Invitation Suite: Classic Red & Black

Red and black will forever remain a classic color choice for weddings {especially ballroom!} - and this elegant invitation with it's "all calligraphy" text hits the mark for classic elegance.

This couple also added a coordinating envelope liner to complete the look! And an invite suite would not be complete without an RSVP card {also featuring full calligraphy} and it's own return envelope.

This simple yet bold invitation suite is perfect for birthday parties as well as weddings.

Budget Tips

Last week we showed you how to make your custom LHC map your invitation itself, so this week we thought it would be good to share a few more budget tips and also remind everyone to be sure to include printed materials in their overall wedding budget from the very beginning.

No one forgets to budget for their dress or flowers or photography, but invitations and definitely calligraphy {even if you know you want it} are oft overlooked! Prices for inviations and calligraphy can vary greatly depending on paper, style, number of pieces and of course the vendor, but to get a basic idea for your budget, here are some numbers.

For an invitation, RSVP card and envelope for each, an average cost could be:

Flat printing = $5-$7 per set
Letterpress printing = $14-$20 per set

Many vendors will have a minimum {our standard is 100 sets}, but be sure you ask for pricing for the number you are looking for. If there is a minimum, you will find out shortly.

For envelope calligraphy, you should factor in another $300-$425 for 100 envelopes.

Maps and reception items are additional, so be sure to include these in as well if you are looking for a comprehensive print material suite.

If these numbers seem daunting but you still want a custom look and to include the art of calligraphy, here are some tips to keeping your costs down:

• Thermography {raised printing} can be a great alternative to letterpress if you want a textured print without the price tag of letterpress.
• Use an RSVP postcard instead of card with envelope - this saves on paper costs as well as the postage you will need to include on each piece.
• If you want to have your own custom map, consider using it as a save the date or as the invitation.
• To get a map in addition to your other materials, consider our map alteration process - you can alter an already existing map of your destination {restrictions apply}
• If you are concerned about the cost of calligraphy, but do want hand lettered envelopes, keep your sights set on the tier 1 styles - the higher the style, the higher the cost per envelope. 

If you have any questions or to let us create your dream invitation suite, contact us today!

Creative Tip: Photo Save the Date

Looking for a fun way to use your engagement photos and share one in particular with your friends and family? Turn your favorite pic into a save the date postcard that you just know your guests will happily hang on their refridgerators!

For this couple we gave them two options for the Save the Date text - both in Rook script.

Keep your text simple on the reverse and you're all set!

{also included but removed for privacy is the couple's wedding website}

Let us know how we can turn your engagement photos into a beautiful invitation keepsake!

Map: Crested Butte, CO {magnet}

Yesterday we showed you how to turn your map into an invitation and today we have another option for your map to accomplish "double duty"! If you don't want a standard save the date, you can create a custom magnet for all of your guests to hang on their refrigerators leading up to your big day!

This adorable map for Crested Butte depicts all the fun of a mountain village wedding weekend. The adventures available include hiking, bike riding, train rides, downtown shopping, golfing, canoeing ~ the possibilities are truly endless!

Remind your guests daily of your special celebration with a magnet map!

Budget Tip: Map Invitation

Do you want to secure one of our custom maps for your wedding, but still stay true to your budget? Then consider making your map the invitation itself! This couple opted to include all of the wedding details right on the front side of their map card!

The destination wedding is sure to be an exciting weekend, and the soon-to-be newlyweds were able to convey all the local hot spots while also sharing the ceremony & reception details. To further save on costs {and also cut back on paper!} this client opted for an RSVP postcard - that means no envelope and a much less expensive stamp {$0.29 versus $0.60 and up}.

Let us help you create your dream suite too ~ with or without a map!

Creative Tip: Personalized Guestbooks

Nature can be quite inspirational and that is exactly where product designer Gillian Stevens pulls from for her daily inspiration in creating leather and recycled paper products that comprise her company Dewdrop designs! These beautiful leather bound books make amazing guestbooks ~ both my sister and I made good use of them at our own weddings!

You can write directly on the pages themselves, or leave cards for your guests to write their message on and glue those in at a later date. This works well for you to add a photo from your professional pics with each card to keep a visual of each guest with their well wishes. The books are also perfect if you have a polaroid camera or photo booth to add day-of pictures right in!

Gillian is so easy to work with and will even add in your custom Laura Hooper Calligraphy monogram or standard calligraphy to correlate with your entire inviation suite and other print materials!

Visit the Dewdrop website to see these and other fantastic products from Gillian Stevens.

Real Wedding: NYIT de Seversky Mansion, New York

The lovely ladies over at Always a Blogsmaid worked on this beautifully vibrant wedding at the NYIT de Seversky Mansion in New York. They worked with the luscious color scheme of purple and blush, to create a truly unique {and super floral} look!

First we definitely need to point out the ceremony venue transformation that they pulled off. The couple loved the venue except for the fans in the ceremony site.

So instead of scrapping the venue, they figured out a way to use the fans to their advantage. Swap out the chairs and add an array of cherry blossoms, and the room is completely transformed!

And the ballroom itself was simply gorgeous!

We contributed escort cards and table signs to compliment the look.

The table signs were names of the couple's favorite restaurants around the city to personalize the room.

Thank you to Heather Waraksa for sharing her beautiful photos with us, and to see more on this lovely affair, visit the Always a Blogsmaid blog.

Invitations on Inside Weddings Online

Earlier this week InsideWeddings.com debuted a new Editor's Circle spotlight of us! We are so honored to be a part of the Editor's Circle and this new spotlight even includes my own wedding invitation suite!

They also included a few other more recent invitation suites...

Head over to the Editor's Circle Spotlight to read the interview!

Real Wedding: Santa Barbara, CA

The lovely couple from today's real wedding travelled all the way from London to celebrate their wedding in the beautiful coastal town of Santa Barbara.

We worked on reception pieces featuring our Sloop script and Quatrefoil design on blue shimmer paper. The print materials included fan programs, menus with belly bands, table and other signs and the ultimate world map!

The large map displayed all the travels of the couple ~ so much fun and such a sweet personal touch!

Creative Tip: Tea-Length Invites

Do you love elegant invitations but want to do something just a tad bit different? Tea-length invitations may be just the thing for you!

Nearly any of our invitation styles can be done in a tea-length suite, and this is also the perfect medium for a formal, all calligraphy invitation as well.

You can still include a custom map, and not all of your pieces need to be in the tea-length size!

And can carry the concept into your reception pieces {such as the program shown below}.

Let us know if tea-length is a concept you'd like to consider!

Party Invitations

We love creating invitation suites to kick off our clients' wedding experience with their guests, but we have just as much fun creating invites for welcome parties, engagement dinners, baby showers, bridal showers, sunset cruises ~ if you want people to share an experience with you, we can create an invitation for it!

Here are some examples of party invitations for events other than a wedding!

{baby shower}

{Sunset BBQ & Rehearsal Celebration}

 

{engagement party}

{bridal shower}

{welcome party}

{baby shower}

We hope you'll let us work with you on any life events!