The Wedding-phile

IN THE STUDIO // NEW LOGO

2012-01-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

The last time I wrote I was frustrated by having to design a new logo for myself as a designer vs. myself as a business. Well I did it and I'm very happy with it. Go and see my design portfolio at amyarmato.com, won't you?

INSPIRATION FILE // WHERE TO GO WHEN YOU'RE STUCK

2012-01-11T14:22:00.000-08:00

I've been stuck. I have to redesign a logo for myself, me, Amy Armato. So hard. The worst actually. So as a distraction for myself, here are a few places for a bride to go to get unstuck: the above photo was found on Snippet & Ink through a delightful interior design friend of mine, Holly Bayer of Haut Haus (of course I found this image on one of her Pinterest boards).

There are many places to find inspiration boards. The boards from BHLDN allow you to peruse theirs, see other's boards and create your own.

This photo is from Cecilia Levy via Poppytalk. Sometimes you need non-wedding things to get your wedding brain going.

Where do you go?

INSPIRATION FILE // CHURCH BASEMENT WEDDING REDUX

2012-01-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

This post started out as a year in review type post. I did a lot of interesting jobs and projects last year and wasn't the best about blogging them. The first work I chose to look at was this photo shoot revisiting the church basement reception popularized in the 1950's and 1960's. This shoot was originally produced for Hearten, the online magazine of the Independent Wedding Association.

I couldn't boil down my work on Hearten or this shoot to a couple images so I'm turning it into an Inspiration File post. There are just too many good ideas that would make for a quaint and personal wedding reception or rehearsal dinner. I adore this invitation suite and though it was created for this shoot, I am just dying for a couple to love it and have it for their wedding. I have highlighted my stationery work for this post, but go and see Hearten for the full spread with more great ideas from this and other shoots.

Credits:

Stationery: Armato Design & Press

Food: Chow Girls Killer Catering

Pie on a stick: Cocoa & Fig

Flowers: Ashley Fox Designs

Apron: Roycraft

Photography: Becca Dilley Photography, Sarah McGee Photography

Alternative Guest Book Ideas

{guests fill out what their recipe for love is and leave a note for the bride and groom}

Recipe Card Favors

Invitation Suite

Guest Book Cards, Recipe Card Favors and Food Tags

Alternative Layout for the Cover of the Hearten Spread

Church Basement Buffet

Minnesota Shaped Pie-on-a-Stick

Floral Centerpiece

IN THE STUDIO // S A L E !

2011-10-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

I am offering customers 10% off of my customizable letterpress holiday photo cards through November 6th, 2011. These cards are letterpress printed on 100% cotton card stock with choice of color, font and greeting and include white envelopes and self-adhesive, beveled photo corners. Check out the entire selection here.

Wouldn't these make a great engagement announcement or first-Holiday-as-a-married-couple card? Letterpress is a wonderful match for the artful photography that couples get for their engagements and weddings. Those photos are so special, couples want to share them and a luscious letterpress holiday card is a great way to honor the beauty of such a special time in their life together.

I have also had a number of people use these as a combination baby announcement/holiday card. At such a busy yet exciting time it is a great idea to send one card for both occasions.

These cards are especially nice for two reasons: first, they're letterpress. In a sea of canned photo cards it is so lovely to pull a hand printed piece of cotton paper out of an envelope. It's the best way to express warm wishes, I think. Secondly, and more practically (especially for engagement/wedding and baby photos), the photo is removable for use past the holidays. No more holiday cards stuck on the refrigerator taking up too much space, just the photo. And in the case of the reverse mounted cards the photos are frame size. The sender is not only sending a card but a small photo gift.

To get this great deal order at my etsy shop and then use the coupon code FACEBOOK. If you need larger quantities than what is there feel free to contact me at amy{at}armatodesign{dot}com.

Photo mounted on reverse of card.

Wallet size photo mounted on front of card.

IN THE STUDIO // HEARTEN

2011-10-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More minneapolis

I'm so thrilled to be able to introduce to you Hearten, the online magazine of the Independent Wedding Association! This has been a pet project of mine for some time now. We started talking about it last spring, did the photo shoots this summer and wrote, designed and edited it this fall and now it's here! Take a look, won't you?

Hearten {whose tag line is "Encouragement & Ideas for your Twin Cities Wedding"} was born out of a desire to provide Twin Cities couples with education, inspiration and comfort. We wanted a magazine that was more than just pretty pictures {though there are lots of them too}. We wanted real content for couples to go to when planning their wedding from vendors who are close to what they do and LOVE what they do. So while we do have two glorious photo shoots with great ideas AND gorgeous photos, we also have features like "Glossary" which, in this issue, defines the terms used in floral design. Do you know what a pomander is? You will after you read Hearten. There are other great features in this issue that you'll have to see for yourself and there will be even more in future issues.

I will be posting more photos of the stationery I designed for the two shoots in the coming days. I hope you enjoy Hearten as much as we enjoyed putting it together and bringing it to you.

IN THE STUDIO // RUPERT HOBBES

2011-08-04T07:56:00.001-07:00

We had the privilege of printing business cards, letterhead and envelopes for a new company: Rupert Hobbes {they're so new, in fact, that they don't have a web site yet but here's their Facebook page. Like them, won't you?}. The design is from Jim Felgate. Did you know that if you have a design already we can print it for you? We can and we do.

"Rupert Hobbes creates heirloom quality product for the luxury handbag, attaché and small leather/personal goods market. Rupert Hobbes does not make products for everyone, but serves those who wish to own enduring design of the utmost quality."

Letterpress was a perfect choice for Rupert Hobbes and we were so happy to provide it for them. The business cards are printed in one color on Pearle Lettra 100% cotton paper in metallic gold ink. The letterhead is printed on natural white Mohawk Superfine paper with coordinating side load envelope again in metallic gold ink. What I love most about the ink is that it is a rich color and even though it is metallic it isn't garish or shiny. It just has a luster that warms everything up. Lovely.

IN THE STUDIO // AS SEEN IN... MINNESOTA BRIDE

2011-07-27T21:38:00.001-07:00

There we are on page 34 of the Fall/Winter issue of Minnesota Bride! Our sunflower invitation, reply card and thank you. Oh goodness, I love seeing our designs on the glossy pages of a magazine. And check out the cover! I just love the design, the fashion, the great company we're in. Thanks so much to Minnesota Bride for continuously supporting the great wedding talent we have here.

Just in case you can't read what they had to say about us:

Flower Power

While this style and layout are predetermined, the wording, font and colors can be adapted for your celebration. At Armato Design & Press, even the printing method is customizable: choose from luxurious letterpress, mid-priced offset printing or a PDF file, allowing you to select your own printer. The sunflower design—one of designer Amy Armato’s favorites—mixes a modern mood with a nature motif, a perfect fit for a pastoral wedding setting.
Armato Design & Press, 612.387.4844, armatodesign.com

You can read more about the sunflower invitation here. And here's another feature in Minnesota Bride.

IN THE STUDIO // THE MINUTIAE OF LETTERPRESS

2011-07-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Letterpress // Makeready, Printing, Clean Up from Armato Design on Vimeo.

This time-lapse video shows our pressman, Tim, as he gets the press ready for printing, prints and cleans up. Approximately 70 minutes are collapsed into less than 3. {There is no audio.} The most interesting part of the video is noticing the small things he has to do to print these business cards. The little adjustments to the plate and the ink are all what makes the hand made result so beautiful and so "boutique".

IN THE STUDIO // SUNFLOWER INVITATION

2011-07-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Introducing my new favorite invitation: The Sunflower. I especially love how it is a very modern take on a pretty rustic flower. This is a closely cropped bright yellow and chocolate brown sunflower letterpress printed on 100% cotton bright white paper with a bright yellow envelope that has a full bleed {runs off the end of the flap} cropped sunflower. Of course it can be printed in any color combination you wish {I would love to see it in a deep orange and charcoal gray}. This one was printed for Sharon's big 40th birthday blowout, but wouldn't it make a lovely invitation for a fall wedding?

INSPIRATION FILE // REBUS SAVE THE DATE INSPIRATION

2011-07-10T22:25:00.000-07:00

Don't you think this is a great idea for a save the date or game for your guests to play while they're waiting for dinner to be served? Customized for your event, of course. I really don't think I'll ever tire of this design style. Thanks to Steven Heller for constantly finding the best in design history, both remembered and forgotten. Here's the full post.

IN THE STUDIO // UPTOWN MODERN

2011-07-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasure to work with so many creative wedding professionals (many from the IWA) on this inspiration shoot for which I did the stationery. Though not the central focus, vendors were encouraged to be as eco-friendly as possible. With this in mind I created a stationery suite that minimizes paper use and maximizes smart design. This is most evident in the invitation which is printed on both sides and is divided in the middle by a perforation. The top of the invitation has all of the pertinent information for the wedding, the bottom has a reply post card. For the back of the stationery, the top of the invitation (the piece that the guest keeps) has directions to the event, the bottom (on the back of the reply) has a return address with postage affixed. This piece does minimize paper which makes the design of the piece that much more important. Great attention was paid to the design of the invitation as a whole keeping in mind what the pieces will look like when separated.
Other paper minimizing features include signs that replace individual place cards and a sweets menu sign. Another minimalistic consideration would be a menu sign. For this shoot, however, individual menus worked better for highlighting place settings.

Thanks to Katrina Hannemann of Studio Laguna for not only organizing the shoot but for taking the gorgeous photos.
It was also wonderful working with the following talented wedding vendors:
Grace Bridal Boutique (now available at Posh Bridal)
Five Event Center
BeEvents
Sassafras Floral Design
JWP Jewelry Design
Heimie’s Haberdashery
Fabulous Catering
Jessica’s Cakes

SHOP // GARNISH

2011-06-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOD! How did I just learn about Garnish? I was just paging through the newest issue of Sweet Paul {another "OMG! how did I just learn about..." moment. It seems I've been having a lot of those lately} and saw an ad for Garnish. Oh, it's so nice to have a place to go to for simple but unique {not to mention customizable: Letterpress labels and/or tags anyone?} packaging options. A cupcake in a mini-coffee-to-go-cup? Sold! Lovely wooden spoons for a lovely paper cup full of gelato? Sign me up! Wedding favors that look so cute your guests won't want to open them? Done, done and DONE!

Ok, now I have to get to planning my next gathering so I can order from Garnish. I can't believe I've gone this long without them.

INSPIRATION FILE // COLOR BOARD

2011-04-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

I can't get over these colors. Unique beyond words, so luscious. Not at all "cookie cutter". The girls over at 100 Layer Cake are color geniuses, that has been clear to me for a long time, but this color board is just... Oh. My. God. So inspiring.

IN THE KNOW // GUTENBURG MEETS GOOGLE

2011-04-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

This may be a little type-nerdy but you shouldn't trust a designer if he or she isn't a type nerd. That's just a little advice from me to you.

Anyway, Open Book's Family Days event series presents Gutenburg meets Google: the future of the book in a digital age. This will be an afternoon filled with poetry, speakers, activities, and film. There will be hands-on family-friendly bookmaking/printmaking workshops in the Minnesota Center for Book Arts studios, readings by local poets in the Target Performance Hall, presentations by Paper Darts Literary Magazine and MCBA staff, panel discussions with editors from Lowbrow Press and Milkweed Editions, and a screening of Typeface with a Q&A session afterwards with Director and Producer Justine Nagan. The event will run from 11:30 to 4:30 pm. It is free and open to the public. The finalized event schedule can be found at Open Book's website.

For me the most notable event for this series is the presentation of the documentary Typeface. It is about the Hamilton Woodtype Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. From the film's web site:

Typeface focuses on a rural Midwestern museum and print shop where international artists meet retired craftsmen and together navigate the convergence of modern design and traditional technique.

It is on my graphic design "bucket list" to visit the Hamilton. Until then I have a good feeling that this film will inspire me.

IN THE STUDIO // MADDIEBIRD BAKERY

2011-04-06T03:27:00.000-07:00

It was so great working with Michele McAtee to come up with a logo for her new business. One that describes the nature of her work and one that will grow with her as her business expands. Michele describes her work this way: "Maddiebird Bakery... [bakes] cakes from scratch and custom-decorates each cake to be an original work of art...delicious, delicious art." Michele wanted something that was both folksy and young looking. I think she got it and I can't wait to see what she does with it. More to come...

INSPIRATION FILE: RED AND WHITE AND FANTASTIC

2011-03-29T08:26:00.001-07:00

Just like whenever summer rolls around I wonder why I never entertained the idea of teaching as a career, when I see photos like these I wonder why I never entertained the idea of moving to New York City. This satellite exhibition of the National Folk Art Museum at the Park Avenue Armory is positively inspired in both its subject and it's presentation. It's a wonderland of red and white quilts called “Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts". Thanks to Steven Heller's blog The Daily Heller for covering it.

Oh, the invitation ideas that are circling in my head right now.

INSPIRATION FILE // ONLINE WEDDING MAGAZINES

2011-03-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

Today I'm designing and designing new wedding invitations for ADP's customizable wedding invitations line called Wedding Papers. Part of my process is seeing what else is out there from the big names in weddings, but also the smaller names who may not have as loud a voice but still have lots to say. I guarantee that you're more likely to see true innovation from the small guys. Anyway, I've been very inspired by three e-magazines: Nonpareil, Utterly Engaged and Style Me Pretty's E-Glossy. The cover story on Nonpareil for this issue was designed by a few Independent Wedding Association members: Red Ribbon Studio, Just Bloomed, Cocoa & Fig and Paperista. Nice work girls.

As a quick side note: I'm loving Issuu, the publication tool used by all three of these magazines. As a print girl I love the ritual of sitting with a new publication, flipping through its pages and enjoying the spreads and stories in a designed layout. Blogs are great but you just don't get that same feeling of being told a story from them because you scroll, you don't get to flip. If we can't flip through the actual pages of a mag, at least Issuu is letting us flip through virtual ones. Of course now all I want to do is design a wedding magazine myself. But invitation design is pretty fun so I'll stick with it today. Happy Tuesday to all!

IN THE STUDIO // BABY GIRL BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

2011-03-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

We just finished printing this birth announcement for the newest member of the Pearson family. It is letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper in pale pink ink and comes with 4 old fashioned looking {but adhesive backed} photo corners per card so a full size picture can be mounted on the back of the piece. This way the photo can be removed for framing and there is no writing or additional design on it, just the sweet, little new face. Go to our Etsy shop for more information.

The photo above is the piece on press. Notice the inked photopolymer printing plate in the background as well as the rollers and ink plate. The photo below was taken right after the plate was set up with the right impression. It's printed with no ink, just pressure. Nice.

IN THE STUDIO // STYLE SHOT NUMBER 4

2011-02-25T17:00:00.001-08:00

Here is the final styled shot Erica Loeks and I designed for an upcoming marketing project I'm doing. Read more about this invitation here.

A great big THANK YOU to Erica for her photographic talent. This was a long shoot but it was so fun because Erica is a great person to spend time with. If you're in need of a thoughtful, creative and upbeat photographer for your wedding or any event give her a call.

IN THE STUDIO // STYLE SHOT NUMBER 3

2011-02-25T14:16:00.000-08:00

Here's the third of four style shots Erica Loeks and I did for an upcoming marketing project I'm putting together for Armato Design & Press. Read more about the invitation here.

IN THE STUDIO // STYLE SHOT NUMBER 2

2011-02-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here's the second styled shot that Erica Loeks and I designed. The goal with this invitation was to make ginkgo leaves look winter-y. Mission accomplished. Charcoal gray will do that pretty well and the violet color is just cool enough without being predictable {a.k.a. blue}. Go here to read more about the invitation.

IN THE STUDIO // SOMETHING NEW WEDDING FAIR RECAP

2011-02-24T09:44:00.000-08:00

The Something New Wedding Fair was a great success. Here's the link to see all the great vendors of the fair. And hey, why not "like" the IWA on Facebook while you're at it. You'll be kept in the know about what's going on in the Twin Cities wedding community with weekly round ups and information on upcoming shows and events. Go to the Armato Design & Press web site to see full descriptions of the invitations pictured above and below.

A HUGE thank you to Sarah McGee Photography for shooting the event AND making the images available to vendors. It's important work and it's great that it's done by such a pro!

IN THE STUDIO // STYLE SHOT NUMBER 1

2011-02-24T09:10:00.001-08:00

Here's the first of four style shots Erica Loeks and I did for an upcoming marketing project I'm putting together for Armato Design & Press. This is one of my favorite invitations. See more of it here. And go here to see the work we did to get this shot.

More photos to come...

{A GIRL} YOU SHOULD KNOW // ROSANN KONIECZNY

2011-02-22T08:52:00.000-08:00

I love letters. Their form, their design, their shape as an object, their way of conjuring complex emotions with their simplicity. When I get a new font specimen book in the mail I pour over it like it's a long awaited love letter. I. Love. Letters. I have always wanted to try my hand at calligraphy and, believe me, someday I will. But for now I will leave the beautiful art of hand lettering up to people like Rosann Konieczny.

Rosann began her career as a graphic designer specializing in hand lettering and type design. Then motherhood called and her career took a different path. She was able to pursue her passion for hand lettering and her desire to provide a unique and personal service. Rosann is a Minnesota based artist who has clients from around the nation. She specializes in wedding stationery, but also has clients like The American Institute of Architects, Minneapolis Saint Paul magazine, Twin Cities Business Monthly, Carlson Companies, and Fantasy Flight Games.

I am just waiting for a client to come to me wanting a letterpress hand lettered invitation or business logo. I know just where to go.

P.S. {A Girl} You Should Know is a new post category highlighting a Minnesota wedding professional. And yes, sometimes it will be {A Guy} You Should Know.

INSPIRATION FILE // BHLDN FROM ANTHROPOLOGIE

2011-02-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

BHLDN is all over the wedding blogosphere so I know I'm not being too unique in my excitement over it. But dig this dress! Not only does it challenge convention while at the same time referencing tradition, but what inspiration for invitations: the pattern, the palette, the style. Must design now...

INSPIRATION FILE // HANDMADE HEART

2011-02-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

I just ran across this gorgeous and oh so inspirational wedding at Etsy. This is truly a handmade work of heart and it speaks to this entire week's Wedding-Phile posts of branding your wedding. This couple's brand is easy to spot: everything has a handmade touch from the brides dress to the centerpieces to the lovely food. They spent the majority of their wedding budget on photography. And why not? If I made everything for my wedding I'd want some beautiful proof of the wonderful day that was shared by all AND proof that everything was made by a loved one's {or my own} hand.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the article:

"We came up with three essentials {for the wedding}: food, drink and shelter. Food and drink were easy enough. We decided that a giant tent was the best way to keep everyone warm and dry, in case of bad weather. We spent the majority of our budget on those three main points, giving us the opportunity to be creative with everything else."

"We wanted this day to be a true reflection of us as a couple. Time and time again we felt pressure to do things a certain way. In the end, the question we asked ourselves was, 'Are we doing this because we want to, or because we think we should?'"

What I like best about this wedding is that they focused on what was important to them and then played that up to the extreme. Not everyone can or wants to have this kind of wedding. Making everything can be challenging, stressful AND if not done well, can look amateurish. The point is this: find something that tells your story and make it the focus of everything you do for your wedding. From the stationery to the vows and the flowers to the favors, make your mark.

MINI SESSION REPOST // TELLING YOUR STORY

2011-02-10T07:58:00.000-08:00

This post was originally inspired by a post I saw iDiY and I thought it was a perfect subject for my week of mini session reposts. Granted, I made up the story but it just serves to remind you of the little things in your life that may give you inspiration for your stationery. Loving pattern as much as I do, the entire post made me swoon. That's right, a security envelope made me swoon. MANY security envelopes made me swoon. Oh, the things we take for granted.

When starting the custom design process, I encourage my bridal clients to think about what inspires them, what is meaningful to them in their relationship as a couple and as individuals, what do they just plainly like to look at? I like to look at patterns like these {found here}:

So, to illustrate my point, I thought I would create a sketch of an invitation for a bride who was really taken with security envelope patterns. Maybe she's an artist and he's an accountant and they wrote love letters to each other, and all of his letters came in security envelopes written at and sent from work. Feeling too shy about writing love letters at work and sending them from work, he wrote quick and slipped each note into an envelope with patterns such as these on the inside. And now, because of him, she associates these patterns with the pattern of their love story {which is way better than thinking of bills when seeing these patterns, in her opinion}. She wants them on their wedding invitations but, with an artistic twist, she wants to see them in sunflower yellow an steel grey. And can you imagine the fun she will have with envelope liners?

See? This is how an invitation can take shape if you dig deep and think inside the envelope {if you'll allow the very appropriate pun}. Here's a closer look:

MINI SESSION REPOST // GINGKO LOVELINESS

2011-02-09T01:58:00.000-08:00

Donna and Rob knew right way when they got engaged what they would give as favors at their wedding: bronzed ginkgo leaves. It was natural then, that the invitation should allude to the ginkgo, symbol of strength and longevity. This is what we came up with together. Floating ginkgo leaves with Art Nouveau inspired vines. For their fall wedding chocolate brown and rust orange colors were used. These invitations were simply perfect to foreshadow their day.

MINI SESSION REPOST // TELLING YOUR STORY

2011-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

Deciding on a custom invitation can be an exciting... and daunting decision. You have decided that pre-designed invitations don't describe your story or your style, but now the pressure is on to first find a designer that can do that for you and then communicate enough to said designer to allow her to represent you as a couple and your upcoming wedding. A good designer can do a lot with color, fonts and layout, but she can not read your mind or know your history without a depth of input from you. Armed with this knowledge a "pretty" design becomes a great design that tells your story.

I offer as an example the cd favor above. Kristin and Darren wanted to give music as their favor and they chose songs that meant something to them as a couple. In talking to them about the cd insert and sleeve I found that they not only had a number of great songs that described them, but a long list of inside jokes between them. I had them send me that list and I put together a typographical illustration with the central theme of "Introducing the Garretts". These were set on the plate of each place setting at the reception. They not only were gifts to guests but they were a great conversation starter with people asking each other if they knew what "System 9" meant, etc. Not only that but the insert is a framable piece, their first piece of art for their home.

THE ARMATO DESIGN & PRESS PROCESS
Custom invitation designs begin with a simple conversation about you as a couple, the type of wedding you envision and styles you are attracted to. This conversation is an essential part of finding the perfect expression of your individual wedding. Though it is not a very romantic notion, it is helpful to remember that wedding stationery, like business stationery, is more successful when there is a single, unifying theme and look to it. That is what a designer is there to help with. You can make this process more effective by considering the following:

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. Tell me everything! How did you meet? What do you like doing together? Is there a specific motif or symbol you would like to include on the invitations? This could be anything from the lace on your dress to your location to a private joke you have between you. What kind of feeling do you want to convey with your invitations? Are you a formal or casual couple? Will it be a formal or casual wedding? Why did you choose your wedding location? What are the colors you are using? What flowers will you have in your bouquet? Your maids' bouquet? What do you want to avoid with your invitations? Do you have an interesting story about how you met? how you were proposed to? how you live as a couple?

2. What components do you want? Will it just be an invitation and reply card? Will you include a map/directions card, accommodations card, reception card? What about save-the-dates, programs, thank-yous? Will you need place cards, menus or packaging for your favors?

3. How many invitation sets do you need? Always order at least 25 more than you need. Keep in mind that it is better to have extra than to have to go back on press, which is expensive and time consuming. Also people close you often request a second copy for scrapbooks and/or framing.

4. Carefully consider the wording of each piece. Will it be formal or casual? Traditional or modern? Are there menu items to be included on the reply card? We will also need the addresses to be included: both the return address on the invitation and the mailing address on the reply if they are different.

MINI SESSION REPOST // TELLING YOUR STORY - PERFECTION

2011-02-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

This is not only one of the best invitations I've seen in a long time, {sadly, I did not design it, go here to see the whole invitation as one and with reply card, etc.} but it is a perfect illustration of a couple using their story as inspiration for their wedding stationery. I will address this more on Friday but wanted to post this specific invitation for the inspiration file. I'm just waiting for a client like this to come along and let me help them tell their story. Is it you?

MINI SESSION "TRANSCRIPT"

2011-02-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

As promised during my mini session at yesterday's Something New Wedding Fair, below is the "transcript" {notes is probably a better word} of my talk about branding your wedding. If you were there, thanks for coming. I hope I helped. If you weren't able to attend, hopefully you can use the information below to help you plan your wedding stationery. I am happy to answer questions in the comments.

Introduction:
Custom design can be an exciting and daunting process. When done successfully the final stationery will be something that is both meaningful and beautiful not just pretty. This session will give you some things to think about and ideas to consider when talking to a designer about branding your wedding. I will use some of my invitations as examples as well as give you general approaches to branding or using a theme for your wedding stationery.

branding with COLOR:
It could be that your venue has a strong color component, or that you love a certain color of your favorite flowers, maybe the first gift your guy gave you was a certain color or maybe you have a signature color that is totally you. Whatever the colors are there will be certain styles that will naturally go with the color. Do those styles reflect you? If not, how can you make sure that the color and your style are resonant? The proper compliment to the color, or maybe instead of a bright you use a tint or shade of the color

branding with PLACE:
If you are getting married in a place with a strong brand most of the work may be done for you. Mill City Museum, The Walker, the Varsity Theatre, for example, all have strong looks for themselves, picking one or two elements from your venue to play up in your stationery and other pieces will tie everything together into a theme.

branding with TIME:
The timing of your wedding could be all you need to brand your stationery. Do you love spring time blooms or images of the fall harvest. Will these things be front and center in your wedding?

branding with TRADITION:
If yours is a family with strong wedding or family traditions playing these up in stationery and wedding theme can tie you to your own {or his own} history. Maybe you don't want to wear your mom's wedding gown but the lace on it is divine and you want to play that up in your stationery, flowers and cake for example. Or maybe your family has a Sunday morning tradition of doing crosswords over cinnamon rolls and coffee. Sounds like the perfect favor material: a get to know the couple crossword and some mini cinnamon rolls. The biggest thing here is to explain the traditions you plan on using as they may seem obscure to outsiders.

branding with NARRATIVE:
Do the two of you have a special story together? Most couples do whether it's a great story about how you met or how he popped the question. Or maybe it's your common love of science fiction novels or the fact that you both adore art. Whatever the story it can be played up in wedding stationery.

Kristin & Darren {above}
Though the entire suite is custom work, the inside jokes and special dates arranged in a cd favor is the piece that truly "Introduces the Garretts". Favors were set on each place setting and served not only as favors but as conversation starters for guests.

Laura & Jeremy
Laura and Jeremy go to the farmers market together often. Jeremy always buys Laura either peonies or dahlias which serve as a back drop of this invitation suite and it's creative layout.

Donna & Rob
Loved that the ginkgo symbolizes longevity and strength. They knew they were going to give bronzed ginkgo leaves as a favor and let that dictate use of ginkgos in their stationery.

Communication with your designer is key.
If you're going the custom route with your wedding stationery, there are some things to keep in mind when communicating with your designer:

1. Have some vendors pinned down before talking about your stationery. Colors, venue, flowers anything that you may want reflected in your stationery should be decided.

2. Know what you like and what you don't like. Have verbal and VISUAL examples of both.

3. Be thorough and honest. Tell your designer everything there is to know about you and what you want for your wedding and it's stationery. Answer questions thoroughly and honestly. The designer doesn't know you, don't make assumptions about what they should know about you. If it's important to you, make sure your designer knows about it. A good designer will ask questions and will want you to be happy with your design.

4. Custom design takes time. Get the stationery process started 2-3 months before you want to SEND the invitations out. Earlier if you want save-the-dates that coordinate with your invitations.

Conclusion:
Though branding sounds like such a corporate word to describe wedding stationery, it really does help to think of it that way. Branding is a way to communicate a single thought, theme and feeling. That is exactly what you want your stationery to do.

I was talking today about custom design, but I think considering what we have talked about today before looking for pre-designed invitations will also help you narrow down the many choices out there, as well as allowing you to have wedding stationery that is representative of you.

IN THE KNOW // TICKET GIVE AWAY

2011-02-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Wedding-philes! I have some tickets to give away to this Saturday's Something New Wedding Fair. Leave a comment {make sure there is a way for me to contact you in case you're the winner} or become a fan on the Armato Design & Press Facebook page {and let me know you've done so by leaving a comment on my wall}. I'll draw a name for these tickets (two tickets will go to one person) on Thursday. The fair is at the University of Minnesota's Campus Club this Saturday. If you don't win check it out anyway. Tickets are $10 with a plus one as part of the ticket fee which means you can bring your fiancee or that stylish friend to see and learn right along with you.

IN THE STUDIO // PHOTO STYLING

2011-02-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to spend last Thursday and Friday with the talented Erica Loeks of Erica Loeks Photography styling some photographs of my wedding invitations. I think both Erica and I learned enough to fill a book. Styling, while fun, is so very time consuming. I have some experience with photo styling in my previous life as a creative director for a small company, but there I was working with a pro. When it's your work and you're not a pro it just takes so much more time and the stakes are so much higher. Of course it helps to be working with a creative photographer (something that all brides should consider when hiring one for their wedding).

Here are a few things we learned:
1. It's a really good idea to do your research beforehand. This means finding out what style you are interested in for the shots, thinking about how you are going to use them, considering layout of the pieces, and
2. Be willing to go off script. You can plan and plan and plan but sometimes the best ideas just come to you on the fly.
3. Restraint. In this situation where we didn't have the use of a full studio and didn't know all the tricks of the trade, it really was best to practice the old adage "less is more".
4. Work together and plan your time. While Erica set up the lighting, I played with layout and props. Then we would come together and critique and rearrange. It was a good set up. Still each shot took and average of 2-3 hours to complete. That's right 12 or so hours for 4 final shots. I think this is to be expected for such styled shots but still it's more time than either of us thought it would be.

I suspect these are good things to keep in mind when you are thinking about your wedding shots as well {with the possible exception of number 4). I will receive the final photos in a couple of weeks and will post then. In the meantime here are more shots of the shoot {Disclaimer: I took these with my phone so the quality is what it is}.

Above: a layout that came on the fly. I love it!

A flowery layout where we had to figure out how to get large and small blooms to stand up and show themselves off.

Getting the lighting right any way we can.

Getting those small kermit mums to stand at attention with sticky gum and small pieces of card stock. Hey, it worked.

IN THE STUDIO // WEDDING BOOTCAMP

2011-02-01T08:30:00.001-08:00

I am participating in the Independent Wedding Association's Something New wedding fair this Saturday. This is an organization I am so proud to be a part of and it's fair is top-notch. Always at the best locations, always the most creative wedding vendors the cities have to offer and always the best information a to-be-wed could want and need. This fair is offering a Wedding Boot Camp where vendors will speak on various topics like "Libations 101" and "Eco Chic Weddings".

I will be talking about branding your wedding. I will go over some of the questions I ask my clients to think about and answer when I'm trying to come up with a custom design for them. Things that couples wouldn't necessarily think about but questions that would help create an invitation that speaks to who they are as a couple. This also could be seen as a "how to communicate to your designer to get what you want" mini-session. And if a couple isn't interested in custom work thinking about these questions would help them find a pre-designed invitation easier.

IN THE STUDIO // ADP CARDS @ MITREBOX FRAMING STUDIO

2011-01-20T14:52:00.000-08:00

I'm so pleased to announce that Armato Design & Press cards are now going to be featured in the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l Mitrebox Framing Studio. Look at this shop. Simply gorgeous, or should I say g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! If you're in the neighborhood and need to retreat from the oppressively cold weather, this store seems like the perfect escape. Here are a few of the ADP cards they will have as a part of their collection:

IN THE STUDIO // RECENT WORK

2010-12-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

I was given a wonderful opportunity to design the programs for the first ever "Not So Real" Wedding at this fall's Independent Wedding Association Something New Wedding Fair. I have to say, this is the most design fun I've had in a while and I usually have lots o' design fun. The theme of the wedding was circus chic so I decided to go all out with letterpress printing, garish circus-y colors and a mix of modern and vintage fonts. I love this piece. LOVE IT. Go here to see a recap of the fair and stay tuned both here and at the IWA website for more information on the fair this February 5th, 2011. The photos above were taken by Sarah McGee and Studio Laguna check out the photos below of the piece as we printed it.

The first color. Printed on 100% cotton paper.

Detail of the two colors together. Check out that overprint. GORGEOUS!

The view from the rollers coming back down off of the ink plate. This is just after the paper was printed with the second color.

IN THE STUDIO // RECENT WORK

2010-12-15T11:09:00.000-08:00

I had great fun designing the invitation for a recent press event for the Independent Wedding Association Fall Wedding Fair. The theme was "Circus Chic", the design was just plain fun; fun to research, fun to design and FUN to print. The finished product is above and below are images of the piece on press. The IWA is having another wedding show on February 5th, 2011. More information to follow. I can say however, that this one will be a treat not only for the eyes but will be very educational as well.

A close up of the strong man. I love this illustration sooooooo much.

The first color goes on the 100% cotton paper.

Finished invitation. Note the blue printing plate in the background. Each color gets it's own plate.

Another view of the finished invitation in the foreground and one just about to be printed with the blue printing plate.

That's right, envelope printing with a full bleed {where the image runs off the edge of the paper}. Because we're that good.

IN THE KNOW // Tastefully Use Social Media at Your Wedding

2010-11-18T10:33:00.000-08:00

I just found this blog post via the POSH Bridal Couture Facebook page. Pretty great advice. It made me wonder: is Chief Tweeter the newest part of the bridal party? and are they invited to the rehearsal dinner? Hmm, so many questions...

By the way, you may have noticed the newest feature I'm calling IN THE KNOW. I'll use this tag when I find or talk about etiquette or style and trend ideas or things a bride and her peeps should be in the know about. Clever, eh?

IN THE STUDIO // INTRODUCING AMY

2010-11-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love being able to place the face with the blogger {or the business, for that matter} and love people/businesses that do that for me. I, however, like a certain amount of anonymity {plus I hate getting my photo taken}. Despite that, it was high time to give others the opportunity to place my face with my name and see the person behind the design. Here I am. And to be honest I think it's both cute and cringe-worthy. Here is the equation:

concept = cute
that I actually had to have a head shot taken of myself = cringe-worthy

It was fun to create the shot: a piece of handmade paper behind me thinking about Armato Design & Press. That part made having to pose for it a little better...but only a little.

IN THE STUDIO // HEIRLOOM MIDWIFERY

2010-07-27T11:45:00.001-07:00

I'm back in the office more frequently now following a bit of a maternity leave. What a perfect logo to have to design postpartum, no? Heirloom Midwifery is the new business of Mandy Toavs. Mandy wanted something that referenced the age old craft that is midwifery, but also wanted her logo to look contemporary thereby alluding to her educated, trustworthy and modern practice. I think this does the job quite well. It sets her apart from her competition {most of whom have some variation of a pregnant woman's silhouette and bad typography, which is another post altogether} while still illustrating how she wants her business portrayed. Why the pear, you ask? The uterus is often referred to as pear shaped. I love logos that have a distinct meaning but don't slap you right in the face with said meaning. Congratulations on your new business Mandy!

INSPIRATION FILE // HIDDEN TREASURE

2010-06-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Who knew there would ever be a call for a graphic design archeologist? And yet here is a great find for said archeologist. These mid-century posters were unearthed at a Notting Hill gate tube station during recent renovations.

Go to Grain Edit to see the entire post as well as the Flickr page.

IN THE STUDIO // PATINA, HERE I COME!

2010-01-29T18:53:00.001-08:00

I can't even tell you what an honor it is {for a Minnesota girl, anyway} to have cards in Patina and Shoppe Local stores {if you're not a Minnesota girl you can shop online at Patina}! I have shopped at Patina for years and years and am never disappointed in the quirky, quality products they offer. This is seriously the place to go for that person who has everything...or nothing. But honestly for me the greatest thing Patina has to offer {after the merchandise} is the creative styling of their stores. I have often gone there just to be inspired.

Thanks Patina. Here's to a long and fruitful relationship {she types with her fingers crossed}.

IN THE STUDIO // CLOVER & BEE

2009-12-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to be a monthly contributor to Clover and Bee blog, C & B Daily. Do you know Clover and Bee? If you don't and you live in the Midwest, you should. Their mission:

In love with good living and the local, Clover & Bee is dedicated to helping couples
design their Midwest weddings in the most style-conscious way.

Because, hey did you know that Midwesterners can be stylish too {sorry about the sarcasm}? Rebecca at Clover & Bee has put together a wonderful Best of Midwest Wedding Guide. This, with the blog, is practical and inspiring. The perfect helping hand for you and you upcoming wedding.

This month I put together a Holiday Paper Guide filled with cards and paper gifts. Here are the the three installations of the article. I'm really looking forward to talking paper and weddings in the months to come at Clover & Bee.

Introduction
Paper Guide: Part I
Paper Guide: Part II

IN THE STUDIO // INDEPENDENT WEDDING FAIR

2009-11-30T11:09:00.001-08:00

I am very excited to be a part of the upcoming Something New: Independent Wedding Fair this February at the very chic Five Event Center in Minneapolis. Are you looking for local and independent vendors to help you with your wedding? Do you know someone who is? Do you want your wedding to stand out in a way that only a passionate professional who cares deeply about what they do can help you with? Do you know someone who wants this for their wedding? This will be the fair to attend. In the coming months I will feature other vendors and news from the fair.

Go here to get your tickets.

SHOP // MERINGUE RINGS {REAL & NOT-SO-REAL}

2009-11-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

When I saw this post on Poppytalk I got so excited because I thought is was just a sweetly distinctive idea for a favor at a wedding. Meringue rings! Why had no one thought of this before? They would look stunning either on a place setting or on a long table, glorious in their white repetition. And then I actually read the post and found out that these are silicone and really are rings to be worn on a finger, not gluttonously devoured at first site. I will admit my mild disappointment, but then I realized that there are lots of great bakeries out there that could make the real thing for you and your lovely wedding {or maybe you're just that talented and could pull it off yourself}. What great inspiration for wedding favors. Now get on the phone, find out what local bakery will do them for you and report back. :)

The rings themselves are from German designer Tanja Hartmann and are available here.

INSPIRATION FILE // MARGARET KILGALLEN

2009-11-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted to try my hand at hand lettering and Margaret Kilgallen's work is perfect inspiration. So off to take yet another look at the REDCAT Gallery's exhibition catalog of their 2005 exhibit In the Sweet Bye & Bye. From the REDCAT web site :

“Margaret Kilgallen: In the Sweet Bye & Bye presents works by the influential Bay Area painter. Kilgallen’s unique re-sourcing of sweetly familiar and non-hierarchical everyday places, markings and people was in large part inspired by the wandering culture of immigrants, railway workers and dreamers. She was especially interested in evidence of a maker’s hand—in seeing traces of the maker in her work.”

That, in a nut shell, is why I love, love, love her work – the importance of both the everyday and the hand! If you want to see more images from the exhibit go to Flickr where sketchypad.annex has a great photo set from the exhibition itself. It will give you a taste of her work and make you order the book as quickly as I did.

Margaret Kilgallen: In the Sweet Bye & Bye at The Curiosity Shoppe.

IN THE STUDIO // HOLIDAY CARDS A-PLENTY

2009-11-13T11:53:00.000-08:00

I have been so very busy with custom printed holiday and Christmas cards lately. This makes me very happy. Here are some of my offerings, all of which are available at my Etsy shop. The card above can be bought as is, with the simple greeting "May your days be merry and bright." {a 6 pack is $14 or if you buy 30 or more cards they are $2 a piece} or you may have your own custom message letterpress printed at the bottom {50 for $95}. Both are printing on 100% cotton paper and include white envelopes and self adhesive photo corners for you to mount your own photo to the card. This has been my single most popular card so far this season. For the custom card I need 3 weeks from final approval of artwork to shipping the cards so now's the time to order if you want them out before Christmas.

The rest of the cards below can be bought blank inside or you may customize these as well. With these I offer digital personalization and letterpress personalization. Contact me if you are interested {there's a link to contact me on the right side bar} in either type of personalization.

INSPIRATION FILE // FALL LEAF ROSES

2009-10-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Love this for a fall wedding. Great for your bouquet, boutineers, centerpieces, favors, your hair. There are really so many uses for something like this. Find the directions at iDIY.

INSPIRATION FILE // VERY FALL COLOR

2009-09-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

Another 100 Layer Cake color board. Not only are the colors fabulous together but check out the dress, the eyes and especially the hand written stationery. Lovely.

IN THE STUDIO // PAPER TOYS & GIFTS

2009-09-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

With Christmas and the holidays coming up very quickly, I've been thinking about paper gifts as well as cards. Top is a thaumatrope which is a Victorian spinner toy. It will be available in the shop in October. Bottom is a cd sleeve complete with blank cd, ready for you to burn your tunage to. Available here, oh and here is another one.

SHOP // ADRIFT DESIGNS

2009-09-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Though I'm not a big gold person normally, I just adore this ring. It just looks like it wants to be worn for a really long time, forever, in fact. Comfy, warm, inviting...just like your to-be-wed. Find it here.

INSPIRATION FILE // VINTAGE POSTCARDS

2009-09-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Vintage postcard inspiration is on the menu today. I love the idea of incorporating vintage postcards into wedding stationery whether that is just in concept as above (from The Wedding Style Guide), or actually using postcards as reply cards as below (see Etsy story here), it brings a sense of time and history to a wedding.

SHOP // AMBER SKY

2009-09-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

If you are the vintage bride type this necklace is for you. It's new yet it looks old and it's blue. You're almost set. You can find this one at the Amber Sky Etsy shop. Really, you couldn't go wrong with any piece in the shop.

INSPIRATION FILE // ICE CREAM BUFFET

2009-09-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Though this wasn't meant as a wedding dessert idea, I have always thought a dessert buffet would be just perfect for a wedding whether it's ice cream, cakes, cookies...heck, all of the above. Add to that the endless stationery inspirations that could come from it. Find more details here. Just lovely.

IN THE STUDIO // BAD BLOGGER

2009-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was on such a roll with this lovely blog and then one long weekend later {oh yeah, and the Minnesota State Fair} all my consistent posting is *poof* gone. But I'm back on track now and ready to share what's going on in the studio right now: a couple of new mini card designs. Both available in my Etsy shop, here and here. Back next week with a bunch of new ideas for inspiration and shopping. Have a great weekend.

SHOP // MAKING THE KIDDOS FEEL SPECIAL

2009-09-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

Today is my son's first birthday. I just had to get him a special party hat to wear for the countless pictures that will be taken of him today, so I got him the crown in the photo above. He looks so sweet in it. I was thinking however, that these would be great gifts for any kids in your bridal party or for kid guests to wear at the reception. They would make an older kid feel special and may entice him or her to behave while mom and dad have one more dance before hitting the road.

Available at Nifty Kids Stuff.

INSPIRATION FILE // THE TEXTILE BLOG

2009-08-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

The Textile Blog is a great place to go if you're looking for design inspiration for you wedding, for your home or just for procrastination.

From the blog:
This blog concentrates on the history of textiles. It includes printed, woven and knitted textiles, as well as wallpaper, carpet, rug, tapestry, quilting and embroidery design. It also includes a culturally diverse approach to the history of textile design across the globe.

IN THE STUDIO // JUST IN TIME FOR SCHOOL

2009-08-28T18:48:00.001-07:00

Admittedly these are probably better for that college age student in your life or for yourself to protect against that lunch nabbing co-worker. In any case they're pretty funny and available here.

SHOP // PEACOCK HEAD PIECE

2009-08-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

This peacock head piece by Portabello is so lovely for a fall wedding and for that fun evening out with the girls or to wear for your first anniversary. I love wedding accessories that have future function and are not too precious to wear again after the wedding. They are nice reminders of your day without screaming W-E-D-D-I-N-G! Get it here.

INSPIRATION FILE // LOUISE FILI LTD.

2009-08-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Louise Fili is a giant in the world of graphic design. I have long been an admirer of her work and thought I should share some of my favorites with you today. I wish I had even half the creativity she has in her little finger. Such beautiful work and SO inspiring for weddings. Enjoy!

IN THE STUDIO // GONE FISHIN' EDITION

2009-08-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a day to smell the roses. Here's a little bit of inspiration found via Classic Bride. It's a great way to have a guest book but actually do something with it after the wedding. Very nice.Have a great weekend y'all!

SHOP // RINGS

2009-08-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

These rings come from Elizabeth Scott Botanical Jewelry. I adore the organic shapes, the delicate qualities and, most of all, the non-wedding ring-y appearance of all of these. They don't smack you in the face saying "Hey, look at me! I'm big! I'm expensive! I am a wedding ring. ". Rather they claim a subtle awesomeness that says it's wearer appreciates the unique and the handmade.

INSPIRATION FILE // GRANDPA GEORGE

2009-08-17T12:50:00.001-07:00

I am finally redesigning my web site – correction – I am having professionals redesign my website. Which, after meeting Grandpa George on Saturday, I am even more excited about than I was before meeting them, especially because I walked away with this little "Easter egg" of inspiration. It's a series of film clips run together without sound of things that inspire the folks at Grandpa George. What is even better is that it is different every time you visit. It's not difficult to find, but you do have to look for it. Below is the Grandpa George home page. See the vertical bar on the right {on the actual page it is animated}? Click on it and you've got an endless stream of inspiration for your any creative project...yes, even your wedding.

More on the web site and what we're doing for Grandpa George in the weeks {months?} to come.

SHOP // ME & MATILDA

2009-08-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Wedding party ties from Me & Matilda are simple perfection. I love the thought of these at a casual wedding or maybe a fancy wedding with a quirky and casual guy who wants to stand out just a little next to his bride. These are great and not too dressy for a day at the office. They also offer ring bearer pillows and the cutest bow ties for big and little guys alike.

INSPIRATION FILE // VINTAGE CANDY WRAPPERS

2009-08-10T09:28:00.001-07:00

Put the word vintage in front of any of the following words and I'm hooked: italian, french, packaging. Here we have all three. I'm obviously feeling a bit art nouveau today. Here are three wrappers that would be beautiful inspirations for wedding stationery from the typography to the pattern design to the illustrations. So much to be inspired from. Here are the links:
French candy labels, Leone, Hersheys.

IN THE STUDIO // NEW LOGO

2009-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to introduce the new Armato Design & Press logo. It was time for a fresh face for ADP and I'm very pleased with it, if I do say so myself. I am in the midst of creating a new web site and launching a big fall marketing campaign, so it was a perfect opportunity to get rid of the old logo {that has served me well for 3+ years} and create one that speaks directly to what I do here: Celebration Stationery! New letterpress cards are in the works and I will post when they're ready. Have a great weekend.

SHOP // ETSY WEDDING ATTIRE GUIDE

2009-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Etsy has a fabulous series of gift guides including the wedding attire gift guide. Could it be easier for you to have something totally unique for your wedding and beyond? Now get out there and shop!

INSPIRATION FILE // INVENTION

2009-08-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, even in wedding planning {but certainly in the life of a creative}, one needs to heed the words above. This piece by Maira Kalman in Thursday's New York Times called And the Pursuit of Happines is a great reminder that creativity too must be invented {though I have a strong belief that it is just easier for some people than others}. So when you just don't know what you can do to make your wedding different from every other wedding out there, to make it yours and yours alone, go to these words and then "don't mope in your room, go invent something".

Incidently, this is a great piece for wedding stationery inspiration as well. Note the calligraphy above and dig these illustrations:

Now that's talent.

IN THE STUDIO // NEW MINI CARD DESIGNS

2009-07-31T08:40:00.000-07:00

New mini card designs are now available at the Armato Design Etsy shop along with this and this design. Just let me know which one you want, what color, what font and what information and you're set with 100 cards for just $85 {plus shipping and sales taxes if you are in Minnesota}. All letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper measuring 2" x 2".

SHOP // FRENCH MACARONS

2009-07-28T11:44:00.001-07:00

Just try to find a good Parisian macaron state-side. Try it, I dare you. Of course I'm writing as a mid-westerner. You would have no problem in San Francisco or New York, I'm sure. But here in Minnesota they don't seem to carry the same mystique as in Paris. Maybe that's ok. Maybe there are certain things you should only have while you're in Paris. I'm not ready to say that about the macaron just yet. Thank goodness for on-line ordering. The above photo is from Paulette of Beverly Hills. Gorgeous, no? They will ship next day air so you get them nice and fresh. And wonderful for a colorful favor spread. Or how about these from L'Epicerie, if you want to create your own packaging.

These two beautiful photos {here and here} are from a blog I just discovered, La Tartine Gourmande. This is a blog from food stylist, Béatrice Peltre. Her work is gorgeous. Great for inspiration of all kinds. The top photo are macarons from Pierre Hermé, the bottom are from Lauderée. Both only available in Paris, *sniff*.

Ok, time to drown my no Paris, no macaron sorrows in another cup of coffee. Who knows, maybe my husband will read this and think what a great substite for a birthday cake macarons would be. Here's to hoping!

INSPIRATION FILE // COLOR BOARDS

2009-07-27T12:18:00.000-07:00

I have often been inspired by 100 Layer Cake's color board s. It's great to see the unexpected combinations not to mention the beautifully styled photos.

IN THE STUDIO // CALIGRAPHY TIPS

2009-07-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

I am deep into a logo redesign for Armato Design & Press. I've got the bug. So today a quick link to a great Handmade Weddings post on calligraphy: different ways to use it and tips on working with a calligrapher. Happy weekend all.

SHOP // CAKE TOPPERS

2009-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm highly in favor of buying things for a wedding that also serve a purpose after the wedding, even if this means they will just sit on a shelf quietly reminding you of your great and wonderful day. Enter these very sweet cake toppers from Goose Greese. They can be purchased as a pre-designed set OR {my favorite} you can order a custom set and send them pictures of you and your to-be-wed. So nice.

INSPIRATION FILE // THE PERFECT WEDDING FONT?

2009-07-20T07:43:00.001-07:00

I'm thinking about fonts today and how they really are the first thing I go to for inspiration and guidance when designing a custom invitation. Nosing around My Fonts and Veer {find the link to the above font, Zanzibar, below} here are a few script fonts that may be perfect for a wedding invitation. None of them are traditional, per se, but have a classic feeling to them. In future font related posts I hope to show other font options, less classic, more artful. These are a great start.

Allyson

Avalanche Script

Fling

Gravura

Riva

Sudestada

Zanzibar

Feel Script

IN THE STUDIO // MINNESOTA BRIDE FEATURE

2009-07-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

I am so very excited to share my feature in Minnesota Bride Magazine {on newsstands now}. I feel like I've arrived. I have been featured on various blogs {here, here and here for example} but seeing one's work in a bright, big, glossy magazine is a totally different experience. I'm hooked.

The featured invitation is one I did for a good friend of mine. I talked about the favor here last week. This was a very urban wedding. Kristin and Darren love minimal design but they also wanted a classic touch to the invitations. I accomplished this by using a combination of classic and modern fonts, an un-traditional layout and minimal ornamentation. They decided to go with a reply postcard and a map as well. I illustrated the map in much the same way as the invitation and reply. A mix of modern in the illustration of the streets, and classic in the place markers and ornamentation.

The cd favor is a bit of a departure from the stationery suite in that I added a script font and there are many rotated elements in the layout, but the ornamentation remains as does the overall feeling of the rest of the pieces. This design is available as part of my semi-custom Wedding Collection where the design stays pretty much the same yet wording, fonts and colors are up to the bridal couple to chose.

Thanks to Minnesota Bride for featuring one of my favorite works.

SHOP // FASHION @ ETSY

2009-07-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Etsy has a lot of up and coming designers just waiting to make a veil or dress for your big day. What an incredible opportunity to have a couture dress or veil at NOT couture prices. I just happened to find these two. They fall in the category of "if I were getting married today" and "UGH, I wish Etsy would have been around when I got married".

Veil by Austie. Dress by Sarah Seven {actually the one in the veil photo below is Sarah Seven as well but is not currently listed in her shop. I bet you could persuade here to make one though}.

INSPIRATION FILE // NIÇOISE TYPOGRAPHY

2009-07-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

Ever since I took this picture on my honeymoon in Nice I have wanted to see if I would be any good at hand type illustration. Maybe it's time to get on that. Perfect for an invitation, no?

IN THE STUDIO // TELLING YOUR STORY

2009-07-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

SHOP // LORENA BARREZUETA

2009-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is a great wedding or shower gift idea for the girl who loves dishes and serving pieces. Lorena Barrezueta's Gourmet Collection "reintroduces the ubiquitous disposable tin food container in fine porcelain as a way of addressing our perceptions of quality, value, and high-end design."

She now has three different collections to compliment any style: fresh, classic and lush. So fun, SO creative and no way the bridal couple will see two of these when they're opening they're gifts {unless you give them two}.

INSPIRATION FILE // TELL YOUR STORY

2009-07-06T11:33:00.001-07:00

IN THE STUDIO // PERSONALIZED STATIONERY

2009-07-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

How about these for your wedding thank you's? With both of your names at the top these would be perfect for thank you notes and beyond. I have sold more than a few of these as a gift for the newlyweds. They would also be great for bridesmaids and groomsmen.

All are letterpress printed on heavy, bright white card stock in your choice of font, ink color and envelope color. $85 for 50 cards and envelopes. Here they are.

SHOP // GIFTS FOR YOUR GUYS

2009-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

It is often difficult to find good gifts for the guys in a wedding. Do they really use money clips? ties? Maybe, but here are a few more ideas that are a bit more unique, all are handmade and all are very useful {well, the mustaches may not be useful but are super funny and will give you some great photos}.

Mustache on a stick from Something's Hiding Here.

Deconstructed wallet from Scabby Robot. I love this wallet. Very guy and very stylish.

Palm wood cuff links from Lotus Jewelry Studio. Wear them at the wedding and beyond.

Sterling collar stays and guitar picks from Chris Parry. No one NEEDS sterling versions of either but giving your guys a touch of luxury will make them remember your wedding and how important they are to you.
And finally, who couldn't use knitted brass knuckles? This is a knitting pattern, so if you're crafty this is a must {though I would hazard a guess that you could order the finished product from the designer if you ask nicely}. From Needle Noodles.

INSPIRATION FILE // GONE FISHIN' EDITION

2009-06-29T14:01:00.001-07:00

One final Gone Fishin' Edition of the Inspiration File. Unpacking is a nightmare.

This is a post from iDIY – fruity centerpieces. Perfect for weddings or just an evening with friends.

Back to regular Shop posts on Wednesday.

INSPIRATION FILE // GONE FISHIN' EDITION

2009-06-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

A great resource for all things handmade is Etsy's ongoing, you guessed it, Handmade Wedding series. Great ideas for a completely handmade wedding or even if you want just small touches of handmade. Enjoy!

INSPIRATION FILE // GONE FISHIN' EDITION

2009-06-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

Today's Gone Fishin' Edition is dedicated to engagement photos. Styled, beautiful and completely enviable. Here, here and here from Style Me Pretty.

INSPIRATION FILE // GONE FISHIN' EDITION

2009-06-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

I'm at the lake this week but wanted to leave my {small} readership something to ponder while I'm gone. The Gone Fishin' Edition of the Inspiration File which usually posts only on Mondays will be chock full for a whole week of wedding ideas from other blogs in blog-land. Hope you like them. I'll be back on June 29th with a new post.

The first is from Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn. Cookie table before cake? Great idea in my book, especially if you have your favorite bakers contribute to the spread. Go here, here and here for more about this new trend.

IN THE STUDIO // INVITATION SPOTLIGHT

2009-06-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to spotlight one of my favorite invitations designs. The Ginkgo invitation was designed for Donna & Rob's 2007 wedding and is now a part of my wedding collection.

SHOP // GIFTS FOR YOUR GIRLS

2009-06-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today I'm thinking about unique {and handmade, of course} thank you gifts to get your lovely bridesmaids. They range from things they can wear/carry at your wedding, to personalized gifts made just for them, to practical gifts they can use in their busy lives. Let's start with the personalized gifts because they are from Armato Design & Press {hey, it's my blog after all}.

Above are mini calling cards {and here is another design, with many more very soon to come}, letterpress printed on 100% cotton paper with name and contact information for that busy bridesmaid who is always meeting people. Choose the font and color that best represents your 'maid's personality.

And a great gift for the girl who wants to keep in touch with the people she meets is my personalized stationery. Letterpress printed with her name and a sweet little design. There are a couple different options {look here and here as well}.

Next are a couple of gifts that can be worn on your big day and after for her big and not so big days.

Limited edition clutch from Fiazco because who doesn't want a sweet clutch like this? But how often do we really buy it for ourselves? So buy it for her.

This necklace is perfect for a more casual wedding and so wearable for any day of the week. Little wood flower necklace by Yuki.

The next two are little gifts that are very practical but are also so unique that your girls are sure to think of you every time they use them.

On the face of it this may not look like the most practical gift ever but, who among us hasn't popped an apple in our tote while rushing out the door one late morning, only to find a bruised and mangled apple at lunch time? They may not realize it now, but your girls will consider this a must have. An added bonus: it's funny and just makes a person smile. Find the Wrapple Cozy Apple Fruit Sweater Jacket at Beautiful Bridget's Etsy shop.

I hate to think of how many trees have been sacrificed just to protect our hands from a hot cup of coffee. But since we are not giving up our morning caffeine, this is a perfect alternative to the ubiquitous and wasteful paper coffee sleeve. Cute and unique, just like your girls. Find it here from Laura Bucci.

INSPIRATION FILE // SECURITY ENVELOPES

2009-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of days ago I saw this post at iDiY. Loving pattern as much as I do, the entire post made me swoon. That's right, a security envelope made me swoon. MANY security envelopes made me swoon. Oh, the things we take for granted.

When starting the custom design process, I encourage my bridal clients to think about what inspires them, what is meaningful to them in their relationship as a couple and as individuals, what do they just plainly like to look at? I like to look at patterns like these {found here}:

So, to illustrate my point, I thought I would create a sketch of an invitation for a bride who was really taken with security envelope patterns. Maybe she's an artist and he's an accountant and they wrote love letters to each other, and all of his letters came in security envelopes written at and sent from work. Feeling too shy about writing love letters at work and sending them from work, he wrote quick and slipped each note into an envelope with patterns such as these on the inside. And now, because of him, she associates these patterns with the pattern of their love story {which is way better than thinking of bills when seeing these patterns, in her opinion}. She wants them on their wedding invitations but, with an artistic twist, she wants to see them in sunflower yellow an steel grey. And can you imagine the fun she will have with envelope liners?

See? This is how an invitation can take shape if you dig deep and think inside the envelope {if you'll allow the very appropriate pun}. Here's a closer look:

IN THE STUDIO // LETTERPRESS ON A BUDGET

2009-06-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you are sick and tired of hearing about how bad the economy is. Yes, it's bad but I'm a big believer in scarcity breeding creativity. A couple of my recent bridal clients were very creative where their invitations were concerned. They knew they wanted letterpress invitations but could not justify the whole of their wedding stationery to be letterpress, so they chose to be creative in their approach to their invitations. There is a common misconception out there that letterpress is nothing less than a luxury option for invitations. I would hate to think of a bride dismissing out of hand the opportunity to have a letterpress wedding invitation just because she thinks it's out of her budget. Yes, letterpress is often not a budget option, but there are ways of saving money and getting what you want. Here are a few tips:

Do your research. This is hinted at above but I'll say it as clearly as I can: Don't assume that letterpress is out of your budget. Talk to a few designers/printers and go through the entire estimating process with them. Be up front about what you want, what your budget is and be open to new ideas. Armato Design & Press {ADP} welcomes all opportunities to talk to brides about what they want their invitation to be. If you tell me what you want and what you can afford, I am happy to try to find solutions that fit. I, and a lot of businesses like mine, give free estimates. If I can't come up with something for you, the only thing you've spent is the time it takes to email me. That's it, no commitment. But what if I can come up with a solution that is creative, beautiful AND fits in your budget? The moral of the story: it doesn't hurt to ask.
Choose a semi-custom design rather than a custom design. Here are mine. The invitation above was created because the bride liked the bird design I had on one of my note card designs. Since the bird already existed, the only design time that was involved was the layout of the wording. If it's not from scratch you will save money but still stand to get a highly unique letterpress invitation.
Skip the reply card. This is what the two brides I refer to above chose to do. One put a reply line with a web site directly on the invitation. The other {above} chose to order pre-cut cards from me to print her own reply cards. She then asked if I would supply a digital file of the bird {which I was happy to do} so she could print it on her reply cards, favors, etc. Both brides not only got the invitation they wanted, but got a two color invitation at that.
Skimp on color without skimping on color. In letterpress, the more colors you have the more expensive the invitation is going to be. So go with one color for the invitation and a different color for the reply card. A great way to add another color is to have a coordinating or contrasting colored envelope for the invitation and another for the reply. It adds color without adding cost.
Two words: Reply postcard.
Skip the printed envelopes. Instead invest in a rubber stamp. Some brides are afraid that the stamp won't be completely straight on the envelope. To avoid this go all out and tilt the stamp so the "crooked-ness" looks purposeful. You could even place the stamp on the lower right corner of the envelope. You won't have to center it and it looks very artistic. Another note on the stamp: as your designer I would be happy to send you a digital file of your return address so you can have a stamp made. As long as it doesn't take a ton of time, this is an easy add-on.
Start early to avoid rush charges. Invitations should be sent 6-8 weeks before the wedding. I ask for 3 weeks from final art approval to delivery for printing time. If you are doing semi-custom invitations you will need another week or two for design time. So for a semi-custom design you should allow yourself 11 to 13 weeks before the wedding date. Yes, that's about 3 months. FYI, if you are doing custom design it's best to add another 4 weeks on to that.

And if all else fails,

Consider flat {offset} printing. No, it is not letterpress but, if you just can't find a way to fit letterpress into your budget, flat printing is a nice option. You can still have a beautiful design and gorgeous paper for your wedding stationery. And adding a metallic ink or a die cut can add unique qualities to your stationery while staying within your budget. More on this later.

There you have it. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about letterpress or the design process. I am always happy to figure out creative ways of getting my clients what they want for their wedding stationery. It's my job and I absolutely love it.

SHOP // ENVELOPE LINERS

2009-06-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Envelope liners even further tie together a wedding stationery system and make an already pretty package even prettier. It used to be that they were the mark of a true stationery lover as they took a special attention to detail and a lot of extra time. You would have to get a template, cut them out, score them, insert them and then adhere them to the envelope. But now Paper Source is offering many of their patterned papers as pre-cut, pre-scored envelope liners which take the most time consuming part out of the "from scratch" versions. NICE. And not too expensive. All the patterns below sell for $13.25 per 25 pack. These are cut to suit Paper Source envelopes, which is fine with me as these are the Armato Design and Press "house" envelopes.

So, when I was researching envelope liners I found another web site that is of particular interest to me as a wedding stationery designer: Enveloper Inc. They too offer many different patterns for envelope liners {which just by looking at them, seem like they would fit the Paper Source envelopes as well},

but they go one step further and offer custom printing on the liners so that you can have a photo or a pattern that matches your particular wedding stationery. I'm not a great fan of the photo option but the ability to have a motif that exactly matches {or coordinates} with a custom design is AWESOME. The cost here is reasonable as well. They are 20.75 per 25 pack with a $25 set up fee and a $5 proof fee. Not bad for the stationery lover in all of us.

INSPIRATION FILE EXTRA // SURPRISE WEDDING

2009-06-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

I saw this story over at 100 Layer Cake last week and knew I had to post a link to it here. This is the story of a couple who decided to surprise their guests by getting married at what was supposed to be their engagement party.

This is dedicated to all the brides out there who choose to have the wedding of THEIR dreams and who choose not to get caught up in what everybody else wants their wedding to be. I love, love, love this story and hope you do too.

INSPIRATION FILE // UNIQUE CALLIGRAPHY

2009-06-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

There are so many artists out there pushing the envelope, if you will, on style and authenticity with their unique calligraphy. One usually just thinks of using calligraphy for envelopes and return addresses, but how about using one of these artists for the design of an invitation itself and then using it right through on the envelopes, the escort cards, food labels, thank you cards, basically on all of the wedding stationery. I can see any of these letter forms letterpress printed on gorgeous cotton paper. In it's simplicity this would be an extravagant invitation and wedding suite.

Above: Modern and whimsical letters from Betsy Dunlap.

PERFECT flourishes. Calligraphy by Iowa 86.

Easy, simple and casual. Letter Girl also sells customized rubber stamps.

More lovely flourishes from Love Jenna.

Finally, vintage charm from Maybelle.

IN THE STUDIO // HOW LETTERPRESS WORKS

2009-06-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

C&P Letterpress: 2 color job from Armato Design on Vimeo.

So many clients don't really know what goes into the creation of a letterpress invitation so we made this brief video illustrating the printing of a two color wedding invitation. Here you see close up the placement of the photopolymer plate on the base, inking the press and running paper through to get that beautiful impression that only letterpress can achieve.

SHOP // LIVING KEEPSAKES

2009-06-03T07:14:00.000-07:00

I, very happily, got married five years ago and I loved my wedding through and through BUT if I were getting married today, these are the accessories that I would have to have both because they are so unique and beautiful, but also because they are pieces that I could use for special occasions down the road. Living keepsakes, if you will.

I don't know which one I like better. Both silk taffeta, both by the English Dept, both available here. Either would look great with a simple wedding dress and then later with a fun tank top, jeans and the sassiest pair of shoes you can think of.

This clutch is silk and embriodered perfection. So perfect for a wedding and then later a night out on the town on your honeymoon and then even later for a walk down the street to the wine bar. Find it at Ruby Red Rose.

INSPIRATION FILE // FRENCH FASHION SHORTS

2009-06-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

CHANEL N* 5 (Extended) from Foro Dinastías on Vimeo.

These two GORGEOUS short films (the first from Channel, the second from Dior) are great inspiration for wedding stationery (both found via Poppytalk). I'm thinking Orient Express, east meets west and classic Channel from the first (pay special attention to the ornaments on the train door). And 40's noir France, Art Deco and interesting crops of the Eiffel Tower from the second.

IN THE STUDIO // SIMPLE GREEN EFFORTS

2009-05-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

In an effort to "green-ify" our studio Armato Design & Press has gone paperless where possible. What this means for a letterpress studio that deals in paper is that receipts and invoices (well, anything) that can be sent electronically are sent via pdf in an email.

Other green efforts include:

Composting our un-inked paper scrap and recycle our inked scrap.
The energy used to run the press is wind power.
We encourage creative re-use of our cards. For example, the front of the card makes a great post card. Cut the back off and pop it in the mail. Do you have other ideas for creative re-use? Please comment below.
As much as possible we re-use packaging materials (though not at the expense of the safe shipping of your product).
All letterpress wedding stationery is printed on treeless, 100% cotton paper.

IN THE STUDIO // EASY BEING GREEN

2009-05-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

We all want to "Go Green" in our lives and our weddings are no exception. There are very simple ways you can be conscience of the environment without sacrificing style (and often you'll save a bit of money along the way). The following are a few ideas for greener wedding stationery:

Skip the inner envelope. Very few brides ask for it anymore but still, it's a great, simple step to a greener, less wasteful wedding. Ditto that little blotter tissue. Not needed.
Use 100% cotton paper aka treeless paper. ADP uses Crane's Lettra for all of our letterpress wedding invitations. Not only is Lettra a green choice but it is a luxury paper that is made for letterpress. The impression that can be achieved in letterpress printing with cotton just can't be achieved by any other paper. It can also lend a beautiful feel to flat printing.
Ditch the reply card. Have guests reply via a wedding web site such as theknot.com or ewedding.com. This way you save the paper and energy that goes into printing this piece and the work of organizing your guest responses is done for you. Then you just place a line on the bottom of the invitation, after the location line, telling your guests where to respond [see detail below]. It is always best to supply a telephone number for those guests who don't have internet access. You could also make sure your wedding site has directions and accommodation information as well, saving you even more paper, energy and money.

SHOP // NO MORE NAKED ENVELOPES

2009-05-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

The new love stamps are available now from the US Postal Service and they are the best I've seen. So colorful, they'll go with so many envelope colors. Designed by Derry Noyes and Jeanne Greco, they are based on images from 18th-century French playing cards.

Stamps are a great way to impress guests right from the start. Martha Stewart Weddings has done a great job of using vintage stamps in the styling of their wedding invitations for Weddings magazine. Here's one of my favorite shots:

Champion Stamp has a huge catalog of vintage stamps. Here are some of my favorites:

UPDATE {6.3.09}: Just found this story via 100 Layer Cake blog with more ideas on how to use and where to buy vintage stamps. Fabulous photos and great ideas. Check it out.

HELLO WEDDING WORLD

2009-05-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Wedding-phile, the new Armato Design & Press blog. Armato Design & Press is a small design and letterpress studio located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Co-owners Amy and Tim Armato create Celebration Stationery: custom and semi-custom letterpress wedding invitations, special event invitations, baby announcements, custom stationery and note cards. We also do freelance graphic design for individuals and businesses and finally, but certainly not lastly, we are letterpress printers.

The Wedding-phile will post 3 days a week and will cover new trends in wedding style, advice and tips on issues in wedding stationery, cool products, inspirations and what's going on at our studio.

Do you need help with your up-coming wedding or special event? Contact me or check out our web site, armatodesign.com.