Best of 2017: Playful and Colorful Wedding Invitations

It’s always hard to jump back into things after a long holiday break, so this week I thought I’d ease us back in with a recap of some of our favorite content from 2017! I started Oh So Beautiful Paper way way back in 2008 (it’ll be my 10 year anniversary in September!) with the goal of highlighting amazing wedding invitation designs, and it’s still such a privilege to showcase so many beautiful invitations each year. Let’s start with a few of our favorite playful and colorful wedding invitations!

Modern Holographic Foil and Enamel Pin Wedding Invitations by Rachael Gibilterra

Yes, yes, yes to more hologram wedding invitations in 2018! These modern holographic wedding invitations came to us from designer and lettering artist Rachael Gibilterra for her own special day!

Modern Holographic Foil and Enamel Pin Wedding Invitations by Rachael Gibilterra

Modern Holographic Foil and Enamel Pin Wedding Invitations

My girls Samantha and Whitney of Gus & Ruby Letterpress are experts at creating the most beautiful letterpress printed wedding invitations, and I’m loving all the fun patterns they incorporated into these colorful wedding invitations! Plus, those watercolor escort cards are easily one of my favorite wedding details of the entire year.

Colorful Patterned Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Gus and Ruby Letterpress

Colorful Patterned Letterpress Wedding Invitations by Gus and Ruby Letterpress

Colorful Patterned Letterpress Wedding Invitations

These playful floral pinwheel wedding invitations from Goldie Design Co. are just SO fun – and it seems like you all agreed, since they were one of the most popular wedding invitations we featured in 2017! Let’s keep our fingers crossed for more creative wedding invitation format ideas in 2018!

Playful Floral Pinwheel Wedding Invitations

Playful Floral Pinwheel Wedding Invitations

I always love a wedding invitation (and couple!) that dares to be a little different, and these adorably quirky camp-theme wedding invitations by designer Misty Manley definitely fit the bill! Created for her own wedding, I love all the non-traditional details – from pennants to colorful buttons!

Quirky Camp-Theme Wedding Invitations by Misty Manley

Quirky Camp-Theme Wedding Invitations by Misty Manley

Quirky Camp-Theme Wedding Invitations

As always, you can visit the real invitations gallery for even more wedding invitation inspiration, and be sure to check out our curated gallery of wedding invitation designers – the Designer Rolodex – if you’re on the hunt for the perfect designer to make your own wedding invitations!

Check back soon for some of our favorite romantic and understated wedding invitations from 2017!

Thank You Cards

The thank you card is really the backbone of any stationery collection. And rightly so – greeting cards and stationery is all about keeping in touch and connecting through a handwritten note, and what better reason to send a note than to thank a dear friend or family member? Thank you cards don’t have to be stuffy or formal – the most important thing is that YOU like the design and write your message inside. Employing humor, bright colors and cheeky illustrations, these selections show your personality as well as your appreciation. –Shauna

Thank You CardsFrom top right:

1. Enjoyed those front row tickets to Beyonce this summer? Send this Rifle Paper Co. foil extravaganza.

2. Aunt sent you flowers because she heard you were feeling down? This floral illustration by Dinara Mirtalopova for Red Cap Cards is a sure winner.

3. Finally scored an invitation to your neighbor’s annual BBQ? This Hello!Lucky hot dog design is a perfect way let them know just how you enjoyed those ribs.

4. Extremely generous friend gave up their Saturday to help you move? Pair this Smudge Ink card with an actual six pack and they’ll grumble less the next time you call.

5. Spouse knocked it out of the park for your birthday this year? Tell them how truly grateful you are for the gift (and them!) with this gold foil number from Frankie’s Girl.

6. Best bud stay up most of the night to help install your art show? Clearly, only a sheep wearing a headband will do. From Amy Heitman.

7. Home made treats appear on your desk for your birthday? Show your team just how much you care with this message forward design from Ladyfingers Letterpress.

8. Co-worker do you a solid? Drop this perfectly pink Ban.do card on their chair during lunch (next coffee is on you as well).

9. Mom passed along a new novel she thought you might enjoy? Show her she raised you right with this sweet beehive from One Canoe Two.

10. Quite possibly the worlds most perfect thank you card (also a garbage can) from Blue Barnhouse.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations

Imagine a Downton Abbey era garden party by the ocean. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, that’s exactly what Nichole of Coral Pheasant had in mind when creating these classic ocean-inspired wedding invitations! The entire suite is letterpress printed in a restrained slate blue, with classic typography and the most gorgeous envelope liner of painted waves crashing on the shore. So beautiful!

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

From NicholeKara and Victor were married by the sea this past August in Groton, Connecticut. Kara grew up spending her summers on the Connecticut shoreline and her love of the ocean and its energy greatly guided the direction of her wedding invitations. The grandeur of the Branford House is what drew them to the venue, but it was important to Kara and Victor that their wedding was formal and sophisticated – and by no means stuffy. A Downton Abbey era garden party by the ocean with clean lines and classic colors.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Kara shared with me that she wanted her guests to leave their wedding thinking “Wow! That wedding was beautiful, comfortable and fun. And the food was awesome!” While I couldn’t ensure the delicious food, I was totally game to get her guests excited about her wedding – and that’s just what their paper story did!

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

The typography of the invitation was classic and very considered, balancing a serif font with a charming script. The suite was letterpress printed in slate blue on 110# Crane’s Lettra and the main invitation and outer envelope flap were edged in the same slate blue, adding a restrained graphic pop. The envelope liner of painted waves crashing on the shore is a nod to Kara’s love of the ocean and the venue’s seaside location.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Additional, subtle color was layered in through colored envelopes: a light dusty blue for the outer envelope and a soft grey for the reply envelope. Illustrations of lavender sprigs and the printed stamps on the outer envelope add just the right touch of gaiety making this suite extra sweet. If you look closely, you’ll see that the printed stamps relate back to the ocean with illustrations of a shell and a lighthouse, along with their wedding date bordered by lavender sprigs.

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Classic Ocean-Inspired Wedding Invitations by Coral Pheasant

Thanks Nichole!

Stationery Design and Styling: Coral Pheasant

Coral Pheasant is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of Nichole’s beautiful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more invitation inspiration!

Photo Credits: Coral Pheasant

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations

These invitations combine two of my current favorite paper trends: dreamy vellum and romantic deckled edges! Michelle Castle of Honey Paper designed these gray vellum wine country wedding invitations, with a beautiful vellum overlay on invitations printed on the dreamiest Italian paper with deckled edges. The juxtaposition of crisp vellum and textured paper in this suite is simply stunning. More please!

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

From Michelle: Guests gathered for an outdoor summer wedding ceremony and reception at The Velvet Bee Vineyard in one of California’s picturesque wine regions. The couple wanted their love and appreciation of the arts to be reflected in every aspect of their wedding day from the hand moulded paper of the invitations to the elegantly handcrafted ceramic dishes.

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

Texture and nostalgia were integral to the atmosphere. Sheets of white linen the color of cut radish covered the tables and each vase held the velvety, pinnate leaves of silver ragwort, clutches of white zinnia and thick downy roses. Bread and butter plates, saucers and glasses resembling 18th-century creamware enhanced the dreamy ambiance.

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

We used a combination of hand moulded Italian papers and vellum for the invitation suite and menus emphasizing the polarity of the textures. The dense, fibrous invitation and reply card were printed with a soft gray ink in a font suggestive of a carefully handwritten letter. The invitations were overlaid with wafer thin vellum printed with drawings of garden roses in gray and wrapped in silk ribbon, an orchestration of texture and tone. Creamy white wax seals impressed with a bee stamp finished the invitations. Envelopes were lined with a drawing of a single rose in gray repeating the botanical style of the vellum pieces. Envelopes were addressed in a thin line calligraphic script in gold ink.

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

A spectrum of gray, cream and white unified the paper details and ceramics – the slow, rich beauty of stone, slate, ash – gray and its association with the passage of time, memory, storms and wisdom. The menu repeated the vellum of the invitation and was printed with a pale, stone gray ink. Focusing on texture and the subtle tone on tone of transition from white to gray was a nod to the beautifully crafted Astier de Villatte ceramics at the table. Menus were placed atop plates with either gilt edges or beaded rims.

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

The polarity of the clay and glaze, as well as the lightness of the ceramic objects, was something we wanted the stationery and menus to reflect. The lucid, ephemeral quality of the vellum and the feathery edged moulded deckled paper carried those qualities from the invitation suite to the menus.

Gray Vellum Wine Country Wedding Invitations by Honey Paper

Thanks Michelle!

Design & Calligraphy: Honey Paper

Paper: Arturo Italian

Honey Paper 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: Cara Robbins Studio

Happy Weekend!

Happy Friday everyone – and Happy National Coffee Day! Although every day is National Coffee Day in my house. After a few busy weekends of birthday parties, family trips, and other events, I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend at home. It’s supposed to be cool and crisp here this weekend, which sounds absolutely perfect after a couple weeks of summer-like heat. Yay! But in the meantime…

Union Market Heart Mural

One of my favorite DC murals: the heart wall at Union Market! Photo by me.

…a few links for your weekend!

Kind of obsessed with this family Halloween costume inspired by school supplies!

Madewell is offering up to 30% off through Monday – and they never do sales! I’m really loving this sweater, this bell-sleeve top, and this drapey shirt, and I’m highly considering getting one of these sweater coats

Yay! We finally have a Jeni’s ice cream in DC!

It’s Premier Day over on West Elm and their family of brands – today only! I’ve got my eye on this gem cut brass side table, this copper oil and vinegar set, and this gorgeous floor lamp. Plus, get free shipping with code PREMIER!

So into dark exterior house colors right now

Loving all the bright colors in the latest collection from Oscar de la Renta

BTW – are you on the mailing list for Common Room Studio? We’re getting ready to announce our first workshops and events! You can also follow us on Instagram here!

 

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

Obsessed with this colorful DIY Matisse-inspired cut paper garland

Oooh! Hot pink watercolor wedding invitations

Behind the Stationery with Tiny Bones Press

Wedding stationery inspiration for brunch weddings!

Well Said Type: Raindrop

I made a video using the Samsung Galaxy S8+ – the camera is so good!

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend – I’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo