Allie’s Vintage-Inspired Kentucky Derby Party Invitations

I admit that I’ve never actually watched the Kentucky Derby (or any other horse race), but I’ve always thought it would be fun to throw a theme party inspired by the derby.  All the ladies wear big hats, all the gentlemen wear seersucker suits, with lawn games and plenty of mint juleps to go around.  Sounds fabulous!  Well, Allie from Allie Ruth Design and her husband Ryan really did throw a derby party this year, and today we get a peek at the beautiful invitations she created for the party!

Kentucky-Derby-Party-Invitations

From Allie:  As soon as Ryan and I decided to have a Derby party, I knew I had to come up with something cute and vintage-inspired to invite our guests.  Believe it or not, this was actually the first time I had ever letterpress printed anything for my own party!  This was also my first time ever using a real vintage letterpress block.  I have always used photopolymer plates, but this time, I knew that the only way I could achieve the true vintage aesthetic that I was hoping for, I would have to find the perfect vintage block – and I did!  I love, love, love this race horse block, and we will be able to use it for years to come!

Kentucky-Derby-Party-Invitations

Kentucky-Derby-Party-Invitations

I had some Crane Lettra left over from an order, and it was the perfect color and weight for this job.  So velvety and rich!  I used a 1920s newspaper page as backing for the kraft paper labels, and wrote addresses with a white paint pen.  The tags had all of the details about directions, etc. and were finished with red and white baker’s twine that I had left over from a custom order.

Kentucky-Derby-Party-Invitations

Kentucky-Derby-Party-Invitations

Kentucky-Derby-Party-Invitations

So cute!  Thanks Allie!

Photo Credits: Allie Ruth Design

Jaime + Anthony’s Modern Woodgrain Wedding Invitations

I love, love, love the texture in these beautiful woodgrain and overall nature-inspired wedding invitations from designer Kate Holgate. Kate’s clients Jaime and Anthony are planning an outdoor wedding in Sun Valley, Idaho and wanted an invitation that reflected the natural surroundings while preserving the elegance of the event. The entire suite just comes together perfectly – from the woodgrain elements to beautiful blind impression details to gorgeous typography to soft muslin bags.

Modern-Aspen-Forest-Letterpress-Wedding-Invitation

From Kate: Jaime and Anthony are getting married outdoors in the beautiful historic Sun Valley, Idaho. Sun Valley is a laid back resort town surrounded by gorgeous mountains with numerous aspen groves. Jaime was open to ideas and only requested that I somehow tie in an ‘aspen’ theme.  Her wedding colors are coral and khaki, and I introduced teal to the invitation color palette.

Modern-Aspen-Forest-Letterpress-Wedding-Invitation

The save the date cards have a tree ring timeline in blind letterpress showing important dates in Jaime and Anthony’s relationship.  For the invitation suite, I created a pattern that repeats the aspen leaf symbol (also blind letterpress), a wood grain texture, and used vintage-inspired typography.  Stamped muslin bags replaced the traditional inner envelope.  The overall result feels elegant and natural.

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Modern-Aspen-Forest-Letterpress-Wedding-Invitations-Belly-Band

Modern-Aspen-Forest-Letterpress-Wedding-Invitations-Muslin-Bag

Beautiful work Kate!  Thank you so much!

Designer: Kate Holgate
Paper: Crane Lettra (Soft White) and French Pop-Tone (Raspberry)
Print Studio – Save the Dates: Paper Mill Designs
Print Studio – Invitations: Studio on Fire

Photo Credits: Kate Holgate

{happy weekend!}

Whew!  It was a wonderful week, but also a busy one!  I’m feeling good as we head into the weekend… because we’re finally under 50 days until my husband comes home!  Five months have already gone by, and now we have just a month and a half until he comes back home.  I can’t wait to have him home – but I also have a bunch of house projects that I want to finish up before he gets here, so I definitely need to get a move on.  I’ll definitely be spending some quality time with my to do list this weekend, but first I get to grab lunch with this awesome lady.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  But in the meantime…

…some links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

That’s it for me this week!  Don’t forget to check back bright and early on Monday for our next summer contest and to win some beautiful letterpress goodies.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you all back here on Monday!  xoxo

Photo Credit: Alicia Bock

Wedding Details: Escort Cards and Place Cards

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}

Modern Green + Gray Letterpress Wedding Invitations

I stumbled across these fun and modern wedding invitations while putting this morning’s business card post together.  Evan Huwa designed them for his own wedding last spring.  I’m loving the bright pops of green paired with the warm gray, and I also really love the salty texture of the solid letterpress printed areas.  I know the salty look isn’t for everyone, but I like the contrast of that texture against the modern graphic elements used in the invitation.  Very cool!

Modern-Green-Gray-Letterpress-Wedding-Invitation

Modern-Green-Gray-Letterpress-Wedding-Invitation

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You can check out more of Evan’s creative work on his website right here!

Photo Credits: Evan Huwa