Wedding Wednesday: A Kid-Friendly Wedding

The last blog post I wrote about how to graciously tell your wedding guests that you do not want children to be at your wedding.

Well, you may be a teacher, have lots of nieces and nephews, or just love kids, so this week I wanted to share a few great ideas to make your wedding kid-friendly.

From the get-go, establish a kid-friendly atmosphere by having wedding programs just for the little peeps.

I absolutely adore this wedding activity book (free printable) from Lovely Indeed.

Source

Source

Another fun idea is to create an "I Spy" card to keep the littles occupied during the ceremony and reception. This is an easy DIY project and one that can easily be customized.

I love the idea of having disposable cameras with the "I Spy" card at the reception.

Source

Here are some great inspiration pictures! How cute are these kid-friendly tables...

Source

Source

Source

It would be a great idea to have kids decorate their own desserts at the wedding. Keep it simple. 

Source

And of course, be sure you have some kid-friendly food items.

Source

Source

Style Inspiration

Today's post is a little out of the norm, but I think you will enjoy it! Vacation outfit inspiration and packing have been on this girl's mind with an upcoming vacation around the corner. Today, I want to share a few things that have been inspiring to me on the "style" side of things. I'm currently loving all things light, fresh, and effortless. How cute are these pieces?

Sources 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

Last week, I discovered an online shop called Goodnight Macaroon. Everything on their site is absolutely adorable and very reasonably priced. Unfortunately for me, it was a little too late to snag a few of their cute pieces before heading out on vacation. 

Enjoy browsing their site; I am sure that you will fall in love! 

(FYI this is not a sponsored post)

Check back tomorrow for our Wedding Wednesday post! A blog post all about making your wedding kid-friendly.

Wedding Wednesday - Saying NO to children at your wedding

One might think that wedding invitation and reply card wording is simple and straightforward. For the most part it can be. What happens when you decided that you don't want children to attend your wedding? Everyone has different reasons for requesting there not to be children at their wedding. How do you communicate that to your guests without sounding completely rude?

Source | Little girls reaction to kiss at the wedding...Priceless! 

A few ways to graciously communicate your "no children" policy...

1. On your reply card, communicate how many seats are reserved for the guests.

Example:

We have reserved _____ seats in your honor. (In that blank you would fill in how many seats are reserved for them)

2. Be sure to write out the names of the specific people invited to the wedding. This lets your guests know who you are expecting.

Note: Despite all your efforts you might still get reply cards with the number of seats crossed out where they replace a number "2" to "4" and/or write in additional names. This can be a very tricky situation, but in this case it might be best to make a phone call.

Source

A few tactful explanations for not wanting children at the wedding..

- Venue capacity
- Efforts to maintain a certain budget
- Want to give guest a night off from the kids to celebrate

Stay tuned as next week we will talk about all of those people who want to say YES to children being at their weddings! I have some great tips and ideas to make your wedding and reception "kid-friendly!"

Source

Packaging Inspiration

Last week I was so impressed with the work Stitch Design Co. did for Produce Candles that I wanted to share some more packaging design inspiration. 

I have always loved packaging (My mom and  I both agree that wrapping a present is definitely the best part of gift giving). The possibilities are truly endless! Enjoy these packaging inspiration images. 

Source 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

1. I absolutely love this timeless Mint + Black/White Combo. The color combination is timeless, but the patterns sure do give it a modern flare. 

2. These carnival inspired birthday invitations are designed to perfection by themselves. However, the lollipop and gum balls take the invitation to the next level. How fun would it be to get this invitation in the mail? 

3. How beautiful is the lettering on the labels for Bonnie's Jams? The script font and design makes the packaging scream homemade. I love it's simplicity.

4. Glittery Gold Ribbon + Kraft paper are usually not seen together, which is exactly why I like this packaging combination. You have a perfect marriage of rustic and glitz. 

All of these packaging designs can be a great source of inspiration for whatever it is you are putting together; whether it be jazzing up an invitation or giving a present that little extra something. 

 

Monogram Etiquette

Whether designing a shower invitation, wedding invitation, or stationery, I am often asked the proper etiquette for monograms. It can be a tricky thing, so I hope to clear the air with this post.

Source

Three Letter Monogram – Women

Source

As seen in the image above, these Jack Rogers there are three letters. The proper order of the initials would be First Name Initial, Last Name Initial – usually this is larger than the others,  Middle Name Initial or if married the Maiden Name Initial Would be used.

Three Letter Monogram – Men
Different than for women, a man's monogram goes in the order of their name. The proper order of the initials would be First Name Initial, Middle Name Initial, then Last Name Initial. Also, unlike a woman's monogram, the letters are typically all the same size.

Source

Now, when buying or ordering wedding gifts or preparing invitations, people often ask what the monogram should look like for a married couple.

Source

Three Letter Monogram – Couple
For a married couple the proper order of initials would be Brides's First Name Initials, Couples Last Name Initial, then Groom's First Name Initial.

If your specific question about monogram etiquette was not answered please leave a comment or check out this great resource "Monogram Etiquette."

Currently loving...

With Summer right around the corner or already here (depending on what part of the country you live in), there has been an abundance of beautiful things popping up everywhere. From watermelons and pineapples to popsicles and bright colors – I am loving it all.

Here are a few things that I am currently loving...

Source 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1. I have been in love with Belle & Union Co.'s work for quite some time. Their tea towels and wrapping paper are absolutely to die for. Everything they design has a whimsical feel and the color palates they choose are right up my alley. Go check their stuff out right now!


2 & 3. Both of these images come from the packaging designer, Stitch Design Co., for Produce Candles. I cannot speak (yet!) to the scent of the candles but if packaging design is any indication of the product I need to run to the store right now!


4. I stumbled upon this top on Pinterest and had to hunt down where to find it. Boden, a british company sells this top. The international shipping may be a little much, but how adorable is this top. I love the mixture of patterns with the polka dots and stripes as well as the two colors.




When I put all of these images together I loved the colors together and thought they would create a beautiful color palate. Looking forward to implementing these colors in a new design soon!

© Copyright 521 Designs

Wedding Wednesday: Inner and Outer Envelopes – purpose and etiquette

©521 Designs

People often ask the questions, "What is the purpose of having two envelopes when mailing wedding invitations?" and "Do I have to use two envelopes?" Today, I hope to clear the air and break down the purpose of using two envelopes.  

What is the purpose of an inner envelope?

The inner envelope simply holds all of the pieces of the wedding suite together. As we all know, those envelopes can be jam packed full of wedding goodness. 

The inner envelope is also important as it is the host/hostesses opportunity to clearly state which members of the house-hold are invited to the wedding. 

In addressing the inner envelope, use only titles and last names. *Avoid using the phrase "and family.

What is the purpose of an outer envelope?

The outer envelope is for mailing purposes. 

On the outer envelope guests should be referred to by title, first names, and last names.  *Titles may be abbreviated.

For more detailed information and scenarios for addressing envelopes, this is a infographic: "Why two envelopes?"

Do I have to use two envelopes?
The answer is simply no. Often times cost is a hinderance when deciding between one or two envelopes. Be sure to do the research because the cost for two envelopes might not be as expensive as you think.

It may seem like "just etiquette" to you, but keep in mind the inner envelope is a great opportunity to clearly state who is invited to the wedding and prevent more guests than you were planning on!

Inspiration: Color

The days are longer and the weather is finally warmer! With that, it seems like there are showers galore – wedding and baby showers! 

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably saw an article that I reposted from Brides.com showing off some gorgeous poppy bouquets.

Since most of my work is completely custom, that means not only is the design custom, but also the color palate. 

As I mentioned regarding the article from Brides, a lot of my inspiration for custom color palates comes from bouquets.

Sources 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

All of the images you see to the left are images that inspired the color palate for a recent baby shower invitation. 

For this particular baby shower invitation, I knew that I wanted the colors to be vibrant and scream "CELEBRATION!" 

As you can see, I gathered inspiration from a table scape, an outfit, a bouquet, and surprisingly – a tea towel. 

When you are trying to establish a color palate for a party, a wedding, or even printed pieces, keep you eyes open because inspiration is all around you. 

Below is the custom color palate I created to use for the baby shower invitations. As you can see, each of the images on the left inspired the use of teal, pink, and yellow. Though those were the three main colors, I also used various shades of the main colors.

© Copyright 521 Designs

I hope that this post provides you with a resource for inspiration and reminds you to keep your eyes open because you never know when you might find inspiration! 

Source: 521 Designs

Wedding Wednesday : Kick-Off

Today, I am kicking off a new blog series entitled "Wedding Wednesday." Each week I will cover topics ranging from invitation wording etiquette to RSVP card wording, answering questions such as, "Why is there an inner and outer envelope?" and everything in between.

Photo Courtesy of NadiaD Photography

There seemed like no better day to kick-off "Wedding Wednesday" than today, because it just so happens to be our anniversary.

Photo Courtesy of NadiaD Photography

Our wedding and the day we got married, were two big factors in starting 521 Designs (please check out the "About" section for the full story). First, the company's name in part comes from the day we said "I Do" – 5.21.11. Second, I took the risk of completely designing our wedding suite and in the meantime fell even more in love with letterpress printing (Stay tuned for a post all about types of printing).  I decided to take that risk because I wanted something that was classic and timeless but had a few unexpected twists.

Below are images showing each part of our wedding suite. If I had to pick a favorite piece of the suite, it would either be the coordinating envelopes for the reply cards or the tiny little star showing the wedding location on the accommodation card.

Photo by 521 Designs

Photo by 521 Designs

Photo by 521 Designs

The program (pictured below) was the only piece that was digitally printed. It took quite some time to finalize the design and layout for the program, but the end result was well worth the effort. 

Photo by 521 Designs

In hindsight, I would not change a thing about our wedding suite. It may not be on par with today's trends, but that is just how I wanted it.

Photo Courtesy of NadiaD Photography

Takeaways from Our Wedding (3 years later):
1. Figure out what are the things that are of highest value to you, focus your attention on those, and try to delegate other things. For example: Music for our ceremony was not a high value to me, nor am I musically gifted, so I asked my mom to just make the final call for music.

2. Focus on your future marriage more than the wedding. Wedding planning can be overwhelming at times, and it is best to be able to take a step back and remember why you are planning a wedding in the first place. Have people in your life that can point you back to that! Make the investment in pre-marital counseling (and after for routine "oil changes").

3. Have fun! Simple as that.

4. Pinterest can be your worst enemy and friend. It may sound crazy but when we got married Pinterest had not made it mainstream, so I didn't have hundreds of pins to sift through. For that, I am extremely thankful. I didn't get caught up in all of the trends brought about by Pinterest, but made choices based on things I really liked. On the other hand, Pinterest can be a great tool for fleshing out details such as your wedding colors or bouquet styles.

Be sure to stop by next week for the Part Two of "Wedding Wednesdays."

Photo Courtesy of NadiaD Photography

You Ask, I'll Answer

I get asked questions all the time about how many weeks in advance a shower invitation should be mailed out, the proper protocol for addressing wedding invitations, and the list goes on and on.

Now is your chance to ask any questions you have regarding all things etiquette, 521 Designs, timelines, invitations, stationery, etc.

I will be collecting questions over the next week or so, and will come back with a post full of answers to your questions. If you have a question, leave a comment in this post, email us at 521designs@gmail.com, tweet us @521designs, or post on our Facebook wall.

Looking forward to all the questions you are going to send my way!

Ahoy!

How excited would you be if you received a Save the Date from your company? Not just a Save the Date for a meeting, but for a trip to the beach! I must say that I would be pretty ecstatic!

Rather than sending out an email that was sure to get lost in everyone's inbox, we created a special invite to be mailed to each employee's home. 

We wanted this invitation to stand out, but not to be too "out there" design-wise since it was for a corporate event. 

I think this design really hit the nail on the head as far as design goes. It does not have waves, beach umbrellas, or sea shells, but still communicates "beach trip."

A Non-Traditional Color Palate

I absolutely love color and have never shied away from it. As I type this I am wearing a persimmon colored top with a teal necklace (and accents of navy to tone it down).

Some of my favorite things to peruse on Pinterest are color combinations. I love to see how various people put unique colors together; it helps expand my horizons and get me thinking outside the box. One of the best sources for unique color combinations is floral arrangements. As I look back at my "Color Inspiration" board on Pinterest most of it consists of floral arrangements.

This past December, I was asked to design a bridal shower invitation. Wanting to steer clear of the predictable "Christmas-y" themes, I went on the hunt for the perfect color combination to base a design off of.

This is what I found.

Source: Creature Comforts Blog

Right when saw this image, I knew I wanted to base my design off of the colors. 

The color palate below is how I interpreted the colors in the floral arrangement, and what I used for my shower invitation design.

And the end result...

Bridal Tea Invitation

This was a super fun invitation to do, because it was for a dear college friend of mine. I wanted this invitation to have a sweet tea party vibe, but to still have some whimsical elements.

Not only was an invitation created, but also an insert that listed all of the registry information so that the guests could easily have the information on hand.

Since the shower was at a local tea room, it was important to have place cards for each guest to make them feel both special and thought about. (Don't you feel like it is always easier when you know where you are supposed to sit!)

Lastly, we provided each guest with a favor to-go which included a Birmingham staple, Baby Bites. I think each guest really enjoyed a couple bite sized pieces of cake.

It was such a joy to be able to create the invitation, registry card, favor tag, and place cards for this sweet shower.

 

Inspiration: Pop of Color

All over the country, it seems to be a little dreary and cold today. As I was purusing the internet I realized everyone is dreaming of spring and there are little pops of color everywhere. To say these images are inspiring is an understatement, and I have a feeling they will be a little pick-me-up.

Sources 1/ 2/ 3/ 4

1. Designlovefest hosted an amazing floral workshop with Moon Canyon and the images instantly made me swoon. The oranges, persimmon, yellows…'mmm all so delightful together.

2. Oh Joy is launching an entertaining and party collection for Target on March 16th (that is just a little over a month away…eee!) and the product previews just scream color and spring! Cannot wait to see the product line in person.

3. Love Taza (and her adorable little peeps) was asked to be the face of the spring 2014 lookbook for Sonnet James and the photos are absolutely to die for! All the photos are stunning and the looks appear so effortless and ah-dor-able.

4. I have had this little floral arrangement pinned for as long as I can remember and it just never gets old. The contrast of the teal teapot and the bright flowers is just too good.

I hope you enjoy these little sources of inspiration bring a little cheer to your Tuesday!

Who You Love, Who You Love

With Valentine's Day just around the corner I immediately think of decorating your "mailbox" for the class Valentine's party and those red mylar heart shaped balloons. Valentine's Day isn't just about cut-out paper hearts or fancy dinner dates with champagne (neither of which I am opposed to), but simply about telling those around you that you are thankful they are in your life. I am not the expert at this, but it is something I would love to do more of on a regular basis. 

Source. 

I came up with some simple little 4x4 cards that would be easy to place on a co-worker's desk, use as a little gift tag, or slip into a friend's bag.

If you are interested, feel free to click the links below to download a sheet of the various cards. Simply print them out on card stock, cut, and spread the love!

Simple Heart

Love Heart

Thankful for You

I Love Life with You

 

Blog Post Title: Courtesy of John Mayer and Katy Perry. Can't get enough of this song lately! 

Go Ahead and Raise That Hand!

Being surrounded by all things weddings and parties in blogs, in magazines, and on TV (Yes, I too watched Sean and Catherine's wedding the other week…and yes, I refer to them on as first name basis), can make most nervous to jump at throwing her best friend a shower, much less a wedding!

Personally I have had instilled in me the love of hosting and showering for as long as I can remember by the ultimate"Hostess with the Mostess" my mom. For her, it was never about having the finest china or catering by a James Beard award winner, but about the little details. She always has the best table settings for an event; fresh flower arrangements with seasonal fruit and cute cards identifying each food item. The couples monogram can often be found scattered throughout the home as well as the cute nickname of a friend's baby (i.e. "lady bug" or "scooter") on cookies and invitations. Every detail is well thought out and given special attention.

One of the easiest ways to focus on the details is to think about the paper products. No, I am not talking about the plates and napkins, but about the invitations, the place cards, the cupcake toppers, and even the food identification cards! It's not too hard, once you've established your theme, color scheme, or invitation. If you want to know more about this concept please reach out to 521 Designs so we can discuss your event in more depth!

Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Alig Photography

This post was designed to give you a little less hesitancy when it come to raising that hand of yours to host your best friend's bridal shower. Don't get overwhelmed, just think about the fun details.

All photos are owned by 521 Designs, unless otherwise noted.