Jul 28 2010
I wasn’t really looking for wedding invitations the other night but merely browsing what this one vendor had available. I found this awesome passport invitation that fits well with the fact that the wedding is a DW and that it needs to be in a Filipino format (listing the whole wedding party and such)…
Oh, and one more picture of the ID part of the passport wedding invitation…
Jul 28 2010
Invitations by Ajalon has announced that they have created a new bilingual letterpress wedding invitation style. Providing wedding invitation printing services for families of diverse backgrounds, Invitations by Ajalon is one of the only letterpress wedding invitation printers that offers bilingual invitation designs.
Santa Rosa, CA, July 28, 2010 –(PR.com)– Updating their letterpress wedding invitation gallery designs to reflect the growing diversity of 21st century brides, Invitations by Ajalon has announced that they have created a new bilingual letterpress wedding invitation style. Providing wedding invitation printing services for families of diverse backgrounds, Invitations by Ajalon is one of the only letterpress wedding invitation printers that offers bilingual invitation designs.
Invitations by Ajalon has long been at the forefront of custom making letterpress wedding invitations. While they specialize in Indian and South Asian inspired wedding invitation cards, Invitations by Ajalon has the ability to make any design into a bilingual wedding invitation. Employing custom wording techniques, professional graphic artists and artisan letterpress printers, Invitations by Ajalon translates each invitation individually into the desired language.
“Many of our brides have guests that do not speak English,” notes owner David Walrath. “If your wedding party consists of guests that cannot speak or read English, it really makes sense to pursue the options of having bilingual wedding invitations.”
Families living in America have increasingly diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds which make ordering bilingual wedding invitations an important part of your wedding preparations. To ensure that all of your guests understand the details, directions and RSVP information, think about the options of ordering bilingual wedding invitations.
Invitations by Ajalon is a letterpress wedding invitation subsidiary of Ajalon Printing and Design and has been operating in northern California’s beautiful Sonoma County wine country for over 50 years. They are featured on several different online publications and recently exhibited their work in the Dulhania Bazaar South Asian and Indian Wedding Expo in Phoenix. For additional information relating to bilingual wedding invitations or Invitations by Ajalon, please call 707-528-0288 or visit www.invitationsbyajalon.com
Trish Jackson
Marketing Director
ajalon@ajalon.com
###
Jul 14 2010
This article discusses the common problem contact lens wearers face when managing their lenses while applying make up. Eye infections and damaged lenses are frequent incidents that could happen on any day, and your wedding day is no exception. Since it is in our interest to keep your wedding day perfect, here are a couple of eye care tips to add to your list.
Assuming you wear contact lenses on a daily basis and will do so on your wedding day, there are some special rules you will have to follow. Just in case the stress and million other things you have to think about clouds your memory, here is a quick reminder.
Do not sleep with your contacts. Unless you are wearing daily disposables, contact lenses need to re-moisturize in special lens solution every day. If you forget to place them in the solution, the contacts will dry up overnight, which means that they could stick to the cornea, and inevitably cause damage to eye.
Do not let anyone else wear your contacts. This may seem a bit unnecessary to stress, but it is actually the most common cause for eye infections.
When removing the contact lenses at night, remember to keep them in the special contact lens container, submerged in the solution. Never use water or any other alternative liquid.
If you have never worn contacts, you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor, who will give you a prescription. The optician will instruct you thoroughly on how to insert, remove and take care of them. Schedule these appointments well in advance to make sure you will be able to handle them in the right way before the big day. It can take one or two months for your eyes to get used to contacts.
Applying make-up can easily become a cause for eye discomfort. Make sure to insert your contact lenses before applying make up. If someone else is fixing you up, ask them to be careful when applying eye liner and eye shadow. Contact lenses are extremely sensitive and may not only be damaged if cosmetic chemicals enter the eye, they may also cause damage to the eye itself.
Try to avoid any contact between the lens and the make up: close your eyes when applying blusher or other powder products. If the make up sticks to the lenses, they could be damage or causing irritation. The same rule applies when using hair spray or fragrances. It would not be nice to go to the altar with red eyes.
Jul 06 2010
These invitations were exactly what we wanted, they were elegant and simple and right to the point. They arrived in great time and were very well packaged so nothing was damaged! If you want something different, and very classy then this is what you want!
Wrapped in Love Wedding Invitations
A Black flourish design creates a dramatic setting for your invitation wording. The card is then tucked into a Black wrap and sealed with a label featuring the bride and groom’s first names.
Jun 21 2010
We were really excited to receive a beautiful package in the mail recently from Lisa Lefkowitz, a renowned wedding photographer whose work we just adore. Her images are just so beautiful! Lisa was sweet enough to share images from a wedding she shot showcasing the beautiful Classic Calligraphy letterpress wedding invitations we printed for Joanna and Christopher. The couple also worked directly with our calligrapher Debi Zeinert of The Blooming Quill for envelope addressing, signage at their reception and the prettiest of calligraphy place cards.
Thank you for sharing, Lisa, and a big congratulations to Joanna and Christopher! Your wedding was absolutely beautiful and we wish you all the best in the years to come.
{Photos by Lisa Lefkowitz.}
by cynthia at 9:33 am in customization, invitations (our favorites) | tagged with bella figura, classic calligraphy, Debi Zeinert, eco, letterpress, letterpress wedding invitations, The Blooming Quill, wedding calligraphy
Jun 11 2010
With hundreds or even thousands of options, choosing your wedding invitations can be frustrating. Although classically styled invitations are still most popular, if you are having a modern wedding, you should look for invitations to match. Not to worry, modern wedding invitations do not have to be completely serious. They can still be romantic and beautiful. Here are the top five wedding invitation ideas for the modern bride:
Idea #1: Use non-traditional, bold colors.
White has always been a traditional wedding color, and many brides also use gold and silver, pastel colors, and off-white shades in conjunction with stark white. Instead of these classic bridal colors, consider using bold colors with the same bridal motifs. You do not have to go with hot pink, but think about how the traditional invitations you are viewing would look in plum, hunter green or red. Modern invitations do not have to be soft colors. Let your personality shine through! Right now, steel blue, brown, and yellow are all popular, trendy wedding colors, and you can send cards in colors that match the season. You do not even have to match your wedding invitation colors with your wedding colors, just do what feels right to you. If you are worried about using bright colors, consider at least an accent color. Stick to a white invitation that includes just a burst of color.
Idea #2: Go “green” with your wedding invitations.
Today, you can make eco-friendly choices with everything from your clothing to your food – why not your wedding invitations too? “Green” wedding invitations are made from recycled paper, and for the best option for the environment, look for paper made with as much post-manufactured recycled product as possible. Try to avoid pre-manufactured product, which comes from mill scraps. You can also find companies that plant trees for every product ordered, and you can choose to include a note on the back asking your guests to RSVP via email or phone and recycle the invitation after the wedding. “Green” wedding invitations are not just modern; they are a simple way for you to make this world a better place.
Idea #3: Send a message in a bottle.
We usually think of invitations as a flat piece of paper, but that does not have to be the case. One especially innovative idea, especially if you are going to have a destination wedding, is to send a message in a bottle. Instead of a sending a flat invitation, choose a scroll style and put it inside of a bottle. You can actually find companies that have kits to help you prepare these bottle invitations. You may end up spending more on postage, but the effect is very unique. If messages in a bottle do not match up with your wedding theme, you can instead consider other kinds of 3-dimensional cards. You can also choose destination-wedding invitations that feature designs like seashells and sandcastles if you do not want to spend the extra money on postage.
Idea #4: Use your picture on your invitation.
Your wedding invitation serves as an announcement for some people. To make it really special, consider printing a picture of you and your groom on the front. You can use your announcement photo or take a special one specifically for your invitations. Instead of throwing away your invitations, your guests can frame them, keep then as keepsakes, or otherwise display them. A picture also helps make the invitation more personal. You can choose black and white or color for printing, depending on your budget.
Idea #5: Design your own invitation.
Modern invitations are not always just about a modern look, they are also about a modern concept. Today’s invitations can be personalized more than you may realize. Many websites offer custom design services and you pick everything from the design and overall style to the font color to even the ink color to the envelopes. You can then add ribbons, monograms, and more to really make them personal. As a bonus, creating your wedding invitations with your future husband can be fun.
Modern wedding invitations can include other accessories and add-ons in beautiful accent colors and designs. Consider some pocket-style jackets for your invitations, colorful organza bows that can be tied around them, designed seals that stick on the envelope, or sheer stickers. All of these small touches can help your invitations look great.
Choosing the perfect wedding invitations can be a difficult task. When searching for that right style, do not be afraid to consider modern options. With the right colors and accessories, your modern invitations should be just as beautiful as you have always imagined. If you are planning a destination wedding there are other creative options to consider such a message in a bottle or an image of yourself at the destination.
May 21 2010
here is a long history to the social wedding invitation as we know it today. Whilst selecting the format of your wedding invitations, why not remember the following helpful historical information’
The history of social invitations
The trend of using invitations to invite select people to elitist social events began somewhere just before the 18th century. High society and aristocracy in England and France – including Kings, Queens, Dukes, Duchesses, Lords, and Ladies – would invite peers to their social events with written announcements on cards. These cards were written by their ‘people’, such as the wife, butler or the secretary. Paper was an expensive resource, and the ability to write was seen as a prestigious sign of education. The use of studied calligraphy and penmanship was a work of art by today’s standards, and even after the invention and inception of the mass market printing press it was still deemed socially ‘correct’ to hand write the invitation.
Traditional Wedding Invitation Wording
Traditional wording on invitations was actually very similar to the wording which is commonly used today. Everything was spelled out:
* Place
* Date
* Time
* Venue
* Venue address
* Hosts/ Hostess names
* Bride/ groom full names
* Contact details for the bride/ groom, or host/ hostess
* RSVP
* The name of the guest.
The main difference in modern wedding invitations compared to traditional is that the invited persons name is not usually printed on initially – it is usually written on later.
Presentation
Envelopes
In the 18th century the invitation would be placed in a handmade envelope and sealed with hot wax imprinted with the family crest. Servants were then made to deliver the letters as there was no postal service. Now because this task was completed on horseback in all weathers, there became a need for an ‘outer envelope’. This not only protected the invitation, but was used to write directions for the servants. For example ‘Travel one day north to Newcastle. There, cross the stone bridge and proceed past three farms until you see the stone entrance marked ‘Williamson’. Remove this covering, and give the invitation to the doorman. Wait there for a response and make a note of same’.
Tissue paper
The use of tissue within the presentation of an invitation links to the printing process in the 13th century. Because ink took time to dry, sheets of protective tissue were laid between the paper to protect it from smudging. The printing press was taking off into popularity with the upper echelons of European society, and so the tissue paper was also put into the envelope to show that they had been using the latest fascinating technology. The inclusion continues to this day.
Engraving and calligraphy
Because the mass market conveniences of the printing press quickly became distasteful to the aristocracy and upper classes, a new printing process was necessary. Lithography produced sharp and distinctive inking, where as engraving very much emulated hand writing because copper plates are made by hand. To this day the engraved invitation is still the most prestigious form of writing on an invitation, although the technical printing process has obviously developed since then!
To get the finest effect possible, you must hire a calligrapher to hand write each invitation and address envelopes. This is sheer indulgence in its most luxurious form.
May 13 2010
It’s day three of gallery week here at Freelance Review. Today’s roundup is the web’s most comprehensive collection of inspirational wedding invitations and includes modern, retro, simple, complex, hand-made, textured, letterpress printed, colorful and vintage examples. From edgy to elegant, these unique and creative wedding invites were designed by thinking outside-the-box. Whether you are a bride to be looking for cool invitation ideas or a designer tasked with the difficult job of designing an invitation that perfectly captures the occasion, this end-all post should provide all the inspiration you’ll ever need.
May 07 2010
Our wedding invitations addressed, stamped and ready to go!
During the process I often wondered if I was mad wanting to make the invitations myself, there were some moments that were a little stressful (like noticing a spelling mistake after I had already printed 80 of them! oh geez!) but seeing them all completed and stacked like this made me so proud and I am pleased that they are exactly how I wanted and imagined them. We have had lots of lovely comments from our guest already and many of them can’t believe that they were all home made.
At this point I need to give a huge shout out to one seriously amazing friend of mine.
My best friend and the most amazing digi designer SJ designed these for me. She put up with a lot through the whole process, when I kept changing my mind, complaining that it was *exactly* the right shade of green or asking for the butterflies to be tilted an extra degree to the right! lol!
The invites were made up of three postcard sized pieces in our wedding colours. This front one in green is the official invitation piece. In addition there was a grey card listing wedding details and finally a pink rsvp postcard. Forgive me for not posting them all here. I hope you understand that they contain just a bit too much personal info.
Sj even designed the envelope liners and we personalised each and every invitation with the guests names on the rsvp card and the addressed were all printed onto the envelopes too. This also was more time consuming then I thought it would be!
Finally the three pieces are held together with a paper band {heart}
Of course…. as I am a scrapbooker I had to document the actual moment that the process could be deemed final and completed…. the moment I let go and they fluttered to the bottom of the postbox to wait to be collected and delievered through each indivdual letterbox.
The final (and my favourite detail) were the personalised stamps. SJ scaled down the main design and we uploaded the image turn it into a ‘Smiler’ thanks to Royal Mail. You can upload images or photos, select the accompanying stamp and they are delievered to you, ready to be added to any letter you send.
I love them and kinda wish you could create multi-image sets as they would be cute to send out for all your letters!
So that’s it…. stage one DIY wedding complete…..
I bet SJ now wishes she hadn’t agreed to help with this… as we still have menus, place settings, order of service and thank you cards to go!!!
