Invitation Wording

You already know I'm obsessed with having beautiful invitations. Did I mention they have to read well too?

As you know, we've been thinking a whole lot about the desing of our invitation lately. Probably over-thinking them to be honest. I am really torn about what we want and what we should do (DIY, store bought, online printables,or custom suites).There are just way to many choices and...Wait. Huh? It's not that serious.

I know! I know! Somebody shoot me already.

 I never thought I'd be this obsessed over words on paper. Sheesh.

Truth is, I am this obsessed. I'm hell-bent on having beautiful, cohesive, color-coordinated, and unique invitations and it's made me somewhat of a invite connoisseur... Well, not really, but I've discovered quite a few awesome stationeries. My most recent find is a company called Wink: Rediscover the Value of Invitations, based in - you're not going to believe this - in the Phillippines!

Wink has really pretty invitations and they are a lot less expensive than those I've seen here in America. We probably won't get our invitations from Wink simply because the shipping costs would be outrageous, but nevertheless, their ridiculously pretty and well-put-together invites have been great eye candy.

Also, they've got me thinkng about our wording. Here I've been so worried about the design and haven't given the wording a single thought. While fliping through the Wink Gallery, I discovered an invitation with the most moving, thought-provoking (mademewanttoshoutwithexcitement) wording. Here it is:

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A REASON. A TIME AND A PURPOSE.
ON THIS DAY I WILL MARRY MY BEST FRIEND.
THE ONE I WILL LAUGH WITH. LIVE FOR. LOVE.

*tear*

Allowing this new found inspiration to take over, I thought, goodness, let me see what else is out there! Here is another very romantic, at least to me, phrase I've considered using:

TWO LIVES JOINED IN FRIENDSHIP
TWO FRIENDS JOINED IN LOVE
ONE LOVE JOINED IN CHRIST.

I definitely love the (although it's a bit religious) spiritual tone of the quote above. It's very fitting for the ceremony we plan to have, focused on our mutual faith.

I don't know what I was thinking before! Hello! What the invitations say is just as important as how they look, right? I guess all my searches aren't in vain after all!

So, the search continues - not only for the perfect design, but wording too!

What did your invitations say?

Yes, Another Post About Invitations

I've been obsessed with wedding invitations lately.

I know, I know. What else is new?

It's crazy. I feel like a germaine shepherd looking for a missing child. Seriously, that's how I feel. Whenever I see invitations, my ears perk up, my sense of smell improves, and my eyes pop out a little. I feel like I need to find them. Like I should have found them yesterday.

I know it's going to take me aaawwwhhiillleee to decide on our invites. It takes me aaawwwhhhiiilllleee to decide on pretty much everything, so the invitations (being one of the most important elements of our wedding) is hardly an exception. I worry that if I don't find them, when the time comes when we have to order something, I'm going to be a ball of tears crying, "but, but I don't know what I want!"

Like many of you,  my search began on the internet. I searched thousands of stationary web sites -- thousands, I tell ya! Who knew stationary was such a booming buisness?

I even ordered samples! I've ordered about a dozen and each time hoped they would be the one. Too bad, I only really like one (of the six) samples I ordered from Wedding Paper Divas (seebelow). It's termography printing. Swwwooon!

{Source}

My other inspirations are solely from online. I haven't seen these in person, but I still think they deserve a spot among my favorites. Remember the invitations I swore were perfect a few weeks back? Those pretty green and peach ones I absolutely adore! Here's a picture to jog your memory:

{Source}

Well, I think I can add the Whimsical Scroll Wedding Invitations from Blush Paperie to my invitation inspiration file too. They almost have the ones above beat. I love the swirls. I'm really into swirls right now!

Purple is definitely not my color, but the good news is that fonts and colors are customizable!

Yippee!

Look at these same invitations in our colors:

{Source}

Gorgeous, no?

Big difference, huh?

Way big difference. I love this design in the green and pink. It's festive, feminine, and do you see those butterflies?!? Where did they come from? They weren't on the original design, but I love them! These were obviously made for me!

They are subtle and go really well with our garden theme...

Could these be the ones for us? More to come on this later.

Are you constantly inspired by invitations (or is it just me)?

How did you decide on your invitations?

DIY Envelope Liners & Decoration

We set the date for our engagement party!

It's going to be on Saturday, June 5th and it's being hosted by a friend of my mom! I'm so excited because Aaron and I have waited nearly 7 months to have this party. We were engaged in October 2009, and ever since then, we've wanted to have a party to celebrate! We couldn't do it in November or December because of the busy Christmas holiday. Then the blizzards that paraylzed the mid-Atlantic shot our plans to have a Valentine's Day themed party in February.

I hope I don't sound selfish when I say, I truly feel that we deserve this...

Aaron and I have weathered a lot as a couple. We've been together for almost 5 years and this last year has been tremendous for us. Not only did we get engaged, we've both made advancements in our careers and we've also managed to stick together through some tough times; namely, my stepfather passing away. I think our relationship deserves a celebration. After all, marriage is big deal. It's a right of passage and we should celebrate every minute of this journey to becoming one. This leap of faith into an institution a lot of people don't believe in anymore.

In all my anxiousness I took over some of the planning...

Not everyone thinks it's totally appropraite that I've been so involved in the process, but I've enjoyed it and I'm not one to sit back and let others do everything for me. Plus, I got involved where I wanted to get involved. My project has been the invitations. I wanted the invitations to be beautiful and I also wanted to exercise my DIY skills and put into action all that I've read about and seen online -- especially DIY envelope liners. 

It all began at ACMoore. I was really excited when I step foot in the store because it felt like I was finally embarking upon all that I had read about online. I was finally taking a stab at creating something for my wedding, which I have daydreamed about doing for a long time. Here I was, begining my journey as a real DIY bride! Ahh. I had so much hope from all the wonderful wedding bloggers. I felt as if all those brides that had blogged and been married before me where right there by my side saying, "You can do it! Go for it!" 

I bought everything I needed (after about 6 trips)...

 I highly recommend making a list before you hit the store. I also suggest buying more than you need, rather than a few samples, because it will save you a lot of time and gas. It took me quite a few trips before I actually got all my materials...

1. One Package of 50 Invitations and Envelopes (from Staples)

2. One very pretty "Love in Bloom," rubber stamp (from ACMoore)

3. One pad of silver ink (from ACMoore)

4. Pretty cardstock (from ACMoore)

5. Double-sided tape (also purchased from Staples)

6. Scissors

Designing the actual invitation was the hardest part...

I needed to figure out what the invitation was going to look like before I went shopping for stuff to dres sup the envelopes. I worked for days (literally, some very long days, when Aaron thought my rear was super glued to the desk chair) designing the actual invite. After at least 2 weekends of fiddling with different ideas (see the sneak peek here), I finally decided on a very simple design with a ring box at the top of the invite and gray lettering (I'll have pictures of the invite posted soon).

Lining the envelopes was fun once I found my rhythm!

I found a lot of tutorials online. I read instructions on how to line envelopes from Martha Stewart (here) and watched videos on how to do it (here), but the most helpful tutorial was right here. I don't know what it was about the way this gal explained her methods, but it wasn't until I read her instructions that I got it. 

For some reason I had a really tough time cutting out the template. I tried and tried and could not get my template to resemble the shape of the envelope. Aaron eventually stepped in and as simple as 1, 2, 3, cut it perfectly. Here's a picture of it:

Using this template, I drew an outline on the back side of the cardstock and cut is with scissors. It's really not helpful to use a cutting machine because of the rounded corners, but with a few extra hands, the cutting was pretty easy. This is my mom cutting the outline:

The next step was sliding the paper into the envelope. A lot of people, including myself were surprised to find out that the cardstock goes all the way down to the bottom of the envelope. I wouldn't suggest trying to save paper and changing this. If the cardstock does not extend to the bottom, I don't think it will stay in place.

I used the lip of the envelope and folded it down onto the cardstock once I slipped it in the envelope and centered it. This created a crease in the cardstock that I could use as a guide for placing the tape. I pulled the lip back up and applied either two or three pieces of double sided tape around the triangular part of the cardstock you see here: 

Note that double-sided tape is tricky to work with. You have to be careful laying it on the paper smoothly because bumps will show through.

When you're ready to adhere the cardstock to the envelope, do so by folding the envelope lip down onto the cardstock rather than lying the cardstock down on the lip. Pressing the lip down works a lot better.

On my first trip to ACMoore, I saw this great rubber stamp that said, "Love in Bloom," and I really wanted to buy it, but I didn't because I thought it was too expensive. Instead, I bought a packet of other wedding-related stamps that were on sale. I wasn't crazy about any of them and I honestly could not get the "Love in Bloom," stamp out of my mind. So I eventually broke down and went back to purchase this one. Overall, I'd say it was worth every penny of $6.99. What do you think?

Make sure when you use a stamp as large as this one, you cover the entire thing with ink. I can't tell you the number of envelopes I threw out because only half the stamp appeared. Also, press down really hard when you're applying the stamp because that will help the image appear bolder. As you can see, I stood up to press down on the stamp:

I also used the double-sided tape dispenser to hold back the lip of the envelope as I applied the stamp. Otherwise I would get a smudge of ink on the lip of the envelope and while most people probably wouldn't notice, the finished product doesn't look as clean.

Here she is in all her glory (click the picture to see it larger):

Sorry you can't see the stamp too well in these pictures. I'm also sorry I didn't upload a picture of the actual invitation. I don't know what I was thinking! I will get those up either this evening or some time tomorrow so that if you're really curious, you can check back.

I hope you like my DIY design! If this tutororial was super confusing, I apologize. Check out this tutorial by Mrs.Pineapple over at Weddingbee! It's the only reason I was able to do this in the first place.

What DIY projects are you working on?

Do you invitations include any DIY extras?

Sneak Peek: Engagement Invites DIY Style

Happy Friday...

Who is happy the weekend is finally here? I am!

We're hitting the road to Charolettesville tonight and I'm excited! We're going to an alumni event at Aaron's alma mater and meeting up with a good, good friend of mine from college. Woo hoo.

We'll be back on Sunday and attending a tasting hosted by Marco Polo Caterering. Yum! I'll have plenty of details on all of that next week, as well as some pictures of our engagement party invitations (woo hoo)!

Here's a sneak peek...

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

The Invitation Inspiration File Keeps Growing

A few days ago, I shared that Mr. B and I wanted to make our invitations and provided some examples of invitations we found inspiring when we were planning a fall wedding. Obviously, choosing to get married in a different season changes a thing or two, including the design and colors of a the invitations, so that's why I have twice as much inspiration as the next bride :)

That and I also have this theory that kind of like falling in love with her wedding gown, a bride has to have a connection to her invitations. A few people I know (some that aren't even engaged yet) know exactly what kind of invitations they want, but something like that would never happen to me. I mull over decisions. I'm very indecisive. I fall in love with something, quickly fall out of love, and in love with something else. Nevertheless, I think I'll connect with the invitations that are for me. Is that crazy? To think paper will speak to me? Haha! Probably.

My indecisivenss is pretty tiring for Mr. B, because he never waivers when it comes to figuring out what he wants. He just knows it when he sees it, but it's not that simple for me. Another reason why I have so much inspiration :)

So although it may not seem like it with jumping from fall to spring motifs and DIY to designer, I am getting closer each day to finding and crafting our perfect invitation. For instance, I know that I want romantic. I want our invitations to be timeless and have some fancy script.

I also like soft colors and I wouldn't mind a picture of flowers as a part of the design, or even a butterfly. All of which would be fitting for our "garden theme." Of course, the color green has to be in there somewhere and I want a package deal too. I don't want my guests sorting through unorganized pieces. I want an open and close dohickey, where they recieve a pocket with all of the various peices organized nice and neat.

Here's the invitation I liked way before I got engaged. I'm not crazy about it now. It's just too modern. I like the flowers and we will most definitely have daisies at our wedding, but the connection just isn't there anymore.

I do love the green. One of the great starting points for me has been the color. That is the one thing I do know for sure - that we're definitely using the color green, and maybe some yellow, or pink. When I'm searching through big websites like Wedding Paper Divas, I always sort by color. Here are a few from there I really liked:

Wedding Paper Divas

So, I definitely like swirals and flowers, but again, none of these are the one! I know what you're thinking! How much inspiration do you need? A bit more. Please! Amuse me!

So none of the above will work, even though finding them and ordering them would be easy and quick. Of course, I want something more. Something more unique. Who would of thought I'd care so much? But being engaged MAKES you this way. It's got to be some kind of chemical imbalance in the brain when a wedding is lurking. It makes you really think, so much so that you end up spending hours debating paper weights and fonts.

A few other invitation favorites?

How about these beauties from Blush Paperie:

Blush Paperie

I've learned if it's got fancy type, and the words whimsical or florish in the name, it's probably up my alley. Like these lovelies from concrete and honey, which are yet another favorite for the invitation inspiration file. When I found them, I quickly sniffed out the source, which was by no surprise Style Me Pretty and I started saving all the pictures I could find.

Like I said, I'm getting closer.

:: sigh ::

Stationary by Laura Hooper, Photo credit to Steve Steinhardt, Designer is Beth Helmstetter

Do you have a lot of invitation inspiration?

Did you know your invitations when you saw them?  

Invitations Are the Forefront

Pretty Paper...

Pushing our wedding back was really a blessing. Having been engaged for four months, I was way behind the buck. I started off strong making cards for my friends, asking them to be bridesmaids, but then I stopped. I haven't done anything towards our wedding since then, except of course, maintain this blog.

During my recent months of blogging, I've found that while it's great to research wedding web sites and blogs to collect ideas and inspriations, it doesn't bring anything to life in the "real world."

It's fun to throw DIY tutorials and pictures up on the blog, but the "blog world," isn't where my wedding is taking place, and the truth is we need to get started.

Well, we've done our research. That's the easy part. What's harder is making a decision on what we like, what he want, and get it or create it. It's the creative process. Something I know well from my years of writing experience. Problem is, I'm overwhelmed with inspiration. I'm so caught up in what everyone else is doing, I haven't left anytime to figure out what we're going to do. 

I decided to collect a little (just a little) inspiration for my most pressing project--invitations. I like these because they are bold, yet beautiful. I like the design, especially the swirlies along the edge of each piece and the cohesive look. They are a little too dark for our spring wedding though.

{Invitations by Melissa with Fully Designed on Etsy}

 {Photo credit: Katie Shagman via Oh So Beautiful Paper}

One thing I know for sure is that I want our save the dates and invitations (and programs and menus) to match. Call me crazy, but they have to match. The colors don't have to be exactly the same, but something has to be consistent throughout. I really like the set below, because they match, but they aren't too matchy.

{Invitations and Photos by Eskquisite Design via Oh So Beautiful Paper}

I also know that I really want something vintage and imperfect too. I want unique. Our design has to reflect our love for mixing thrifty, traditional, and timeless. We love art and we're easily inspired. We want a design that is going to show off our appreciation for antique, southern, and timeless, as well as contemporary and cool.

{Invitiations by Jessica Claire and Kari Dyas via Green Wedding Shoes}

I could fill this post with great invitations, let's face it. There's so much inspiration out there (one reason I can't get enough of Oh So Beautiful Paper blog), but could it be there's such thing as too much inspiration? In all honesty, I think I'm a bit intimitated. I can't think of my own design, because my mind is crowded with everyone else's great designs.

How did you decide on the design of your invitations?

I've decided I need to brainstorm. I'm making it a homework assignment to figure out our design, or at least give it some serious thought. To help, I thought I'd pull together some inspiration. I know. I know. Enough already with the inspiration, but really, I think this will help.

Remember me mentioning these (invitations below) as a muse for my spring inspriation board? If not, check out my post right here. Well, Aaron wasn't crazy about them. He liked the color and font, but he wasn't sold on the whole "oh happy day." He said we'd have to come up with our own sang. Again, a reminder that we're not going to get our invitations from inspiration.

{Invitations by Linzmarie Designs}

So I know that this entire posting is about how I need to tap into my creative side and stop gathering inspiration, but I just had to share one last set of invitations. I love them. No, really. I love them. In a sick sort of jealous way, I wish they were our invitations. They're perfect, I mean, the spring colors, all that green, and the romantic, DIY, beauty of them.

Why didn't I think of this?

Really, how could you not envy invitations like these? A part of me wishes I never would have crossed paths with them.This is exactly the type of thing I mentioned above. How can I compete?

{Photos and Invitations by Lillyella via iDIY}

Well, wish me luck on my big assigment to create some concrete ideas on what I want our invitations to look like. I'm going to try to come up with our design pretty much alone and without the help of the wonderful and flourishing wedding community online! I hope I have something for you guys to see and for me to begin working on very soon!  

Share your invitations! Whether you created them or bought them, share them here with the link to pictures.

Inspiration Collage

Want to design invitations? I do!

On Style Me Pretty, enter to win the very prestigous honor of designing an inviation to add to the the Sarah Drake collection!

Since joining the SMP Style Circle, I have access to all the beautiful images gracing the SMP screen! I'm linked with thousands of other SMP fans and the fun awaits! I'm shocked that after a year of following SMP, I'm just now discovering this awesome feature--there's blogging, a favorites notebook, forum chats, and best of all, an inspiration board builder!

Here's my inspiration board for the INVITATION CHALLENGE:

Sarah of Sarah Drake will choose the winner on Tuesday, October 27th, so that means I entered in the contest on the last day to participate

(Photo credit: Me via Style Circle on Style Me Pretty)

Wish me luck!