We love a beautifully designed invitation suite! But we get questions on what to include in your invitations. Today’s Coffee with Calluna will break down what each component in an invitation suite is, and how to elevate and customize your suite! Hopefully this will help you determine what you may or may not need when designing your suite!
Xo, Calluna
The Components
Invitation Card
Invitation cards are the primary card that gives your guests all of the importation information about your wedding. These can also set the tone, and dictate the style of the celebration. This card should hit the four essential questions – the who, what, when, and where. (The why is pretty obvious). You can also include other information on this card, like dress codes, your website, or where you’re registered.
Response Card
Response cards are super important if you’re not using an online RSVP system. An RSVP / response card will confirm if a guest is attending or not. It also is a great way to let guests know if they are allowed a plus one, and what food option they prefer if you are having a plated dinner. These typically should be sent with a small or inner envelope addressed back to you with postage included.
Reception Card
Reception cards contain all the additional information about the wedding reception that you want your guests to know. If not already addressed in the invitation card, this is where you can put the dress code, location – if it’s a separate venue from your ceremony site, directions or a map, accommodations, transportation.
Enclosure Cards
Enclosure cards are used for any additional wedding event – such as a brunch, rehearsal dinner, or other wedding party activities. This is also another place you can state your wedding website and registry if it’s not on the invitation card.
Add ons
Belly bands, twine, loose florals, wax seal, customized stamp, vellum enclosure, silk ribbons, and envelope liners are just some ways to elevate your suite! You can add personalizations unique to your wedding with a hand illustrated envelope liner, or a wax seal of your monogram.
We love gushing over how some of our Calluna brides brought their invitation suite together – inspiration station below!
Paper Suite Designed by Etiquette Design Co |Photo by Nate Shepard Photo
Paper Suite Designed by Jolie & Co | Photo by: Alp & Isle
Paper Suite Designed by by A Fabulous Fete | Photo by: Laura Murray
Feature Image Paper Suite Designed by Jolie & Co | Photo by: Alp & Isle
Here at Calluna we are always looking for new ways to highlight and honor some of the amazing creative partners we get to work with. We feel incredibly fortunate to work with some seriously talented vendors in the industry, and we want to show them off to you in our new Calluna Community Series! We will sit down with some of the fabulous vendors of Colorado and get to know about them, their business and what life is like behind the scenes. Stay tuned for more!
This week for Calluna Community we caught up with Sophie of Sweet Zion Paperie!
Sweet Zion Paperie, is a one-stop shop stationary operation. From designing, printing, and assembling everything is done in house. Whether its invites for a wedding or a special event Sweet Zion can do it all!
Cheers! Xo, Calluna
Describe what you do!
As an entrepreneur, I wear a lot of hats! I jokingly say I’m an artist, a paper architect, a stationery concierge, but those are actually fairly accurate representations of what I do at Sweet Zion. I love using my artistic abilities, dreaming up unique design concepts, getting my hands dirty to “build” custom stationery and installations. I also really pride myself on the design process and client experience I’ve worked hard to create these past 10 years. I still really enjoy walking with our clients from an initial conversation, to questions about etiquette, timelines, color schemes, printing methods, etc. It’s all worth it to give them a ‘wow’ product at the end of the day and one that they feel they’ve had a hand in creating.
What is your idea of a dream project?
I love collaborating with clients who trust the professionals that they hire. I also really appreciate a brave client who wants to explore out of the box ideas, textures and colors.
What has been your favorite wedding that you have worked, or attended?
I know this may be cliche to say, but I really do love working with each couple and event that crosses my path. However, I can definitely think of a few that are major highlights. Last March/May I had the privilege of working for an incredible couple planning an international wedding ceremony and domestic reception. They have since become good friends. J+S hosted an amazing, carefully curated, vivid and bold Indian wedding celebration at a private estate in northern India. We produced some really thoughtful and lavish stationery pieces to amplify this incredible 3 day party. The use of color was such a fun departure from many soft, subtle wedding color trends I often work with. The same couple then had a larger Colorado reception in May. J+S wanted their guests to feel as if they were invited into their home, welcomed with their favorite cocktails, board games, great wine and bites. I loved providing very high-touch stationery and signage to carry the event through the evening, including custom wooden coasters, a massive crossword puzzle, uniquely branded pizza boxes, and an epic bar menu installation.
What does your morning routine look like?
My day starts with smiles and chatter from my sweet son, Benaiah. A warm cup of coffee is always next, accompanied by music and embarrassing dance moves as I make breakfast.
What are some of your favorite trends that you are seeing?
I am excited about the departure from traditional wedding colors. I’m also excited to see people work hard to create events that feel authentic to their story or brand. The recent interest in unconventional materials used in stationery is something I’ve also been loving. Finally, I’m very glad to see our community prioritize collaboration and end up elevating a design concept together in a way they couldn’t have on their own.
What advice would you give to a younger you?
That there’s a lot of power and freedom in saying no. This is an important lesson to learn plus one I feel comes with age and season in your life. I’d tell younger me to try to eliminate people-pleasing for the sake of a good reputation.
What makes you excited to go to work in the morning?
I like that people depend on me. I’m grateful to have had success in business, doing something new and creative each day.
What is your favorite cocktail, or what are you drinking tonight?
I’m more of a glass of wine type of gal and in these chilly winter months, you’d probably find me enjoying a big, bold California cab!
Check out Sweet Zion Paperie and follow them on Instagram!
Check out the beautiful Sweet Zion paper goods from Kelly + Jake’s wedding!
Vendor Love
Paper Goods | Sweet Zion Paperie
Photography | Amy Caroline Photography
Here at Calluna we are always looking for new ways to highlight and honor some of the amazing creative partners we get to work with. We feel incredibly fortunate to work with some seriously talented vendors in the industry, and we want to show them off to you in our new Calluna Community Series! We will sit down with some of the fabulous vendors of Colorado and get to know about them, their business and what life is like behind the scenes. Stay tuned for more!
This week for Calluna Community we caught up with Meagan of Whimsy Design Studio!
Cheers! Xo, Calluna
Describe what you do! “My passion is collaborating to create custom designs that capture our client’s unique style and wow their guests. Depending on their vision, I use a mix of graphic design, hand lettering, illustration, and painting to craft invitation suites, signage, paper décor, and day-of details to complete the look of client’s events.”
What is your idea of a dream project? “I love projects that challenge me and allow me to flex my creative muscles. When clients trust me and give me more creative freedom I always feel extra motivated to really wow them and give them something unique and unexpected.”
What has been your favorite wedding that you have worked, or attended? “I can think of a few favorite weddings but they all have the same thing in common – they were each really original and true to who the couple was; not concerned with the current trends or even traditions. I think the weddings that really showcase the couple, their personalities, values, and their unique love story are always the best weddings. Plus – they are super fun to design for! I’ve incorporated pets, hops for brewers, quirky song lyrics, and odes to hometowns into my work and it is always as fun for me as I’m sure it is to the couple and their guests!”
What does your morning routine look like? “Well, right now I have my six month old baby at home with me so my morning routine has changed a bit! My constants are coffee and grabbing my laptop to sort through emails. Honestly it’s hard for me to dive into the design work in the mornings as I’m more of a night owl when it comes to tackling creative projects, so mornings are about getting through the not as fun administrative duties of my job.”
What are some of your favorite trends that you are seeing? “Dark and bold color palettes are my current jam! I love how unexpected dark and moody elements can be incorporated into wedding decor and still be so surprisingly elegant. I’ve always loved incorporating bold color into my work so I’m personally thrilled that it’s becoming more and more popular!”
What advice would you give to a younger you? “Be true to who you are and your personal design aesthetic, the clients will come! When I first got started I would design for any wedding that wanted me, even when the couple’s personal taste did not reflect my own. It was a mistake because not only was I not as fulfilled by the work but I was really doing the client’s a disservice as well because even though they were happy with the finished result, I’m sure another designer that more closely aligned with their style would have taken their wedding designs even further and exceeded those expectations. Discovering my brand aesthetic and sticking to that has been so freeing as an artist and I find that the clients I have now are even more enthusiastic about my work!”
What makes you excited to go to work in the morning? “My clients – truly! Whenever I feel stressed I try to remember why I started designing for weddings in the first place; because being a small part of someones big day is truly such an honor and brings me so much joy. These couples will treasure the details of their weddings for the rest of their lives and any part I can play in that is just awesome!”
What is your favorite cocktail, or what are you drinking tonight? “Not a cocktail, but I can’t turn down a good glass of wine! It’s my go to after a stressful day and first pick for any celebration – it works for every occasion!”
Follow Whimsy Design Studio on Instagram!
Photography | Rachel Havel
This week we had the opportunity to sit down with the amazing Lana from Lana’s Shop – a great way to get back to our beloved vendor spotlights. We absolutely love all the work that Lana produces. She is incredibly talented and each piece she does is one of a kind and truly a work of art, always different than anything we’ve seen. Her style is fresh, delicate and completely organic. We’ve seen her work shine in so many different styles of weddings and events. This creative powerhouse helped create our gorgeous invitations and signage for our fun Modern Marie Antoinette bash, hand painting the gorgeous Marie that became the hub of all creative inspiration. We also saw her conquer the largest project of all – hand curating every printed item at her very own wedding, later to be featured on Martha Stewart!
Her artistry is unparalleled and we’re pretty sure she is as sweet as they come. Lana radiates light and we are so happy to have her as an industry friend + vendor. Read on for a peek into a day in the life of Lana!
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Describe what you do.
Lana’s Shop, is an illustration and design studio that specializes in creating one-of-a-kind, vibrant paper goods that feature hand illustrated designs, lettering and total customization.
What is your idea of a dream project?
When clients email me about their project idea and they have so much excitement behind their words. I love it when they enjoy the process with me and care about the little details as much as I do. Also, if it involves envelope liners, I’m such a fan!
What has been your favorite wedding or event you’ve ever worked/attended?
Is it weird to say my own? While it was the hardest project I’ve ever done, it was certainly the most meaningful. I got to design and hand painted all of our own save the dates, invitations, programs, menus, signs, table numbers, seating charts, cake topper, place cards, fabric, desserts…you get the idea. It meant a lot to know that everything was one of a kind and screamed Danny and me.
What are some memorable paintings that brides have commissioned you to do?
I have been asked to illustrate 20 different wild animals for an animal-themed wedding, 12 different safari animals for an African-themed wedding, 16 botanical flowers for a garden wedding, 25 places that were meaningful to a couple…..And all the images were used throughout their wedding paper goods.
What does your morning routine look like?
I start each day with a French Press cup of coffee, some snuggles with our pup, Lox, and get right to the drawing board. I have a super quick commute since Lana’s Shop is located in a bright yellow walled room within our home.
What advice would you give a younger you?
Dear Lana, I promise you will learn how to work a little faster, but you will always be a perfectionist…so just let it go. And guess what, you really will be making a career out of painting.,,yay.
What’s your favorite trend you are seeing in your industry?
I’m not one to really follow the trends, I just try to make each project better than the next. However, I do think that illustrated and watercolor designs are really popular right now. I get more and more awesome ideas from brides everyday…such as wanting their exact bouquets watercolored, their venues painted, custom paintings to gift the parents, wrapping paper ….I am even illustrating custom tissue paper for their guest’s gift bags right now.
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We hope you enjoyed catching up with Lana as much as we enjoyed it! As you can see she is extremely talented and can do just about anything your heart desires! SO if you are in need of invitations, save-the-dates, place cards, father’s day cards, portraits of your pup, you name it – reach out to Lana! You can also purchase her work on Etsy, Treat Cards, and Wedding Paper Divas. xx, Calluna
Keep up with Lana on social media : | Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook |
| Photos: Laura Murray Photography and Michele Hart Photography |
