You can see Bella Figura at some of the finest stationery stores around the world. Our dealers are friendly and passionate experts who will help you choose—and customize!—your dream invitation. They’ll walk you through the ordering process, and they’ll give you design and wedding invitation wording advice, too!
We had the pleasure of creating six exclusive suites with our friend Heidi Daniels of Parchment Fine Papers in Nantucket and The Customs House in Wellfleet, Massachusetts – and now we can share them with you!
Chadwickwas imagined for a classic black tie wedding at The Wauwinet, a luxury hotel nestled on the shores of Nantucket Island. A timeless palette of black letterpress and gold foil is complemented by a custom, hand-drawn duogram and elegant vintage Nantucket artwork featuring ships and maps to honor the island’s history. Beveled, gold foil edging and a vellum wrap adorn the save the date to set the tone for an elegant celebration.
The Chadwick suite, featuring a vellum wrap, gold foil bevel, and custom duogram.
A bohemian, autumn beach wedding was the inspiration for the Westmoor suite. Floral illustrations of bold bouquets filled with succulents, hellebores, garden roses, anemones, and ranunculus show off a deep jewel toned palette in shades of of plum, cranberry, sage, and copper. An illustration of an iconic Nantucket Lightship basket filled with flowers on the events card is a special nod to Nantucket.
The Westmoor suite, featuring Currant paper and gorgeous watercolor and illustrated florals.
Nantucket Harbor was the main inspiration for the Dockside suite. As you sail into the harbor, you are greeted with a skyline of church steeples and historic sea captain’s homes. A hand-illustrated rendering of the harbor takes center stage on the main invitation while crisp blues and traditional fonts give give this suite a classic, tailored look.
The Dockside suite, featuring Blue and Pastel Blue papers and an illustration of Nantucket Harbor.
The maritime-themed Compass suite was inspired by vintage maps and Nantucket’s famous Gardiner’s Corner mural. In fact, the mural is featured on the envelope liner and the duogram on the invitation and save the date was created from its historic compass motif. The Nantucket Whaling Museum, where we imaged this couple having their reception, inspired the petite whale motif used throughout the suite. Moody blues, representative of the sea, and tawny foil, mimicking the light of the North Star, pair perfectly in this seafarer’s dream suite.
The Compass suite, featuring Blue paper and envelopes, a custom illustrated cartouche and the iconic Gardiner’s Corner sign.
The closing days of summer in Nantucket were the inspiration behind the Lighthouse suite. The colors are a bit cooler and slightly muted making this entire set feel soft and sweet. A hand-painted watercolor map, highlighting iconic landmarks of Nantucket, sets the perfect mood for a local couple’s big day!
The Lighthouse suite, featuring Light Gray envelopes and a variety of watercolor artwork (don’t you love the whale?!)
The Sailor suite was envisioned for a wedding set back on the mainland where sailing is still the heart and soul of the people. Nautical illustrations of sailboats, buoys, lobsters and anchors are playfully used throughout the set. With carolina blue and navy letterpress, along with a fresh modern layout, you can almost feel the wind in your hair.
The Sailor suite, featuring a vellum belly band, more illustrations, and an adorable thank you card (aw, shucks!).
We worked with our friends at Rock Paper Scissors in Ann Arbor, Michigan to create custom suites inspired by popular wedding venues in Michigan. We’ve recently added them to our collection, and today we’re sharing some behind the scenes details from the designers that helped bring these suites to life.
Zingerman’s Cornman Farms was the main inspiration for our Hales suite. A custom illustration of the farm itself and a sprinkling of vintage vegetable motifs pay homage to their famous farm-to-table vision and capture the picturesque romance of the farm. Formal fonts give a refined, ethereal feel while the color palette of rosebud and copper brings to mind a dreamy September affair. The suite is named for the farm’s Executive Chef and Managing Partner, Kieron Hales.
Hales suite, featuring rosebud letterpress ink and copper matte foil stamping on white Bella cotton paper. Foil edging in copper matte and a Rosebud envelope carry through the warm and romantic color palette.
Our Gable suite pairs classic, modern typography with colorful florals inspired by The Valley at Frutig Farms, a gable roof barn built circa 1840. “The venue is very spacious so it was important to keep the look open and soft with a splash of color from the vintage flowers,” says designer Racheal Bumbolo. A venue illustration was the perfect accent on the vellum belly band, and the warm-toned floral accents throughout bring to life the words of Rock Paper Scissors owner Lisa Roberts who compared the barn to a “fall haven of floral magic”.
Gable suite, featuring cobblestone letterpress ink and warm-toned florals printed on our Bella smooth cotton white paper. A light and airy vellum belly band with a venue illustration complements the simple, modern typography.
Our Seger suite was inspired by the historic Colony Club of Detroit and the prosperity of the city in the 1920s. The venue itself is adorned with the finest, most luxurious details including classic black and white checkered floors, gold leaf ceilings, impressive crystal chandeliers, and Louis XVI décor. A vintage Detroit map, gold matte foil, and black paper were absolute must-haves for this sleek suite.
Seger suite, printed in gold matte foil on our Bella smooth cotton ivory paper. Black ink, paper, and envelope bring a sophisticated feel and pair nicely with the vintage map and formal typography.
The Ford Piquette Plant, birthplace of the Model T, inspired the Henry suite. It showcases a modern city feel with a touch of grit. Stark black and whites, in contrast with edgy hand illustrations of the plant, the Detroit skyline, and the beloved Model T, bring this suite to life. “Henry provides a true representation of a cool urban couple wanting to say ‘I do’ in the heart of Detroit,” says designer Lindsy Talarico.
Henry suite, printed in black letterpress on our Bella smooth cotton bright white paper. Whimsical typography and illustrations and black paper accents give a modern, fun feel to this suite.
We are so excited to share this glimpse into the creative world of Bespoke Designs! They call home Westport, Connecticut. There, they dream-up luxurious invitations designs and pour passion into everything they touch. A second studio is coming soon so be sure to find out where below – it could be near you! Visit the Westport location to experience all their creativity in person and be eligible for a trunk-show promotion (buy 75 or more invitations and get 25 free) through February 24th! We will let Shari from Bespoke Designs take it from here:
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your studio came to be? What was your inspiration?
A: Sometimes ideas come from passion, others come from a need. My idea for Bespoke came from both. Four years ago, I went looking for a company to help me design my wedding invitations. Seriously disappointed in not being able to find an amazing design studio locally, I just decided to open one myself.
Q: How would you describe your space to somebody that has never visited before? We want to hear all the details!
A: We have an upstairs location in a charming little retail area in coastal Connecticut. The skylights and lots of windows make it always feel airy and bright. We are constantly installing our latest work, together with the work of local artists and objects that inspire us: shells, always fresh flowers, flea market finds, design books. It’s my happiest of happy places, a little haven; I even love it when it’s dark and quiet.
Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job? What do you find the most challenging?
A: Without a doubt, the most rewarding part is the couples that we meet and the stories that we are a part of sharing. The most challenging: Instagram visions that are disconnected from the reality of budgets.
Q: What are your hopes for the future of your shop?
A: Our future is really beginning to happen now: we are working with couples not just in our tri-state area, but now nationally and internationally. I am in Manhattan every Wednesday to meet with couples from all over the world. And, of course, technology enables us to meet with people virtually everywhere. Additionally, we are opening a second studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stay tuned for details!
Q: What do you think your clients enjoy most about working with Bespoke Designs?
A: Unbridled creativity coupled with impeccable delivery.
“We are over the moon and honored to win the Best of Boston Weddings award for Best Stationery this year! (and for the second year-in-a-row!),” says owner Julie Pike. “We are thrilled to be selected along with some of our amazing creative colleagues who make this work such a blast. We consider ourselves so lucky to be in this industry of many strong local entrepreneurs who kill it every day, 8 days a week, in the pursuit of creative freedom and work that inspires. And we are blessed to have amazing clients who trust us so wholeheartedly with their love stories and setting the tone for their special day.”
Congratulations to Fete Collection on receiving this prestigious award!
Pictured above is our Alchemy design by Jessica Downs, shown foil stamped in maple shine.
Our friends at Soirée Signatures in Mobile, Alabama are hosting a Bella Figura trunk show on Wednesday, January 24th to unveil our 2018 collection and celebrate their recent move. Join them for champagne and sweet treats and take advantage of a special trunk show offer: buy 75 or more invitations and get 25 free! Find the details to RSVP below.
Join us on Saturday, January 27th at Fete Collection in Boston, Massachusetts for a trunk show featuring our brand new 2018 collection! Meet with a Bella Figura design expert and take advantage of an exclusive trunk show special: buy 75 or more invitations and get 25 free! Find the details to RSVP below – we hope to see you there!
It’s our pleasure to shine the spotlight on one of the sweetest spots in Chicago, Smitten Boutique. Kirstin and Kyleigh greet their clients with a warm welcome, a glass of wine, and most importantly, an experience that transforms into a lasting relationship far past the first trip to this charming shop. We are looking forward to Smitten Boutique’s upcoming trunk show where we will get to work side by side with some of the loveliest ladies in the business! Here’s a little look inside their doors on West Madison Street and thoughts from store owner Kirstin:
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your boutique came to be? Is this something you have always wanted to do?
A: When I was in college, I used to jog past the cute shops nearby and dreamed of owning one someday. Fast forward ten years, I was walking our dog through our neighborhood and saw a “for sale” sign in the window of a small retail space. I believed in the West Loop neighborhood and it just felt right. My husband jumped on board and a month later we were figuring out what our store was going to look like!
Q: How would you describe your space to somebody that has never visited before? We want to hear all the details!
A: Smitten has become a staple boutique in Chicago’s West Loop over the past decade. The bright, open store is a welcoming space for our clients to relax in while they peruse our selection of gifts. They are always welcome to enjoy a glass of wine while they create custom invitations or stationery with one of our talented consultants. Our team loves getting to know our clients which cultivate long lasting relationships through the years. Whether we are helping to design your paper goods, finding you the perfect gift for a new baby, a bridal event, a birthday, a holiday, a housewarming or an everyday gift, we’re here to help you select the best!
Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job? What do you find the most challenging?
A: My favorite part by far is the creative brainstorming process where we look at a couple’s wedding inspirations and help them dream up the perfect paper goods to compliment their event! Whether it’s a custom illustration, a luxe 2-ply paper, a hand-dyed silk ribbon or the perfect shade of blush – there is always something that just ties it all together and says ‘this is our wedding’ for a couple. It’s our job to help couples get there! The most challenging part of the job is probably juggling home life and Smitten life. I could spend 100% of my time working on things for Smitten but I have three adorable, small children and an amazing husband who I would love to spend ALL of my time with as well – so finding a balance can be tricky when you love what you do.
Q: What do you think your clients enjoy most about working with Smitten Boutique?
A: Planning a wedding can be overwhelming because it’s often the first time a couple has planned a party of this caliber, yet they want it to be perfect. (And how many times do you get something perfect the first time you do it?). I think we provide a trusted partner for our clients and help guide them through the process, so that they can enjoy the ride rather than stressing about whether they are doing everything correctly. That’s our job!
Q: Anything else we should know or that you would like to share?
A: I feel so lucky to be a part of our local community and a partner to so many amazing vendors on both the retail and stationery sides of our business. I hope our customers realize what an impact they have on our business when they choose to walk through the door. I don’t think anyone should shop local out of obligation or pity as I am a busy woman who can appreciate the convenience of online shopping, but I hope that the enjoyment our customers get out of visiting us, our customer service, and true desire to go the extra mile for our customers will continue to win the business of so many great people and that Smitten will be around for many decades to come!
Q: What do you think your clients enjoy most about working with Smitten Boutique? 
