operation save the date: complete

I love today. We finished the save the dates finally. I am so pleased with the way they came out and can't wait for our guests to receive them. Our kitchen has looked like a Martha Stewart sweatshop for weeks. Now we can have our lives and counters back for a few months until the next maelstrom of design and crafting begins. As much time as these things took, I think we can say we really are happy with the design. Our goal was to create something that was "SoCal cool"...it's sorta Hollister meets Tragic Kingdom album artwork meets letterpress meets Nick + Halli. I was worried the black and orange would be a bit too Halloweeny, but I have not had that gut reaction throughout all the black and orange experience. I love the way the packet works. They scream "us." Now for the commentary this project's learnings...

1. If you use ribbons on invitations of any type you must really enjoy punishment. Never again peeps. I have made ribbon design choices before but for some reason I failed to remember all the drama that ensues. We solved for it, but lordy it took time and serious attention to detail. We were saved by Zots Clear Adhesive glue dots. They pack some serious adhesive punch. Learn about them.

2. Women- Treat yourself to a pair of amazing scissors. I bought some killer all-steel, seamstress grade Fiskars. I was using some pathetic three-buck Ikea scissors that wouldn't even cut ribbon. These things cut like a hot knife through butter.

3. Photostamps.com custom photo/artwork stamps...like, but not so much in love. Being able to control our the design and tie it into our theme was great, but the stamps themselves are HUGE. They are eating up the front of the envelope. If they were smart they would start offering a smaller size, esp for people who use these on reply cards. I am surprised someone in their product dev department hasn't figured this out. We will save using them again for the commemorative Bizmark von Whiskers stamps.

4. The number one thing that you read about wedding mailings is to hand cancel your envelopes. This is a total scandal with the USPS. They don't do this anymore if you live outside of Mayberry. Even if you do find a post office to hand cancel, they still get routed through the evil post-o-matic sorting machines. Research also shows that the USPS will try to charge brides for this (which is illegal) and sometimes invites get lost. Sorry if your save the date looks kinda chewed up on the outside...at least it is pretty on the inside!

Ps. Paula loves this story about the California State Flag, our design inspiration. The jury is still out on the validity of the story, but regardless, pretty darn funny.

linens and things

Newsflash: My wonderful finance now knows the difference between crinkle taffeta, pintuck silk, and organza! That is true love people. Last week we completed, what I though was going to be one of the more challenging parts of planning: linens. In reality, it was super easy. So easy, we were done in under an hour and I am in love. I was mostly nervous about the lack of selection in our color range…blacks, grays, and slivers. In the world of linens, there isn’t a huge range available in these colors if you aren’t going custom, but Tabella had just what we needed.

We settled on a warm charcoal hue that is doing more than extending our color palette—it’s providing a nice tie into the warmth of the birch walls in the BP auditorium. We have often worried about not plunking a cold color palette into a warm interior space like the WDCH. There is just a subtle warm copper sheen that comes out of the fabric when it hits the light. Gorgeous darling, gorgeous. Thanks to Kristin, our coordinator, for steering us away from using a two-color setup—base tablecloth and an overlay. Its too prom circa 1992. One strong linen with a rich texture is all you need.

Beyond the excitement of linens, we had some b-party team action! Cynthia, bridesmaid and wedding aficionado, was able to join us while on break from the toils of her Master’s degree completion. It’s been so nice to have my maids, at one point or another, help with planning or be at special wedding-related events, despite being spread all over the country.

I will cover what we are now referring to as "the great goblet debate” in a future post.

good [wifey] things: file folder tote

Remember the Seinfeld episode with George and his exploding wallet? I was about five seconds away from recreating that scene with my wedding binder. I maxed out its loose paper capacity with t-minus nine months to go.

My folks-in-law-to-be thoughtfully picked me up the tre-cool Audrey File Folder Tote from russel+hazel. It's a nice solution for brides with a ream of contracts in tow. I just love all their products and who can't resist the desire to get organized when it looks this good? I will let you take a guess as to which color I have.

*style me pretty* mention

We heart Style Me Pretty! Abby Larson posted our engagement invite today on her hugely popular and addictive wedding blog. Its a true resource "for the style obsessed bride." A very special thanks to Kathleen for the heads up on the DIY Contest call for submissions. Kathleen and Joe's coat check tags made it too. Aren't they great? Designers just love an excuse to use a perforator!

i had to post it...

h+n: four years in four minutes

new post

Here is a small post to tide you over. I have bride's blogger block. Lots of news to share. So much news, I dont' know how to organize it in my pretty little head. Goodwifey loves you (two) though!

save the date yo

Warning: Lame designer content ahead...

We are getting closer every weekend with save the date ‘identity and campaign.’ The content is finally done and we look forward to a fun exercise in information hierarchy very soon! Our hotel, airline, and car special discounts all seem to have a unique set of information and directions. We are trying to streamline as much as possible from a typographic perspective. Hopefully, in the end, people will access the website too.

The design is going swimmingly! I have it about 85% in place and Nick is going in as the finisher. He pushed my design a bit more (as he does so well when we collaborate) and it is getting pretty tight. I pushed back too of course. We have one more panel to figure out then off to the printers. I am hoping to keep the last panel down to one color so we are more cost efficient.

I have been planning for letterpress as our final form factor this whole time. It’s a two color deal, so regardless of how we end up printing, it will look great. If it ends up being letterpress, some of the elements could be tricky to calibrate. Offset would save us some money, but this design is so destined to be pressed into some Crane’s Lettra in bright white, yummy.

We also bought Envelopments pocket folds to make a mini packet for the whole mailing. I love you dainty, mini packet mailers! I am currently investigating interesting ways to bind it closed. I keep leaning towards a two sided satin 5/8” ribbon despite swearing never to include tying of bows/knots again for a design project. Its just way too hard. Seattle isn’t my favorite place to find ribbon and floral supplies either. In fact, it is a wasteland. Thankfully my mom and I can go on a mission this weekend in LA.