With a wedding at the stunning Dresser Mansion, and a style warm and inviting, I knew Carrie and Alan would be a fun couple to work with right from the start. Their wedding was to be formal, but casual enough not to feel stuffy. Carrie wanted to bring the Art Deco style of Dresser Mansion into her wedding style, as well as the vintage charm and elegance the mansion exudes. Using her color palette of browns, warm golds and soft cream I set out to work on her invitations.

Carrie wanted her invitation design to use several different fonts, laid out in a very nontraditional style which I was totally on board for.

For the outside of the invitation, we used a velvet belly band with custom wax seal to hold the pocket folder closed. Beautiful calligraphy and custom map was done by Pretty Pen Jen.

A close up of the belly band and custom wax seal.

I had a lot of favorite things about this invitation, but one in particular was the pen and ink drawing we did of Dresser Mansion that went on the reply card.

Last but not least, completing the look were the custom stamps for the mailing envelopes.

Tip: Even if you can’t afford to go the custom route for your wedding invitation, getting a custom stamp will really elevate the look of your wedding invitations and make the invitation more personal.

I was thrilled with how Carrie and Alan’s invitation suite came together, and they were as well! Hopefully more to come of their lovely wedding soon!

Invitation by Zenadia Design.

Board Credits – Top Row: MSW, Amy Neunsinger, unknown, inspiration from the bride. Bottom Row: Martha Stewart Weddings, Art Deco Poster, unknown, inspiration from the bride.

Emily and David were getting married in the beautiful Our Lady Mount Carmel Church in Montecito, with their reception taking place at the Historical Museum in downtown Santa Barbara. Their celebration was to be rustic and beautiful with lots of herb accents and wooded details.

Emily loved the fountain in the courtyard of the museum, so I thought it would be fun to incorporate a custom pen and ink of the fountain onto the folding reply card.

Magnolia flowers and branches were going to play a big part in the decor and floral design, so we used these branches on the wedding invitation, as well as on the mailing envelope design.

Also in this suite, was a reception card for Emily and David’s reception at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. We used the same tile pattern from the reply card on the reception card, bringing in a little old world Santa Barbara to the suite.

I also worked with Emily and David on their wedding menus and seating cards. For their seating card, we used design motifs from the invitation as entree designations on the seating cards. A great way to tie the whole look together.

Invitation design by Zenadia Design.

Board Credits – Top Row: Michael + Anna Costa Photography, Jose Villa via Inspired By This, Aaron Delesie for Lisa Vorce, Bottom Row: 100 Layer Cake, Aaron Delesie for Lisa Vorce, Jen Lynne Photography

When I met with Danielle and Erik last year to chat with them about their upcoming wedding, I was so excited to start working on their wedding day papers. Danielle loved lace, and wanted to incorporate that into her invitations. The colors they chose for their wedding were a soft and romantic palette of ice blue, peach, champagne, butter yellow and gold. Such an amazing palette!

We got right to work on their save the date; a fun little book, with a picture of them on the inside which tied closed with an ice blue satin ribbon and was mailed in a matching ice blue envelope.

Tip: It’s always fun to use colored envelopes on your save the dates and invitation. That way when your guests open their mailbox it’s a pop of unexpected color in a sea of white envelopes.

For Danielle and Erik’s invitation we used ice blue paper with gold foil stamping. The script for their invitation was done in calligraphy for that soft romantic look. Tied with a peach satin bow, the invitation was also backed and framed in ivory lace.

The reply card, as well as the brunch invitation and map and direction cards were printed on champagne colored paper.

I loved the end result of the gold foil on the blue paper.

Danielle wanted to be sure that her invitations didn’t look like baby shower invitations, since her color scheme, if done wrong, could potentially look like a baby shower. We totally pulled it off and Danielle was incredibly happy with the end result.

In addition to the save the date and invitations, I also did programs, menus, table numbers, escort cards and favor box stickers for Danielle and Erik.

I was so thrilled to be able to work with Danielle and Erik. They’re a wonderful couple with great style! Their wedding is pending publication, but I can’t wait to share it with you soon!

Invitation Design: Zenadia Design

Calligraphy: Leslee Sipress

Color palette images: Top Row – STAK Photographer Duo, Annie McElwain Photography, Mike Larson Bottom Row – Scott Andrew Studio, Jose Villa, Unknown

A festive color palette accented with brightly colored china.

Image Credits – Top Row: Michelle Rago, Dress Design Decor, Tara Leigh for JL Designs, Middle Row: Carla Ten Eyck for Jubilee Events, Design Lovely, The Nichols via SMP, Bottom Row: Michelle Rago, Carla Ten Eyck for Jubilee Events (middle and right)

Inviting red with hints of green, cream and gold make for an elegant garden wedding. Love the idea of mixing fabric patterns to achieve an eclectic look.

Image Credits – Top Row: Elizabeth Messina via Wedding Chicks, This is Glamorous, Alexis Courraud, Middle Row: KT Merry Photography, My Marrakesh, Jonathan Canalas Photography, Bottom Row: Jonathan Canalas Photography, Kiss The Groom, Edyta Szyszlo Photography

Continuing with our Week of Love, a color palette that is all about feminine charm. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day wedding…

Image Credits – Top Row: Alberta Ferretti, Kiss the Groom, Yvette Roman, Middle Row: MegRuth Photography, This is Glamorous, Twin Lens, Bottom Row: Yosyyn, Grazier Photography, Yvette Roman

A few weeks ago my good friend Nycia, from Inspired Events and the fabulous blog Be Inspired, held a giveaway for one of our inspiration boards. The winner was Karina, and here is her board, with her wedding colors of Espresso, Dark Red and Gold. Great color combination Karina!

Image Credits – Top Row: MSW, The Bride’s Cafe, Christian Oth, Middle Row: Mel Barlow, Michelle Rago, SMP, Bottom Row:  Adam Nyholt, Yvette Roman (middle and right)

Ruby red, combined with saffron and dark green make for a vintage Latin salsa themed wedding.

Image Credits

Top Row: Patina Floral, From me to You, LA Diary Star, Middle Row: The Art of Life, SMP, Jenny Lindsey, Bottom Row: Christian Oth, SMP, Kate Webber

Not being partial to pink and blue together, I do have to say this color palette isn’t bad.  When paired with gold, pink and blue has a more elegant and formal look that’s perfect for a spring or winter celebration.

Image Credits – Top Row: This is Glamorous, Creative Push, Aaron Delesie, Middle Row: Robert and Kathleen Photographers, Kristin Vining, Braedon Photography for XOXO Bride, Bottom Row: Braedon Photography for XOXO Bride, This is Glamorous,  Apartment 34

This is an inspiration board we did for a client who is having a traditional Indian wedding in Monaco. Her wedding is to take place at two lavish venues, and she wanted to inspiration board to reflect that, as well as her color scheme which is Sepia, Antique Rose and Taupe. I loved how her board came out, so I wanted to share it with you today.

Image Credits – Top Row: XOXO Bride, Mike Larson, Jennifer Skog, Middle Row: This is Glamorous, Kiss The Groom, Snippet and Ink, Bottom Row: Michelle Rago, Kiss The Groom, Michelle Rago