CasaSugar

Wedding Planner: A Letterpress Program For Your Big Day

CasaSugar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:15:31 -0700

As you may have noticed, I'm a big fan of letterpress, so it's probably not a surprise that my fiancé and I are considering using letterpress programs for our wedding ceremony. While not often used at more casual weddings, programs are always a lovely keepsake for guests. Traditionally, wedding programs are a small booklet featuring the couple's names front and center, although it's becoming more common to use a single sheet of paper explaining the basics of the ceremony. As I made the local rounds of letterpress printers, one company that definitely caught my eye was Hello!Lucky.

Hello!Lucky is an eclectic, artistic letterpress company owned and operated by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle. They can design your wedding stationery, or work with designs you have in mind, and will produce everything from save-the-date cards to the menus. For a video of the ladies of Hello!Lucky explaining how letterpress printing works, read more.

Hello! Lucky from bliss productions on Vimeo.

To order wedding letterpress program or reception cards from Hello!Lucky, check here. Do you plan on using a program card for your wedding? If you did, what did it look like? Tell me in the comments below!

The Card Shop: Vegas Bachelorette Invites

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:00:41 -0700

I must preface this post by saying, "Yes, this invite is rather kitschy." But, Vegas is kitschy too, so I whole-heartedly embrace it! Despite the rhinestones, the Beyond Design Custom Vegas Bachelorette Party Invitation ($4.75) is actually well-designed, affordable, and seems to be good quality. The custom invitation includes the invite with ribbon, poker chip and matching envelopes, and you have the option of having custom poker chip necklaces made for an additional $12. But, honestly, I'd save the extra 12 bucks for the slot machines! Would you send this for a friend's Vegas bachelorette party?

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The Card Shop: Cynthia Warren Wedding Invitations

CasaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:19 -0700

When it comes time to plan your wedding, Cynthia Warren may be the perfect woman to design stunning, bespoke invitations for your big day. The Bay Area-based artist has designed for events of all sizes, from small, intimate weddings to gala fundraisers for Alice Waters's renowned restaurant Chez Panisse. Warren will work closely with you to translate your story into an artful design that's not only elegant but memorably unique, and one that reflects your personality and taste. Leave it up to this Jill-of-all-trades to design everything from invitations and menus to individualized keepsakes and candy boxes for your event. With a background in illustration, calligraphy, and typography, her hand-drawn lettering and imagery give your wedding a sense of history, before your marriage even begins! See more of her work when you read more.

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The Card Shop: Hello! Lucky Wedding Invitations by Joel Dewberry and EIEIO

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:00:40 -0700

As if weddings weren't exciting enough, one of my favorite stationery companies, Hello!Lucky, has just launched two new collections of wedding invitations designed by the talented textile designer Joel Dewberry and decorative paper studio EIEIO. Each collection includes an average of six different designs, with varying colorways and the option to order the works: RSVP cards, save the dates, wedding announcements, thank-you cards, accommodations cards, reception cards, directions cards, menus, place cards, and seating cards.

Additionally, all of the materials can be printed either digitally or by letterpress - I'd go with the latter if I were you! My favorites are Sparrows by Joel Dewberry and Chandelier by EIEIO, each $97.50 for 25. So chic and elegant, but a bit contemporary, too. Check out all of the Sugar network's wedding coverage here!

The Card Shop: Papeterie Bridal Shower Invites

CasaSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:00:44 -0700

At home, I'm a modern woman with the décor to match. But when it comes to weddings, I'm a traditionalist. No matter how laid-back (or wild and crazy) a girl may be, I'm all for elegance and sophistication on the big day. That notion applies to the bridal shower as well. Papeterie's Bridal Shower Invitations ($33.75-37.50 for 25) fit the bill when it comes to elegant stationery. Choose from an array of beautiful designs inspired by textile patterns, including antique roses, flower toile, garland, scroll, Moroccan patterns, and more. Beyond that, you can choose from 18 different colorways to fit your gal pal's personality. Since they're digitally printed, you won't pay the price of letterpress, but you'll still get the look, and that's key!

Would You Send Wedding Poster Invites?

CasaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:00:15 -0700

Unless Someone Like You, who designs and sells wedding poster invites like this one, says, "For my wedding I wanted something really different, so we sent out 11x17 posters in tubes instead of an invitation." She suggests you "frame and mat the poster with no glass, and set it out at the reception for friends and family to sign the mat with their blessings and best wishes." What do you think of this idea? Would you send your invites in poster form? To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Wedding Planner: Vertallee Press

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:00:06 -0700

When it came time to print my wedding invitations, which had been designed by a friend, I knew that I had to have letterpress invitations, budget be damned. Letterpress printing is printed with movable type, and the surface of the type is then inked and pressed against a smooth substance, such as a note card or envelope. Letterpress was the go-to source for printed matter for over 500 years, but since it is so time and process intensive, letterpress has become a specialized art and rather expensive as well. While I knew that in theory, I wasn't prepared for the price of letterpress invitations for my wedding. After frantic searching and re-evaluation of the budget, I stumbled upon Vertallee Letterpress, which basically saved my wedding budget (and life).

Owned by husband-and-wife team Kat and Brad Murph, this full-service letterpress and design firm operates out of a shop in Austin, TX. They roll out their designs on a tabletop Hohner letterpress as well as a Heidelberg. They're happy to design everything from wedding invitations to business cards, and are just as willing to work with other designers as well. They also provide finishing services such as scoring, die cutting, perforating, folding, and trimming.

Working with Kat and Brad was a dream - they answered all of my emails in a timely manner, were up front and on budget with estimates, and were just darn nice. Their work is stunning as well. Take a look at the gallery for some images of their work and press. You can also check out more of their cards and invitation work at their Etsy shop.

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Roundup: Inviting Doorbells

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:30:35 -0800

There are always a few seconds of anxiety when you've rung a stranger or acquaintance's doorbell, and you're waiting for him or her to walk over and turn the knob to let you in. With nothing for distraction, you find yourself staring at the door and thinking empty thoughts. What if there were a door bell that could ease your anxiety with aesthetics or a simple tone? It might not be life-changing, but a minute of calmness will add up over time.

Take the Droog Bottoms Up Doorbell ($238), for example, which clinks two crystal wineglasses with your arrival, announcing you with a musical toast. Does that bring a smile to your face? To see a few more stylish and inviting doorbells, read more.

Dragonfly Doorbell - $29.00	Round Embossed Doorbell - $7.00
Prize Fight Bell - $45.00	Cat Doorbell - $24.00
Rectangle Embossed Doorbell - $7.00	Doorbell - Small - $125.00
Doorbell - Large - $150.00

Open House: Are You Throwing Any Fall Parties?

CasaSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:30:04 -0700

Every October, I love to invite a few friends over for a pumpkin carving party. It's a great excuse to reconnect with friends, and who can resist the fun of carving images and faces into a pumpkin?

Another friend of mine, who's an amateur mixologist, loves to throw a Halloween-themed cocktail party right around Halloween. From Trick-or-Tinis to Eyeball Highballs, my friend has the spooky drink menu covered.

What type of Fall parties do you like to host? Pumpkin carving parties? Popcorn ball-making get-togethers? Costume crafting nights? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Source: Flickr User indigoprime

Design Ideas From My Tour of the Ace Hotel New York! Part II: The Lobby

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

If you saw Part I of this slideshow (The Loft Suite), you know I was recently invited to tour the new Ace Hotel in New York. I've always been a fan of the boutique hotel chain's vintage industrial aesthetic, but I particularly loved the prep school/university library feel of Ace NY's lobby. Tall ceilings, original floor tiling, old wooden tables, giant columns, cozy, quiet seating, and a well-bound collection of dusty books made me feel like I'd stepped into a scene from School Ties - although Matt Damon was nowhere to be found. There are plenty of clever design ideas for you take from this lobby, even if a trip to the Big Apple isn't in your plans.

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