11/20/2013

Huilin + Martin’s Gold Foil Boarding Pass Wedding Invitations

After years working as a freelance designer, Huilin Dai finally had the chance to design for herself: invitations for her upcoming wedding! Inspired by a recent move to San Diego, California and a love of travel, Huilin drew design inspiration from an airplane boarding pass. The invitation suite was letterpress printed by Mama’s Sauce in seafoam green and gold foil, then finished with seafoam edge painting!

From Huilin:Â After working as a freelance designer for many projects, I was excited to have an opportunity to design my own wedding invitations! Our invitation was inspired by a plane ticket for two reasons. First, we both love traveling, so we would like to have a travel theme goes along our wedding. Second, we both moved to San Diego and are getting married here â€“ most of our guests will fly into town without knowing each other.

We thought it would be a fun idea to give them a â€œplane ticket.â€ The ticket was created in two parts: the invitation and a perforated RSVP that can be torn off and mailed back to us, just like the boarding ticket! I also created a set of 4″ x 4″ coasters that will also be used as escort cards for the reception.

The invitations and coasters were printed byÂ Mamaâ€™s SauceÂ â€“Â they were so nice and willing to do what I asked for. The invitations were printed in three colors: gold foil, seafoam, and blind, with edge paint in seafoam. The detail on finished product was incredible, and I was so glad I found them!

Thanks Huilin!

Design: Huilin Dai

Letterpress Printing: Mama’s Sauce

Check out theÂ Designer RolodexÂ for more talÂentedÂ wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂersÂ andÂ theÂ real invitations galleryÂ for moreÂ wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Huilin Dai

11/20/2013

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11/20/2013

Sam + Adam’s Hand Lettered NYC Wedding Invitations

I love a modern twist on a classic black and white wedding invitation! J from Grey Snail PressÂ sent over these New York City wedding invitations featuring her hand lettering and custom illustrations of New York icons like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. I’m particularly loving the white ink on black paper for the main invitation. Such a bold and modern choice!

FromÂ J:Â Sam and Adam came to me to create a custom invitation suite for their wedding in Brooklyn. They wanted to incorporate some iconic elements of New York City into their suite.Â Â TheirÂ venue at the LibertyÂ Warehouse is the only location in New York where the Statue of Liberty is face front as she looks onto France.

The invitations were hand lettered and screen printed on black card stock in white ink with a simple drawing of the EmpireÂ State Building. Textured blush RSVP postcards, with a stylized illustration of the Statue of Liberty were printed flat in black ink. Corresponding enclosures were printed on 120# cream cardstock in black ink. Blush envelopes completed the suite and were hand lettered by Grey Snail Press.

ThanksÂ J!

Grey Snail Press is a member of theÂ Designer RolodexÂ â€“ you can see more of their beautiful workÂ right hereÂ or visit theÂ real inviÂtaÂtions galleryÂ for moreÂ wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits:Â Grey Snail Press

11/19/2013

Maggie + Trevor’s Modern Campaign-Inspired Baby Shower: The Details!

As promised, I’m back with more of the day-of stationery from Maggie and Trevor’s campaign-inspired “unshower” â€“ along with some photos from the evening! Sara and I wanted the day-of stationery to complement the invitations, with a similar color palette and lots of graphic patterns. Michele from Meant to Be Calligraphy kindly calligraphed a few signs for us, Sarah from August Blume created a few special pieces, and our friends at Minted were kind enough to share a few items from their new party decor collection!

Since we planned the evening more like a cocktail party than a traditional baby shower, Sara and I wanted to make sure we had lots of good food and plenty to drink. Our menu included chili, cornbread, a cheese plate, pies â€“ even s’mores over the backyard fire pit! Our drink menu included a hot apple cider station (with brandy close at hand for an alcoholic version) and our fall harvest punch.

Minted sent some of their striped paper straws, flag stickers, garland, table confetti, and striped bunting from their party decor collection in shades of red and aqua.

Minted also sent over some of their large decorative tissue paper fans, which I supplemented with smaller fans from Party City. We used the fans to create a fun tissue paper installation behind the dessert buffet, then arranged a few more fans in the windows and along the mantel.

Sarah from August Blume designed cards for party guests to fill out cards with advice and wishes for Maggie, Trevor, and their baby girl, which we placed next to a sign featuring Michele’s calligraphy. Sarah also designed custom cocktail napkins and drink stirrers, and a sign for the front door welcoming guests to the party.

The happy soon-to-be-parents!

Such a fun night! And a huge congratulations to Maggie and Trevor!

Event Planning: Bella Notte and Oh So Beautiful Paper

Drink Stirrers, Cocktail Napkins, and Welcome Sign: August Blume

Calligraphy: Meant to Be Calligraphy

Tissue Paper Fans, Stripe Straws, Table Confetti, Garland, and Bunting: c/o Minted

Photo Credits: party photos by Jessica Del Vecchio, detail photos by Nole Garey for Oh So Beautiful Paper

11/19/2013

Maggie + Trevor’s Campaign-Inspired Baby Shower: The Invitations!

A couple of weekends ago, my friend Sara and I co-hosted a baby shower for our friends Maggie and Trevor. Maggie co-hosted my own baby shower last year, so it was an absolute honor to be able to return the favor! Maggie and Trevor wanted a fun night with friends before their baby girl arrived, so we planned the evening as more of a cocktail party Â (aka “unshower”) than a traditional baby shower. Naturally, I was responsible for the paper details â€“ and today I’m so excited to share the invitations and day-of stationery with you! We’ll start with the amazing invitations by Sarah of August Blume, with the rest of the details to follow a bit later today!

Maggie and Trevor had the most beautiful campaign-inspired wedding four years ago, so Sara and I decided to run with that as our inspiration for the party. Inspired by Maggie’s plans for the nursery, we chose a color palette of red, white, and aqua. Maggie also loves graphic prints and patterns, which we also wanted to incorporate into the invitations and party stationery.

I’ve been a fan of Sarah from August Blume since featuring Beth and Michael’s save the dates in early 2012, and I thought her aesthetic would be a good match for Maggie and our overall party style. I sent Sarah links to Maggie’s blog, wedding invitations, and a Pinterest board that Sara put together with inspiration for the party. The invitation suite that she created could not have been more perfect!

FromÂ Sarah:Â I was thrilled to design for such a special project! The campaign-themed “unshower” had my creative wheels turning right from the start. Creating a mini campaign pin to include with the invitation seemed like the perfect, interactive touch.Â I wanted to incorporate something that had a hint of “baby” to it â€“ and the elephant and donkey push toys have ended up being one of my favorite aspects of the whole design.Â Michele’sÂ beautiful lettering kept the tone soft and her calligraphy on the wrap labels tied everything together. What an honor to be a part of Baby H’s unshower!

Sarah designed the invitations to be mailed in pool blue box mailers. The invitations feature calligraphy by Michele from Meant to Be Calligraphy. A red and white twill ribbon â€“ and a custom campaign button! â€“ tied the invitation and registry card together. Sarah honored our request for pattern with two fun graphic patterns: one lining the inside of the box mailers and another to back the invitation.