6.29.2009

An Emotional Map

One of our recent clients loved the idea of a Save-the-Date map, but wanted to do something different and more "emotional." We came up with the idea of a "life map" and the result was fantastic! You can see both the bride and groom's journeys growing up until they met in June of 2006. The map continues to their engagement and, ultimately, their 2009 wedding. It really is a great idea to showcase their most important accomplishments both as individuals as well as a couple. We were even able to incorporate interests and things they enjoy - such as oatmeal for the both of them! In addition to the adorable map, we are also creating custom Zazzle stamps with the icon of the campfire where they met!

This is a wonderful alternative to our standard map and we were happy to bring the bride's idea to life!

6.26.2009

Spotlight on KK Bloom


KK Bloom, based in Austin, TX, specializes in luxury custom couture invitations, social stationary and printed materials for any celebration. As soon as designer Krystina Mayhew-Bloom, "KK," created an exquisite invitation line for her own wedding, recipients began calling in orders for special collections for their own upcoming events - in turn KK Bloom was born!



Krystina utilizes her years of design experience and eduation to create unique pieces to satisfy a myriad of clients in all realms of events. Featuring letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, engraving, offset, digital, thermography and more, KK Bloom strives to make each piece so very unique, and exquisitely crafted that it will become a treasured keepsake -
and we think they succeed!
When Krystina asked me to make a map for her new shoppe location, I could not refuse!

In addition, you can check out more of Krystina's work on her new blog!

6.24.2009

Real Weddings -- Beavercreek, CO


Take a look at this amazing letter press invitation suite by Nessa Sander of Cardgirl. The bride and groom ordered their invitations, reply cards, itinerary with map on the reverse side, welcome cards for their welcome packages, escort cards and even personalized notecards for their thank yous - all in warm shades of brown and sepia. The "outdoorsy" look is exemplified through not only the custom invitation design, but also the shimmery brown envelopes and calligraphy in two different shades.

We created the artwork for the names and some other aspects of the invitation suite, and then sent the files to Nessa, who turned them into these gorgeous works of art!


Check out their adorable welcome boxes complete with a personal note as well as a larger color version of their custom map we printed for the bride - just perfect!



Guests found their seats using these escort card/envelope sets that were lined up on a table outside the reception.















6.22.2009

Favor Tip: Maps as T-Shirts

We couldn't help but share this photo of one of our clients "modeling" their guest favor - a t-shirt with their wedding map featured on the back. We create maps for any destination, and every design can be screened onto t-shirts for a wonderful keepsake gift! Choose from a variety of colors and options. We LOVE dogs and weddings!!The shirts are available in a variety of brands to fit different budgets, from American Apparel to Fruit of the Loom, and are also available in many different colors to match your theme. Shirts are also available in multicolor prints.To save money, the couple elected not to put any logo on the front of the shirt, so the maps are only on the backs. That option is available though! We can also screen monograms and photos onto t-shirts and totes. These make wonderful favors for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays and more!


Here's a look at the original map the t-shirt design came from. The calligraphy style on this map is copperplate.

Here's a view of the reverse side of the map, with the weekend itinerary.

6.18.2009

UK Press





We are very excited and pleased to announce that Laura Hooper Calligraphy was recently featured in the UK Magazine "You and Your Wedding!" We have done work for many international weddings, but this is our first mention in an international magazine. The bride ordered a map from us and you can see her rave review under "Annie's Tips."

It was a joy to work on this project and we are so grateful to be included in the article and of course in the couple's special day!


And, thanks so much to my two current UK brides Lindsay and Laura who sent me hard copies of this fantastic magazine!!

6.17.2009

Nominate Us!

Do you love reading Lucky Orchid Wedding? If so, please nominate us for the Wedding Channel's first ever blog awards! We've already received our first nomination, but we can receive unlimited nominations and the more we receive, the more likely it is we will be chosen for the finalists. Please follow the link to learn how nominate Lucky Orchid Wedding and thank you in advance!

6.16.2009

Using your Maps


We've worked with two separate couples that have gotten married on Isla Mujeres, a small island off the coast of Mexico. We did a complete matching set for this couple including thank you cards with the adorable hotel icon that was threaded throughout their printed materials. They really made use of their map design, since once we had it all set they incorporated my icons into every aspect of their wedding, starting from the save the dates, all the way to the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception. The escort cards looked so sweet as did the table signs (which used icons, instead of numbers). Being a destination wedding, they included a weekend itinerary on the reverse side of their map (I just love all the tropical icons!), and also had a welcome bag for their guests featuring the monogram that we created for them. You can also see that they used their monogram for personalized stamps on their wedding invitations - it was a great way to tie everything together and use small touches to make their day special!

The invitation {also in the first photo above} featured our popular Ella Script style, and icons from the map, that was displayed on the cover. It was tied closed with a double-faced satin ribbon that we chose to match the color of the ocean in the map. Inside the map was an itinerary, the actual invitation wording, and an RSVP postcard.

The outer envelopes had the guest addresses in chocolate brown ink and Ella Script, and had fabulous stamps we ordered for the bride on Zazzle, that used the logo we initially created for the Save the Dates {below}.


The envelope liners for the Save the Dates were printed with the couple's logo pattern.
{Save the Date shown with our fabulous brass compass favors!}


The Save the Dates featured a stylized map of Mexico, with a few icons from our map, with an arrow pointing to the location of the Island. It included the wedding website of the couple and a note to remind their honored guests not to forget their passports!



The welcome itinerary was size 8x10" and was included in all the gift bags. The itineraries listed all the events for the entire "wedding week" and used all the same bright colors on the map.


Custom totes in fun, bright colors were created with the logo we created screen-printed on the front.


My personal favorite: Adorable tees with the maps printed on the back, and the logo on the left side of the front of the shirts. Each guest received a shirt in their welcome bags.
We even used icons at the Rehearsal Dinner! We created icons for every location {10 in all} of importance to the Bride and Groom, including where they live, where they were born, where they got engaged, and their Honeymoon destination. Each guest had a placecard with the icon of the location to match the table name cards. The back of the table card had a description of the location and why it was important to Sarah and Patrick.
At the Wedding Reception, tables were marked with our icons instead of numbers or table names. Each guest was given a shot glass and the bottom had a clear sticker with the icon for the table they were seated at the bottom, so once they downed their tequila, they would go to their seat. The signs were placed in the floral arrangements.


The couple elected to order thank you notes to match their set as well, with the little villa icon at the bottom and in the same style as their invitations and save the dates to complete the set.

In this case, working with Sarah and Patrick started almost a year in advance of the wedding, we met several times to discuss designs, style, colors, etc. and it was truly a pleasure to work with them!

6.15.2009

Southern Wedding Contest Winner


I recently did a contest with Southern Weddings and this couple that won wanted to include three different states as well as DC. We were able to come up with this "all-inclusive" map, and the bride loved it:

"I wanted the first thing our guests would see about our wedding weekend to be reflective of Dan and me. We live in Maryland, but are getting married in Virginia. I grew up in Tennessee. That's why we included all three states (and Washington, DC, where I lived and worked when Dan and I met) on the map, along with our hometowns, the cities where we went to college and the places where we've shared fun dates, like Dollywood and Larriland Farms. I am sure that was a daunting request, but you more than surpassed expectation! We were engaged in Columbia, MD, where we now live, and our dog Chloe played a role in that, so we love that you were able to add her into all the amazing details that capture Maryland. What is most amazing, however, are the illustrations of our wedding and reception location in Virginia's Wine and Hunt Country. I only hope our wedding day looks as whimsical and charming in real life as it does highlighted on the map." --Patra S.

The map was not drawn to scale (most of my maps are not) and was used on totes and an enlarged print for the happy couple. We love knowing that our work can enhance the biggest day of a couple's life, and we look forward to continuing to map your wedding destinations!


6.03.2009

Real Weddings: The Parker Palm Springs


Normally I would save this post for the following week but I just got these photos in my inbox from the wedding of Jeannie and John Lawlor, sister and brother in law of Michelle Beller at Mi Belle Inc. Photography and I just had to post them immediately.
The bride and groom were married at the Parker Palm Springs -- a fabulous hotel!
On this wedding I primarily worked with Michelle Beller, sis of the bride, on all the stationery items. I did talk to Jeannie as well and these are two of the sweetest gals!
I could not resist posting this pic of all the bridesmaid's shoes lined up in a row!

The groom's adorable pup Chauncy decorated all the tables in the form of Polaroid pictures. For escort cards/favors, Michelle had us do large folding cards which each couple's name and table number, and affixed a lotto ticket. At the bottom of each we had pre-printed "Hope you get lucky tonight!" as a funny quip. The escort cards are lined by real pink gumballs. Instead of the large chalkboards I've been doing, I suggested to Michelle we print a huge 22x30" sign to display the drinks and hors d'oeurves in the design to match the escort cards, place cards and menus.
The table signs were smaller versions of the huge cocktail hour sign and sat on the table in 5x7" tents.Small menus were tucked into the napkins at each place setting. Placecards indicated where each guest was to be seated. We did the wording of the placecards in different colors according to the entree choice: pink for lobster, brown for steak, and green for veggie.

Congrats to the Lawlors! For more pictures, be sure to visit Mi Belle's Blog!

Vendor Credits:
Flowers: Nico Designs Santa Barbara with help from Sydne Smith
Music: Rockrose
Dress: Vera Wang
Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bridesmaids Dresses: Thread Social
Grooms Suite: J. Lindeberg
Grooms Vans: Hand made by Jason Stores

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