With all of the different elements to consider when ordering your wedding invitations, envelope choices can wind up being somewhat of an afterthought. After all, they’re just going to be ripped open and thrown away anyway, right? Well, yes – but that doesn’t mean that they’re not important. They are the first things your guests will see when the invitation set arrives in the mail, after all.
The old standby for envelopes is to have them match the invitations – our standard envelopes are made from a text-weight version of the same cotton paper we print our letterpress invitations on – so the paper and envelopes will be a perfect match. If you’re looking for simplicity and complete uniformity throughout your set, this is definitely the way to go. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with white or ivory envelopes, by the way! They’re elegant and are designed to coordinate perfectly with your invites.
That being said, sometimes you don’t necessarily want everything to perfectly match your invitations – sometimes you want the envelopes to have a little pizazz of their own. And that’s where colored envelopes can fit the bill nicely.
New for 2012, we now offer several different colored envelope options (available in select sizes only for now): bullion, silver, jute, steel blue, and opal. Perhaps you want to add a touch of metallic to your invites (but you don’t want the invitation itself to be foil stamped)? A silver or bullion envelope would be a great option! Looking to add a crafty, hand-made sort of vibe to your invites? Try our jute envelopes! Planning lots of pearlescent touches for the wedding? Think opal envelopes!
Oh, and the best part? Our colored envelopes are priced exactly the same as our white and ivory envelopes, so they’re definitely more budget-friendly than some other color-adding embellishment options such as pocketfolds or envelope liners. Not that these colored envelopes don’t look awesome with liners too – because they definitely do! We especially love the look of a metallic envelope paired a metallic envelope liner – think metallic bronze envelope liners paired with opal envelopes — it’s a stunning combination!
Once you’ve finalized all the details for your letterpress invitations and picked the perfect envelopes for your invitation set, add a beautiful finishing touch by having them hand addressed by one of our master calligraphers! And be sure to check out these tips for all of your envelope addressing needs.
Our new office favorite is this summery customization of our La Salle (by Ian Koenig) design. If these letterpress wedding invitations look familiar that’s because we previously featured a similar design customization. Now we can see that this whimsical design is even prettier when letterpress printed! We have Danielle from Bells & Whistles in Belmont, Massachusetts to thank for these!
inks: sea-side + light peach | fonts: conquerer + memimas | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: f8 | liner: the refined mosaic pattern in light peach and sea-side inks |
We’re a little bit land-locked up here in Syracuse, but we can dream of sand between our feet, can’t we? Speaking of dream, these sea-side inspired letterpress wedding invites are pretty dreamy, no? This one’s a customization of one of our old classics, Nautilus, designed by Beth Ann Seal, and features hand calligraphy accents by Debi Zeinert.
inks: charcoal + surf | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: f8 | calligraphy accents: spencerian by debi zeinert | client coordinator: chris gannon | in-house designer: brenda fox
If you just got engaged and have your wedding date set, the next step is to think about save the dates! If you have questions like: When should I send my save the dates? Do they have to be formal if I am having a formal wedding? What design should I choose? — don’t worry, we’re here to help!
When should I send my save the dates?
Typically sent anywhere from 6-12 months before the wedding, save the dates are the perfect way to make sure that guests have advanced notice of your wedding date, and they can also be an excellent way to set the initial tone for your celebration. Save the dates are a nice courtesy for your guests — especially those who will be traveling for your special day — as they’ll have a much easier time arranging for time off and making travel & accommodation plans. Once upon a time, save the dates were used primarily for destination weddings or weddings with a lot of out of town guests, but nowadays they’re popular for all types of weddings.
Who do I send save the dates to?
If your guest list hasn’t been finalized yet, send to as many people on your list as possible. Anyone who receives a save the date absolutely must receive an invitation, so keep that in mind while you’re planning!
What information should the save the date contain?
The bare essentials for a save the date are the names of the couple and the date. We do recommend including the location so guests can plan accordingly, though if you haven’t narrowed down to a specific venue yet you can just provide the city & state. Some couples also choose to include accommodation information, wedding websites, and even information about local attractions. If you plan to invite all of your guests to additional activities on the dates surrounding your wedding (such as a welcome barbecue or a farewell brunch), you can ask that they save the weekend and provide appropriate dates.
Do they have to be formal if I am having a formal wedding?
The wording for a save the date is typically less formal than an invitation, so you can really have some fun with it! Writing the date as 06.05.13 or June 5, 2013 is perfectly acceptable and even more common than “Saturday, the fifth of June, two thousand and thirteen.” It is totally okay to include your wedding website and is actually a great way to introduce your website to your guests. It’s traditional to put “invitation to follow” or “formal invitation to follow” on the save the date, but it’s not necessary if you choose more streamlined wording. If you have any etiquette questions you can see our suggestions or contact us – we’d love to give you more advice!
Any tips for making my save the dates extra unique?
Get creative! There are tons of ways to customize your wedding stationery when you order with Bella Figura (think edge painting, cool custom envelope liners, or corner rounding!) but you can make your save the dates extra special by adding your own personal touch! Have a really cool story about how the two of you met? Include it on the save the dates! Did your photographer take amazing engagement photos? Have your save the dates designed with a “frame” so you can mount prints of your engagement photos to each one!
What design should I choose?
We have save the dates for every style – whether your wedding is vintage, formal, modern, rustic, art-deco or completely unique – you name it, we have a style for you. All of our designs are completely customizable, so we have even more options than what you see on our web site (a lot more options!). If you are totally stumped on what design to choose, consider taking our personal shopper survey! Our survey gives us the opportunity to learn more about you, your wedding, and your style, and then we can tell you what designs and customizations we think would be a perfect fit for you. Plus, we can keep the conversation going until you find exactly what you were looking for!
After you’ve finalized your save the date order, be sure to check out these tips on envelope addressing from master calligrapher Debi Zeinert!
Mix and match! This custom letterpress wedding invite shares design elements from two different invitations- the Ollie pattern in champagne and the Amelie bird motif in watermelon. Get inspired and create your very own personalized invitations!
amelie + ollie customization = inks: watermelon + champagne | fonts: norah + slim pickens | paper: white | invite size: f8 | liner: rustic woodstock in watermelon ink | amelie original design by Ellie Snow | ollie original design by Aimee O’Boyle | customized by in-house designer Brenda Fox
embellishment suggestions: edge paint in watermelon
(Photo Credits: Bridal Musings)
Our Rose design (by Ellie Snow) looks pretty in pink in this sweet letterpress wedding invitation. The trendy willow font really gives this set some character.
inks: british rose + pale gray | fonts: willow + streamline | paper: 2-ply white | invite size: SQ7 |
Have your guests ready to celebrate at a backyard reception with this rustic-with-a-modern-twist customization of our Savannah letterpress wedding invitation (by Jessica Tierney). Looking to really make a statement? Use our Silver Shine foil on the monogram and names!
savannah customization = inks: yolk + black + pewter | fonts: willow + streamline | motif: begonia | paper: white | invite size: sq-7 | liner: classic color in black ink | original design by Jessica Tierney | customized by in-house designer Sarah Walroth
(Photo Credits: Flutter Glass & Adeline and Grace)
We love it when our brides customize our letterpress wedding invitation designs and we were thrilled when this bride submitted her own custom fonts! Our Deco design (by Elizabeth and David Mandel) looks totally retro in this timeless pairing of amethyst and chartreuse letterpress inks.
inks: amethyst + chartreuse | fonts: custom submitted | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: a7 | client coordinator: christie jones | in-house designer: sarah walroth
Summer is upon us, so it is time to celebrate the bright citrus colors of the sun and the warm shades of greenery that indulge our senses! This Esperanza letterpress customization has a subtle vintage feel and captures the colors of the season perfectly.
Esperanza customization = inks: clover + persimmon | fonts: custom (silent movie + memimas) | paper: white | invite size: SQ-7 | liner: natural woodgrain in taupe | rounded corners | original design by in-house designer, Lindsy Aragona | customized by in-house designer, Lindsy Aragona
(Photo credits: Randi Marie Photography)
Flowers are one of the sweet details that make weddings unique. Why not make an intentional effort to go green with the green?! When you think about it, this element should be an automatic eco option, but many florists use harmful pesticides since the USDA does not regulate pesticides on cut flowers. Yikes! Who wants to walk down the aisle with a bunch of chemicals below their faces and surrounding their loved ones? Not our eco brides!
It’s important when choosing a florist to make sure that they are using safe and healthy practices in their shop and with their flowers. We asked two of the wedding industry’s finest eco florists for some guidance, here’s what Faxon of Faxon Green, and Hannah of Gardenia Organic had to say.
Why is Faxon Green intentionally an “eco florist”?
Faxon: I grew up in the country abutting a pond and woods. I was given my grandmother’s garden when I was 7. Jelly jars were my first vases filled with ferns, flowers, jack in the pulpit [now an endangered species]. I was encouraged to have fresh flowers and foliage on the breakfast table whenever I wished. I’ve had a garden where ever I’ve lived [city, suburb, country] ever since.
So, when I opened my studio 7 years ago, I returned to the spirit of my childhood bouquets. Being a naive artist with some background in sculpture and painting, the art and science of floral design came together in a more conscious way. I’ve always used nature’s elements in my work. No floral foam, plastic, chemicals, etc. We compost, recycle all packing materials by packing with them for delivery. Tablescapes are made in long flower boxes. We also recycle flowers after weddings and events by picking up all vases and etc., bunching the flowers that are still fresh, and delivering them to local women’s shelters, hospitals and clinics.
Aesthetically, I’m more delighted by what the flowers, vines, and etc. “do” overnight after being placed in a vase. Always there is surprise, and the flowers find their natural place in the vase. The implication of this is that I do not impose a pre-design by putting flowers into foam. I “follow” the natural flow of the foliage and flowers.
Why is Gardenia Organic intentionally an “eco florist”?
Hannah: Because the industry’s impact on the environment is substantial and rarely considered. I think it’s hard for people to imagine that something grown in nature can be environmentally unfriendly. Aside from the chemicals used in mass produced flowers, the carbon emissions from flowers flown thousands of air miles and the working conditions for farmers in poorer countries – the waste in the industry from packaging and events is unbelievable! Do you ever think what happens to all the vases, cellophane, plastic forms and florist foam after a wedding? Most of it is thrown in the trash and it’s not biodegradable.
Do you have any suggestions for brides planning their floral arrangements?
Hannah: Use seasonal flowers that are grown as locally as possible – this is better for the environment, supports our local economies and means that you’ll be enjoying healthier, fresher beautiful flowers. Ask your florist what they’ll do with the flowers at the end of your day – gift them to special guests or donate them to local care homes and hospices.
Faxon: Be sure you ‘groove’ on, and with, your designer. Feel comfortable engaging with your designer. Ask for references from brides or venues where they’ve worked. Go to a flower market high-end florist to see many possibilities for your wedding flowers. Be sure to see sample centerpiece designs and your bridal bouquet. Be sure you love them! Otherwise, give the feedback that lets the designer create other ones. Ask about local flower farms with non-pesticide soils. Select flowers, such as tulips, roses, exotics, etc. from growers in the USA. This ensures freshness and greatly reduces the carbon footprint. Perhaps this is the 3rd most important: ask about the designer’s eco-practices.
What eco practices make your shop special?
Faxon: A uniquely artistic eye coupled with sustainable materials and practices. There is no floral foam, plastic or chemicals. All unused living material is composted. The cardboard boxes and cartons from new vases are used to pack bouquets for delivery. The studio is cooled naturally with open windows and low level air conditioners when needed. All tools are cleaned with witch hazel and water. After a wedding or event, clients often give flower arrangements to their guests. When this does not occur, flowers that are still fresh are bunched and delivered the next day to local women’s shelters and hospitals. Vases are recycled for future use. It is our intention when working with clients that precious little is wasted. This is the natural way; the sustainable practice of no waste and no non-biodegradable.
Hannah: Pretty much everything we do. Our entire supply chain is focused on fair trade and environmental sustainability; it’s not just our flowers. We use recycled tissue paper, a biodegradable cellophane alternative, recycled glass vases, plant based cleaning products and we buy all of our flowers fresh everyday to order. This ensures the freshest most gorgeous flowers for our clients and reduces waste.
Hanna and Faxon, thank you so much for sharing your expert advice with us today!
Images from Faxon Green and Gardenia Organic
Our Vintage Gardiner (by Amy Graham Stigler) design is a perfect letterpress wedding invitations to celebrate spring. With a fresh color palette featuring British Rose and Pale Gray inks what’s not to love? The elegant ombre envelope liner really adds the perfect subtle feminine touch.
inks: british rose + pale gray | fonts: poetica + pillar | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: a7 for inner envelope | liner: the elegant ombre pattern in british rose ink | edge painting: british rose | client coordinator: christie jones | in-house designer:racheal decker
We are busy preparing for the 2012 National Stationery Show that’s just a few weeks away, but we wanted to stop and take a break to share the letterpress and foil stamped invitations that we printed and sent out for the show! Our modern Unique Minimes design set the tone, and we love the way our hot pink letterpress ink looks when paired with shiny gold foil stamping! As part of our mid-year release, we’ll be introducing a new book filled with invitation designs for life’s special occasions: engagements, birthdays, showers, Bar & Bat Mitzvah, baby, and more. 9 new invitation designs will also debut at the show, and those will be available in early July at a Bella Figura dealer near you! We have the incredibly talented calligrapher Debi Zeinert of The Blooming Quill to thank for addressing the envelopes for these invitations in a metallic gold ink. We cannot get enough of the way those envelopes look!
