Invitations #1

I knew that I didn't want a "canned" invitation for our wedding. I didn't want anything TOO contemporary nor TOO "old world" looking. I wanted something in between and that didn't cost me an arm and a leg, either. I LOVE the look and feel of letterpress, but we all know that can be VERY expensive. UNLESS, you are resourceful!

My main color is orange, which isn't a common color for SPRING weddings. So, I didn't want some cute invitation. I wanted an elegant and timeless design with little hints of who we are in the invitation.

Well, I visited a few stores in the DC area to get ideas, scoured through magazines and surfed the web, too. I actually made an appointment with a WELL-KNOWN party planner/invitation design store in Maryland. Gave the lady my ideas, numbers, etc. She told me that she'd have a quote and proof for me in a week. That was in SEPTEMBER. Ask me if I have heard from her? I called her about a week after our meeting, you know, thinking maybe she had the wrong email address for me. She said, "Oh, I haven't had time to work on it. Your wedding isn't until May, so we still have time". Um, who is WE? Is she pregnant or French? Don't promise items that you can't deliver! BAD BUSINESS!!! I will NEVER purchase anything from this store, nor recommend them for anything....not even a new dog announcement! BOOOOO!!!!

So, on to more pleasant experiences...... I met fellow Knottie on TheKnot.com boards and I loved how creative she was with her own wedding invitations. I contacted her via email. We "chatted" about what I was looking for, numbers, etc. and I made the decision to allow her to design my invitations and all inserts for my wedding.

This week, I received a few proofs of the invitations she's designing for me......WOW! I am VERY happy with them!! We haven't finalized all of the inserts, yet, but I am VERY happy with her work. You tell her what you are looking for and, BAM, she whips up BEAUTIFUL designs that incorporate EXACTLY what you are looking for. Here is what we have so far (sorry for the browned-out portions, but hey, such is life)..... The orange pocketfold is not as orange as this picture shows, but it's only to give you an idea of what the layout of the invitation will be.
Once we get the invitations and inserts printed and I assemble them, I plan on taking a few pictures and uploading her work.