A Love That Crossed Land and Sea [Kathleen + Tom}

Kathleen and Tom met in San Diego and began to fall in love.  Kathleen moved to Boston while Tom remained in San Diego.  Tom was deployed overseas to Iraq. Kathleen and Tom live happily ever after, together (finally!), in Massachusetts.  That is the short version of a very long love story that survived 1,000’s of miles.

The bride was in Boston for most of the planning so I met the Groom and the Parents of the Bride first.  With the Groom, Father of the Groom and Father of the Bride being former military, working with them on a detailed timeline and organized yet smooth flow of the evening was a breeze. 

Arriving at the Bride’s Parents' house on Saturday morning, all was calm.  The girls were getting their hair and makeup done in one of the upstairs rooms by the talented Katherine Patsas Nevitt.  While the girls were getting ready, the Parents of the Bride and I discussed all of the details for the day. 

The groom and his groomsmen arrived at St Aloysius first.  The church is a perfect location for a wedding with its long aisle and gorgeous architecture.  It was established in 1856 and is located on the Gonzaga High School campus. 

Once the Bride had arrived with her bridal party, we tucked the Groom in the sacristy and brought her inside.  Shortly thereafter, the guests began to arrive and take their seats.  We had 5 young greeters to assist with handing out our programs. 

The music for the ceremony was provided by several talented musicians: organist and pianist – Dr. John Warman of St. Aloysius, strings – Sunrise String Quartet, soloist - Elizabeth Hungerford.  After the hour long ceremony, guests and bridal party were loaded into the transportation provided by the family and headed over to Washington Golf and Country Club located in Arlington, Virginia.

The bridal party took some cute pics on the 1^st tee while the guests enjoyed cocktails overlooking the beautifully kept golf course.  In the background, a slideshow of the couple played.

Guests entered the Presidential ballroom and were struck by the gorgeous blue linens on each of the tables with the simple, yet elegant centerpieces designed by Anne Holcombe.  Bowls of blue and pink M&M’s with the couple’s names written on them were sitting on each of the tables for guests to enjoy throughout the night.  

The amazing cake, designed by Kendall of Kendall’s Cakes, was not only beautiful to look at but also quite tasty.

After dinner guests boogied down to the energetic band Trademark, which is based out of Richmond.  Even guests of the Club who overheard the music playing couldn’t help but dance and sing along when walking by the ballroom.  

The amazing Paul Morse had the pleasure of photographing all of these special moments throughout the day and we had the pleasure of working along-side of him and his fantastic assistant, Jenna.

Congratulations to Kathleen and Tom! Thanks for letting us share your fun wedding!

Christine

Michelle's Memos giveaway! (TWO of them!)

How do we love invitation queen Michelle Alberg? Let us count the ways.

1. Her company, Michelle's Memos, is able to offer great discounts on a variety of lines.
2. She's a true expert on invitation wording and etiquette, having been in the business for more than 23 years.
3. Michelle carries over 50 stationery vendors, and works one-on-one with clients to create the perfect invitation suite for their big day.
4. She loves her job, and it shows.

Having worked with Michelle dozens of times, we can honestly say she is one of the best in the business: efficient, knowledgeable, and completely creative. And now, she is about to make two Bridal Bubbly readers very happy. Michelle is giving away a $100 and $50 gift card to Michelle's Memos. If you'd like to win one of them, email us at weddings@engagingaffairs.com with a quick note and Michelle's Memos in the title. And read on for our interview with Michelle!

How did you develop your business?

 I developed my business in 1987 when I was pregnant with my twins. I knew I wanted to be with them as much as possible but still had a desire to work. So, I started my business from my home, living in Massachusetts. At that time there weren't really any home-based businesses, so it was hard to get it started. I loved what I was doing from the very beginning so it was just a matter of getting people to understand that not only did I knew what I was doing, but that was a legitimate business as well. Twenty-three years later, I guess it worked!

What customizations do you offer?
I work with most major companies whether it is letterpressed, engraved or thermography invitations. I also find the "start up " companies who offer great prices because they are not as well known as the more popular ones. A great advantage in working with the "start up" ones is many times they can create invitations very similar to the popular ones at a much less expensive price. I can always work within someone's budget, and most of the time will find exactly what they were looking for, many times at a less expensive price. Since I have been in this business so long, I know all the tricks of the trade . In addition, there are many companies that I am able to offer a discount so that also saves people a lot of money.

What one thing in your business could you not live without?

The thing I could not live without in my business are all of the books that have all the samples in them. I don't really understand how people can choose a wedding invitation or stationery without seeing  and feeling the actual paper. With all the new papers available, as well as different thickness, I don't understand how people buy from the Internet. The books also have ink samples so you know exactly what you will be getting. When ink colors are shown on the Internet, I know the color varies from one computer screen to another.So, what you get may be different than what you see on your screen.

What trends do you see in color, texture or detailing?

There used to be a trend that the invitation should always match the colors used in the wedding, but I think that is changing. People are really choosing what they like and worrying about the colors in the wedding with the tablecloths, dresses and flowers. However, there are still people who will run " their colors" from start to finish.

What colors do you love?

Hmm, what colors do I like? That is a hard question, it really depends on the season and what I feel like at the moment. I always love classic and traditional  colors with a little "zip" to it, but then I work with someone to create this really colorful and fun invitation, and then I really love that look.

What is one piece of advice you'd give a bride or groom?

The one piece of advice I always will give a bride and groom is make sure you love what you are choosing. Whether it is the invitation, the band, the flowers, or the caterer, love it from the beginning. You never want to look back when the wedding is over and think, " I should have done this or should of done that", so fast-forward in the process and think, "Will I love what I chose when it is all over?"

Thanks, Michelle, for the interview and fabulous giveaways. Remember to email us at weddings@engagingaffairs.com if you want to enter the drawing for the gift cards. The winners will be announced next week. Good luck!

Alison

Spotlight on Menus

Here are some delectable menu presentations to get you through the afternoon....

Love these wine bottle labels with the menu printed on them-- very cute, and functional! (Source: Creative Crabbe)

This hand-illustrated menu is gorgeous, from the calligraphy to the ruffled edging. (Source: Designs by Robyn Love)

Apparently, the kids' toy that inspired these menus goes by two names: fortune tellers and cootie catchers. The latter isn't exactly appetizing, but they are very playful-- good for the wedding of childhood sweethearts, perhaps? Source: Kat's Krafts and Cami's Paperie.

Adore the vintage charm and simplicity of this menu-- very elegant! (Source: Two For Joy Paper)

A scrolled menu tied with a ribbon and adorned with a peacock feather has an Old World feel to it. (Source: Peacock Invitations)

More Fun Paper Finds from Etsy!

Today we're continuing our celebration of all things papery with more fun finds from Etsy!

True story: in high school my friends and I made Bingo cards to entertain ourselves during boring glasses. The "Bingo" word was always some ridiculous phrase you had to work into the class discussion. For example, "Daisy's husband in The Great Gatsby is a one-legged pirate monkey." Yeah, we thought we were pretty clever. And so obviously, I find these Wedding Lingo Bingo cards pretty entertaining! (Source: Tie That Binds Weddings)

From the same Esty shop: customized matchboxes. I will refrain from making a 'perfect match' pun-- wouldn't want to ignite any wrath from an enflamed readership!! (Source: Tie That Binds Weddings)

Raise your hand if you're surprised that I loved these adorable cupcake toppers from My Lady Dye. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Hands down, these are the fanciest confetti cones I've ever seen. (Source: My Lady Dye)

Sparklers are another classic send-off for couples at the end of the night. We usually display them in buckets but I might become a convert to these personalized sparkler holders. (Source: Print Your Party)

And maybe my favorite find of the day: personalized luggage tags with real personality! (Source: C'est Superb)

That's all for now! But be sure to come back later today for some very appetizing menu ideas! (Okay, I'll stop punning now. Really.) 

Spotlight on Guest Books

I love a traditional guest book album as much as the next person, but sometimes it's nice to change things up. So today we thought it'd be fun to spotlight some more unusual guest book ideas. Enjoy!

This romantic silhouette poster is so darling that whether guests sign it or not, you really could hang it in a fun part of your house as a fabulous memento of your wedding day.  (Source: Maxim Creative Invites)

Look closely and you'll see that the leaves on this wedding tree are actually thumbprints. An included sign asks guests to "leaf" their mark and a signature. Love the idea-- just make sure you have an easy, accessible way for people to clean their green thumbs so no pretty clothes get stained! (Source: Lovliday)

The postcards as guestbook idea is super easy-- what makes this one extra cute is the actual mailbox used for delivery! (Source: The Knot)

This creative chain-link guestbook requires just a little bit of work from an attendant. On one side of each slip of paper are song lyrics from love songs, and the other side is notes from guests that the attendant linked together. Love the delicate symbolism. (Source: The Knot)

This one isn't so much a creative use of paper as it is a creative idea. In lieu of a traditional guestbook, this couple had a time capsule at their wedding. Notes written by guests weren't opened until the couple's first anniversary! (Source: The Knot)

Saima Says Design giveaway!

When Saima Khan opened her own design studio in Georgetown in 2006, there wasn't an event planner in town who didn't sit up and take notice. Combining flawless taste with impeccable technique, Saima Says Design has rightfully earned a heap of praise from wedding industry insiders, bridal publications, and of course, happy couples. Saima is truly an artist with paper, and a lovely person to boot! It's always a thrill watching her work with clients, turning their dream of an invitation into gorgeous reality.

And now it's your turn to be thrilled: one fortunate Bridal Bubbly reader will win 50 thank-you cards and envelopes from the Saima Says Design Letterpress Signature Collection. There are twelve designs to choose from (I'm partially to the Bloomsbury Chic collection myself, but go find your own favorite!)

This is truly a fantastic value, and we couldn't be more grateful to Saima for the fabulous opportunity for our readers. She was also nice enough to sit down and answer some questions about her studio.

How did you develop your business?

After earning a degree in graphic design from Maryland Institute, College of Art in Baltimore, I worked for top design firms in the Baltimore-Washington area. I created designs for such fashion names as Saks Fifth Avenue, Little Me Childrenswear, Harriet Kassman and Alan Furman Jewelry. In the process I gained experience in all aspects of design – from concept to execution to production.

But it was a special occasion, the marriage of my brother Sami, for which I created my first wedding invitation. The distinctive design captured the hearts of family and friends alike, igniting my passion for custom stationery.

Soon after, I was able to quit my advertising job and focus on creating beautiful wedding suites for clients nationally and internationally as well. Here I am, almost five years later, loving every minute of it! 

Where do you get your inspiration?

My designs have compelling concepts that take inspiration from a multitude of sources – architecture, fashion, history, nature, my cross-cultural background and of course striking design and typography. 

How would you define your style?

Stylistically my work is defined by it's rich visual appeal. All of my designs, whether custom or Signature, are adorned with a variety of motifs and pattern that convey the look and feel of that event. The strong and bold use of color is also something which I consider unique to my style. 

As a designer, I am able to apply these design elements to any theme–from more formal, ornate designs for a wedding at The Willard to a clean, sleek, crisp look for an event at Long View. 

What one thing in your business could you not live without?

My sketchbook and pencil! (I guess those are two things, but you get the idea.) Both go with me everywhere! 

What trends do you see in color, texture or detailing?

A lot of different mediums, other than paper are being utilized in wedding stationery these days. For instance, we use silk, linens, plexi-glass, bamboo, wood veneer, embroidery and other surfaces to accent our invitation ensembles. This makes a very unique invitation, and also adds dimensionality to the conventional paper invite. The silks and linens can be added with boxes and folders that showcase the paper invite, still keeping the overall look very formal and elegant, while the bamboo and wood surfaces can be used to print directly on or used as a backing to an invite, creating a modern, fresh look. We also use crystals and embroidery to decorate our designs.

Also, letterpress printing seems to be very much in-demand these days. Letterpress allows the graphics and text to be pressed into the paper, making a lovely impression on the paper and your guests! 

What colors do you love?

I love combining dark and light colors so that there is a lot of contrast and depth to play with! My favorite color combinations are canary yellow and charcoal gray, Aqua and Navy and the very classic black and white!

What is one piece of advice you'd give a bride or groom?

Always think big picture. What is this all really about? I think we often get too caught up in the smallest things and forget what a wedding is really all about. Enjoy your special day to the fullest.

Thanks, Saima! To enter to win the thank you-notes, drop an email to weddings@engagingaffairs.com with "Saima Says" in the subject line and your name and a quick note in the email.  The winner will be announced next week. Good luck!

-Alison

Winner of Carlo Fellini Clutch!

Thanks to everyone for voting on our Mother of the Occasion dresses last week! The winner of the fabulous Carlo Fellini clutch from Designer Apparel is Kristen J who loved Sara's Black and White inspiration board and the black one shoulder gown.  Congratulations Kristen!  Shoot us an email with your snail mail address and Designer Apparel will get the clutch out to you lickety-split!

Mexican Destination Wedding Invitations {Ceci Style}

We just had to share this great article by one of our favorite designers, Ceci, on destination wedding invitations.  Ceci creates such amazing paper products and her advice is spot-on.  Thanks to Ceci for great tips and endless inspiration. Check out more Mexican wedding inspiration at her magazine, Ceci Syle.

The Art of Destination Wedding Invitations
by Ceci Johnson

When you decide to plan a destination wedding, your invitations take on a whole new meaning. Instead of just simply communication the time, date and place, you are informing your guests of an entire “mini vacation” you are planning for them.
So how do you go about inviting people to your destination wedding in style?

Here are my top five tips:

1. Think about your timing: Book your invitation designer as soon as you book your venue and wedding date. You want to make sure they’re reserved for your wedding date and you have plenty of time for the creative process. Typically a couture invitation designer works with you for the entire process, starting from creating your save the dates (which should be mailed 6-8 months before your wedding date) to the invitation suite (mailed out 2-3 months before your wedding date) to your day of accessories like menus, escort cards and favors. Remember with couture invitations, the entire design process can take up to 3-4 months (lead time) when you add in calligraphy and printing (and that timing is to be worked backwards from your desired mail date!). A real expert will assist and manage every step of the way for your mailings, and make it a stress-free, enjoyable experience.
   
2. Find inspiration in your chosen destination: Look to the culture of the place, the patterns of the local artwork, or the history of your venue for ways to bring your wedding to life, via your invitations. Think about what drew you to that location and play that up through artwork and make that the inspiration for your design theme. I love to hand draw cultural patterns for my destination clients. There is so much history and meaning to build off of from your worldly locations. For example, when I created Katharine and Kent’s invitations, I looked to the Otomi patterns of the traditional Mexican embroidery fabrics.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Word your invitations clearly and make it easy on your guests: Make sure you include all travel details, recommended hotels and a complete itinerary of your wedding weekend festivities in your save the dates so guests will know when to book their travel. Reiterate that, along with any new details, when you send your invitations. You don’t want your guests taking the first flight home and missing your farewell brunch, because you forgot to include that information for them.
   
4. Create continuity in your communications: Consider your guests’ experience of receiving a beautifully designed, cohesive package all at one time. I recommend thinking about your whole weekend lineup and sending out an exquisitely-designed set that informs guests of all that they’re invited to do at your destination wedding. You don’t want to confuse their experience by sending too many different-looking mailings. It annoys your guests and ends up being more work and money for you.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Choose unique details for your invitations: When you think about your guests receiving your invitation in the mail, think about how much more impactful yours will be if it really stands out in the pile of ho-hum mail. That’s why I love to create my own envelope shapes. Try them in 3D form, with bright colored papers and always unique shaped flaps like Katharine and Kent’s the four ‘petals’ unfold to reveal the brightly colored Mexican print I created for them, that really packed a punch! It’s especially important for destination weddings. View more Destination Ceci Style invitations.