{happy weekend!}

This has been quite a whirlwind of a week and a long weekend is just what I need to help recover.  My husband and I are approaching the last phase of our first pregnancy, and earlier this week we found out that our baby will be making a slightly earlier entrance than originally expected – possibly in just a couple of weeks!  To be honest, I’m both a little freaked out by our new accelerated timeframe, worried about making sure that our baby stays healthy, and excited to finally meet this little person!  But in the meantime…

Photo Credit: Lisa Teso Photography

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Since Monday is the Labor Day holiday here in the U.S., I’ll be taking the long weekend to rest and refocus, but I’ll see you all back here on Tuesday! xoxo

Sneak Peek – Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2012 Issue!

Oh my, this summer has just flown by – and fall is just right around the corner!  And with the changing season comes a new issue of Martha Stewart Weddings!  I’m super excited to see all the beautiful stationery featured in the Fall 2012 issue, and today I have a fun sneak peek to share with you!

For the Fall 2012 issue, the stationery focus is all about reflecting a couple’s personal style – whether traditionalist, modern, or anything in between. The stationery feature includes five invitation suites with fun typography, color combinations, and unique design elements.  And of course the editors have chosen some of my favorite stationers for this feature, including Mrs. John L. Strong, Stripe & Field, Paper + Cup, MaeMae Paperie, and Ladyfingers Letterpress!

Keep an eye out for the new issue on newsstands soon!

Photo Credits: Cover by Dirk Kikstra, story photographs by Bryan Gardner, both for Martha Stewart Weddings Fall 2012

Leigha + Kenji’s Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations

It’s always so fun to see a design carried through from the save the dates to the wedding invitations and post-wedding thank you notes – and today we get to do just that!  Shari from Em-press Design created these invitations for a wedding in Texas, incorporating the bride’s rustic style with typography-driven design.  I’m particularly smitten with the subtle pops of pink throughout the suite – such a sweet surprise!

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

From Shari:  Leigha is a long-time corporate client who works in marketing and loves unique design, so I was honored when she asked me to design her save the dates and her entire wedding invitation package. Their wedding will be held in a beautiful old barn on a family farm in suburban Ft. Worth, Texas, complete with hay-filled stables and crystal chandeliers.

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7)

Leigha wanted to incorporate rustic typographical elements with her wedding colors: champagne, shades of warm gray, and dusty pink. I created a custom logo with the couple’s names (inspired in part by typography I saw during a trip to Paris).

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

She also requested that we merge Kenji’s family kanji, so I designed a rustic/distressed logo utilizing the Fukasawa kanji to accompany the return address on the save the date postcard and the invitation envelope.  The save the date postcard and double-sided invitation were offset printed on warm white textured bamboo cover stock.

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (8)

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

I had rubber stamps made  via Acme Rubber Stamp Co. in Dallas of the kanji with the return address as well as the “Leigha and Kenji” logo so that Leigha could stamp her own thank you notes and envelopes. Leigha and her mom assembled all the pieces of the invitation suite and tied them with sisal twine.

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

I had so much fun with these “free ride” tickets! Mailed to just a few guests in the wedding party, Leigha wanted a clever way to let friends and family know that their rooms would be comped and I thought a custom raffle ticket fit the overall rustic theme of her wedding. I had them printed on bamboo paper, hand perforated them, then trimmed them to size and punched out the corners to mimic the raffle ticket shape.

Rustic Modern Wedding Invitations by Em-press Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

 

Thanks Shari!

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

Photo Credits: Em-press Design

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Black + White Stripes

I can talk about stationery trends and punchy color palettes all day long, but there’s something about simple black and white that always has me coming back for more. Black and white stripes, in this case. They can be bold and modern, making a statement on your wedding menu, or they can blend seamlessly into your classic, chic ceremony as a simple thin border on your programs. I don’t think I could pick a side on that battle, which is why I’ve rounded up the pattern in both forms today: large and in charge and sweet and demure. Which team are you on!? — Kelly

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Manvi Drona-Hidalgo, Menu by Fig. 2 Design (left), Photo by Feather Love Photography, Place Cards by Wedding Paper Divas via Green Wedding Shoes (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by EP Love, Menu by Mint Love Social Club via Green Wedding Shoes

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Turner Creative Photography, Menu printed by All Along Press via Style Me Pretty

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Luna Photo, Escort Cards by Alchemy Fine Events & Invitations via 100 Layer Cake

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Josh Gull Wedding Photography, Food Labels by Nico and Lala via Ruffled

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Turner Creative Photography, Escort Cards printed by All Along Press via Style Me Pretty

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Catherine Hall Studios, Ceremony Program by Passing Notes via Style Me Pretty (left), Menu by Crafty Pie Press (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Place Cards by Bespoke Letterpress

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Black and White Stripes via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Ceremony Programs by Bespoke Letterpress

{images via their respective sources}