Yummy Texture from Papel Vivo

I was trying to clean up my list of "Favorites," when I rediscovered, Papel Vivo. I know that letterpress is all the rage, but for a different type of texture, I love what Papel Vivo is doing with embossing. Don't you want to just run your fingers over it? And a bonus feature is that all of their paper is handmade. It just adds to the textury goodness. Most of their invitation sets are around $6.50 each which I think is incredibly reasonable.

Handmade by Allison

If any of you frequent the Maryland knot.com board then you are probably already familiar with the work of Handmade by Allison. During her own wedding Allison handmade practically every part of her wedding and now she does the same for other brides. Save-the-dates, invitations, aisle runners, calligraphy....you name it, Allison does it. All I ever see are raves about how much brides love her work and how reasonably priced she is.

Allison has also started a blog and she's featuring some of the items she's created for brides. If your sick of DIY, don't have the budget for a high end designer, and really just want someone else to do it for you then check her out.

All work below credited to Handmade by Allison

Invitations: Signed, Sealed, Delivered

All the invitations are in the mail and most have arrived to their destinations. Our grand total was around 140 invitations. I know you're thinking..."wait, aren't you the one with the tiny chapel that only seats 85 and a reception place that only seats 100?" Yep, that's me.

Crazy? Well, Fiance and I are expecting a much higher then average "No" rate because a large amount of our friends live overseas and we know they love us but not $3,000 a person plane ticket love us. We had invitations that went to Japan, Korea, Scotland, Belgium, Senegal, Hong Kong, Turkey, Germany and even Iraq. We also had a lot of courtesy invitations to extended family that we knew weren't going to be able to make it but we still needed to include. So far we have 46 "yes" responses and 21 "no" responses

Here is the final product-


^ The outside envelope. The envelope paper is is Aspire Petallics in Beargrass, size A7, 80lb stationery weight. The wrap around labels are from The Bella Bella Co. Couture Correspondence Etsy Shop. The font is Liffey Script SF. The stamps are from the U.S. Post Office and I'm thrilled the green stems of the flowers matched our green/white colors cause I really didn't want to have to pay extra to get "personalized" stamps.



^Here is the back of the wraparound labels with our pre-printed return address on them.




^The inside envelopes are also Aspire Petallics in Beargrass size A6. The font is LainieDaySH.



^The invitation. Not sure of the paper as my sister printed them, but it's a similar light shimmery white like the Beargrass envelopes. Most of the text font is Copperplate Gothic (this comes standard on most word processing programs), the cursive names are in CygnetRound, and the flourish design at the bottom is WMDesigns1 small letter "d".




^Here are the RSVP envelopes. We used clear sick on labels from Office Depot and the font is Liffey Script SF. Yes, the Liberty Bell "Forever" stamps are ugly, but our RSVP date falls close to the date when stamp prices go up, and I'm sure we will have a few stragglers who send their RSVPs late and I didn't want them to be returned to sender. There aren't any 42 cent stamps available yet so the Liberty Bell it is!

We also had an insert for the reception and an actual RSVP card but they just follow the general look of the invitation.

Whewww...glad that's done!

Skylines from Favors You Keep

I was trying to find something completely unrelated (but also for the wedding) when I ran across the site Favors You Keep. They have the typical array of wedding favors but they also have a whole line of wedding things that you can customize with a city skyline.
I know you're thinking "yeah they probably just have New York City," but they have over 25 different cities...including some more obscure ones like Kansas City and Cleveland. And of course they have D.C. and Baltimore!

They also have about 25 colors to chose from, 30 different ink colors, and a number of fonts so you can really customize your Skyline items to fit your wedding.


^You can get favor bags and customize them with the D.C. skyline


^ Check out the above Save-the-Date with the Skyline of Baltimore



^ You can also do a magnet Save-The-Date (this one has the D.C. skyline)



^You can also get welcome bags made up to welcome your guests to your wedding city

The Cherry Blossoms Are Coming!

Fiance's parents were visiting over the weekend and we went down to the National Mall to see a few of the monuments they hadn't seen before, and the Cherry Blossom trees were just starting to bud. No pink yet, though! According to the National Cherry Blossom Festival website the peak bloom time will be March 27-April 3rd.

Cherry Blossoms are a very popular wedding theme for D.C. brides and if Cherry Blossoms are your theme then the below note cards are a must!! Aren't they beautiful? How lovely would these be for all your wedding correspondence?



^Art of the Cherry Blossom Flip Top Note Cards - $12.00


^Art of the Cherry Blossom Flip Top Note Cards - $12.00

^Cherry Blossoms Note Card Portfolio - $8.50

^Cherry Blossoms Note Card Portfolio - $8.50

Enter code ZZZ5 at checkout and receive an extra 30% off courtesy of DailyCandy.

Getting the Word Out

Wedding websites are pretty much standard now and are an excellent way to get information out to your guests. One question I see a lot, though, is "how do I let people know about my website." Etiquette is evolving and it's generally considered acceptable to put the website on your save-the-dates but still frowned upon to put it on the actual invite (rsvp card or info card insert is o.k.).

I really wanted people to visit our website mainly because there's a lot of info on there and I wanted them to go there first instead of calling and asking me, so when we sent out our save-the-dates we included our website on Moo minicards, and threw them in the same envelope.

The original Moo cards allow you to put a picture on the front and a few lines of text on the back. You can put any image you want that isn't copyrighted...so you can put your engagement pics on there, or your dog's pic, or your "monogram" or "motif" or whatever it is you have going on with your wedding.






Fiance and I chose to forgo the usual picture Moo Minicards, and instead went for the new Moo Text Minicards. as pictured below.


^With the Moo Text Minicards you can put whatever text you want on the front and then six lines on the back of information. So we put our website address on the front and then said something like "for all the information you will need about our wedding please visit our website. Password: hitched".


^I did a little mock-up for you so you can see what it would look like. Of course you can change the font and colors to better suit your wedding. Apparently, Fiance and I have very common names so a website with our names in it was not an option unless we wrote out firstmiddlelastANDfirstmiddlelast.com and who the heck wants to remember that? So we decided to go with the date of our wedding instead. So for example, if you wedding was on the 9 of February 2009, you could have 09Feb09.com. thought it was a good alternative to our names and to other cheesy titles, and hopefully it will help our guests remember the date.



^Here is an example from Flickr of what the backs look like. You can put whatever you want. This couple did their entire save the date with Moo Cards!

The only word of warning I have is that Moo is based out of England so shipping can take a while. My package actually took longer then the ten days they said it would take (i think cause it was Christmas time?) and after going back and forth with customer service (rating: C. Some were SUPER helpful, others not so much so) they printed a new set for free and sent it by DSL. So basically a MONTH after I ordered them, I finally got them. Just give yourself plenty of ship time. And wouldn't you know it...I got my original order a few days after that...so now I have like 200 of these laying around! Yikes.

Bella Bella Beautiful!

In a couple of weeks we'll be sending out our invitations. I really liked an idea I saw in a back issue of Martha Stewart to use wrap-around labels for the invitations. Your name/address are pre-printed on the back so you don't have to write it out over and over again.


It was cute. Cheaper then calligraphy, and Martha even provided an online template, so you didn't have to worry about font, spacing etc. All I had to do was run the printout through my STICKER MACHINE, crease it with my BONE FOLDER, cut it out with my UTILITY KNIFE, and trim the edges with my PINKING SHEARS.

Sure Martha....whatever. I have no doubt that many a crafty bride out there already owns these things. But I'm not a crafty bride. I'm a full time job bride who doesn't make her own anything and by the time I went out and bought all these things (that I'd never use again) I could have just paid someone to do this for me.

Thus began the search on how to do the wraparound labels without actually doing it myself. Luckily, I stumbled across The Bella Bella Co. Couture Correspondence site. Her website isn't quite ready for prime time, but The Bella Bella Co. etsy shop is in full swing! In her shop were these beautiful wrap around labels.


^click me to enlarge, it's worth it!


The description said there were tons of different pattern choices and they could sell in bulk of 250 labels for $125. That's only 50 cents a label. Much cheaper then calligraphy and it's something most of your guests haven't seen before. Now I'm not inviting 250 people but I figured I could use them on the thank-you cards as well as on any other mailing I have to do over the next year since it has our address pre-printed on the back.

Sadly, by the time I got around to ordering the labels they were sold out. But I contacted The Bella Bella Co. and they had no problem doing a printing for me. They whipped up the below design based on our invitation.

^Click me to enlarge, it's worth it!

Printing took about 2 weeks and they came in the mail yesterday! They look good and I'm really happy with the ease and professionalism of the service I had.

Be sure to check out the other pretty things in The Bella Bella Co. Couture Correspondence Etsy Shop - their cards are beautiful! and they also do wine labels, address labels, monograms, etc.

And of course they also have a blog, which I promptly added to my blog reader. The Blah, Blah, Blahg - Pretty Procrastination is a design inspiration blog. But I learned from reading that the owner of The Bella Bella Co. is about to get married! My personal favorite part of the blog is the On the Dowload a.k.a. Freebie Friday's. Every Friday Miss B. gives out a free template for labels, gift tags, to-do lists, etc. that you can download and do on your own. Which is perfect for you crafty brides (cause I know you are out there).

Lanie Blue Stationery

Ah Esty...how do I love thee? It's fun just to browse through and see what pops up. Yesterday I spied these beautiful invitations in the Lanie Blue Stationery shop. I'm a sucker for color and these are popping.


^Hummingbird Wedding Collection

A custom wedding design with a Poppy theme.


Japanese Koi Wedding Collection.


Tulip Henna Wedding Collection. These would be so great for a South Asian wedding. You could even get the bride's mehendi to match the invitations!

It's True- Stamp Prices Going Up!

Rumors have been swirling for a while that Stamp prices were going up soon. Well, it's official- according to the Post Office Website prices will increase on May 12th. That's the bad news. The good news is a first class stamp is only increasing by 1 cent! That's not too bad. Below is the announcement.

New Prices Coming May 12, 2008

On May 12 we will adjust prices for mailing services — First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and Special Services. The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

A First-Class Mail stamp will be 42¢. We also will have a 62¢ stamp available shortly after May 12 for 1-ounce nonmachinable First-Class Mail letters, such as square greeting cards. (Miss Capitol Hill says: square envelopes could be wedding invitations too !!!)

Select prices:
First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.)
$0.42
First-Class Mail letter (2 oz.)
$0.59
Postcard
$0.27
First-Class Mail large envelope (2 oz.)
$1.00
Certified Mail
$2.70
First-Class Mail International to Canada and Mexico (1 oz.)
$0.72
First-Class Mail International to all other countries (1 oz.)
$0.94

Personally, I don't mind stamp increases all that much. Having lived in different countries with incredibly horrible postal systems I very much appreciate how good and pretty cheap our system is. I mean where else can you send a letter the distance from Florida to Alaska (and if the person isn't there anymore they'll send it back to you!) all for 41 cents? Or ummm 42 cents.

Either way--if you are a summer or early fall bride then make sure to save yourself a dollar or two and get your invites out before May 12.

Stamp of Approval - Part II

Don't feel you are limited to mimicking Martha for your wedding stamps. You don't have to stick to movie stars--- the sky is the limit when it comes to ideas for stamps. You can match stamps by color, you can use stamps of your favorite authors, or use stamps that promote a cause that is dear to your heart. Or why not use a couple stamps commemorating the statehood of the state you will be married in or from the states that you and fiance are from? Below are some of the different "Love" themed stamps issued by the post office over the years. Any of these could be really fun on the outside of your envelopes. All from Ebay seller Gerrit98's SeaJay Stamp and Coin Store.

Stamp of Approval

Ever since Martha used a stamp of Audrey Hepburn for the most recent Good Morning America wedding invitations, vintage stamps are the new "it" thing for weddings. A fellow knottie who was recently married recommend ebay seller Gerrit98's SeaJay Stamp and Coin shop as a reliable place to get vintage stamps, so I thought I'd check it out. The store had a ton of stamps and yes it even had the coveted Audrey stamp! There were a few other shining stars as well...check them out below! You have to use at least two stamps but if you are having any type of vintage or movie themed wedding, or if you and fiance have a particular connection to a star or a movie they could be perfect.

Gocco Anyone?

If you are a D.C. area bride and either have a Gocco or want to use one then be sure to RSVP to BearBride over at Weddingbee. She's organizing a Gocco Party! Don't know what a Gocco is? Check it out and see all the neat things it can do.

Awesome Invitations and a Little Inspiration

I ran across these awesome invitations/menus/favors on the amazing Laura Novak's photography blog. What's so awesome about them besides the obvious coolness of etched wood? They were done by the bride and groom! Yep, that's right. Handmade. Where was I when the Martha genes were given out?

If you like the look, but also missed out on the Martha genes then check out Oslo Press.

All photos below credited to Laura Novak Photography



As an aside Laura herself will be getting married in a couple of weeks and judging by the vendors she has chosen her wedding is going to be AMAZING. I often wonder what wedding professionals choose for their own weddings. After all, they've seen everything a million times so what really catches their eyes? Well below is a picture of Laura's wedding invitations from Two Paper Dolls. I'd be thrilled to get something that beautiful in the mail.


And If you are loving her invites then you should take a peak at her inspiration board. I love the classic yet feminine feeling it evokes.


Finally, I know I've said it a million times but when looking for a photographer don't be afraid to look beyond the D.C., VA, MD area. There is amazing talent right outside our borders. Laura Novak is based out of Delaware and that is just a stone's throw away. Most photographers will gladly travel from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Delaware...you get the picture ;)

Bella Figura New 08 Line

If you liked the Bella Figura inspiration from the below post, be sure to check out Bella Figura's new 08 invitations. They have 16 new designs and they are all gorgeous! Here's just a sample-

Save the Dates Sent

Right before the holiday break Fiance and I finally got around to sending out our Save the Dates. We used the below design from Bella Figura as inspiration, but naturally we changed the red to kelly green and changed some of the other details like adding "invitation to follow" and the location of the wedding.

As much as I love letterpress and other nice papers I had to cut the budget somewhere after splurging on my dress and letterpress just wasn't possible. Luckily my sister was easily able to recreate the simple design in a publishing program she uses on her computer and we printed the design on good cardstock. They came out really well and I loved the contrast of the bright green against the white.



For the invitations we are going to use the below design, also from Bella Figura as inspiration. We'll probably change the flower motif but I love the simplicity of the rest of the design.

Escort Cards

I love the classic look of simple white escort cards with black script all in a row, but I also enjoy the eye candy of a unique display for escort cards.

Old School Martha- The two below displays from past Martha Stewart weddings have been very popular and featured in a number of weddings I've seen on the net lately.





New School Martha - But why do something old when you can do something new? I really like the below display from this season's issue of Martha Stewart Weddings. I love the different colors of blue and how neat and clean it all looks. Course pretty calligraphy helps as well.




Not Martha At All- But why do Martha at all when you can do something totally different? I love the below display from this month's issue of InStyle Weddings. The rich red fabric and the damask print table cards are bold and elegant. Putting it in a frame would probably be expensive but I could totally see these lined on a wall gallery style.



My only thoughts on all of these is that they all look great in groups of 20 or so. But what if you have like 200 people or more at your wedding? Would it be overkill? Too cluttered? Too hard to find? Or just too much of a pain the a## to do yourself?

Cut Arts Discount - 25%

Silhouettes have been a recent mini wedding trend. In the last issue of Martha Stewart Weddings she featured a wedding where Karl Johnson, the artist behind Cut Arts, prepared silhouettes for wedding guests. Karl works from photos and can create a silhouette from any scene. If silhouettes are your thing (i have a not so small nose so a profile of myself is the last thing I'd want) then get 25% off you and your beau's sides with discount code DCDEAL. Thanks to DailyCandy.

Erin Condren Design

I really like the mailing labels over at Erin Condren Design. All her stationery is personalized, but don't think you have to limit yourself to just your own name you can put in whatever name or phrase you want and they will print them up. You could design a label with "Your Name & His Name" or "Your Last Name & His Last Name" and send them out on your wedding invites. Shipping labels are $30 for 23 so it would be an easy way to jazz up a boring outer envelope.

Sugar Paper Discount - 25% Off

So you get engaged and suddenly you have more paper needs then you've ever had in your entire life. Save the Dates, Invitations, Menus, Place cards, Thank-you cards, Change of Address cards, Stationery with your new name (for after the wedding!), Christmas cards from the "both" of you, and your mom and maid of honor want to know what you want your engagement party and shower invitations to look like. Never mind that before your wedding you couldn't even name a paper store much less been in one.

Well you might not cave in and get all the "must haves" but if you're looking for some paper get 25% off at Sugar Paper with code DCSUGAR. Thanks to Daily Candy.


^Letterpress Stationery with your new married name

^Change of Address cards because you gave your place up, or he gave up his, or because both of you did

^Chocolate Branch Thank You cards from Snow & Graham

Reindeer Christmas Cards from Hello! Lucky

Elum Discount - 25% Off

Maybe you can't afford drool worthy letterpress invitations but you'd like to send out fancy thank-yous or pretty Christmas cards. Or maybe you can afford drool worthy letterpress invitations and you'd like to send out a change of address card with your new married address or give your bridesmaids a beautiful journal ...either way get over to Elum and take 25% off your greeting card, thank-you card, and journal purchase with code DAILYCANDY (personalized stationary not included). Thanks to Daily Candy!


^Can't you just feel the texture on this thank-you even from this image??


^This is my fav of their new Christmas cards.


^How cute is this change of address card? Why send an email when you can send these? If you can't see just click to enlarge.


^I don't even write in journals but I'd still be happy to get a journal like this if I were a bridesmaid.

Graffiti Does Invitations Too

As a follow-up to my earlier post today about Wonderful Graffiti Wedding, I also had to point out these unique invitation and favor ideas from their site. Now I'm not really into monograms, as I think they are kind of overdone for weddings nowadays but I know 99% of the wedding world is into monograms so I'd be neglecting my wedding blogging duties if I didn't tell you about these lollipop invitations. 6 inches in diameter, they come with your monogram as a part of the candy, and your invitation on glossy cardstock on the back. The RSVP card is the hangtag from the lollipop. They come packaged in a box with your monogram on the box. They come to you completely ready for addressing and mailing. Naturally they don't come cheap...They are $35 each and cost about $6 each to ship! But talk about a "wow" factor for your guests. Plus they could eat them instead of just tossing your invitation into the trash after the wedding (yep, almost everyone does).

Too rich for your blood? Yeah me too. But the below favors are actually really reasonably prices. They are sucker favors with your monogram as part of the sucker. They come wrapped with cellophane and they each have a bow and a hangtag wrapped around it. The hangtag is personalized and can say either "Sucker for Love" on the outside or "Thank-you." On the inside you can completely personalize the message, so you can put your names, wedding date, or just a nice message for your guests. The best part is these are only about $2.50 per sucker...less the more you order. I think it would be incredibly hard to find wedding favors with this level of individualization for such a good price. Plus no last minute DIY panic trying to finish your favors since these come ready to go.