Vera Wang and Unveiled by Checkerboard

{image: vera wang gown, via verawang.com}

{sneak peek image of checkerboard's unveiled invitation, presidio: suite no. 1}


The accent of black is so elegant. I love Vera Wang's line of wedding gowns that feature long silky sashes of jet and these gloves in the image above paired with the industrial elegance of the neckpiece screams personal style and edgy elegance. These stunning gowns perfectly coordinate with this invitation suite.

Checkerboard has come out with an innovative line of wedding invitations coming soon to eInvite.com. This elegant item featured is Suite No. 1 called Presidio. It features a custom Geneva diecut envelope and printed liner, a Jet invitation with a diecut pocket on the back that echos the same shape of the envelope and reveals your response set and direction card. Checkerboard has also added a number of imported Italian liners to the collection. This suite features the fashion forward, Donatella liner. If you are looking for something that brings out your personalities, text that embodies your spirit as a couple in celebration with your family, these invitation suites are sure to excite. Do you want to share your story to your guests instead of just telling them the time and place? Create the most exciting prelude with Unveiled by Checkerboard. Stay tuned...we can't wait to share more!

Paper Quality, Process and Differences in Invitations

{a great example of offset metallic ink on red linen paper, this item has fun handlettering}

{a great example of embossed lettering on sparkly stardream paper}



{a great example of red foil stamping and offset metallic ink on jet black paper, this item also is
distinctive with the use of hand lettering on the card and the envelope, thermographed in red ink}

Viewing invitations and announcements online is so much easier with beautiful images, showing details of the processes used on each cards. Rich heavy papers with silver offset ink as seen in the first image, shine and compliment your holiday photo. Next I chose an embossed item, the script-y font and the deep rich embossing is so elegantly captured. The stardream paper sparkles and the image shows that. These wonderful details tell you about the items, in ways that words just can't. Some people may not read the descriptions listed for every card that can tell you a lot, but the images catch it all! Look at the last one, the way the deep red foil looks on jet black paper is so stunning.

Paper quality is important factor when choosing an invitation, the thicker the paper, the more supple it feels in the hand of the person you are sending it to. Layers of paper add to the impact, building up the thickness. Colored papers and offset inks, either flat printed like metallic inks on dark paper or thermography, where the ink is raised and textured really have a dimension to them that other processes just can't attain. They are also very custom and make quite a difference in your hand.

Another option is laser printing where all of the image is printed at one time, this can be very cost effective and a nice way to share your holiday greetings. So depending on your taste and your budget you can decide what kind of look you want to express yourself! I happen to like the black and red item. It is fun and funky with a lot of style. The hand lettering sets it apart and is unique. We have plenty to choose from, each has it's own personal style. Look at the alternate images and see every little detail. See which one fits yours!

{clicking the images here will take you to the item and even more amazing shots!}

Neutrals and Plums

{images: jcrew infinity bracelet, jcrew bride's maids dresses, jcrew flower girl dress, balsa and coral bouquet by krislyn via 100 layer cake, headpiece by via etsy}

Neutrals and plums are everywhere, accented by magenta and maroon, bringing eclectic and rich tones to wedding days. A great fall or winter palette, it can even emerge into the spring with tones of the seaside lavender. A wonderful accent of black can be seen in the balsa and coral bouquet, designed by Krislyn, found on 100 layer cake. Lastly, etsy is rich with professionally handmade goods that add a wonderful unique touch to your celebration.

Clare and Radu, an NYC wedding

There is something wonderful and intimate about a bride and groom expressing their personal style. Excitement abounds when something so very personal is expressed to friends and family on such a special day. We have all been to weddings that are a lot like other weddings, but the ones that are remembered and talked about, the ones that create an abundance of inspiration are those that are truly unique and personal.

Expressing personal style takes something more than being unique, it is a way of life, it is telling everyone WHO you are. I have heard people comment on not knowing HOW to express their personal style, but I feel that it is one of the easiest parts of planning your wedding. By asking yourself what you love, what you want share, what you believe in...you can get started with your own expression. By doing what the two of you wish, maybe rocking a red dress, even though Aunt Betty may gasp, you can confidently and willfully make your wedding your very own.

Through my bloggy travels I have seen so many wonderful weddings emerge from excitement and unexpected. Couples are celebrating color, life, vitality. It is an exciting time to be getting married.

Today we are sharing the celebration of Clare and Radu who recently wed at sunset on the water in New York City. When I saw the images of Clare's red dress, I was filled with excitement. The expression on her face says it all...live, love, and laugh for a lifetime, beginning with doing it your way! Congratulations Clare and Radu!

Clare and Radu’s wedding details:

Location of wedding: The Mariner III on the Hudson River, the ceremony took place on the boat in front of the Statue of Liberty

Bridal Dress by: Designed and made by the bride herself (inquiries at

clare@thunderlily.com)

Fabric bought from www.thunderlily.com

Child's dress made by my her mother, fabric is a classic Liberty print on Tana Lawn

Child's shoes are Biscotti

Flowers by: John Street Florist

Music: A band of great NYC jazz musicians pulled together by our friend and wedding officiant, Jorge Manahan.

Selected photos by Andreea Waters of Kai and Gipsy

Clare's dress inspired us so much, we wanted to share a little about her dress and the day, in the words of a bride willing to bring it!

eInvite: What went into your decision to wear the red dress?

Clare: I took a little inspiration from all my friends for everything in the wedding. We are white-water kayakers and so are most of our friends which is why we got married on the water. I made a wedding dress for my friend Susan and it was red, and she looked fabulous -- after that it seemed just an obvious choice, in some cultures it is the bridal color, plus we already have a two-year old so white just seemed a bit lame. Ultimately though, the whole symbolism of white is a bit redundant these days, so it seemed a better idea to wear a color that represented joy.

eInvite: tell us how it felt to have your wedding on the water as the sun set, with friends…

Clare: The evening felt dazzling. I didn't see anything the whole ceremony except Radu and our officiant. After we walked down the aisle I turned around and there was the Statue of Liberty, huge, beautiful and powerful cut out against the sunset. The view behind us really cut a back-drop for marriage as a freedom and a beginning.

eInvite: When I saw the riot of red with a face of extreme joy, I knew your wedding would inspire a lot of brides out there looking to express more of their personal style. Thank you for sharing your auspicious day with us!

Personal style is alive and kicking over at Offbeat Bride. Check out the latest on colorful wedding dresses!

A "Rare Bird" flies into Salem

{image of Iris Apfel via wicked local}

Iris Apfel is having an exhibit at the Peabody Essex museum in Salem. This morning driving into work I happened to catch a plug for it on the radio. Immediately my interest was peaked as Iris's personal style is so ecclectic and without any sense of convention.

Visit the Peabody Essex Museum for a taste of fashion, enjoy Salem during this wonderful month of All Hallow's Eve and maybe you will even spot Isaac Mizrahi himself as he stops by PEM on November 3rd for a sold out talk with Iris Apfel. The platform of the chat is personal style. Or catch Unzipped, a film featuring Isaac Mizrahi at work, showing at PEM on Saturday, December 5.

Selecting Your Invitation (Invitations 101)

Selecting Your Invitation (Invitations 101)

via eInvite.com

Your wedding or party invitation and accessories set the tone for your special event by firmly establishing your style and taste. It is the first official message about the event, which a guest will receive from you, so make it special.

If this is a wedding, begin by determining whether you and your groom want a formal, traditional or more contemporary style wedding and make your invitation selection accordingly.

The traditional invitation is elegantly simple usually in black ink printed on a heavy white or cream colored card. The card may be either flat or folded with the printing traditionally on the front. The formal couple who loves tradition will find a wide array of suitable papers, plain or variously paneled, and be able to distinguish their personal style through the large selection of beautiful typestyles.

If you choose a more contemporary invitation, you have an immense selection of exciting possibilities. Many contemporary couples love the freedom modern invitations give to tailor the invitation uniquely to their personalities. If you have a theme or color scheme in mind (Garden Tulips, Gold, Silver...) look for invitations that echo this.

Last, but not least, determine your budget. Remember to include reception cards, response sets and thank-you notes (informals) in your calculations along with additional trousseau items like place cards, table cards, menu cards and so forth.

{images of this Elegant Shimmer pocket invitation via eInvite}

Sometimes ordering online can be a little daunting, especially with something as important to your as wedding invitations. We understand that. Simply calling and chatting with Kim, Chris or another customer service person will get you started and set your mind at ease. Ordering a few samples to see the designs, feel the papers, and experience the overall feeling is really easy.

We offer samples for most of our personalized products. If a sample is available for an item, a button titled "Send Me a Sample" is displayed on the right side of the product page—the page with a detailed description, pricing and large view of the item. Simply click this button and a sample is added to your shopping cart. You will notice a nominal fee to cover material costs and shipping via the U.S. Postal Service.

Listen to what some of our clients say:

Thank you for your terrific work and for the help of your gracious customer service providers. The invitations are beautiful and I was stunned by how quickly they were delivered. I just sent them out and have been receiving calls and compliments all week. Since my fiance and I are in different states, it was great to be able to compose and share the creation of the text online. You made the process fun, and your prices were so reasonable. I have told everyone about eInvite!
Stacey Mondschein Brooklyn, NY

eInvite.com offers a great selection and an expansive, easy to use preview tool. Customer Service even verified a few questions by phone and faxed a free proof, which really put my mind at ease that they cared about my order!
Wendy BennettPhiladelphia, PA

Exciting time for fashion!

{images: vera wang fall 2009 via instyle}

Of all designers, Vera Wang is one that stands alone for me. Her edgy and sophisticated forethought is amazingly accurate. The latest InStyle mag has gotten me so fired up about today's fashion. The epitome of the times, her grasp of texture, line and color, femme and mod interpretations are perfection!

By the way, i love what is happening with shoes. Have you seen the latest? Avant-garde at the most conservative labels. I am loving the guts and gusto.

Jill and Kevin

Jungle Peas

{jungle peas via areaware}

If you have ever been lucky enough to receive flowers from Sprout of Worcester Ma, then you may have been introduced to these little critters. At least they look like the little guys that inhabit Cathy Walsh's June Street studio and enliven her work. Sprout is our local, our go to place for floral inspiration, as they complement invitations and signify celebration of all kinds.

I saw these decals on areaware and had to share.

every pair has a personality

My conversations with several girlfriends on crazy shoe shopping sprees and now this post on metacool made me think about why the right pair can be so irresistible! Shoes have been a medium for great design forever. Every pair has a personality of it's own - what better way to explore personal style and share your personality with the world :)

Cause a Riot

{images via joie de vivre's hotel pheonix, fashion by alix malka @ chris boal artists, and ehow}

Today, the sun came out here in central Massachusetts. I think I am a little over-anxious for blissful summer days and parties by the pool. We all know the flowers and veggies need the rain, but there are graduation parties, cookouts, wedding fetés, and baseball games to be had. Black is a staple in my wardrobe, and I end up wearing it most days.

It takes certain palettes for me to react and get excited about, like clifftowns in Italy on the shore, or the facades of little villages all over Europe. The riot of color in these selected images make me feel brave and adventurous, ready to celebrate! I can't image painting my stairs bright orange with hot pink ballisters, but it seems to work here. On a good day, you never know what I may try. Here in New England we look to nature for color. Nature throws riotous colors of flowers into green backdrops of foliage, bringing the same philosophy into your everyday sounds "natural".

Enjoy the summer sun this weekend and punch up your parties, homes, and wardrobes with color and excitement!

Wedding Invitation Hits the Front Page of Digg

How exciting is this?! A wedding invitation - the oldest of old world communication (other than bibles, political essays, and newsprint) made the front page of Digg.com, arguably the epitome of so-called "new media" (a major social news aggregator amongst many, of course).

Congratulations to Kayrock (the printer) and Jill & Matt (the happy couple). It seems that Jill did the layout, which is a monster of an undertaking - there's a lot going on. Check it out:

Metal Mother (the groom's blog)

I'd link the image here, but given it was a small shop and a couple's art, I highly recommend you do the footwork to the blog!

Feather Bouquets

Feather accents are being used by a great deal of brides—on shoes, in hairpieces and now in bouquets. What a fun way to make your wedding unique!

{L to R from top: Style Me Pretty; Style Me Pretty; Emplume; My Wedding Flower Ideas; Michelle Rago}

simply stunning

{ image by kostas murkudis via this branded youth }

Onwards

Onwards from AKQA on this branded youth

Are you a little green?

{Lime Slice via eInvite.com}

{cutest grill ever via anthropologie}

{and you MUST drive this to the party...image via ford motor company via seriouswheels.com}

A-B-C-D

{chest of 26 drawers via minordetails and swiss miss}

Inspired by Nature

These two great ideas from Martha caught my attention. I love how they incorporate nature into summer entertaining. They are simple, elegant, eco-friendly and inexpensive. Brilliant!

{left image; right image}

Interesting Things Afoot!

Things are very busy here at eInvite, with several new, super-secret projects in the works. Stay tuned to the blog for announcements in the next few weeks.

cool designs

I found some super cool clock designs on generate, but one of my favorites is this clock featured on crave