Amy + John’s 3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations

Happy Monday everyone! We’re starting the week with these unique 3D invitations from Amy of Saint Gertrude Design + Letterpress. After several years together, Amy and her now-husband decided to finally tie the knot. With their friends and family already gathered together to celebrate their daughter’s 2nd birthday, they handed out decoder glasses and surprised everyone with a wedding! How fun!

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

From Amy: Despite being a wedding invitation designer, I’m not your typical ‘get married’ kinda gal. I love a wedding… but as a guest. The idea of ever being a bride was such a daunting prospect that my partner and I just kinda skipped over it, made a home together, had our daughter and were living in happily unmarried bliss. But 2012 dealt us a few blows and what came out of a really rough year was the realisation of the strong and unconditional love we had for each other. The only thing that stood in the way of us ‘being married’ was ‘getting married’.

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

On the 29th of December, our daughter Hazel’s 2nd birthday, we hijacked her party and got married. I wanted to create invitations that held a hidden message and also had a very subtle theme of ‘written in the stars’. Our guests received these invitations in the mail and on a beautiful summer day, a small crowd gathered in our back yard for what they thought a kid’s birthday party.

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

At 2:30, we handed out some envelopes, inside which were the invitations but this time they came with 3D decoder glasses that revealed this birthday was also a wedding. My friend and photographer captured some beautiful moments of our families realising what was going on. Our unsuspecting sisters were our witnesses and we danced our first dance (to John Lennon’s ‘Across The Universe’), not on a dance floor in front of 100 people, but in our garage with just the last few guests standing.

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

3D Decoder Surprise Wedding Invitations by Saint Gertrude Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

Thanks so much Amy, and congratulations!

Design and Letterpress Printing: Saint Gertrude Design + Letterpress

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

Photo Credits: Luke Lornie Photography

{happy weekend!}

As much as I grumble about housing prices and other various DC-related headaches, this week reminded me of how much I really do love my city. We took Sophie to the Natural History Museum for the first time, mostly on a whim and only about an hour before it closed, but the museum was practically empty and it was so perfect. We enjoyed the live butterfly pavilion, but she really loved the gemstone exhibit – and who can blame her? Sparkly things in bright colors? Perfect for babies! Our afternoon at the museum made me even more excited for spring and summer, when we can do more outdoor things with Sophie. But in the meantime…

  

All photos by me via Instagram

…a few links for your weekend!

This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:

We’ve got a little pre-Valentine’s Day treat coming up for you this afternoon… I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so check back a bit later this afternoon! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

DIY Tutorial: Vintage Fern Wedding Invitations

Vintage botanical artwork is one of those things that truly never goes out of style. The lifelike renderings of plants and flowers take a very skilled hand to create and happily bring the outdoors into an indoor space (without the upkeep of real plants!). With the outdoor wedding season approaching, we were inspired to create this lush and lovely suite that is like sending a beautiful garden through the mail! – Bailey and Emma of Antiquaria

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

This fern invitation suite is a wonderful compliment to our Botanical + Watercolor Save the Date Tutorial!

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step One: Lay an A7 (5″ x 7″) card down on a firm surface. Ink your stamp (we used our Fern Forrest Invitation Stamp) thoroughly and center it over your card. Once it is positioned correctly, press down to make a print. use both hands to ensure even pressure. Lift off and let the print dry. For more information on this process go here.

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Two: Repeat the same process from step 1 for your reply card (we used our Fern Forrest Reply Card stamp) on an A2 (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) card.

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Three: To incorporate more botanical elements to the suite, we used our fern A2 envelope template as our reply envelope. Simply cut the pattern on the lines, fold in the sides and glue the bottom to the side flaps to create your own envelopes! Stamp your address (we used our Floral Calligraphy Return Address Stamp) on the front so that guests can easily return the reply card to you.

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Four: Adding an envelope liner adds a bit of luxury to your invitation suite. It’s also really easy to do yourself! Simply trace the shape (using a liner template) onto your paper and cut along the line. Use stick glue or double sided tape to affix the paper into your envelope.

DIY Tutorial: Fern Inspired Wedding Invitations by Antiquaria via Oh So Beautiful Paper

Step Five: Lastly, you’ll want to stamp your return address onto your A7 outer envelope. We used the same stamp as the reply address (our Floral Calligraphy Return Address stamp) but used a different color ink for this piece. In order to change ink colors, you’ll want to clean your stamp. To do so only requires making a paper towel damp and wiping off the acetate stamp image. Never use anything other than water to clean the stamp as it can damage your print image. You also never want to submerge your stamp in water as it could dislodge from the mount.

Address those bad boys, add postage, and send them off to delight your guests! You can also tie the suite together with a nice ribbon if you like!

Materials:

Fern Forrest Invitation Stamp

Fern Forrest Reply Card Stamp

Floral Calligraphy Return Address Stamp

Stamp Pad in Chestnut and Moss

A7 cards in Luxe White

A7 envelopes in Sage

A2 cards in Luxe White

A2 DIY fern envelopes: available soon from Antiquaria

Liner paper – available soon from Antiquaria

Envelope liner template:

Ribbon

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: Antiquaria

Samantha + William’s Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations

I thought I’d continue today’s international theme with these travel-inspired invitations for a destination wedding in Costa Rica from Christine of Heritage+Joy. The invitation suite features beautiful maps of the wedding location, a gorgeous lasercut border along the main invitation, and a passport-style booklet with additional information for wedding guests. So pretty!

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1)

From Christine: Samantha and William were married at the end of 2012 at the beautiful Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica. From the very beginning, they wanted a unique and intricate invitation suite that would also carry through their destination wedding theme. We worked together to create a package that contained the formal invitation and an RSVP postcard, as well as a passport booklet of the weekend’s activities.

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

An illustrated map of Costa Rica, which is first seen in the enclosure, also adorned the backs of various pieces in the suite. We even turned the monogram of William’s last name, written in Chinese, into a compass on the illustrated maps.

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (7)

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (8)

The entire suite was letterpress printed on cotton paper by Czar Press (with the exception of the passport booklet, which was digitally printed on the same cotton paper), and the formal invitation card was lasercut with intricate lace detail, adding a very delicate and feminine touch to the suite, which the bride especially wanted. The whole package is tied together with a pink satin ribbon from Midori Ribbon.

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (9)

Illustrated Map Destination Wedding Invitations by Heritage+Joy via Oh So Beautiful Paper (6)

Thanks Christine!

Design: Heritage+Joy

Letterpress Printing: Czar Press

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

Photo Credits: Heritage+Joy

*Czar Press is a sponsor of Oh So Beautiful Paper

Veronique + Benjamin’s Multilingual Coral and Gold Foil Wedding Invitations

I’m absolutely fascinated by the many, many languages in the world, and I love the idea of picking up a few key phrases when traveling to a foreign country – so I absolutely love the multilingual inspiration behind these beautiful invitations from Melinda and Dave at Lion in the Sun. Working with the design team at Bella Figura, they came up with a text-driven design featuring the phrase “I love you” in the languages of all the countries where the bride and groom have traveled, all letterpress printed in the lovely color combo of coral and gold foil.

Multilingual Gold Foil Wedding Invitations by Lion in the Sun via Oh So Beautiful Paper (4)

From Melinda and Dave: Travel enthusiasts in love, Veronique and Benjamin have incorporated “I love you” in languages from all the countries they have traveled to into this invitation, highlighted with whimsical graphics for their Quebec wedding. The pieces are punched up with gold foil, coral ink, and kraft envelopes, making for a warm, rustic, but oh so modern suite.

Multilingual Gold Foil Wedding Invitations by Lion in the Sun via Oh So Beautiful Paper (1) Multilingual Gold Foil Wedding Invitations by Lion in the Sun via Oh So Beautiful Paper (5)

Multilingual Gold Foil Wedding Invitations by Lion in the Sun via Oh So Beautiful Paper (3)

Multilingual Gold Foil Wedding Invitations by Lion in the Sun via Oh So Beautiful Paper (2)

Thanks Melinda and Dave!

Design and Printing: Bella Figura

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

Photo Credits: Lion in the Sun

*Bella Figura is a sponsor of Oh So Beautiful Paper