Jamie & Ben - 03.25.11

Jamie and Ben came to me with a mutual love of things black, white and green... and of course damask! This time around I was going for something completely different than my "claim to fame" damask design. We wanted to step outside of the box and we did just that! This was kind of couple that wanted a fun, mod, and colorful design. I couldn't think of any better words that best describe them as a couple either, fun, mod and colorful.

The invite: This was the inspiration of the entire suite and set the tone from the get-go.

The next suite to design was the Day of Suite... all things needed for the day of the wedding. My personal favorite was the program, 3 pages strung together with matching ribbon and delicately hung on every other chair for the ceremony. Love! The Day of Suite consisted of: Welcome Bag Tags, Programs, Table Number Signs, and Jamie and Ben's ultra-fun creation... the escort cards! (Pictures of the programs, table numbers and escort cards were taken by Stevie T Photography)

Here's the happy couple! It was a pleasure working with them and I wish them nothing but the best going forward in their new life together! 

Eileen & Howard - 11.20.10

This couple has a very special part of JW Impression's heart... they were my very first wedding from start to finish that I was ever given the chance to do besides my own! Eileen and Howard came to me in August of 2009 when things were just starting to get serious with JW Impressions, I was exstatic to say the least to work with them on their wedding stationery.

Through the months and well a little over a year we, together, built this classic and elegant design. Eileen was the kind of Bride that loved endless amount of options and was very involved with every little detail down to the the specific color for the purple backer cards used. She would always tell me how excited she would get when she would see my name in her inbox with an attachment in the email.

We ultimately settled in on a timeless with a twist look using crystal shimmer paper, deep purple and a rich olive green ink, and a monogram that would be used throughout the entire suite. She wanted the crystal shimmer paper to speak for itself, which I personally believe it did!

This was the invitation and respond card I designed, using the same concept as stated above. The ink is a raised thermography print.

For the Day Of Suite, we kept with the theme and used a flat printing method. Photos courtesy of Lauren Pupillo Photography, whom did a phenomenal job capturing Eileen and Howard's special day!

The program: I placed their monogram with a brief introduction to the ceremony on the top/front of the sheet. Eileen was not a fan of folded or "fan" shaped programs, and especially did not like extremely tall or wide shapes either. We ended up working with this 8.5" X 5.5" sized card which was perfect! This program was double sided with print, the ceremony on the front and bridal party of the reverse with a heartfelt thank you from the happy couple.

Seating Chart: This was an oversized flat print, 18" X 24" to be exact placed in a beautiful brushed bronze frame that was stationed at the welcome table for guests to be greeted with after the ceremony.

Card Box Sign: This sign was specifically created to help guide the guests as to where they should place their cards that they brought for the Bride and Groom. Eileen thought of using this antique bird cage as the "container" for the cards, which I adored by the way! (If you look above in the previous photo you will see a little framed sign on the bottom right of the image, this was the "Signature Frame" sign we created to help instruct the guests to sign their names on a white thick matted frame that held a picture from their engagement shoot. The couple wanted to have this keepsake for the years to come and be able to see all of the signatures from their friends and family that attended their wedding.

This next grouping of pictures is what the guests were greeting with as they arrived to their table. Beautiful right! Each place setting had a delicious and humongous green apple covered in caramel, and drizzeled chocolate. I was so surprised when one of these caramel covered balls of perfection arrived at my doorstep the very next day after the wedding... and believe me, it was amazing! I created the favor tag that was tied onto the top of the apple with coordinating green or purple sheer organza ribbon. The table number tents/signs were purple tented cards with their monogramed design printed on crystal shimmer paper attached on both sides.

All in all, it was a fabulous and esquisite project to work on and I am very thankful to have been a part of it. Congratulations Eileen and Howard, now let's get started on designing your BABY stationery! (Thank you again Lauren Pupillo Photography for your awesome work!)

Wedding Programs

Wedding programs: They are one of the few details that guests will have to take with them to remember your special day. Not only will your guests feel included in the ceremony they will also know who is who in the bridal party and which Groomsmen it was that "really let loose" at the reception! The most important piece to the program is that is a wonderful keepsake and record of the most important day of your life. 

What to include in a wedding program:

• The Cover Page
  Typically includes the date and/or the names of the couple. It may also include the location and time of the ceremony, and sometimes a design element.
  
• The Physical Ceremony
  If you haven't already included your names, wedding date, location, and time on the front cover, consider listing that information on the inside just before the order of events. Then list what will happen during the ceremony, including processional music, greeting, readings, prayers, exchange of vows, ring ceremony, any form of unification ceremony (i.e., unity candle, sand ceremony, hand ceremony, rose ceremony, etc.) , pronouncement of marriage, recessional music, and any other ceremony music. Your list may not include all of these elements, and it may include some traditions not listed here. Be sure to list the events in the order they will occur.
  
• The Bridal Party
  This is a simple list of the names and roles of your bridal party. Some couples also like to include how they are related to the Bride or Groom. For example:
  Officiant: Pastor Jeffrey Evans
  Parents of the bride: Deborah Moyer and Jeffrey Wiker
  Parents of the groom: Ina Beebe and Andrew Beebe
   Grandparents: Betty Myers, Joan G. Wiker, Katherine Beebe
  Maid of Honor: Tiffany Merrick (relation example: Tiffany Merrick, Friend of the Bride)
  Best Man: Bryon Kremer
  Bridesmaids: Heather Petko, Laura Leidy, Rheanna Benson, Trinda Bernardo, Katelyn Whitcomb
  Groomsmen: Jason Musselman, Todd Hennessy, Craig Himmelwright, James Hope, Douglas Ziegler
  Readers: Dennette Myers, Kara Markley

Additional elements you may want to include in a wedding program:

• Dedication
• Thank yous
• Memorials (for example: On this day of happiness, we would like to remember those who are no longer with us, especially Jason Reall, Step-Father of the Bride, and William Wiker, Godfather of the Bride.)
• Quotes or poems about love or marriage
• Directions to the reception 
• Your new mailing address as Husband and Wife (if you have recently purchased a house to start your married life together)

Depending on how long your program is will somewhat determine what style of program you should select. There are styles of all kinds and sizes. Here are some of my favorites!

This is one of the several styles of a fan program... on a hot August day, this was perfect paired with a bottle of water for each guest to enjoy during the beautiful ceremony!

A Z-Fold Tea Length Program

I call this the "The Wristlet", it's for the couple that has a lot to say! Also looks adorable if you hang it on the corner of each chair lined up for your ceremony. 

The classic Bi-Fold Tea Length, with an insert page, bound by gorgeous satin ribbon (or ribbon of your choice)

A simplified version of the program above, the classic Bi-Fold Tea Length, with no insert page, just scored and folded down the center... simple and elegant!!! 

Christina & Brian - 10.10.09

Christina and Brian's wedding was a fabulous project for me! I was so thankful for them to give me the chance to really get knee deep into the design of their wedding. This is a couple who didn't always know what they wanted, but together we created a vision that kept right in the theme of their fabulous navy and hot pink glamorous wedding! They were married at the Cairnwood Mansion in Bryn Athen, PA. My husband and I were delighted to be invited to this amazing wedding!

The venue is a very "Old World", castle-like, beautiful on it's own sort of place! So when it came to creating a design to fit this look, I knew exactly where to go... SCROLL! Scroll work screams classic and elegance to me, and Christina agreed the first time I showed her a sample of what I had in mind!

Christina and Brian wanted it all from me... it was SO fun! We ended up doing Rehearsal invitations, Wedding ceremony programs, beverage napkins, matches for their cigar bar, and lastly favor labels for their super cute and fun Chinese take out boxes that held custom and hand painted Christmas ornaments for each of their guests. (Talk about being thoughtful!)

They had their invitations done and sent out before they were introduced to my services (that's ok guys!), so we really wanted to keep with the theme and feel of the invite, but also make our pieces "a little more fun"! Between the scroll, hot pink and navy blue we also incorporated a pearl shimmer stock that we used for all stationery. The end result was just gorgeous! For the beverage napkins and matches we did a custom monogram that also ties into their thank you cards. So as you see, no detail was left behind!

All in all, this wedding was a lot of firsts for me, and I will forever be thankful that they put their trust in me to help create this beautiful and fun look for their special day! Thank you Christina and Brian, we had a blast at your wedding! A special thank you to Mike Landis Photography for these awesome pictures below!