Congrats to Michelle & Kevin, married on September 19, 2015 at The Generals Daughter in Sonoma, California. I can’t get over how gorgeous all the colors came together in these amazing photos by Rebecca Gosselin Photography.
When I met with Michelle, I was so excited to utilize her fun color palette when designing her custom invitations into a unique, art deco styled suite. I also created a ‘Great Gatsby’ themed monogram to use throughout their stationery (see matchbook & cuff links too!). Everything really came together beautifully by combining the stunning bouquets [by Fantasy Flowers] with the wedding day coordination [A Savvy Event]. I had to find time to showcase just a few of my favorite photos for your planning inspiration! 😉
Does one of your wedding worries include the fact that you might do something totally rude along the way (even if by accident)? Besides being the center of attention, one thing that can be scary about getting married is all the pomp and circumstance. The very fundamentals of the event — invites, reply cards, receiving lines, toasts, first dances, cake cutting, gifts, the list goes on and on — have so many rules around them. It can be intimidating! But wedding etiquette should actually help you feel less worried about your big day, not more so.
That’s why we’re loving the on point advice for handling sticky situations from Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning — great-great-grandchildren of the original etiquette expert Emily Post — on their weekly podcast, Awesome Etiquette. They talk about how to behave everywhere from weddings to work and even take questions by email at awesomeetiquette@emilypost.com.
Wondering how to handle single guests asking for plus-ones at your event, even though you’re sure that only spouses are in your budget? Throwing some unique traditions (breakfast burritos, anyone?) into your big day and getting grief from the fam? These two cover all this and more. Think etiquette is stuffy? Not to worry. These two are young, and their tips are modern, taking into account current technology and our changing world. They’re also honest and tell it like it is (or should be). Why not give it a listen and feel your wedding day know-how rise?
> If you’re not into podcasts, or just have a specific question and can’t wait, check out the 6th Edition of their Wedding Etiquette book.
EMILY POST’S WEDDING ETIQUETTE, 6TH EDITION By Anna Post, Lizzie Post
Once production & assembly is completed on my wedding invitation orders, I like to remind my clients to add postage to their RSVP postcards /or response envelopes … but more importantly, to bring in a completed invitation suite to the post office to be weighed before buying all postage! Below are even more essential envelope & mailing tips:
Double Wedding Envelopes are Traditional. Pockets are Modern. Using double envelope sets is a wedding tradition that dates back hundreds of years. While they are still very commonly used, they tend to be reserved for invitations that are more traditional in style. However, a pocket folder IS the inner envelope.
Use Invitation Tissue. When all folded up, the panel with the pocket falls on top of the invitation card panel. During mailing the v-shaped pocket will rub against the printing causing smudges. You can prevent this by the addition of invitation tissue. Just place a single piece between the two panels to help prevent smudging. [5.5″ square tissue / A7 tissue packs / 5×7 or 6×6.]
Stamps & Postage: Make sure you bring a completed invitation to the post office and weigh it to calculate exactly how much postage you will need. (note: square envelopes will cost extra). See what stamps they have available and if none are to your liking you can have custom stamps made up online to match your theme.
What else can you do with your custom designed digital monogram once it’s created? Make notebooks, of course. Really cute notebooks. Maybe for all the members of your wedding party, or everyone who survived your bachelorette?
With a minimum order of 10, you’ll have enough of these darling custom journals from May Designs for at least those occasions. Or go big, and give them to the whole dang guest list (just budget accordingly, as they’re $10 each for 200). They’re totally custom, so you pick your pattern and inside pages, in addition to exploiting that excellent custom wedding logo one more time!
PS We also love their photo books, set up to connect right to Instagram to pull in everyone’s images from your special day. #ourwedding, anyone?
Thanks Brides California for featuring Papercake’s eco-friendly, tear-off Rsvp invitation design in their “Coming Up Roses” article [June 2015 issue]. I’m so excited to see our simple, but unique, custom suite showcased along the other amazing stationery designs utilizing rose & gold details.
> this all-in-one invitation can be personalized by changing the paper & ink colors, fonts, or selecting a different floral illustration to match your theme. See the etsy listing for lots more info & how to get started.
> the guest / return address label wrap shown above is optional
“Downton Abbey” may be done for this year, but that doesn’t mean anyone has stopped drinking tea (or forsaken it for Gin & Tonic with the debut of the final 7 episodes of”Mad Men”). Quite the contrary.
Tea is an on-trend beverage, especially black tea, which has been shown in recent studies to be super good for you (or, at the very least, way better for you than a cocktail). Save the hair of the dog for the hotel minibar and give your guests a truly salubrious (ahem, healthy) morning-after option at your big event with one of these exclusive wedding favor tea blends from Stephen Smith Teamaker.
Stephen was the guy who brought Starbucks Tazo, and his redux company is now run by his wife and puts out exquisite teas of all types from its home base in Portland, Oregon. I like the string-tie boxes, which have a “handsome” handmade look and custom labels with your wedding date, names, and event location. Fill with 15 sachets of the classic black tie blend, sure to be strong enough to bring even your dance floor–hogging ex into consciousness in time for your post-wedding brunch. Oh wait, scratch that. Hopefully these custom wedding favors will go so fast there’s no way any will be left by the time he decides to stumble to his room.
What’s your favorite Wedding Cake trend? Metallic, Ruffled, Naked, Hand-painted, Ombre, Cake Trios … It was extremely difficult to choose just a few of these stunning cakes to showcase!
rosycakesvia Carly McCray Photographyvia Maggie Austin Cakevia Danni Beach PhotographyCake by Sheryl Brousseau | Photo by Rebecca Joy
You can find lots more info on wedding cake trends here.
Congrats to Eilleen & Ron, married on September 20, 2014 at Casa de la Vista on Treasure Island [with the lovely San francisco skyline as their backdrop].
I personalized my invitation suite to showcase the city skyline with bay bridge [as seen from their venue] along with their color theme which was champagne, fuchsia and accents of antique gold. When it was time to create the reception stationery, we easily picked up the design and metallic papers to match.
I love all the wedding details they added to bring together their city / island theme… especially the wedding cake which incorporates both [orchids + skyscrapers].
The Big Fake Wedding is a bridal show alternative complete with an emotional ceremony, a tasty dinner and a dance-party reception. “Wedding guests” are brides-and-grooms-to-be who get to truly experience the wedding vendors in action.
Well, I totally love the idea … and I’m super excited to announce that Papercake Designs is a 2015 featured vendor for the first San Francisco Big Fake Wedding (formerly known as The NotWedding).
Check out the cities scheduled for the 2015 season… plus, find out more info on how you can get involved below:
> If you’re a bride [or groom]-to-be, RSVP asap! Tickets are $25.00 and include a light dinner, sparkling wine and a swag bag. *ps: contact me directly if you live in the SF Bay area 😉
> If you’re not engaged [yet!] or a wedding vendor or media partner, but REALLY LOVE weddings, apply to join their marketing team as a Brand Ambassador [apply here.]