Uyen at Sassy Girl Weddings contacted me to design her clients invitation suite; which was an exciting project since I needed to find a way to combine two languages, a greenery watercolor graphic, along with their holiday wedding theme! The most cost effective [and eco-friendly] option was to print a language on each side of a single-layer card. The couple could then flip the card face-up within the envelope, depending on who was receiving the invite.
I found a few green foliage graphics for the couple to choose from, I then added the red berries for a classic holiday element. They decided to incorporate a belly-band embellishment [wrapped around the invite card] to slide the enclosure cards in. For the band design, I laid out their names & date in white on a red berry ink. Finally, we went with a wild berry envelope to match.
I can’t wait to customize this design style in the future for a non-holiday celebration, simply by changing the band & envelope color and probably removing the berries… or we can keep them for fun. 😉
Wow, time is flying by! I was first asked to custom design a vintage film ticket invitation for Trisha & Tony‘s wedding in 2011. Luckily, based on each new clients theme, this unique invite suite has been personalized many times over!
For example, I’ve updated the design to work as a single invite card only (vs. the full suite w/tear-off RSVP postcard & map card), along with a new style that includes a perforated tear-off RSVP STUB on the main invite. There are also now smaller, miscellaneous event tickets available, plus ticket save the dates. And lastly, a fun Pop or Rock Star themed girls birthday party ticket.
This is truly what I love about my job…customizing all the details…it’s never the same. Time flies when you’re having fun! 😉
Wedding Film Invitation Ticket with #10 envelope; response info printed on the bottom (option to add printing on the back with rsvp & event details)
Cinema themed wedding invite tickets with separate Rsvp card, response & outer envelope; (fonts & paper colors can change to match theme)
Vintage Ticket Wedding Invitation with tear-off RSVP Stub + response & #10 envelopes (paper colors & inks can change to match theme)
Custom Vintage Ticket invitations & save the dates [available in the sizes and shapes shown]If you plan on throwing a fun themed music, ballroom, theater or film event, check out more ticket ideas & inspiration at my portfolio section.
A vintage ticket Wedding Save the Date [with or without photo on the back]Rock or Pop Star Girls Birthday Party vintage style invites; diy printable options also available!
While searching for a past clients wedding day photos, I came across these stunning images …thank you social media! Congrats to Andie & Augie, married on September 10, 2016 at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, California. [photography by Mémoire Studio].
We customized my square, booklet-style pocket folder invitation suite by incorporating their navy, blush & beige theme colors. For the reception stationery, we picked up all the design details from the invites onto the menus, seating cards, and program fans (Andie tied her own ribbon embellishment onto the fan sticks)! I also love that we added the gold-glitter card stock to the escort tent cards & menus, a very glamorous touch.
2-layer, Escort seating tent cards + tall, vertical menu flat cards [glitter gold + cream texture]Wedding Program Fan; front & back printed program w/rounded corners [cream texture]And finally, they requested a unique guest book alternative [Wed-Libs], which we also personalized to match the rest of their stationery design! Check out the various wedding Mad Libs ideas via Pop-Sugar; [14 Free, Fun, and Printable Wedding Mad Libs].
Wed-Libs; a personalized wedding guest book alternative
A custom designed papel picado wedding invitation suite; 2-layer card, 2 personalized enclosure cards + monogram tag & twine [white texture + mandarin matte]Starting from your event’s theme — like the Mexican destination wedding shown here — is an ideal way to begin the creative process for your invitations and stationery. This is exactly what we did to create Liz’s wedding package after she Googled around & found Papercake’s “Papel Picado” themed design via Etsy! (Papel picado is a Mexican style of art that features tissue paper cut-outs.)
A destination wedding save-the-date with envelope; includes papel-picado graphic + photograph
After the initial email inquiry & discussion on papers, colors, etc., I began the process with the design of their monogram, a papel picado flag with initials. (The monogram will set the tone for the special day & can be used throughout the wedding stationery, on the cake, favors, or even lighting at the reception! e.g. check out the postage stamp above – ordered via zazzle). I placed their monogram onto the banner illustration along with an engagement photo for their save the date cards. She had the guest & return addresses printed directly onto the envelopes by cards & pockets; (on their site, select the envelope color & size, choose your fonts, then pick guest only -or- guest + return address printing).
Behind the scenes! After custom designing & printing the invite and enclosure cards, the assembly can begin: layering cards together, twine embellishment cut to size, monogram tags punched, tie all together & insert face-up in outer envelope!
We had a little fun with the papel picado invitations & switched up some of the paper & ink colors. Liz also had the addresses printed on pink, watermelon envelopes (not shown). Finally, I printed the custom monogram onto a tag that we tied with twine around the 2-layer invite & enclosure cards. I cannot wait to see what we do for the reception stationery! 😉
You can do the very same to create your custom wedding suite by first working with me to develop a monogram or graphic, then adding this design to the save the dates, and finally styling the invitations to match! fyi: If you would like to print & assemble your own stationery, I also offer DIY design assistance where I layout and provide high-resolution pdf’s ready for print!
San Francisco skyline wedding invitation & reception suite
I’m excited to be a part of the wedding showcase at The University Club of San Francisco! I personalized my SF Invite suite to match the event theme colors + I’ll be raffling off my city skyline save the date postcards! *find tickets at link below
We Left Our Hearts in San Francisco: A Mock Wedding 6.12.17 This isn’t your typical bridal fair where you’ll be hopping from booth to booth to booth, it’ll be set up to reflect a real wedding! This also isn’t just for the ladies, we have events and giveaways for the men too! So bring your gals and your guys, and even your grandma!
………………………………………………………………………………
VIDA Announcement [Gift Card]
Recently I’ve spent time creating wearable art with VIDA (a company committed to creating clothing in a socially conscious way) and would like to share my most popular designs with you. *see above my SF Stone Tile sleeveless top …now modeled on their main page! All the items I’ve designed are shoppable, and can be found on my personal collection page. I would love to share a gift card for 15% off my collection with you.
Your purchase not only supports my personal collection of hand-designed products but makes a global impact. VIDA is passionate about helping to drive social change for artists and makers. Their company offers literacy and empowerment programs for their factory workers so they can build a better life for generations to come.
I can’t believe it’s almost March… it’s been a busy beginning of the year producing spring & summer wedding invites, which unfortunately makes it difficult to keep up with blog posts. So, I utilize social media whenever possible [especially Papercake’s Instagram page]. This keeps my business up to date, showcasing new designs as I create them (with a few lifestyle shots in between 😉).
I love that Instagram just added a new feature [share multiple photos and videos in one post]. Since I was actually in production on an order, I decided I would share my custom design process in one post. I then realized I should share these photos here, as well, to give a visual of how it all works.
note > I have many local clients that I’m able to sit down & meet with, but I mostly work with clients nationwide (and international – many thanks to Etsy)!
> After the initial inquiry, design inspiration emails and quote approval, a mock-up PDF is started via email. I can also mail paper color swatches to choose from, based on the events theme.
> Once revisions are made and design is finalized, I can then order supplies and make an actual sample invitation for approval… print production & assembly can start after that!
> these photos show an example of my pocket-on-the-back invitation suite.
A 2-layer pocket-on-the-back invite with details & Rsvp enclosure cards, response & outer envelopes [papers: white matte + cool grey & real grey matte]
Congrats to Kate & TJ, married May 7th 2016 at the University Club of San Francisco! I designed their full stationery suite from the save the dates to invites, and finally reception cards. I’m so thrilled that they sent me a few gorgeous photos from their big day to showcase!
2-layer san francisco skyline invite card [beige + navy metallic]
After their save the dates were sent out [see below], Kate & TJ wanted to customize my SF city skyline wedding invitation suite. We changed the paper colors and fonts, and moved the skyline to the top of the 5×7 invite card.
We also carried on this design style & paper color combo for their reception stationery; table signs, large format program, and 2-layer escort tent cards!
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! 😉
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.
I can’t wait to customize this design style in the future for a non-holiday celebration, simply by changing the band & envelope color and probably removing the berries… or we can keep them for fun. 😉
![2-layer san francisco skyline invite card [beige + navy metallic]](https://papercakedesigns.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/sf_kate.jpg?w=764&h=1109)
