{happy weekend!}

Happy Friday!  This week was pretty awesome – on Monday I took a little field trip with the talented Michele of Meant to Be Calligraphy to visit Terrain.  Have you been?  It was my first time there and I was just floored by how beautiful everything is – I had to resist the urge to bring home a million new plants for our poor little garden (which sadly isn’t doing so well in the brutal DC summer heat).  And lunch at the cafe?  Sooooo good.  I can’t wait to go back!  But in the meantime…

Terrain via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4) Terrain via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Terrain via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1) Terrain via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Photos of Terrain by me via Instagram (@beautifulpaper)

A few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

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

Matt + Kimmy’s Illustrated Movie Poster Wedding Invitation

Nicole from The Nic Studio is known for her unique illustrations, from greeting cards to art prints to custom projects.  Nicole sent over these 1940s movie poster-style invitations that she designed for a recent wedding, and I couldn’t resist showing you how she went about creating these unique invitations!

Nic Studio Poster Wedding Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

From Nicole: The bride, Kimmy, is an old friend from college, and she and Matt both work in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.  Kimmy is part of “The Apple Sisters” – a faux 1940s female singing group and comedy show that they perform live and distribute via podcasts.  Kimmy and Matt are both drawn towards 1930s and 1940s themed items, especially old movie posters.  We decided to do a 1940s movie poster invitation for their wedding.

Nic Studio Poster Wedding Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

I gathered a number of old posters to inform different aspects of the invitation illustration and design. “The Public Enemy” poster for the drama and general illustration composition; the “His Girl Friday” poster for the painterly style; the “Tea for Two” poster for the circular design; and the “Moon Over Miami” poster for the typography.  I then asked Matt and Kimmy, both in the entertainment industry, to take a number of dramatic photos of themselves and derived the poster illustration from those photos.

Nic Studio Poster Wedding Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)Nic Studio Poster Wedding Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

My background is in illustration and portraiture, so this was a dream for me.  I started by sketching out the couple in blue, then started to lay in some color, first in the background and then onto the subjects themselves.  This is ALWAYS the ugly stage, which I’ve learned to be comfortable showing to others.  I continued to work the piece from there.  All of the painting was actually done digitally on my Wacom Cintiq.   The final illustration sits on the blue background and the talented couple wrote their own copy for the poster, which was hilarious!  The invitation itself measures 11.5″ x 17.5″ and was mailed in a poster tube.

Nic Studio Poster Wedding Invitations via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3) The Nic Studio Poster Wedding Invitation via Oh So Beautiful Paper

So fun!  Thanks Nicole!

The Nic Studio is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of Nicole’s fabulous work right here or or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: The Nic Studio

*The Nic Studio is a sponsor of Oh So Beautiful Paper

Wedding Stationery Inspiraton: Geometric

Have you noticed the recent spike in geometric patterns, popping up everywhere from pillows to pants to wedding invitations? The triangle seems to be leading the way but I’m not discriminating, so today I’m talking all about geometric shapes and patterns for your day-of wedding stationery! If modern is your thing, you may already have graphic fonts or bold colors in the works, and a geometric addition could be the finishing touch you’ve been looking for. I am seriously loving those triangle seating charts, and that 3-D table number!? Who said your paper products ever had to remain two dimensional? — Kelly

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photos by Avery House, Escort Cards and Place Cards by Pitbulls and Posies via 100 Layer Cake

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Lee Bird Photography, Favor Tag by Ham & Pea Design & Paperie via Style Me Pretty

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Jenny Jimenez, Table Number by Matthew Parker Events via Ruffled (left), Photo by Katie Osgood Photography, Place Cards by Lara Kahn via Style Me Pretty (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by KIM+PHIL Photography, Escort Cards by Paper Bloom via Brooklyn Bride

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photos by Thomas Straub, Escort Card Calligraphy by Gail Brill Design and Guest Book via Martha Stewart Weddings

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Zoom Photography, Place Card by Press Engaged

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Paige Newton Photography, Cards by The Creative Parasol

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Printable Table Numbers via Martha Stewart Weddings (left), Photo by Susan Jackson, Seating Chart by Cheree Berry Paper via Martha Stewart Weddings (right)

Day-Of Wedding Stationery Inspiration and Ideas: Geometric via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Photo by Captured by Aimee, Menu by Sweet Emilia Jane via Green Wedding Shoes

Are any of you planning to incorporate geometric shapes into your wedding?  We’d love to hear your ideas!!

{images via their respective sources}

Melissa + Todd’s DIY Vintage-Inspired Wedding Invitations

Every couple of weeks, Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria stop by to share some fun DIY ideas using rubber stamps – and today they’re here to share a wedding collaboration with a recent bride!  Designer (and bride) Melissa La Pietra created the vintage-inspired designs for her wedding save the dates and invitations but needed a bit of help with the production.  Bailey and Emma created a rubber stamp that Melissa used for her handkerchief save the dates, then letterpress printed Melissa’s designs for the invitation suite.  Let’s take a look!

DIY Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

From Bailey and Emma: Melissa + Todd’s wedding venue was The French Laundry in Napa Valley, so the graphics for the invitation were inspired by antique french apothecary labels.  For the invitations, we had Melissa’s designs letterpress printed in charcoal grey ink.  We designed a custom map of Yountville of her favorite places to accompany the suite.

DIY Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

DIY Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7)

The save the dates were sent out in A6 box mailers wrapped in kraft paper and tied with twine.  We made rubber stamps of her save the date designs, which Melissa used to stamp on vintage handkerchiefs.  Mel also embossed their logo on the front of the box and stamped the return address.

DIY Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates via Oh So Beautiful Paper (9)

The hankies were wrapped in a variety of patterned papers, tied with bakers twine, and secured with a wooden close pin (from the French Laundry).

DIY Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

DIY Rubber Stamp Wedding Invitations and Save the Dates via Oh So Beautiful Paper (10)

Thanks Bailey and Emma!

Invitation + Save the Date Design: Melissa LaPietra
Map Design + Rubber Stamps: Antiquaria

Anti­quaria is a mem­ber of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beau­ti­ful work right here or visit the real wedding invitations gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Melissa LaPietra and Intertwyned