Invitations of the Rich & Famous

The other day while perusing the latest Hollywood gossip, I got to thinking, “What’s the most expensive wedding invitation ever created?” Given the outlandish things celebrities do for their weddings these days (I’m talking to you, Miss Katie Holmes and Mr. Tom Cruise and your little Italian castle shindig), I was sure I’d find some equally outlandish celebrity invitation tales. After a little research, this is what I found:

India’s Invitations: Bollywood is known for going over-the-top, and it’s true when it comes to weddings as well. One of the most expensive weddings every thrown was by Lakshmi Mittal who happens to be one of the world’s richest people (net worth of $6 billion, to be exact).

Silver Save The Date?: For his daughter’s betrothal, Mr. Mittal spared no expense, including sending each wedding guest a 20-page invitation that was encased in pure silver. The guest list? A small and intimate 1,2000 people.

Details, Details: Forget that the wedding celebration spanned five days and took place at the Versailles Palace in France. Dismiss that the party ended with an Eiffel Tower fireworks. If you ever think your event’s budget is getting out of hand, just remember this: Lakshmi Mittal reportedly spent $70 million for his daughter’s wedding. Feel better?

One way to show off a VIP-style wedding without the VIP-style cost? Design custom-made invitations that are made for you and only you. These small pieces of art can be incorporated in a myriad of ways during your ceremony and reception and will leave a lasting impression on all who join you on your big day.

Creative Ways To Save Your Date

Save The Dates are possibly the most fun of all invitation iterations since it’s the first time you get to announce your big shindig to all your friends and family, plus there’s not the traditional sense of stuffiness that limits your creativity as you design your invite. In fact, recently there’s been a great many clever and inspiring Save The Date invitations landing in my mailbox. Here’s just a few that might excite your inner Design Diva for your next event:

Postcards: I love getting postcards from friends visiting faraway lands. Even better? A postcard announcing a soiree! Include a small envelope on the postcard that houses your small (and memorable) Save The Date card.

Magnets: My fridge is decorated with beautifully designed magnets, many of them that double as Save The Dates reminding me of important upcoming weddings and celebrations. Another plus? It keeps your date top of mind for your guests!

Souvenirs: Busy planning your destination wedding? Pick out a favorite souvenir from the town or country where you’ll be holding your ceremony and reception and decorate it as your Save The Date. It’s the perfect hint to tempt your guests of what’s to come.

Bookmarks: Are you a booklover who can’t keep her nose out of the latest fiction? Show off your personality by designing your Save The Date on a bookmark  – a constant reminder that’s practical too!

I love working with my clients to help them brainstorm creative, out-of-the-box ways to invite their friends and family to fetes, large and small. And don’t forget – all of my designs are custom-made, ensuring your party is truly one of a kind.

Invitation Etiquette 101

In this age, invites aren’t as simple as they used to be. Now we’re surrounded by things like electronic invites, iPhone invitation applications, and Facebook event pages. With all of this technology, it’s hard to remember what the traditional etiquette is when it comes to sending paper (yes! paper!) invitations. While there are no hard and fast rules (since it’s your event and you’re the final decision maker), here are some common timing deadlines to keep in mind when sending invitations specifically for your wedding:

Save The Dates: Crazy as it sounds, it’s best to send Save The Dates announcing your wedding date about six months prior to the ceremony. You can even send these announcements as early as eight months prior to your wedding if you’re planning a destination celebration in a remote location. Remember: we’re all busy! The more time you give your guests to plan to attend your special day, the better prepared they’ll be (and will probably be able to save money on their travel arrangements!).

Invitations: Ideally, invitations should be sent out six weeks before the wedding. This gives your guests ample time to clear their calendar, if they haven’t done so already.

RSVP’s: It’s best to ask your guests to RSVP about three weeks before the wedding, which allows you plenty of time to give your vendors a final headcount and figure out the seating chart.

Keep in mind, everyone enjoys receiving a paper invitation or Save The Date the old fashioned way. Stay tuned later this week for creative Save The Date ideas that will announce your upcoming wedding in a unique style all your own – in pure Fete Custom Designs fashion!

Green Is The New Black

I don’t know about you, but when I look around my town in Colorado, everyone is making an effort to give our Earth a little break. Whether it’s driving a Prius, bringing extra totes to the grocery store or remembering to recycle – I’ve realized that small steps for the environment can result in big change. Even better, that notion extends to…you guessed it…invitations! Below are some of my favorite Eco-Invite trends that will not only impress your friends, but will make Mama Earth happy too.

• Recycled Materials: Many brides and hostesses are now using recycled paper and soy ink to create their dream invitations. Using these types of materials gives your invitations more depth and meaning, especially when you include a small note on the back saying why you used them. Perhaps you’ll inspire your friends to go green for their next soiree!

• Keep It Simple: Many brides think that multiple enclosures are needed for wedding invitations, but simplifying is not only a way to make things easier on your guests, but is eco-friendly as well! By choosing just one beautifully designed piece that hold essential information and directs guests to your event website for more details, you’re saving trees and the time it takes to mail back RSVP cards.

• Eco-Calligraphy: Who knew that beautiful calligraphy is actually even more eco-friendly than inks from a printer? Have your envelopes and invitations decorated with artful calligraphy and you’ll be showing off your classy style, as well as your environmentally chic self.

The best part? Fete Custom Designs can incorporate ALL of these eco-friendly ideas into each and every one of our handmade invitations. Because going green is truly the new black.

Falling In Love With Fall Invitation Trends

A custom designed invitation in the making!

Can you believe September is now upon us? The kids are back in school, the evening breeze has turned cool, and it’s time to take our comfy sweaters out from storage. With the new season comes new trends in party and wedding invitations. Here are some of my favorite ways to announce a shindig this Fall, from a baby to a bridal shower:

• Rustic Luxury: With the leaves changing comes a renewed interest in rustic textures for invitations. This look combines the intricate patterns and textures found in nature resulting in a luxurious look for your invitations.

• Jewel Tones: From nail polishes to handbags, jewel tones are taking the stage in fashion…and in invitations! Combine colors of emerald or sapphire with pops of metallic to make your invitations the talk of the town.

• Birds & Butterflies: Let the magic of love and family whisk you away with butterfly or bird accents of oranges, reds, and purples. This charming look is perfect for the feminine bride or party host who wants to use the unexpected in her design.

Whether you want to incorporate all of the above, or just a few aspects of one theme – I’m here to help create your perfect invitation! No project is too big or small for Fete Custom Designs. We’re your premier team to design a custom look for your event. Enjoy these crisp, cool days of early Fall!

XOX – Charlene

Questions #5-7

5.    What’s Beautiful to You?

Beauty is the in eye of the beholder. But what kind of beauty really catches your eye? It could be a famous painting, a square of fabric, a bouquet from your fiancée, a movie star’s photograph.

If something is truly beautiful to you, it’s worth considering as an element of your invitation.

Small souvenirs and grand ideas are equally valuable ingredients. A postcard you received as a child or a champagne label from your engagement night can inspire a design that’s personally and esthetically pleasing.

6. What is Your Guests’ Ideal First Reaction?

Some invitations are designed to make other people say, “Aw!” Others are designed to make people say, “Wow! I wish I’d done that.” And others convey that you and your fiancée have found a breathtaking kind of love. What would you like your guests to feel as they open your invitation?

7. Break the Rules

The seventh question I ask brides isn’t a question. It’s more of a polite command.

The old rules about wedding invitations no longer apply. If an out-of-the-ordinary idea appeals to you, explore it. The real secret to creating the invitation of your dreams is to choose what feels right to you, and stick with it.

And if that sounds a lot like love…well, that’s because it is.

Question #4 in the Seven Question Series: What are Your Favorite Colors?

Colors communicate emotions. Your invitation doesn’t have to be pink and green because you’re getting married in spring. But if pink and green are your favorite colors, incorporating them into your design can add a customized look to your invitation.

7 Questions Leading to a Beautiful Custom Invitation – Question #3

What Kind of Star Are You? As the bride, you are the shining star of your wedding. Which of these styles of stardom appeals most to you?

*Fairytale princess

*Stadium Stage Rock Star

*Paparazzi Photo Shoot Subject

*Audrey Hepburn Classic Chic

*Twiggy Shabby Chic Hippie

These “leading lady” styles can be reflected in your invitation in subtle and more pronounced ways.

Question #2 in a 7 Part Series

Question #2    What Is Your Personal Style?

Some women love to dress in ball-gowns when they’re not walking down the aisle. Other women are happiest in jeans.

Your “everyday” self’s favorite hobbies, habits and pastimes can offer great design ideas for your wedding invitation.

Do you and your fiancée love romantic picnic lunches? Or do you prefer to party big at a club? Do you decorate your home with flowers and combinations of printed fabrics? Or is trendy, new and sleek more your style?

I had the privilege of working with a bride whose life was an “exercise in roses.” She grew them, read about them and was even named for one of them. Her fiancée shared her passion for botany. This element of the happy couple’s daily life became the guiding theme of their invitation – a series of individual watercolors of roses with a transparent overlay of type that could be removed, allowing guests to frame their invitation as an original work of art. Equally exciting: guests knew who was getting married before they read the names on the invitation.

This is an exercise in finding the essence of you and can lead to a personalized wedding everyone will talk about for years.

7 Questions Leading to a Beautiful Custom Invitation- Question #1

Falling in love is a wonderfully personal thing. Creating a custom wedding invitation can be a wonderfully personal process, too. An announcement infused with personal style and love lets brides and grooms “get the party started” months before the actual ceremony by sharing their joy and excitement with treasured guests.

The pleasures of a custom invitation aren’t limited to guests, of course. As a member of the happy couple, finding the right words and images will make your heart pound. Picking the perfect colors and textures will put a smile on your face. If that sounds like a lot to ask from a piece of paper. Don’t worry. The distance between you and your ideal wedding invitation is only seven questions away, and below is the first of the seven that will be published.

Question #1
1. What Does Your Dream Wedding Look Like?

Your wedding invitation is designed to communicate the facts of your wedding. But it can also accent more subtle elements. The style, colors and texture of your invitation can transport your guests into the world of your wedding from the moment they open it.

A great way to identify the elements you’d like to include in your design is to jot down the details of your dream wedding.

For example: Is your dream wedding set in a ballroom illuminated by sparkling crystal chandeliers? Are you tying the knot on a private tropical island? Are you standing in a candle-lit chateau in France?

These elements – indoor or outdoor elegance, local and exotic locations, sunshine and candlelight – can inspire the artwork, colors and typeface to be used in your dream invitation.

Start Dreaming!