Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Spotlight on Paper: the Crimson Poppy
I cannot keep a plant alive to save my life...which is probably where my love of paper flowers started! But beyond that, they are simply stunning to look at! Some of my absolute favorites come from a little shop on Etsy called the Crimson Poppy. My jaw literally hit the floor when I saw some of their creations! Aside from the lack of the florally scent, you'd be hard pressed to tell these weren't the real thing! And a quick bottle of perfume can easily take care of that:) Ok, it was tough but I narrowed it down to a few favorites...
 |
| All photos via the Crimson Poppy |
Check out their blog for more amazing flowers!! They even sell DIY kits if you are feeling crafty! No water required:)
Would you ever consider using paper flowers for your wedding??
Monday, September 24, 2012
Four Fun DIY Ways to Package Mason Jar Favors ~ Free Printable Labels!
It's officially fall and that means all kinds of jams, jellys and other goodies...all of which make wonderful wedding favors! I still owe my amazing mom and grandma for picking thousands of berries and making hundreds of jars of jam for my wedding seven years ago. The jam was delicious..the packaging not so much. I clearly had not found my true calling yet when I got married! I still shutter when I see the little leftover jars. Yes, they made enough jam to last seven years:) SO, today I bring you four easy ways to style your mason jar favors with free printable labels included!
Style #1
- Use the lid of the mason jar as a stencil to draw a circle on heavy cardstock in the color of your choice.
- Cut out the circle and use an exacto knife to cut a half circle for the handle.
- Glue the cardstock to the top of the jar. Make sure you don't glue the handle!
- Wrap the handle in ribbon or washi tape for an added detail.
- Print this label on blank sticker paper. Sign your names, cut and attach to the jar.
Style #2
- Use the lid of the mason jar as a stencil to draw a circle on scrapbook paper in the color of your choice.
- Cut out the circle and glue it to the top of the jar.
- Wrap washi tape around the edge of the lid.
- Print this label on white or light colored cardstock. Sign your names, cut and attach to the jar with ribbon or string.
Style #3
- Cut large circles out of tissue paper. I used two different colors but you can use one as well.
- Wrap the tissue around the bottom of the jar and secure with a small rubber band.
- Cover the rubber band with washi tape or ribbon.
- Print this label on blank sticker paper, cut with a craft punch or scissors, and attach to the mason jar lid.
Style #4
- Cut small circles out of tissue paper. I used two different colors but you can use one as well. If you use two different papers, make the circle that will be on top slightly smaller than the bottom circle.
- Wrap the tissue around the lid of the jar and secure with a small rubber band.
- Cover the rubber band with washi tape or ribbon and add craft string for a pretty bow.
- Print this label on blank sticker paper, cut with scissors, and attach to the mason jar.
Are you using mason jars for your favors?? How are you going to dress them up?
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
*Guest Feature* Tyler Adams ~ Invitation Wording
As promised the wonderful Tyler Adams of The Girl Tyler is back for another Wed-iquette lesson. This week she is going to chat about invitation wording which we all know can get a little tricky! Have no fear! She breaks it down into easily understood bits that will have you on the right track in no time. If you missed her great post on the anatomy of an invite from last week you can check it out here. It's a great reference to keep on hand as you navigate your way through the world of wording.
***
There is
etiquette for everyday and then there is something extra special that I like to
call “Wed-iquette.” Let’s be honest, your wedding day requires a whole new set
of language and rules for proper correspondence. What used to be the right way
to word an invitation and it’s enclosure cards has since gone out the window
and branched off into endless options for the modern couple. I know there are
those that might cringe at some of the wording out there today, but weddings as
a whole are no longer the same celebrations our parents had decades ago. Couples are having all sorts of ceremonies
and receptions these days – from big formal bashes to small destination beach
weddings. They are also putting on their big day in a variety of different ways
– everything from the bride’s parents hosting to everyone chipping in to support
the happy couples. Overall, people are also putting more personality into their
weddings, which means they need to put their personality into how they invite
their guests too!
 |
| Design by The Girl Tyler. Photo by Bit of Ivory Photography |
WORDING YOUR INVITATION
The paper
goods you’ll need for your wedding aren’t only just about creating pretty
pieces, they are essential for communicating the who, what, when, and where to
your guests. A great place to begin your “wed-equitte” education is invitation
wording.
Start planning
your wording by considering the formality of your wedding day, which is
typically dictated by location along with date and attire. Is your big day
happening on the beach in flip-flops with a casual cookout style reception or
will it be at your house of worship with a seated dinner in a grand
ballroom? Thinking about this will help
you determine how traditional or casual you can be with your wording.
A
“LINE BY LINE” BREAKDOWN OF THE INVITATION WORDING:
Host Line – Who is helping to throw the grand (or
intimate) affair? These days it could be one set of parents, both, split
parents or just the bride and groom. The “hosting” line on invitations is a way
of acknowledging this support so you’ll need to think about who gets included
and how that gets worded.
- Formal: Dr. & Mrs. Peter M. Price
- Casual: Peter and Cindy Price
Request Line – Asking for the guest to join
you at the celebration! Consider the wedding location – religious or secular
will determine how you word this. Typically use “honour” for religious venue
and “pleasure” for a secular space.
- Formal: request the honour of your presence at the wedding of their daughter
- Casual: requests the pleasure of your company at the wedding of
Bride & Groom Line – Where your names go! You can
choose to be formal and include your full name or go more casual by using only
first and last, even simply what people call you (ex. your name is Katherine
but you go by Katie)
- Formal: Katherine Anne to Mr. James Ernest Smith, son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles F. Smith*
- Casual: Katie Price to Jimmy Smith.
*two things to note here:
1. since bride and her parents have the same last name, it does not need to be listed again here
2. Formality can also include an acknowledgement of groom’s parents
 |
| Design by The Girl Tyler. Photo by Bit of Ivory Photography |
Date & Time – List the date of the wedding
and time the ceremony will begin. Choose
to go formal with the numbers spelled out or be more casual and use actual
numbers. Another piece to consider here is if your events be held over a
holiday. If so, you may want to work that into the wording by mentioning both
reasons to celebrate! It’s also a factor to consider in when to send out Save
the Dates and Invitations… but paper timelines are another post all together.
- Formal: Saturday, the thirty first of December, Two Thousand Twelve, half past four in the afternoon
- Casual: Saturday, December 31st, 2012, 4:30pm in the afternoon
Location – List where the ceremony will
take place, include name of location, street address, city and state (no need
for zip code). If you are having the
ceremony and reception in different locations, you will need to provide the
reception location either in the line to follow or on a separate reception
card.
- Formal: Christ and Saint Luke's Church
Norfolk,
Virginia
- Casual: The Sanderling Resort & Spa
1461
Duck Road
Duck, NC
Reception Line – What will come after the
ceremony? This is a newer addition to the invitation as previous sets typically
included a Reception card.
- Formal: A dinner reception will follow at the Chrysler Museum of Art
- Casual: Dinner, dancing and merriment to follow
Other
things to remember when wording your invitations, is the importance of titles (for
example doctors, lawyers, military)… but we’ll do another post on that when we
address, well addressing!
Great sources
to get you started on wording your invitations:
- Emily Post - http://www.emilypost.com/weddings/wedding-invitations-and-announcements (they have their own “etipedia” to help you too)
- Martha Stewart Weddings - http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/228634/wedding-invitation-wording/@center/272440/wedding-etiquette-adviser (will walk you through the anatomy of an invitation suite)
- Hello! Lucky - http://www.hellolucky.com/wedding-advice/wedding-invitation-wording-samples.html (some of my favorite invitation designers who also happen to be etiquette sages)
- Invitation Consultants - http://www.invitationconsultants.com/sw-main.aspx
- Wedding Paper Divas - http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/wedding-invitations-sample-verses.htm
***
Thank you Tyler for another great lesson!!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Paper Made it Pretty: Whimsical Wonder
I spotted this wedding over on Grey Likes Weddings and I couldn't help but smile as I looked at all the wonderfully whimsical paper details! This wedding was captured by Kerinsa of Kerinsa Marie Photography and is another perfect example of just how big an impact paper can have on your big day!
Paper streamer backdrop in every color and pattern under the rainbow! Instant fun!
Hello yellow camel illustration! I would love to see this happy little guy show up in my mailbox.
More simple paper streamer backdrops with a little origami flair. And look at the stitching detail on the menu card! Details matter people!
More fun pops of colored paper! Yes please! Paper umbrellas and ceremony backdrop add extra cheer to the ceremony space.
Wait...there's more? Colorful paper fans for the guests!
These precious little birds add yet another fun twist to the paper streamer decor.
White tent plus colorful paper streamers = bright & beautiful
Last but not least...a playful seating card display with tags in the same illustrated style as the invites!
all photos via Grey Likes Weddings
What do you think? Are there some DIY paper streamers in your wedding future??
Friday, September 14, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
*Guest Feature* Tyler Adams ~ The Anatomy of a Wedding Invite
Today we welcome the wonderful Tyler Adams of The Girl Tyler with the first in a series of guest posts all about wedding invite etiquette or Wed-etiquette as she likes to call it:) Tyler is a multi-talented designer/photographer whose love for paper is evident in everything she creates and I'm delighted to have her be a part of Paper Wedding!
This week Tyler has put together two great graphics outlining the different parts of a formal and casual wedding invitation. Then stay tuned for next week when she will be back with the ins and outs of invitation wording along with lots of great resources for more information! Keep these posts handy and you will be all set for your own wedding invite wording adventure!
This week Tyler has put together two great graphics outlining the different parts of a formal and casual wedding invitation. Then stay tuned for next week when she will be back with the ins and outs of invitation wording along with lots of great resources for more information! Keep these posts handy and you will be all set for your own wedding invite wording adventure!
***
***
Check back next week for more Wed-etiquette from Tyler!
Monday, September 10, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
*Guest Feature* Molly Jacques ~ Tips for Working with a Calligrapher
Today we have the ultra-talented illustrator and calligrapher Molly Jacques as a guest. She is here to give us the inside scoop on working with a calligrapher for your wedding invitations and event pieces. Her gorgeous work has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and on blogs like Oh So Beautiful Paper, Design Work Life, and Paper Crave. She even has a fabulous online shop full of little lettering beauties for you to buy!
Welcome to Paper Wedding Molly Jacques!
This is definitely the tricky part of the whole process as you want to find someone who fits your event's aesthetic and budget. Pinterest is a great way to find calligraphers with pricing at all different levels. Whether you want something traditional, modern, or whimsical, there's a calligrapher out there that specializes in one or all of those styles.
Next, you'll have to book time in your calligrapher's schedule. The earlier you contact him or her, the more likely he or she be able to fit you into their schedule. To be safe, contacting your calligrapher 6-10 months in advance is always a good idea. When contacting, be sure to include whatever amount of this information you can:
When the time comes for working on envelopes (or place cards, or other day-of paper materials), you'll need to submit a list of names and addresses in the same wording that you'd like them to be written out. Most calligraphers ask for a typed, alphabetized, numbered list as a PDF or Word Document. I always make sure to remind brides that I despise working from Excel sheets.
When your calligrapher is finished, he or she will ship everything
back to you. At this point, you'll let them know if there are any
spelling errors. Next, you'll send out your invitations and wait to hear
back from your guests!
For more information on the calligraphy process or to book
time in my schedule, please visit me at (link to my website - htpp://www.mollyjacquesillustration.com).
Thanks so much Kate for asking me to contribute!
Welcome to Paper Wedding Molly Jacques!
****
Hi everyone! Kate recently asked me if I could share a little info with her readers about working with a calligrapher to create beautiful, hand written pieces for a wedding or any special event. The process can seem a bit overwhelming, but hopefully with these few tips, you'll have no problem finding and working with a calligrapher that fits the overall aesthetic and budget of your big day! Here are a few steps to get you started...
*FINDING A CALLIGRAPHER*
For example, my portfolio really highlights a modern, whimsical vibe. I love working with moving baselines and funky calligraphy styles, creating an image that is clean but also innovative.
*BOOKING*
-What type of project is this (envelope addressing, invitation design, place cards, etc.)?
-How many will you need?
-What color is your paper and what color ink do you want?
-When will you need everything finished?
-Any information regarding a style of calligraphy you'd like (most calligraphers have a signature style that they are known for).
Most calligraphers can also work on a rush order for an additional fee.
From that point, your calligrapher will most likely take a 25-50% deposit to secure your place in their schedule, and voila, you've created a wonderful partnership!
*MATERIALS*
Be sure to send the paper materials to your calligrapher for him or her to receive on or before the date scheduled to begin. I usually ask for 20% extra materials in case of any added on names or spelling errors.
*SUBMITTING THE ADDRESS LIST OR NAMES*
*FINALIZING ITEMS*
 |
| All photos via Molly Jacques |
***
Thank you Molly Jacques!
Monday, September 3, 2012
Labor Day Link Love
 |
| photo via VanessaChristenson.com |
- Pretty new prints from our future guest blogger Ms Molly Jacques.
- Snap photos with your phone and instantly share with the happy couple and the other guest with the Wedding Party App
- A great collection of DIY favor boxes at Martha Stewart Weddings
- Beautiful fall leaves made out of wax paper and crayons created by Vanessa Christenson
- Put your own stamp on your wedding with this great tutorial!
- Amazing inspiration from The Cream Event in New York with this recap on Ruffled Blog.
- Fake the look of fancy calligraphy with this DIY.
- When the wedding is done and gone it's time to write Thank-You's..learn how here.
- Pretty paper details in this gorgeous Washington wedding.
- Winter wedding favors for your wedding.
- Great tips for when to send out your wedding invites!
- Sneak a peek at the Fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.
- Christmas is coming! Use these free holiday fonts for your designs.
- Really easy DIY favor bags that would be great for a bridal shower!
Safe Labor Day celebrating everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
