all event stationery and paper goods feeling cohesive.

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (9)

Summer Camp Wedding Invitations by Gus & Ruby Letterpress via Oh So Beautiful Paper (14)

So beautiful! Thanks Sam and Whit!

Design and Letterpress Printing: Gus & Ruby Letterpress

Custom Illustration: Brainstorm

Calligraphy: Lindsay Letters

Gus & Ruby Letterpress is a member of the Designer Rolodex – check out more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Brea McDonald Photography for Gus & Ruby Letterpress

Wildflower Wedding Invitations from An Lim

With spring right around the corner, I’ve been craving bright and vibrant color in any form. These wildflower wedding invitations from Vanessa An Lim are so perfect for spring and summer, with tons of saturated color and whimsical illustrations. So cheerful!

Wildflower Wedding Invitations by An Lim via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

From Vanessa: As a former event planner, I have worked with many brides who wanted more than a two color palette for their weddings. They wanted something festive, colorful, and whimsical. I created this invitation so they could have fun with color. Something they could match with vibrant accents like paper flowers in an array of colors, mismatched china, or more organic accents like wood and simple greenery.

Wildflower Wedding Invitations by An Lim via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Wildflower Wedding Invitations by An Lim via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Wildflower Wedding Invitations by An Lim via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Wildflower Wedding Invitations by An Lim via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Thanks Vanessa!

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more tal­ented wed­ding invi­ta­tion design­ers and the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: An Lim

Amy + John’s 3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations

Happy Monday everyone! We’re starting the week with these unique 3D invitations from Amy of Saint Gertrude Design + Letterpress. After several years together, Amy and her now-husband decided to finally tie the knot. With their friends and family already gathered together to celebrate their daughter’s 2nd birthday, they handed out decoder glasses and surprised everyone with a wedding! How fun!

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

From Amy: Despite being a wedding invitation designer, I’m not your typical ‘get married’ kinda gal. I love a wedding… but as a guest. The idea of ever being a bride was such a daunting prospect that my partner and I just kinda skipped over it, made a home together, had our daughter and were living in happily unmarried bliss. But 2012 dealt us a few blows and what came out of a really rough year was the realisation of the strong and unconditional love we had for each other. The only thing that stood in the way of us ‘being married’ was ‘getting married’.

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

On the 29th of December, our daughter Hazel’s 2nd birthday, we hijacked her party and got married. I wanted to create invitations that held a hidden message and also had a very subtle theme of ‘written in the stars’. Our guests received these invitations in the mail and on a beautiful summer day, a small crowd gathered in our back yard for what they thought a kid’s birthday party.

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

At 2:30, we handed out some envelopes, inside which were the invitations but this time they came with 3D decoder glasses that revealed this birthday was also a wedding. My friend and photographer captured some beautiful moments of our families realising what was going on. Our unsuspecting sisters were our witnesses and we danced our first dance (to John Lennon’s ‘Across The Universe’), not on a dance floor in front of 100 people, but in our garage with just the last few guests standing.

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Thanks so much Amy, and congratulations!

Design and Letterpress Printing: Saint Gertrude Design + Letterpress

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more tal­ented wed­ding invi­ta­tion design­ers and the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Luke Lornie Photography

{happy weekend!}

As much as I grumble about housing prices and other various DC-related headaches, this week reminded me of how much I really do love my city. We took Sophie to the Natural History Museum for the first time, mostly on a whim and only about an hour before it closed, but the museum was practically empty and it was so perfect. We enjoyed the live butterfly pavilion, but she really loved the gemstone exhibit – and who can blame her? Sparkly things in bright colors? Perfect for babies! Our afternoon at the museum made me even more excited for spring and summer, when we can do more outdoor things with Sophie. But in the meantime…

  

All photos by me via Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

We’ve got a little pre-Valentine’s Day treat coming up for you this afternoon… I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so check back a bit later this afternoon! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo