Bella Figura Trendsetter

Hi everyone! Christen here with part 2 of my NSS wrap-up (check here for part 1 where I discuss trends in stationery design). For the second half I want to take a look at a few trends in the actual construction of invitations, going beyond the pocketfold and plain white 80# cardstock to create something that truly stands out and sets the tone for your wedding.

I just had to take a few moments today to share with you a few of my favorite designs from the latest letterpress wedding collection from Bella Figura! Bella Figura collection of letterpress invitations covers a diverse array of styles, from super elegant to vintage-inspired to colorful and modern, and all of the designs are fully customizable and printed on an exclusive cotton paper that is incredibly thick and luxurious.

Planning a wedding has opened me up to so many new things in so many different areas. While I expected to learn about wedding etiquette, dress styles and fabrics, invitation wording…you know, the stereotypical wedding stuff, what surprises me the most is how much I learned about graphic design and print. Well, maybe not learned, but was exposed to…I still feel like I know nothing about it but at least have seen some of what is out there…and now I am starving for more.

You guys know I go all gooey over pretty paper (and a good cause)! So, when I heard about the sample sale Bella Figura is having to benefit American Forests, I had to share. Starting today through August 31, 2009, Bella Figura is selling their letterpress wedding invitation samples, regularly $5 each, for just $1, while supplies last. The best part? All proceeds will be donated to American Forests, a really incredible organization dedicated to protecting and restoring our natural forests.

At long last, I am finally going to share with you our beautiful letterpress wedding invitations from the one and only Bella Figura. When you’re surrounded by incredible letterpress invitations every day (because I work at Bella Figura, for those who do not know) deciding on your own becomes incredibly difficult. After a couple of months worth of debate, literally, we decided on Keswick, a 7″ square size, in mediterranean and pale gray inks with mediterranean envelope liners. The entire process was incredibly exciting – including hanging out with our printer, Carrie, as she set up the press check – but nothing topped the day I finally got to hold them in my hands. I love love love how they turned out and we will certainly be having a set framed soon.

I know many of you are looking for ways to help protect the environment while still having a beautiful wedding.  So, in honor of Earth Day, I thought that I’d focus on a few of my favorite options for gorgeous, eco-friendly wedding invitations.

Even though Anthony and Holly met at work, a full year went by before they first spoke. However, once they did, they soon clicked mainly because of their Latin heritage. They got engaged while staying at a beautiful Berkshires location. It was only the two of them in nature, Holly was looking for birds through the binoculars, and Anthony was on one knee when she turned around.

Your wedding invitations are your guest’s first impression of the day celebrating your love, and a cherished heirloom as you look back at your wedding, so you definitely want it to be special. Choosing the perfect invitations can seem like an overwhelming task, but with incredible choices like Paperlust, it’s easy to find the stationery you love!

They popped the question, you said YES, now what? It’s time to set the date and share the happy news with your friends and family! Photo save the dates are more popular than ever, and we’ve teamed up with Minted to show how you can let your personality shine through with your save the dates, and incorporate your engagement session too!

If you’re a paper-lover like me, swooning over paper goods is one of your top wedding priorities! I’m here to introduce you to a veritable wonderland of stationery: Wedding Paper Divas.

Nestled in the tiny Long Island hamlet of Oakdale is the exceptionally beautiful Bourne Mansion, which played host to Alexis and Geoffrey’s elegant and romantic June nuptials. Alexis was a positively radiant bride, selecting a dramatic lace Galia Lahav gown and veil, with loose curls and a fluffy blush bouquet of roses and peonies. Treated to a picture-perfect blue sky, Alexis and Geoffrey exchanged their own written vows beneath a dramatic floral branch arch on the lawn, and afterwards guests moved into the stately ballroom for a seated dinner at elegant tables with towering centerpieces of lush hydrangea, rose, and greenery created by Flowers by Brian. Topping off the night was a dance party to the tunes from Sound House, which ended with glow sticks and not one but three pairs of split pants! Alexis describes the day of their wedding as “so incredibly full of love it could be physically felt and seen with every detail” and we couldn’t imagine truer words to be spoken after gazing upon the simply perfect images from Cassi Claire!

We are absolutely charmed by Jessica and Will’s pretty Maryland wedding. Theirs was an intimate and relaxed affair, with classic touches and a graceful garden setting at Strong Mansion. Everyone who plans an outdoor wedding envisions picture-perfect weather, and several days before, the couple had made peace with having a rainy wedding day. But imagine their delight when on the day of the wedding, the rain ceased just in the nick of time, allowing for their outdoor ceremony! Their non-traditional vows included the best man acting as the officiant and a special surprise for Jessica, as Will surprised her with a recorded version of “She’s Got a Way” for her walk down the aisle, featuring him as the vocalist and her father playing the piano. Pretty peach and blue centerpieces from Love Blooms peppered the reception tent and everyone danced the night away to the tunes of  DC Fusion (including rocking the togas for “Shout”!) We adore every beautiful image from one of our favorites, Michael and Carina!

We’re so excited to introduce you to one of our favorite resources for wedding invitations, Basic Invite! With over 100 fonts, virtually unlimited color options, and multiple paper options, Basic Invite is a truly custom invitation company. Once you select one of their wedding invitation designs, you can change the color of each element using over 160 color options to build a suite that is perfect for your palette, down to the smallest detail. Even better? You receive an instant preview online and can order a printed sample of your exact invitation before placing your final order. We love that each of their invitations are part of a matching set that includes complementary designs for save the dates, programs, reception and RSVP cards, menus, and more! The variety of designs available means that there is a suite for every wedding style (we’re especially crushing on the classic Calligraphic Slant and the pretty Illustrated Corner Wreath. So what are you waiting for? Visit Basic Invite to learn more!

You may have heard us say this before, but we are pretty much madly in love with Minted. Haven’t heard of Minted? It’s an amazing community of independent artists creating unique wedding designs, from save the dates to invitations, decor, and more! Minted designs are printed on premium papers and have luxe, quality finishes including foil-pressed designs and die cut shapes. We love how stationery suites have coordinating place and escort cards, programs, and menus. I’ve personally used Minted and can tell you first-hand that their customer service and quality is amazing. They even offer free matching envelope designs and calligraphy-inspired guest addressing. I mean, how gorgeous are these? [Scroll down for a major GIVEAWAY from Minted!]

We’re hopelessly in love with the whimsy and elegance in this stunning summer editorial from Nature’s Grace Design. Bright cherry red brings a youthful, lighthearted feel, while the sophisticated setting of Fort Collins County Club adds a classic touch. Fresh white formal wear, a stunning sleeved gown from Encore Bridal, and a 1958 Ford bring in a sense of nostalgia, and and tall glasses of Cherry Bourbon Cream Soda make you long for the long hot days of summer when country club weddings were the affair of the season! The timeless grace is infectious, and we adore each stunning image from Danielle DeFiore!

We’re sure you’ve heard about the fabulousness that is MagnetStreet Weddings, and today we’re thrilled to show off some of our favorite designs. When we received our box of goodies in the mail it was like Christmas. There were invitations, RSVP cards, magnet save the dates, programs, and envelopes galore, as well as a fabulous sample pack with information about all of their papers, fonts, and colors (including a swatch card in your own color palette). The Luminous Charm was one of our favorites, with its cheery yellow and gray, photo magnet save the date, and adorable “I Spy” reception card, inspiring your guests with a fun little photo scavenger hunt! We love how MagnetStreet makes it easy to customize your stationery set, that each set has so many coordinating extras, and that the same design is available in multiple styles.

Jennifer and Daniel fell in love with the French-Vietnamese chapel and covered barn at Camp Lucy the moment they set eyes upon the venue just outside of Jennifer’s hometown of Austin, Texas. With a short engagement, the couple pulled together a dream team of vendors to create their rustic, elegant day. Beautiful florals from Posey Floral and Event Design brought the outside in, with eucalyptus and hydrangea trumpets flanked by low-lying peach and ivory blooms in wooden boxes. Personal details were peppered throughout, from the lace sachets handcrafted by Daniel’s grandmother, which were filled with French candies to honor Daniel’s French heritage, to the grapefruit fizz signature cocktail, the recipe crafted by the couple. We adore the fresh seafoam green bridesmaids dresses from J.Crew and Jennifer’s sleek Pronovias gown from Brickhouse Bridal,with a chic updo by Mandy Silver. Each image from Forever Photography is perfection!

We are head over heels for the letterpress wedding invitation collection at The American Wedding! The American Wedding Marketplace offers a full suite of wedding stationery, from save the date cards to wedding programs and everything in between, and best of all is their growing collection of affordable letterpress wedding invitations—you can purchase 100 letterpress invitations and response cards for less than $500! Their suites include several choices perfect for the EAD couple, and for some invitation inspiration, we’ve paired some of our favorite designs with real weddings from the archive!

We just love the sweet simplicity and unique designs offered by Crafty Pie Press! From modern to vintage, Crafty Pie Press features a huge variety of incredibly gorgeous invitation suites (we are partial to the lovely Vintage Botanical and the Elegant Script), each completely customizable including cardstock, envelopes, colors and wording. And in addition to all of the customization options, Crafty Pie Press offers unlimited rounds of proof revisions, and free shipping within the US.