Earth tones, metallics and foil accents can bring warmth to any wedding invitation, even amongst the cold winter months! With a little inspiration from a setting sun, a glistening metallic liner in gold dust and sparkly foil edging in copper makes this Soleil customization absolutely breathtaking!

Soleil customization = inks: hazel + persimmon | fonts: cooper + sunshine | paper: ivory | invite size: f-8 | metallic liner: gold dust | foil edging: copper | original design by Beth Ann Seal | customized by in-house designer Lindsy Aragona

(Photo Credits: Allyson Magda)

A little bit of elegance and charm shines in our Jolie letterpress invitations. Royal color tones make this design perfect for that sophisticated snowy holiday event.

jolie customization = inks: prussian blue + antique gold | font: rimini | paper: ivory | invite size: f-8 | liner: european formal pattern in charcoal | original design by aimee o’boyle | customized by in-house designer racheal decker |

embellishment suggestions: pocketfold in opal

(Photo Credits: Sloan Photography)

by Racheal Decker, In-House Designer.

Get inspired by winter, one of the most whimsical seasons of the year. Blankets of fresh white snow, cozy fires, creamy hot chocolate with whipped cream – it all is so romantic!  Bella’s Birch design, by Jessica Tierney, captures this feeling perfectly! Be sure to use colors directly from nature for your letterpress invitations to keep things soft and muted like a cold winter day. Your hearts will keep things hot enough!

birch customization = inks: sand + taupe | fonts: alouette + ollie | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | liner: simple geometrics in cream | original design by jessica tierney | customized by in-house designer lindsy aragona
embellishment suggestions: edge painting in gold

Photography credits: Jenny Haas and Ashley Krogman Designs

We love having the opportunity to share real weddings from our Bella brides! This next wedding is filled with so much vintage prettiness — Shawna (a member of the amazing Style Me Pretty team) included lots of personal touches, soft pretty colors, lace, and the perfect dose of Southern charm for her & Matt’s springtime celebration. She even started a new family tradition! Shawna decided on our Harlow design for her invitations, and they fit her wedding style to a T. Read on for all of the pretty little details, and don’t miss Shawna’s advice if you’re currently planning your own wedding – she’s got some great tips!

Can you share with us a bit about your wedding and your inspiration for the event?

Matt and I had our wedding in Hill Country in Fredericksburg, Texas. The ceremony and reception was at the Hoffman Haus, a cottage property that’s close to the main street.  We wanted a charming, home style wedding that we would love always. Our vintage and warm colored décor was inspired by the property; we had doilies, burlap, lace, vintage silver and haybales. Guests were greeted with peach lemonade and mini peach ice cream cones.  The ceremony was a dream, violins played a combination of traditional and beatles songs. It was a simple, pretty garden wedding. Matt looked so handsome in his dark brown 3-piece suit and I loved my dress. The crystals on the belt were from my grandma and my short blusher veil made me feel glamorous.

Our vows were more on the traditional side and we had a tree planting with a gardenia shrub. I added photo books, handmade wedding facts about both of our families and matchbooks as additional décor.  The hors d’oeuvres at our cocktail hour and our dinner menu featured a blend of Italian and Texas cuisine. Texas beers and wine were also served. The food stations were fun; we had a yummy bruschetta bar and a Bellini bar that was so pretty. Our first dance was a waltz. We danced with friends to all kinds of music including hip hop, country. Matt played the Texas Tech fighting song before the garter toss. I started a mother/daughters dance tradition in our family: me, my mom and two sisters jammed to Poison by Bobbi Brown. I think everyone had seconds of the wedding cake, it was delicious

What advice do you have for couples currently planning a wedding? It’s ok to skip on some things. I skipped the engagement portraits, programs, favors, the groom’s cake, florals down the aisle, the drive-away car and tossing or waving something at the end of the ceremony or reception. It’s never been missed.

Favorite design element of your big day? That’s a tough one, I loved the ceremony décor, lounge seating, florals and the signature stations…everything really!

How did you choose your invitation design & ink colors? I love invitation design and had to have letterpress paper so that’s where I started. As soon as I saw the Harlow invitation online I knew I wasn’t going to find anything more perfect, the oval design matched the center stone of my engagement ring and is the vintage feeling with added detail. I cheered when I got it in the mail. It was exactly what I expected; it’s vintage and classic, the texture of the paper made it feel luxury. The multiple font styles are so fancy and something that I really wanted.  I actually used the same taupe ink color and ivory paper as my sample, the contrast was great for a May wedding, the color was deep without being too light or too dark, just very elegant.  I was going to go with the white paper but I changed my mind, it just is more vintage with the ivory. My bridesmaids were wearing neutral/taupe dresses so it was meant to be.

What was your favorite moment? There are so many to choose from, but I think our first dance was a favorite of mine. Matt and I wanted to avoid the middle school sway and took dance lessons for several weeks. We planned a simple waltz with some dips and twirls, that’s actually a really big deal for the both of us. We got very nervous right beforehand but tried not to think about it. I guess our families didn’t expect us to have anything rehearsed, as soon as we went out on the dance floor Matt started with a big dip and everyone gasped like they thought he was going to drop me. Of course I was perfectly fine and Matt led me the entire time while whispering sweet words in my ear. In that moment I felt the best kind of romance, being a wife in my husbands arms.

What surprised you most about your wedding? Doing all of the planning and seeing the final result of it all coming together on that day. I guess I shouldn’t have felt surprised because I was the one that selected everything, but for some reason on my wedding day I said to myself – oh this is what my wedding looks like!

From all of us at Bella Figura, congratulations, Shawna & Matt! Thank you for sharing your beautiful wedding day with us!

Shawna & Matt’s wedding was also featured on Style Me Pretty — click here to take a look! 

Vendors:

Wedding Photography: Anne Marie Photography / Ceremony + Reception Location: Hoffman Haus / Floral, Event Design + Planning: Unexpected Elements / Calligraphy, Signage + Save the Date: The Left Handed Calligrapher / Catering + Ice Cream: CarteWheels Catering / Linens:Marquee Event Group / Guest Sign-In Book: Blue Sky Paper / Cake + Cake Base: Sophie’s Choice Bakery / Music: Altared Weddings / Hair + Make-up: Lucie Marie / Ceremony Music: Theresa Britt / Officiant: Rev. Janice R. McGrath / Chair Rental: Class A / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka via Nordstrom / Wedding Gown: Bridal Designs Southlake / Bride’s Sash: Mother of the Groom with Grandma’s brooches / Cake Table: DIY Doilies from Grandmother / Bride’s Hair Piece + Garter Set:Bella Sorella Couture / Earrings: Nadri via Nordstrom / Veil: Custom Creation by Lucie Marie, Tulle from Things in a Room / Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren via Dillards / Groomsmen Suit: Joseph A. Bank / Bridesmaid Dresses: Anthropologie, Macy’s, J.Crew, H&M / Bridesmaid Shoes: Dillards, Macy’s, DSW / Card Holder: Plant Terrarium via Hobby Lobby / Oval Table Name Holders: Hobby Lobby

A Halloween wedding doesn’t have to be all about spooky bats, witches and things that go bump in the night. Look for Autumn’s softest palettes and pair them with fairytale pumpkins, warm candle light and wrought iron accents for a sweet as candy soiree. This Astor customization not only has a motif that mimics a wrought iron gate, but it uses a custom Emily Austin font that looks like Ichabod Crane, himself, could have wrote it. Imagine the Legend of Sleepy Hollow without that troublesome headless horseman!

customization = ink: persimmon | fonts: custom emily austin + sans capitals | paper: ivory | invite size: f-8 | liner: the classic color pattern in light peach | original design by amy graham stigler | customized by in-house designer: lindsy aragona

embellishment suggestions: pocketfold in opal

photos by: Martha Stewart Weddings

Like a breath of fresh air, this color palette is soft, sweet and romantic. Sigh…..Pale ink colors can easily set such a “lovey, dovey” mood. To give the original Delambre Classic design, by Jessica Tierney, a more natural, fairy-tale vibe, we paired pewter and champagne ink colors with a dusty pink envelope liner in our European Formal pattern. The Norah script font simply adds that extra bit of whimsy. I am swooning!

customization = inks: champagne + pewter | fonts: norah | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | liner: the european vintage formal pattern in dusty pink | original design by Jessica Tierney | customized by in-house designer Lindsy Aragona

Photography by Steep Street

Relaxed, easy summer days inspire this carefree customization of our Simplicity invitation – just in time for August! Paired with a metallic bronze pocketfold that shimmers beautifully in the sunlight, this would have your guests feeling all warm inside just opening the invitation!

simplicity customization = inks: taupe + clover | fonts: newport + meadow | paper: white | invite size: a-7 | liner: vintage river pattern in antique gold ink | original design by James Grieshaber | customized by in-house designer Sarah Walroth |
embellishment suggestions: pocketfold in metallic bronze

(Photo Credits: Hazelnut Photography)

by Sarah Walroth, In-House Designer

Make a splash with this summery Ribbon customization! Pairing aquamarine and atlantic inks makes for a perfect compliment to this whimsical customization. A rustic crosshatch envelope liner printed in cream ink creates a perfect final touch for this fun summer inspired look.

ribbon customization = inks: atlantic + aquamarine | fonts: futura + montenegro | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | liner: rustic crosshatch pattern in cream | original design by erin jang | customized by in-house designer kyle laatsch |

embellishment suggestions: edge paint in taupe

(Photo Credits: Cheri Lehnow)

by Kyle Laatsch, In-House Designer

The Village Invites II has done it again! This Hendrix 2 (by Jessica Hische) letterpress wedding invitation takes the art of subtle beauty to a whole new level.

The color combination of Cream and Sand inks on our 1-ply ivory cotton paper really lets the unique nature of the paper shine through. The hand calligraphy accents only add to the understated elegance of the suite.

inks: cream + sand | fonts: sans capital | calligraphy: patricia mumau harrison hand | paper: ivory 1-ply cotton | invite size: a7

This design won an honorable mention in our Bella Figura design competition for the first half of 2011. This twice-a-year competition recognizes outstanding and inspired design submitted by our beloved dealers.

Totally regal and totally gorgeous this wildly customized rendition of our Plume design (by Amy Graham Stigler) was sent over to us for printing by our BFFs at Judy Paulen Designs in NYC.  It features the Spencerian style hand calligraphy accents of the ever-amazing Debi Zeinert as well as crest artwork that was submitted by the bride for inclusion in the set.  Cap that off with our 2-ply paper, two color printing in Cream and Tea Rose, edge painting, and digitally printed belly bands to hold it all together, and you’ve got what you see here – one SICK letterpress invite set.

inks: cream + tea rose | font: impression | calligraphy accents: spencerian by debi zeinert | paper: 2-ply ivory | edge painting: tea rose |

by Chris Gannon, Client Coordinator.