Kari & Nathan

My cousin, Kari and her fiancé, Nathan were planning a destination wedding in Kauai and they loved the invitations I created for Joanna and Matt. So we stuck with the same basic design and added elements to make it their own. 

Everything was printed on linen card stock by Cards and Pockets. We also created wraparound address labels and the envelopes were from Paper Source. 

Friends and family members who had already committed to attending were the only ones who received an invitation. The inserts included a map to the ceremony and reception. (This was the very first time I saw less-than-stellar print quality come from Cards & Pockets. The blocks of color didn't print as vibrant as they should have.)

There was also an invitation to attend a luau with the bride and groom and their family in lieu of a traditional rehearsal dinner.

The back showed a map on how to get there.

This was one destination wedding I was thrilled to get to attend!

The long tables were decorated with orchids and ripe pineapples that smelled amazing. At each place setting was a menu that I designed with their graphics and an engraved luggage tag that served as both a place card and a wedding favor. Each guest's initials were engraved on the back of the luggage tag.

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS wedding and such an honor to get to contribute a little, take some photos, and share the special day with Kari and Nathan. 

Congratulations!!

Sharon & Cesar

Sharon first contacted me to create a save-the-date for her and Cesar's destination wedding in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We brainstormed some really fun ideas and we came up with this vintage map style and included one of their engagement photos that was taken in New York's Central Park. We even managed to make it bilingual! I really love how it turned out.

When it was time to work on invitations, we discussed a variety of different options and styles. In the end, I created a couple of mixed media illustrations using watercolor and pen & ink to make something special for the couple.  

Their bilingual wedding invitations features a watercolor and pen & ink drawing of one of the many sentry boxes from Fort San Felipe de Morro in Old San Juan. 

For the inserts, I created small illustrations of the two historic venues along with keeping the information bilingual.

La Catedral San Juan Bautista:

el Hotel el Convento

On the back of one insert I created a map of Viejo San Juan (Historic San Juan), where both the wedding and reception would take place. 

Another insert back displayed an engagement photo of Sharon and Cesar along with the monogram I created for them.

It was an honor to get to work with Sharon on the items for her and Cesar's wedding. Congratulations!!

Jackie's Bridal Shower

My sister Jackie got married last October, but before she walked down the aisle, her BFF Joanna and I planned a super fun 1980s-themed bridal shower for her.

When we got started, we were kind of at a loss for theme ideas. The venue was going to be the CrossFit gym where Jackie works, so that somewhat limited theme ideas. She had mentioned doing a "sporty spice" theme, but we really had no great ideas to go with it. 

Finally, Joanna and I ran across some inspiration on Pinterest for a 1980s theme, complete with big hair, leg warmers, Jazzercise, and lots of Spandex. We loved it! So we decided to change the theme and not tell Jackie about it. My sister is a planner and admittedly, a bit of a control freak. It was a struggle for her to not be involved at all in the planning of her shower. Joanna and I loved every minute!

I'm really proud of how the invitation turned out.

I printed them at my local Office Depot and mounted them onto Sour Apple card stock that I purchased from Cards & Pockets.

I created a wraparound address label that continued the theme and used Watermelon envelopes, also from Cards & Pockets. 

For favors, we filled cellophane bags with jelly bracelets, Pop Rocks and a Ring Pop and I created a tag that was folded and stapled to each bag.

I created a water bottle label too. Is the theme from Flashdance stuck in your head yet?

For refreshments we came up with foods that were popular in the 80s, so friends made Sloppy Joes, cocktail weiners, 7-layer dip, and deviled eggs. We also had Capri Suns and wine coolers. We tried to find the old school Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers, but the local BevMo didn't carry them.  

For the food labels, I tried to pair each item with a hit song from the 80s.

For a fun little extra, I created a cootie catcher that I had a blast creating. I was definitely chaneling Lisa Frank with the rainbow animal prints.

Just like the cootie catchers we created as kids, I created "fortunes" for the insides, describing your future, in full 1980s style.

These two futures say:

1. You will settle on an island in the South Pacific where you make exotic bath products with your wife of 20 years who looks just like Brooke Shields.

2. You will shack up with David Hasslehoff and work on the set of Knight Rider where your daughter Kitt will be both conceived and born.

These two fortunes say:

1. After a 6-week whirlwind marriage to Tom Selleck, you will become the graphic designer who builds a fortune putting a mustache on EVERYTHING. (This one is one of my favorites)

2. You will marry Kirk Cameron, have 6 children, and you will live in a seaside New England cottage where you make and sell jam locally.

I created six more futures that I'd be happy to share if you ask. ;-)

This shower was such a blast to create, I am going to try and create a version I can put in my Etsy shop! 

Amely & Ben

I had a blast working on a bunch of different items for Ben and Amely's September wedding. They got married at a lodge in Heber Valley in the mountains of Utah surrounded by close friends and family. 

Amely wanted to go big when it came to their invitations. She fell in love with these scroll invites and I was happy to create the graphics that were printed on each scroll. In case you're wondering, yes! They were really expensive to mail!

Rather than print a hundred program for guests, we opted to print one giant program that was framed and on display with their guestbook. I scaled this faux chalkboard to 24x36, had it printed at FedEx and we stuck it in a frame we picked up at Michael's. FedEx is my current favorite place to print big stuff since they usually print while I wait.

A number of guests were coming in from out of town and were actually staying at the lodge where the wedding took place. Amely and Ben put together welcome baskets for them and we included this itinerary to let them know the weekend's events.

The back (not pictured) included information about local events and attractions.

This fun door knob sign was also included in the welcome baskets.

Lastly, these are some of the signs that I created and were displayed in different spots throughout the venue on the wedding day.

We printed a handful of the cocktails menus and had them laminated.

They set up a fun photo booth using an iPad on a tripod.

This last sign is my favorite! 

Ellen & Mark

Ellen and Mark were having a wedding that joined traditions from both of their families. One of those traditions was having a Chinese wedding invitation. They used my own wedding invitation as inspiration and we went from there. They really wanted to have some fun with the text.

When it came to the inserts, they wanted each one to be unique.

I love how it all turned out. Thanks guys, for sending me one of your awesome invitations. Congrats!

Phi & Anthony

Phi was a pleasure to work with on the invitations for her April wedding. I loved the pocketfolds she was planning to use and did my best to create a flourish that coordinated with them.

I love the layout, it's not an orientation that's used very often.

We created five different inserts, including one that listed all of the wedding party and the couple's "sponsors." I learned that in many Filipino families (especially Catholic ones) they have sponsors that are godparents. They all have a small role in a Catholic wedding ceremony and it's tradition to have them listed for guests to know who they all are.

The wording on the rsvp card made me chuckle a bit.

Melinda and Alex

I had the pleasure of working with Melinda on the items for her June wedding. She wanted to go with a winery theme, but she didn't want grapevines or grapes on the invitations. She saw the wine ring invitations I created for Allison and Eion and she wanted to do something similar.

Many thanks to Melinda and her wedding photographer for the lovely photos!!
JF Hannigan Photography

Images by JFHannigan

We also created place cards and table numbers for the reception.

Image by JFHannigan 

Image by JFHannigan

Image by JFHannigan

Image by JFHannigan

A menu also sat at each table.

Image by JFHannigan

Last we created a seating chart that Melinda had framed with wine corks. It turned out so awesome!

Images by JFHannigan

Thank you again Mel and congrats!!

Sara and Michael

The youngest of my two brothers got married last September with a small ceremony. They were originally planning to get married the following year but chose to get hitched sooner and they only gave themselves five weeks to plan it. Five weeks!!

We were tremendously lucky that Jessica from Jessica Kay Photography happened to be free that weekend and was able to come and shoot their wedding. Thank you Jess!!!

Needless to say, sending a formal invitation was really just a formality. They invited each of their guests either in person or over the phone and then mailed an invitation to those who were coming. 

We created a thank you note that was placed at each place setting:

Image by Jessica Kay Photogtaphy

Image by Jessica Kay Photography

For favors, Sara and Michael made a big batch of their favorite homemade taco seasoning and divvied it into small jars. We added silver sparkly washi tape to secure the lids (they popped right off!) and tied a favor tag to the top. 

Images by Jessica Kay Photography

For their guestbook, they had guests write well wishes on Jenga pieces. This was such a FUN guestbook!! The sign on the table says: Marriage is a game of balance. Please leave your words of wisdom on a block and help us build our future.

Images by Jessica Kay Photography

My son was so proud to write his name on a block!

Images by Jessica Kay Photography

Our uncle (who makes wine) bottled some delicious zinfandel for this special occasion and I created a custom wine label to go with it.

Images by Jessica Kay Photography

Lastly, there were bright blue signs on each of the bathroom doors at the venue, and they were kind of in the middle of the space where the ceremony was taking place, so I quickly cut out big silhouettes of Michael and Sara and we taped them over the signs on the door. It was a super last minute thing, but I really love how it turned out.

It was quite an experience getting to play a small role in the planning of this beautiful wedding. Congratulations!