The inspiration behind...and how we customize

When Kendra and Matt first contacted us about invitations, they seemed very easy going and had no specific design in mind. With them living in Florida, and us being in Maryland, you would think our phone consultation would be nothing less than a full description of their wedding inspiration. Let's face it, we've had brides send color swatches by mail with blueprint-like details of their expectations of what we will eventually design for them. And while we welcome instructions and appreciate details, we were extremely surprised at the relaxed tone of the 3 way convo we had with Kendra. 

She casually explained their love for the colors blue and brown and described their pursuit for a laid back,  beach chic wedding. Allow us to walk you through our design process and development of the two samples that will ultimately be combined into wedding invitations for one of our favorite couples from the Sunshine State.

The 1st sample was printed on a bright white card stock while using a rich chocolate brown card stock with a weave texture to border it. In between those two layers we placed a piece of blue handmade paper with a "swiss cheese" effect which shows the brown paper through the holes. The three layers of this rectangular shaped invitation are secured with a chocolate brown wraffia knot on the very top. And to top it all off, well - that would be to bottom it all off - we added sand on the very bottom of this invitation for perfect beach touch.

On the 2nd sample, we used brown handmade paper to make a custom pocketfold. The invitation is printed on an ivory card stock and backed with an aqua shimmer card. To incorporate the beach into this invitation we designed starfish and printed them cascading down the side of the information cards. We used a natural hemp rope to attach the pocket and also as a wrap to enclose the invitation.

Kendra and Matt were ecstatic to see their samples. They loved them both but, still wanted some changes...so this is what we came up with - keep the sand from sample 1 and the style from sample 2 and voila!!! This, friends, is what we call custom:)

We took the sand from sample #1 and the overall style of sample #2,  and combined them together to create Kendra & Matt's out of this world beach invitation. We removed the starfish from the original sample and added it to the outer tag of the invitation. We also included the starfish on the guest's dinner menus. To take it up a notch the custom printed place cards were attached to a finger star fish.

BUT WAIT......we are not done with how we customize :) Let's take a look how another one of our couples were inspired by Kendra and Matt's custom beach wedding invitation. With making just a few changes to customize this invite to accommodate Helen and EJ's wedding color scheme, we were able to use the same style and make a whole new beautiful invitation. From brown and aqua to navy and hot pink this invite will WOW your guest.

See the full details of our Endless Summer invitation below

http://invitationsbythisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/04/endless-summer.html

Want another alternative to the place card?!?!
Check out our Starfish seating board that matches this wedding set?

http://invitationsbythisandthat.blogspot.com/2012/05/new-seating-board.html