I am currently in the beautiful country of Greece and loving every minute! Of course, I have already filled my camera up with photos of my adventures and it is only Day 1. But, can you blame me? That’s what I thought!
I’m pretty excited about my guest bloggers and hope that they provide you with some fresh and helpful perspectives. Today’s guest Julie Cosby, from Love, Jules Stationery is an incredibly talented friend who has a knack for creativity and is a gifted graphic designer. You may remember her designs from my Art Deco Style shoot last year. Julie was kind enough to let me interview her about the art of stationery and how to pick invitations that will make a statement for your big day. Check out her thoughts below!
Julie, tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello everyone! I’m a small town, west Texas girl turned city girl (even though I still love the country). I moved to Dallas after I graduated from college and have been loving it! I have a degree in graphic design and have really gotten into photography over the last year. I love all things creative and have been making things ever since I can remember. Creating and working with my hands is one thing that refuels me and at times I find that I just need to make something! I truly believe that my creativity is a gift from the Lord and it is my heart to glorify him in and through that gift.
Tell us about Love, Jules Stationery (how you got started, what you specialize in, etc.)
Love, Jules Stationery is a stationery design shop specializing in custom and handmade invitations. I’ve been designing invitations for about 3 years now and got started by designing wedding invitations for friends. Things just grew from there! I rarely, if ever, use the same design twice, because I believe each client should have something special created just for them. Most of my invitations include hand-drawn typography or a hand-drawn or hand-painted illustration. I’ve been loving watercolor lately, and one of my favorite things to draw is letters!
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What are your top 5 tips for brides/party planners when picking their invitation suite?
Top 5 tips for brides… Let’s see here…
1. First Impression:
Some brides think invitations are a place to cut costs if you’re on a tight budget, but I disagree! I know, you’re thinking “Of course she would say that! She designs wedding invitations!” Alright, let me explain. Invitations are the first impression your guests will have of your wedding. They set the tone for the whole event! Who doesn’t love getting personalized mail these days? Opening invitations should be an experience! It makes the experience so much greater if the invitations are creative, well designed and beautiful. Isn’t that exactly what your wedding will be? Of course it is! Invitations are almost like a little sneak peek of your wedding, so you better give your guests a good one!
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2. Research:
I always start out by asking each bride about their wedding, mainly the look and feel of the event. It’s important to do some research to have some ideas of what you’d like your printed goods to look like. I absolutely love when brides send me pictures as examples of what they have in mind for their invitations!
3. Timing:
Consider your timeline. You’ll want to send your invitations out 6-8 weeks before your RSVP date. Make sure to give your designer at least 4-6 weeks for designing and printing. It doesn’t hurt to build in a week or two for stuffing, stamping and mailing your invitations.
4. Invitation Specifics:
– Examples of content and invitation etiquette can be found online.
– Consider letterpress! Most people think letterpress is too expensive, but you might be surprised!
– Think about using colored envelopes or fun envelope liners to add a little more character to the suite!
– Calligraphy is beautiful for formal invitations, but if your invitation is less formal then you might consider looking for an artist who hand-letters envelopes in a less traditional way. You can find these services on etsy. Also, a custom return address stamp adds a nice touch to your invitations and can be used for many other things in the future too!
*Any special touches will add to the overall experience!
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5. Day-of Paper Goods:
Don’t forget about day-of collateral! Things to consider are programs for your ceremony, directional signage, seating charts or escort cards, drink or food signs, thank you notes. Your options are endless! Let your designer help simplify your wedding day by creating these for you.
It’s been a joy to guest post on Mary’s blog! If you ever have any questions about stationery or paper goods, or even if you just want to say hello, I’d love to chat with you!
Love,
Jules