Easy and Inexpensive Ribbon Accents for Invitations

February 15, 2012 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

I have been playing with ribbons lately– so much fun! What I have been experimenting with is an easy and inexpensive way to accent your invitations. Originally we posted pictures of our pocket folders with one accent ribbon. With 35 ribbon colors to choose from, almost everyone could find an accent color that worked with their pocket folder color. But look what happens when you add two different color ribbons to these five pocket folder colors:

Elegant Burgundy with Rose Pink and Burgundy Accent Ribbons

Burgundy Pocket Folder with Burgundy and Rose Pink Ribbons:

Notice how the darker burgundy ribbon and the lighter rose pink really “pops” the invitation? If you also add a rose pink shimmer insert and cream cards you have a truly expensive looking invitation at a fraction of the cost.

 

 

 

 

Capture Spring with this beautiful ribbon combination

Emerald Shimmer Pocket Folder with Spring Moss and Chocolate Ribbons:

With three feet of snow outside my window, I am longing for Spring. And what looks more fresh and spring like than greens and brown? Here we have a deep emerald pocket folder accented with spring moss and chocolate ribbons anticipating the new growth and fresh earth of April and May.

 

 

 

Stylish Formality--Midnight Black with Lemon and Lime Ribbon

Midnight Black Pocket Folder with Lemon and Lime Ribbons

For a lovely spring or summer  touch to a formal invitation, try a lemon-lime combination of ribbons on a black pocket folder. Lemon yellow and black and lime green and black are some of THE color combinations for this year. So for a little extra per invitation you have a stunning and stylish look.

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous Amethyst Shimmer accented with Iris and Purple Ribbons

Amethyst Shimmer Pocket Folder with Iris and Purple Ribbons:

Purples are also on the color list for this years’ brides. To cover the full spectrum of this glorious color try the lighter amethyst combined with the medium Iris and dark purple. Purple in all its shades has always been the color of royalty and these regal invitations live up to that tradition.

 

 

Luscious Bronze with Rich Burnt Siena and Raw Silk Ribbons

Bronze Shimmer Pocket Folder with Burnt Siena and Raw Silk Ribbons:

Last but certainly not least, the perennial favorite– brown and orange. Here we have a richer bronze colored pocket folder with a luscious burnt siena color and lighter raw silk accent that really brings out the depth of these colors. To really add to the elegance factor, put the gold shimmer backer inserts inside behind the cream invitation card–you won’t believe how it looks.   These are a wonderful spring invitation but also work beautifully for fall as well.

 

 

These are just a few of the combinations possible, I invite you to be creative and really “pop” your invitations to the next level. Your guests will never imagine that your beautiful and stylish invitations were ones you put together yourself.

 

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Hot New Wedding Invitation Trends

January 3, 2012 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Recently, we participated in two wedding shows, one at the Boulderado Hotel and one at the Lionsgate Event Center. Wedding shows are wonderful for meeting engaged couples and getting a sense of what they like and what they want. As we met with well over 400 couples during these two weekends, we got a sense of what was “hot” in our market of printable wedding invitations. The following are ideas that were talked about by the majority of the couples we met.

1. Stacking Cards: Invitations with stacking cards are really popular this year. Couples want an invitation that includes cards for directions and menu’s, as well as the invitation card and rsvp card and envelope. We had displays of many types of invitations and we noticed that the ones with stacking cards always had a crowd. We heard and participated in many conversations with couples where they were listing what they would use the cards for: separate direction cards for the wedding venue and wedding reception; menu cards; a special note from the bride and groom; a special note from the families of the bride and groom; programs etc. We were introducing a new invitation kit called All In One Elegance kit which we had in three colors. By the end of the shows we had expanded our line to six colors because they were so popular.

Elegance All-in-One Kit with stacking cards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, the cards are stacked so that you can have all the information in one pocket rather than separate cards that can get lost after the invitation is opened.

2. Color, Color, Color: This year will be the one that is remembered for allowing multiple colors for weddings. Traditionally weddings had two colors, a main color and an accent color. Popular trends in the last three years have been these combinations: Black and White; Flame Orange and Watermelon Pink; Tiffany Blue and Silver; Chocolate Truffle and Aqua. This year, the palettes have been expanded so that the wedding venue and reception venue can be decorated in shades of colors. So for example, you can have table linens in shades of blue from the darkest navy to the lightest sky blue. To echo that in our invitation lines, we have been combining ribbon colors and adding accent inserts. So for example, you can have an Amethyst Shimmer invitation folder and then two accent ribbon colors like purple and lavender. Combine this with a silver insert and white cards and you have a stunning and unique invitation with this years’ chosen color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create your own beautiful ribbon combinations!

 

3. Damask Printable Wedding Invitations: The term “Damask” is from the middle ages and refers to the weavers of Damascus who developed a pattern of weaving using a repetitive pattern in two colors. These distinctive patterns are most commonly used for linens and in paper, for invitations. The trend in Damask invitations has been continuing and building in the last two years. So it was no surprise when we noticed that the Black and White Damask Invitation kit was another crowd gatherer at the wedding  shows.

Black and White Kit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, the kit includes everything you would need for a gorgeous invitation and you won’t believe the price!

4. Printable Wedding Invitations: One of the biggest lessons we learned at the wedding show was that people did not know that there was such a choice in printable wedding invitations and that they were so easy to do. We had a printer set up at the show and we had couples pick out the invitations they liked and we printed it up for them on the spot so that they could see how easy it is to do. We had many a teary mother and bride as they saw the printed invitation. And also many a relieved couple when they could watch how easy the printing and assembly was. Also, what was really fun for us was quoting the price that the invitation was and seeing the shocked faces. Many couples had already priced printed wedding invitations and printables are hundreds of dollars cheaper. Want to see for yourself? Order a sample with free shipping and try it!

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Fall Wedding Invitation Colors

September 16, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Warm Bronze for those crisp fall and winter weddings!

I was driving past the beautiful  Red Lion in Boulder, Co. where you can see the outdoor weddings being performed by the creek and I realized the wedding season has changed. I know this because I can see the colors of the bridesmaids dresses from my car and they have shifted from the pastels of spring and summer to the darker, richer earth tones of fall. So now is the time for the bronzes and chocolate browns, the dark blues and deep greens–the gorgeous palate of September, October and November.

When choosing a wedding invitation, you can match those colors with our pocket folder kits such as these below:

 

Sapphire Shimmer perfect for late fall and deep winter!

Stunning Emerald Shimmer

Deep Evening Blue and Silver, Sophisticated Elegance

Warm and Lovely, Chocolate Truffle Kits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can really pop your wedding invitations with these colors or some of the other pocket folders we have. In fact, this week our most popular item was Evening Blue pocket folders with Lemon yellow ribbons–stunning.

 

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Custom Wedding Gowns–Heirlooms and Alterations

August 12, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Nora McCray of Sew Fresh Studio

In my second post on my interview with Nora McCray of Sew Fresh Studio, Nora continued discussing her experiences with brides.

Kathleen: Besides designing individual custom gowns, are their any other services you provide for brides?

Nora: Oh yes, one of the their main things I do is alter heirloom gowns for the current bride.

Kathleen: Heirloom gowns?

Nora: Yes, these are gowns that have been handed down in the family. Sometimes it’s the gown that the mother has had designed for her as a bride and she wants her daughter to wear it. And sometimes it has been the grandmother’s gown that has been passed down through the mother to the granddaughter.

Kathleen: Is this a different process than designing a gown new for the bride?

Nora: Yes, very. You see, with an heirloom gown it is much more emotional. The mother may be very attached to her gown. Or, if she is divorced and her ex-husband has remarried, she may have a lot of emotions about the dress and her daughter wearing it. So the first thing I want to do is to have the bride try on the gown in the dressing room alone with me. Here, I can ask her what she really feels. In a gentle way I ask questions to see if this gown is what she had in mind. I find out if  she would like it altered and updated or even would rather wear it to the rehearsal dinner and have her own gown for her wedding day. I function in a very unique way as the bride’s confident. I am only interested in what she wants and how I can best help her have that. So brides will relax with me and come to the truth of what is best for them.

I have had some brides that are just fine with an heirloom gown the way it is and just want it altered to fit–they are the easiest. Other brides and mother’s need my help negotiating some tricky territory on how much the dress can be altered or how it’s just not the right dress. But the saving grace is that all of us are united in wanting the bride to be happy with her choices so that even with the most delicate of negotiations I have never had a disappointed bride or a hurt mother.

Kathleen: Like everything involved with weddings, there is always much more that goes on behind the scenes than we ever know about. Thank you so much for sharing some of what goes on in designing, altering and creating beautiful and unique wedding gowns.

Visit Nora at Sew Fresh Studio and make sure to sign up in the upper right hand corner for my emails and you will be the first to see Nora’s new designs in November!

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Silk Paper-Perfect for Wedding Invitations

August 9, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Beautiful Silk Paper makes a spectacular invitation!

Silk. Even the name is luscious. Silk, once the sole provence of emperors is now available to all. I love silk. I love silk material, silk clothes, silk wedding gowns. But I can’t tell you how excited I was when I discovered silk paper. I try and find the most beautiful paper for our own Wedding Bell brand of pocket folder kits and I was looking at many, many swatches of papers from different mills and companies. I had a shimmer paper I loved and a linen paper that was very beautiful and sophisticated but I wanted something else as well. I then discovered silk paper at our local paper store, Two Hands Paperie, and fell in love.

Silk paper is different to work with then papers made from trees. Silk is softer and bends more. So when I first was considering using silk paper I had to find a way to strengthen it so that it would hold its shape well. I also had to find a vendor who sold heavier sheets of silk. Many of the beautiful papers I saw were too thin to make into a pocket folder. I  finally located a vendor online who had two types of silk paper heavy enough for our use. One is a cream paper with gold threads embedded in the paper called “Golden Threads”  and the other is a white paper with yellow flowers embedded in the paper called “Wildflowers“. Both are imported from India. America has some hand-made paper but so far, all silk paper comes from abroad.

Lovely Silk Paper with Yellow Flowers Embedded in the paper.

Because we use 80 lb. stock paper for the printable invitations, the silk paper is stabilized and makes a lovely, unusual invitation. The Golden Threads invitation is perfect for a semi-formal event and the Wildflowers is perfect for afternoon or outdoor weddings. Here in Colorado where many people marry outdoors in the mountains, the Wildflowers invitations is a perfect fit.

I have also loved seeing the color combinations people use with these particular invitations. By far the most popular for the Golden threads is combining it with the gold shimmer paper insert, cream cards and rsvp set, and either the Burnt Siena ribbon or the Old Gold ribbon. For the Wildflower Pocket folder, the most frequently requested ribbons are the Sage and the Spring Moss combined with the white invitation card and rsvp sets. But really, any color ribbon goes well with these kits.

So if you are wanting something different for your wedding invitations, consider silk–it’s a luscious choice.

 

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Custom Wedding Gowns-Three Reasons You Might Consider Having One

August 5, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Nora McCray of Sew Fresh Studio: http://www.sewfreshstudio.com

Niwot, Colorado—such a small town for such a big talent.

I have always been fascinated by wedding gowns not only their designs, but how and why a bride chooses one.  To find out what really goes on behind the dressing room door, I interviewed Nora McCray of Sew Fresh Studio:

Ms. McCray is known throughout Colorado for her beautiful custom designed and tailored wedding gowns.

Kathleen: When there are so many choices available, why do brides want a custom made wedding gown?

Nora: There are basically three reasons.

One, the bride has had a gown in mind since childhood and she can’t find it. She has a vision of what she wants her wedding to look like and the gown will complete this vision because the dress sets the mood for the whole wedding. But, she has gotten discouraged trying to find it.  So the first meeting I interview her to find out who she is and what she truly wants. I don’t actually talk dresses this first meeting. I find out about her. I try to find out her enthusiasms, what she is excited about. I find out when, where and what time of day the wedding is and what the feel of the wedding is, formal, casual, fun etc. I want to know what her groom is wearing.

Then I send her out to look at bridal gowns in magazines and in stores—what parts of the gowns she sees match her inner vision? Once we have an idea of what she wants, I design it to fit her shape. I want the bride to wear the dress not the dress to wear the bride—I want her love and glow to shine through. Too many times brides choose the wrong dress because they don’t know what really looks good on their shape.

Traditional White Custom Wedding Gown by Nora McCray

Once the design is done, I create a muslin dress so that we can see how the shape and flow of the dress looks and if she likes it. We can make big adjustments much easier at this point than later. From there we move to what kind of fabric she wants. Once she has chosen that, we have more fittings until the gown is completed and fits her perfectly.

The second reason brides choose a custom made wedding gown is that there is something physical that makes them hard to fit with ready made wedding dresses. Sometimes the right and left sides of the body are different sizes or sometimes a person’s height makes it difficult. I can make adjustments to fit any shape beautifully. The process I described before is the same for this bride as well.

The third reason a bride chooses a custom wedding gown is that she wants something completely different and unique for her.  I created the dress below in Salmon raw silk. The bride wanted something completely different in a “pink” color. That’s what we started with. She had long, very toned legs so we decided to feature her legs by having a mini dress with a long train and bustle in the back–it was stunning. She was so excited by her groom’s and guest’s response that she called me on her cell phone between the ceremony and reception!

Unique Custom Designed Wedding Gown by Nora McCray

Kathleen: Well, looking at the dress, I can understand her excitment, it’s wonderful.

Nora: And it was so much fun to do. That’s what I love about designing–to really create something with the bride that she feels beautiful in.

Next week, hear what Nora has to say about “heirloom” dresses and navigating between moms and their daughters.

And  in November I will publish some of her newest designs which will surprise and delight you with their originality and versatility. Make sure and visit Nora at: http://www.sewfreshstudio.com/. To make sure you don’t miss a blog, sign up with your email to have updates delivered to you.

Leave a comment here on your experiences with wedding gowns!

 

 

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Using Candles in Wedding Ceremonies–Their Types, Purposes and Magic

July 25, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Their is something so magical about candles–the burning wick, the soft light, the symbolism, all work together to add meaning and mystery to ceremonies.  In our modern weddings, candles are used for a variety of purposes; for the unity candle ceremony, for a blended family ceremony, and for remembering family members who have passed on. Below are three examples of the candle types with how they may be used.

Beautiful Candles and Tapers Add Sparkle

The Sparkling Entwined Candle Set is used in the Unity Candle ceremony. Each couple chooses the symbolism that they want the large pillar candle to represent. For example, one couple I worked with lit the tapers first, symbolizing their individual selves, then joined the flames together to light the pillar candle symbolizing their unity in marriage. Another couple choose to symbolize lighting the central candle as honoring the universal “light of love” that was now activated by their marrying. Whatever you choose, a Unity Candle ceremony is a lovely addition to the wedding.

 

 

Another variation of the Unity Candle Ceremony is the Blended Family Ceremony. If this is a marriage which includes children from previous marriages, a Blended Family Unity Candle set is a lovely way to have them involved.

Perfect for honoring the creation of a new family

In one ceremony, the bride was a widower with two children and the groom was marrying for the first time. As each one of them lit their individual candle they talked about always honoring and remembering the deceased father and the original family but pledging to value and love the family that they were now creating together. After each one had spoken, all four of them put their lit candles together to light the central pillar representing their new family. This was especially moving for the guests which included the families of the deceased father.

In our fast moving world where we are managing many different kinds of relationships, a Blended Family Unity ceremony can honor and give voice to all parts of our complicated family lives.

Another wonderful use of candles is using them to remember important deceased family members. I was working with a couple when the prospective grooms’ brother was killed in Iraq.  As the wedding was 6 months away, they decided to go ahead with the wedding but to have a memorial table honoring the brother. The centerpiece of the table was a lit Memorial Candle with the brother’s name on it surrounded with many pictures of the two brothers and their family.  It was a comforting symbol for the family and the couple that joy can be present in the midst of grief and grief can be present in the celebration of joy.

In Loving Memory of (Name) Who is Present in Our Hearts

There are so many ways to use candles, let your needs lead your creativity to create the perfect blend of magic, mystery and symbolism for your wedding day.

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Printable Fan Wedding Programs

July 19, 2011 by Kathleen 2 Comments

Keep your Guests Comfortable with Fan Wedding Programs

As we head towards the middle of summer, comfort becomes a top priority. This is especially important if you are having an outdoor wedding or a large wedding in a venue that has limited cooling capacity.

I once was an officiant at an outdoor wedding here in Colorado at 7000 feet. Unfortunately, the guest seating was in the sun and that afternoon it was over 95 degrees. About half way through the ceremony I noticed everyone fanning themselves with their programs in a desperate attempt to keep cool. But, because the programs were square and made from light weight paper, they did not function that well as a fan.

I know everyone there would have been so delighted with a fan program made from cover stock paper and with a nice firm handle that you could get a good breeze from.

Which is one of the reasons that I am so thrilled with these Fan program kits. They are so easy to make and you can choose from many different designs to really customize your program to fit the style of your wedding.  Plus, they are sturdy as well as charming.  Do your guests a favor and help them stay comfortable so that they can truly be present to witness this most important ceremony.

Variety of Designs in the Fan Program Kit

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Why DIY Invitations?

July 13, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Beautiful printed invitations for any occasion can be incredibly expensive. And by the time you add postage, many people are over budget. There is an answer–printable wedding invitation kits. Now, if you just shuddered and thought I can’t do that, let me assure you, yes you can! There are printable kits to fit everyones budget and ability level. The only two things you will need is a computer and a printer. Below are three different kits that can be used for wedding or wedding event invites or any occasion requiring a response card.

Inexpensive and Elegant: Black and White Damask Kit

1. This simple but regal design features an elegant and classic damask pattern in black on both the Invitation Card and the RSVP Card. The ensemble comes with matching envelopes and is perfect for a semi-formal event needing a response card. If the event is a fund raiser, the smaller card can be used for donation pledges.

 

 

 

 

Sweet and Simples can be used for any Occasion

2. Sweet and Simple Deluxe printable invitations are simple to make and look gorgeous with their added touch of vellum overlay and your choice of backer card (12 colors to choose from) and ribbon (41 colors to choose from). One of the added attractions of this kit is the ability to print on the vellum. You can print your initials or a photograph or anything else you would like. The kits have a sweet and simple price to match.

 

Perfect for a more casual event!

3. This design features a printable invitation card with a gorgeous purple border wrapped with a floral sleeve in purple and kiwi, tied together with a matching purple satin ribbon. The ensemble is completed with purple-bordered RSVP cards and purple envelopes. Absolutely delightful! For any brunch or afternoon event, this kit would be stunning.

As you can see from the above three examples, there is a lot of choice available and with minimal skill you can create unique and beautiful invitations for all you important events.

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Wedding Ceremonies–Creative Ways to Share Your Joy

July 11, 2011 by Kathleen Leave a Comment

Incredibly Joyful Wedding Processional Dance

Watch the Video above

Sometimes we just want to think outside the box. Before you read further, click on the “Incredibly Joyful Wedding Processional Dance” link to the upper left. Didn’t they just capture the joy?

This is the reason I have so enjoyed being a wedding officiant, helping couples incorporate their creativity into the ceremony to really make it theirs.

When you work with an officiant, take some time to think through how to make your ceremony reflect you. Where can you alter or add to tradition to personalize it but keep the sacredness as well.

Here are some suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:

1. Add a Unique Ritual: Many couples I have worked with have added their own Unity candle ritual or Sand ceremony to the wedding.

The Unity Candle ritual usually consists of one large central candle and two or more taper candles. The individual taper candles are lit and then in unison, the taper candles light the central candle symbolizing two becoming one. And if this is a second marriage and there are children, this can symbolize that you as individuals are also becoming family.

In a Sand Ceremony, there is a central large, empty container and two or more, smaller containers filled with sand. The smaller containers of sand are poured by the bride and groom in unison into the larger container. The blending of the grains of sand means they can never be poured again into the individual containers, symbolizing how the two individuals can never be separated and returned to their original form.

2. Add A Personal Exchange: In one ceremony, the bride and groom had written a personal piece about what marriage meant to them. They read these to each other for the first time during the ceremony. It was very moving and made the guests feel so much more a part of the process.

3. Include the Guests: If you both have friends and family that are not shy and love to tell stories, consider having an “open mike” part of the ceremony. To do that, have a friend or family member who is not afraid to set limits as Master of Ceremony, then invite people to share a story about you as a couple, or a blessing for you as a couple, or a wish for you as a couple. The most important part is letting people know how long they have –usually 2-3 minutes is best. Allow about 20-30 minutes for the whole process. This can be an absolutely magical part of the wedding.

So try your hand at creating something uniquely yours. And please, come back and tell us about it.

 

 

 

 

 

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