Word

Wow, I have to tell ya, I never thought much about invitation wording. I contacted a calligrapher, the famed Michele Clark, many moons ago about hand-writing our invitations. I know she is going to do a fabulous job, and every time I see a calligraphied invitation it only confirms my absolute love for their simple elegance. source

I have been so caught up in the look of the invite, that I've completely disregarded the actual text. Our whole wedding is comprised of the perfect marriage of formal and casual. While calligraphy is consistent with a traditional, formal wedding, the fabric sleeve gives it that home made, rustic edge.

source

So how to merge the two with the wording? I must admit I'm not a huge fan of the traditional "honour of your presence" wording. I've always loved the more personal, celebratory language. My personal favorite is "...request the pleasure of your company" because really, that's what we're doing. We're only inviting the people that we really want to be around while we make the biggest commitment of our lives. As for the rest, I'm not sure. I'd like as little wording as possible so that the calligraphy can really shine.

Also, since we're doing the fabric pocket, with part of the invite peaking out, I'd like to start with our names. Technically, my parents are hosting our wedding (we are paying for certain details ourselves) but since I'm trying to go with as little wording as possible (especially up top) I decided against including their names. My parents were completely understanding and seemed like they could care less.

Here's what I have so far:

Amy ... .... & B... ..... .... (this will be up top, peaking out above the fabric pocket)

Together with their families,

Request the pleasure of your company

at their wedding ***
Saturday, the blank of October
Two Thousand and Nine
at half past blank in the afternoon***
Taber Ranch

Capay California

Drinks, Dinner, and Dancing to Follow***

***these are the lines I'm not sure about. Suggestions wanted! What time does afternoon end and evening begin? 5:00pm? Do you like the drinks, dinner and dancing line? I'm just a fan of the alliteration and think it will be so pretty written out. I'm going to send this over to Michele soon. Your feedback is appreciated!

Notification that You made my List!

Not sure why, but I've been slashing our guest list lately. Is it bad that I have zero problem eliminating? I am trying to focus on the people who really do care about us. I want to kiss my new husband, grab his hand, pause and look and see 100-120 familiar, loving, emotional faces. I just can't imagine turning to see a group of faces I've never seen before. We both realize that there may be some extended family, or out of state friends that one of us has not had the pleasure of meeting yet, but for the most part the "randoms" (as we've dubbed them) are not invited. It's not a snobbery thing, but more like a we're doing it our way thing.

photo: via Faye & Greer

photo: via Victoria With Roses

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about invites lately. I'm still completely head over heels in love with a simple, no graphic, calligraphied invite. I am also still in love with the sewn pocket idea. I am also now in love with a boxed invite.

I started thinking of how to combine all three. And I have a fourth idea. I want lavender to be incorporated in little details of our wedding. It wont be a theme or anything, I'm really just after that beautiful scent.

Boxed Invites via Mrs. Penguin

Here's what I'm picturing: A craft-colored box with a layer of dried lavender inside. Lying over the lavender is our invite, tucked away in it's fabric sleeve. A matching ribon is keeping all of the inserts together inside of the sleeve. One of the inserts instructs the invitee to make their own lavender scented sachet with the fabric sleeve, dried lavender and ribbon. Am I being hysterical in thinking that someone will actually do this? I have to say, I think I would love it, but it could be a giant waste...

photo: Save-on-Crafts

Materials needed: Paper for invite and insterts, Calligrapher (I have already hired a fabulous one), fabric, thread, sewing machine, ribon, lavender, box, labels. Postage. We will have about 65-75 invites at this point. Am I crazy?

**ok, ETA, I'm adding this up and it may be too costly. Calligraphy and sewn pockets are for sure. We'll have to see about the lavender...

Making it Yours

I'm so excited to see that the homespun wedding is completely "in" right now. I'm gathering so many inspirational details lately! There's nothing quite like a wedding where the couple's personality really comes through. Kelly and Terrell's wedding is the perfect example. The day was shot flawlessly by Whitebox Weddings (so talented)! I had to share some of the great details!

Craft paper table covers? Oh yeah. How fun to see what little bursts of artistry your friends would leave. If not for all the tables, definitely a great kids table idea.

I'm loving the red buckets.

Oh no. I'm now completely smitten with the multiple cake table. This couple had been together nine years, so they had nine cakes! I love this idea! Our wedding is on our fourth anniversary. Four cakes?

Oh the sewn pocket for the invitations is incredible. I'm loving this idea more and more. The simple red heart motif is perfect. A nice, easy way to tie everything together. Is this wedding not amazing? This is exactly the feel I'd love to have on our day. Warm. Unique. Not over done.

The perfect meal for a cozy wedding. Gotta love that BBQ.

Thank you SO much to Whitebox Weddings for capturing these great detail shots, and for allowing me to share! There are so many more great details from this day, check them out here.

Sew Inviting

I am in love with the homemade look of a calligraphied invitation. But if I do something so simple and elegant, I'll want to give it some rustic flavor via packaging. I loved this idea found via Sundrenched Moments. Bird and Banner
Photo: Junkdrawer via Fairmount Bride

These little sewn pockets are seriously adorable. My first thought: grandma! She has shelves upon shelves of scrap fabric that could potentially make some pretty adorable invite sleeves. The other option would be a burlap or a jute to give a more neutral/organic feel. After chatting with Kate, I'm getting excited about the idea of adding a textured fabric (aka jute) as a recurring design element.
I also love the idea of creating a booklet. So beautiful with the ribbon closures!
Love how the calligraphy is made rustic with the emblem.

Images via Rebecca Thuss

Calligraphy+Invites=Love

Image via Southern Weddings

I seriously love this invitation. I realize it's on the formal side. But with a slightly less scripty font and some rustic packaging, it might be just what I'm looking for. I might change my mind, I realize there are literally thousands of amazingly gorgeous invites out there. I don't know, there's just something about that handwritten look.

What do you think?

Understated Rhinestone Cow[girl]

I wouldn't be surprised if most of my long time friends are expecting me to plan a lavish, ultra fancy wedding. I tend to be rather boisterous about my expecatations and I'm sure some of my lifelong friends might even describe some of my style choices as borderline gaudy. Let's just say I was wearing gold shoes and handbags waaay before it was "ok". The flipside to my over-the-top inclinations is my inner country girl. So when I told one of my friends that I wanted a homespun/rustic/comfortable wedding with certain elegant details, she seemed to understand.

I would love for our moms to carry a tiny bouquet like this one. It looks so old fashioned and pure to me.

Now that I have saturated my brain with wedding images and ideas, I find myself favoring the photos of understated details. The ballrooms with the uplighting and the gobos, seamless dance floor and towering centerpieces, while never exactly my favorite, are now completely overlooked when I scan wedding photos. Too predictable.


This is the perfect look for our flower girl(s)...although I would change it to a cotton dress. But the ballet flats are so precious! From UK Brides



photo via Ritzy Bee Blog

With so many amazing invitation designs ranging from high end letter press to homemade gocco'd goodness, I'm baffled by my draw to extremely simple invites. I love allowing the font or calligraphy be the focal point.

image found via Budget Savvy Bride


While I really do want a big bouquet to balance me out proportionately.I want the look of simple flowers for the bms. These roses are perfection....so original! photo by Amelia Lyon

Inviting Invites

As much as I would love to DIY my own wedding invitations, I know that I myself do not have the patience nor talent to go it alone. I have a couple of friends who I could enlist to help, but I'm still not sold on the idea completely. I do plan on doing a budget friendly invite, but am willing to spend a little more to make sure they look professional. I've been scouring the web for ideas for a long time and am still soaking it all in. Looking at sample invites is a great way to come up with a theme, design, color palette or even a venue! Many local invite-makers post samples with the name of the venue listed.

This letterpress invite from Costco was the very first invitation I ever saved. At that time I had no idea what letterpress was, more importantly I had no idea how much letterpress cost! I love the simplicity and romance of this particular invite.

Bella Flora Letter press Invite via Costco

I'd love to have a motif to use throughout the wedding. I'm toying with the monogram idea, but would also love to have something like the top two invitations below. I also love the clean look of the bottom two.

All invitations via Brides

The only "motif" I've been able to come up with thus far is the tree. My top-choice venue has a lovely old oak tree on the property. They do claim you can get married under it although I've yet to see anyone who has as it looks a bit steep, but it is quite lovely and is the logo for the venue. There's something very timeless, romantic and relaxing about a big tree. I loved all four of these invites the moment I saw them.

Clockwise from top left: paper presence, the knot.com,larkpress, kenziekate

Writing this makes me realize that I desperately need to start thinking colors. I'm still overhwelmed in that department and just can't seem to narrow it down! More on that later.