Today we are excited to announce the top 5 finalists for our Do Good in March promotion! We were thrilled to see all of the good deeds that were submitted on Pinterest throughout the month of March, and we had a really tough time narrowing down to just 5 people. Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

The finalists: For the next round of the contest, we’re letting you decide who should win the grand prize! To help you decide who to vote for, we talked to each of the finalists to find out more about their good deeds and ways you can get involved, too. You can read each of their stories below.

To vote: Visit the finalist’s board that we’ve set up on Pinterest and “like” your favorite finalist in order to give them your vote. The finalist with the most likes by noon on Wednesday, April 11 (Eastern Standard Time) will win a set of 100 1-ply, 1-color letterpressed wedding invitations, reply cards, and envelopes! If you need an invitation to join Pinterest, email DoGood@bellafigura.com and we’ll send you an invitation right away (be sure to start following our boards, too!). The grand prize winner will be announced by April 16, 2012.

Meet Brittney Aldous – she volunteers once a month and creates extra-special meals for the less fortunate at her local food kitchen.

The wedding: We’re getting married September 28, 2012 at the Slivertip Gold Resort in Canmore, Alberta. It’s such a picturesque setting and the venue goes perfectly with our ‘rustic chic’ theme! We’re also tying in the theme with burlap table runners, lantern centerpieces and little tree seedlings as our favors. After 7 years, we’re both very excited to finally tie the knot!

Where she started: I first worked in the food kitchen with my group at work and since then I have been hooked. Just knowing I was able to add something positive to someone’s day definitely brightened mine. And now I try to go once a month and cook up something absolutely delicious – something that you wouldn’t normally find served!

Why you should do it, too: A lot of people do not realize how fortunate they are. Taking time out of your day to be able to give back (to any cause) is so worthwhile. Even if it just brings a smile to someone’s face, you know you’ve made some sort of a difference to that person, and it can just take off from there! Helping the less fortunate enjoy a nice meal once in a while is the least I can do.

Brittney’s inspiration: My boss is actually the person who inspired me to get started in this cause. He made an effort to get our group out helping others, which took out of his overall budget (seeing as we charge by 15-minute intervals!). He also takes time out of his personal life, and the dedication and enthusiasm he regularly put forth was the inspiration I needed to continue with this cause on my own.

Favorite Bella design: Janelle Elegance – I love the design. To me it definitely has its traditional side, but the ‘bubbles’ add some extra flair and softness without being over the top!

Meet Beth D’Angelo – she recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to provide dental care to the less fortunate in Haitian migrant villages.

The wedding: I am the very happy and proud mother of the groom! Bill and Elizabeth will be married on September 1, 2012, less than 5 months away! They are now living in Seattle, but will be moving back to Western New York in July, and they are right now working on the details of their wedding celebration. The wedding will be in the late afternoon, in a small church near the shore of Lake Erie, with dinner and dancing to follow in an evening reception nearby.

The story behind the good deed: My trip to Dominican Republic in March was my fourth one to serve the Haitian people living and working seasonally in the sugar cane fields near La Romana. My husband and I saw a website from a hospital near the area that was built by volunteers asking for help and contacted them. We bring down a group of volunteers annually to travel to the villages and treat as many patients as possible by extracting teeth, treating infections, doing fillings, cleaning teeth, giving oral hygiene education, flouride treatments and sealants. Bill and Elizabeth were able to participate last year, and will again next year. We are inspired to continue with this work because we see how our actions help the people we serve, not only in treating their disease, but in showing them that others care and treat them with the respect and concern that all people deserve.

What you can do: I hope that others who read this are inspired to use their talents to reach out to others who are in need of assistance, no matter how small it may seem. By everyone doing a little, a lot can be accomplished!

Beth’s inspiration: My husband is my inspiration — he is a man of boundless energy and good will. He finds ways to make the impossible possible! My hope is that Bill and Elizabeth find the same passion in their marriage that we have.

Favorite Bella invitations: The wedding will be a traditional affair, with a splash of modern merriment thrown in. That’s why we love the Loretta Formal invitations — traditional elegance with modern touch.

Meet Mayra Gomez – she provides Spanish translations that help make the transition to American society an easier one for newcomers.

The big day: My partner Candace and I are having a destination wedding (commitment ceremony since we can’t get married yet in California) in Puerto Vallarta on May 26, 2013. It will be a true blending of both of us. I am originally from Jalisco, Mexico (same state where Puerto Vallarta is located) so it will be nice to get married there. The ceremony will have some Mexican and African American traditions to represent both of us – papel picado, bright colors, jumping the broom – and the reception will be a blend of romantic, classic, and modern touches.

Mayra’s role: As a member of the LGBT community, I am constantly trying to play a role in the fight for equality. Volunteering, however small my role, was a way for me to help transgender individuals go through an important step in their transition, and to let them know that there are people out there who care.

Why you should support this cause, too: Transgender individuals continue to be one of the most marginalized people in society, even within the LGBT community. If we hope that one day all individuals are treated with respect, dignity, and equality, then every minority group should be included.

Mayra’s role model: My mother has been an inspiration for why I try and do good. She is one of the most generous individuals I know, and has always instilled in me that it is our responsibility to help out those who need it. I have taken that and expanded this to include every facet in my life, whether it’s helping out a friend, donating money, or speaking up for those of us who are, at times, voiceless.

Favorite Bella design: Barcelona

Meet Carol McDermott – she uses her professional skills to help military veterans re-enter the workforce by leading or volunteering at interviewing and resume skills workshops.

The wedding: Our wedding will be taking place at the Palace Church in the beautiful Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, Denmark on June 23rd.  This location is very special to us because it is where Henrik was baptized and also where he proposed to me in October on a bended knee in the castle gardens on the one year anniversary of our first date.  Our reception will take place in Copenhagen and will incorporate both Danish and American wedding traditions.

What inspired your good deed? Over the years, I’ve led or participated in many volunteer training seminars focused on computer/ resume and interviewing skills with organizations such as iPrep,  Harlem Project Hope and Dress for Success to help Americans struggling to re-enter the workforce.  It’s great to know that I am having a positive impact on participants and their families.  While watching the Today Show on March 27th, I learned about the “Hiring Our Heroes” Job Fair taking place in New York on the USS Intrepid Aircraft Carrier the following day. I immediately contacted the organizers from General Electric and offered my services to lead a volunteer seminar similar to ones I have led in the past.

Why should other people support this cause? Military veterans have sacrificed so much on behalf of our country and I feel that it is our obligation to do what we can to help them in return. I consider myself fortunate to know something about resumes and interviewing and am very grateful to have the opportunity to pass my skills along.  Veterans bring tremendous skills to employers such as leadership, teamwork, reliability and poise under pressure, and many of these skills simply cannot be attained through on the job training or seminars. So whether you are an employer considering hiring military veterans or a volunteer considering helping with a resume/ interview skills workshop, I can guarantee that you will get much more out of the experience than you put in.

Carol’s inspiration:  I have friends and family members who are either active or retired from military service and this has undoubtedly influenced my support of programs like “Hire Our Heroes”.  I am also very proud of my mom, who has spent her entire career working in early childhood development and intervention helping families diagnose disabilities and developmental delays in children ages 1-3 and intervening to help them reach their full potential. This is not a high-paying career, but my mom does it for the fulfillment she gets from helping children and parents, really changing lives.

Favorite Bella design? We’ve gone back and forth between several styles including Carlyle and Classic Calligraphy, and have chosen Deveril as our favorite.  It’s simple and gorgeous.

Meet Katie Parker – she supports the All-American Mutt Rescue, an organization that helps dogs find loving homes.

The big day: Our wedding will be held on July 28, 2012 in my hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia.  We have planned a Southern style wedding filled with good music, great company, and delicious food. My fiancé and I have decided that in lieu of favors we would like to give a donation to the All-American Mutt Rescue to support their wonderful cause.

Katie’s inspiration: My family adopted two dogs from All-American Mutt Rescue about three and a half years ago, and we’ve kept in close contact with them ever since.  The passion that the founders of All-American Mutt Rescue have for animals truly inspires me, and their motto of “Rescue…rehome…real love” is a wonderful representation of this organization.  As an animal-lover, I would love to see every animal have a forever home, and by supporting this organization I can help make that become a reality.

Why you should help: The All-American Mutt Rescue is a wonderful organization.  It was founded by a couple from Huddleston, Virginia who decided to dedicate their lives to helping animals find a loving home.  While they have volunteers that come to help out, they do the majority of the work themselves and keep all of the animals at their house. They make sure that each is well cared for until they can find their forever home.  Many of these dogs are pulled from the pound where they would otherwise be put down and not given a chance.  In these tough economic times, animals are being abused, neglected, and dumped more than ever.  It is our job to help these innocent animals and support organizations like this one.

Katie’s role models: My parents have always inspired me to do good things.  Growing up in a loving, Christian home I was taught that you help others in any way you can.  It could be anywhere from helping to feed the hungry or opening the door for a stranger.  My parents have always spent a great amount of time volunteering for various things from coaching my softball teams to working with the youth group at church.  I feel very blessed to have such wonderful parents that were not only great role models but that also filled me with strong morals and values.

Katie’s favorite invitation: My favorite Bella Figura invitation design is String Calligraphy – I fell in love with it the first time I saw it!

Need to make sure your guests aren’t going to forget your wedding date?  Send a save the date!  Better still – send one with a calendar on it!  Jessica Hische‘s Hendrix design is for sure one of the shop favorites around here, so naturally we love this unique interpretation of the original design.

ink: prussian blue | paper: 1-ply ivory | save the date size: a6 | client coordinator: chris gannon | in-house designer: brenda fox

Love is in the air and flowers are in bloom! Bright, bold and vibrant colors of spring inspired this Lenox Botanical letterpress customization.

Lenox Botanical customization = inks: aubergine + prussian blue | fonts: adelais + moravia | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | liner: reverse rustic cross hatch in prussian blue | original design by Gina Dean and Lauren Richel Kelly | customized by in-house designer Lindsy Aragona

embellishment suggestions: edge painting in mesa | rounded corners

Photos by: Kimberly Reed Photography

Our Modern Fete is a new 2012 design (by Amy Graham Stigler) and our hearts stopped when we saw this jaw-dropping customization featuring our new jade letterpress ink and silver matte foil! The shimmery foil and bursts of unexpected color make this the perfect summer invitation for a lovely couple. If you want to make a statement consider the printing combination of letterpress and foil.

letterpress ink: jade | foil ink: silver matte | font: alouette | paper: 2-ply white  | invite size: a7 | client coordinator: christie jones | in-house designer: sarah walroth

Charming and sweet – the Austin Traditional letterpress wedding invitation is an inevitable match for a coquettish bride with a vintage flair.

Austin traditional customization = inks: charcoal + cardinal | fonts: archer hairline + archer book | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | liner: sweet polka dot pattern in cardinal ink |original design by Jessica Tierney | customized by in-house designer Brenda Fox |

embellishment suggestions: edge painting: charcoal

Photo Credits: Lavara Wedding Photography

by Brenda Fox, In-House Designer

Majestic mountains, serene lakes, kayaks, and starry nights makes us excited that spring and warmer weather is upon us! Dust off your packs and get inspired by the outdoors!

Royal night customization = inks: pool + taupe | fonts: norah + ruby | paper: ivory | invite size: f-8 | liner: classic color pattern in pool ink |original design by Lindsy Aragona | customized by in-house designer Racheal Decker |

embellishment suggestions: jute pocketfold

We get loads of questions about envelope addressing.  And with good cause – after you’ve invested in some gorgeous letterpress invitations, who wants to make a glaring faux pas when it comes to the envelope?  It’s the very first thing your guests will see when they receive your wedding invitations in the mail, after all.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a little crash course of frequently asked addressing questions (or FAAQ) and ran them by calligrapher Debi Zeinert for some answers.  Because who’s going to know more about addressing invitation envelopes than someone who does it for a living? Meet Debi in the video below!

Q:  Are there any things you find your clients are consistently confused about concerning addressing etiquette?
A:  The biggest confusion comes when the wife is a doctor.  Mr. and Dr. John Smith is incorrect.  When a woman has a title her first name should be noted, and she should be listed first. For example:  Dr. Susan and Mr. John Smith.   Or, if they are both doctors with the same last name, Doctors Susan and John Smith.

Q:  What’s the best way to organize guests names and addresses before someone sends them to their calligrapher?
A:  I prefer to get guest lists in the form of an Excel spread sheet – this way I can mail merge it to my liking for addressing.  Though i will accept any sort of typed list.  When using Excel its best to organize it in columns as follows: Outer envelope name, Name 2, Address, Address 2, City, State, Zip, Country, Inner envelope.

Q:  When is it appropriate to use colored ink?
A:  I believe that if the return address is printed in color it’s okay to use colored ink.  In fact, if the return address is a dark color such as blue or brown you SHOULD used colored ink. If the address is a ‘fun’ color or a pastel you may want to keep the addressing in black to hold on to formality. For a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or non-wedding calligraphy you always want the calligraphy to match the return address.

Q:  Is your preference to spell out the name of the state, or to abbreviate it?
A:  It’s not just my preference, but I believe it is only proper to spell out the state.  If it does not fit on the same line as the city, use the next line.

Q:  Do you have any other tips you’d like to share with clients planning to work with a calligrapher?
A:  A referred calligrapher is the best calligrapher.  If you find someone who does not come with a recommendation make sure you get actual samples addressed to you.  Seeing work on someone’s website may not be a good representation of their usual work.

Make sure you schedule your job as soon as you know you want to use them.  Don’t wait till you have your envelopes in hand.  Most calligraphers book up weeks out. And be sure to pick a realistic date – remember, you are blocking out days of time on a schedule and if you are not ready you may not be able to get rescheduled.

Make sure you have extra envelopes – dip pens and ink are unpredictable!  And make sure your guest list is complete as possible. There are always stragglers, bit to add a name everyday for a week is difficult on a calligrapher’s schedule. It’s not as easy as just writing another envelope – each job has set up time, drying time and packing and shipping time.

Q:  Any good stories of really tricky addressing etiquette situations?
A:  I’ve been doing this so long I’ve seen everything and pretty much can handle any thing. One thing that is annoying to all calligraphers is the extra long first lines – for example:  Mr. George and Mrs. Martha Washington or Mr. and Mrs. George and Martha Washington.  Way too much to make it pretty. Or when the numbers of an address are all written out – for example:  Seventeen South One Hundred and Forty Third Street. That must really annoy the post office!  Numbers under 20 can be written out, but the rest should be numerals.  I love it when people go ‘informal’ on the inner envelopes – it’s fun to write ‘Nana and Papa’ or nicknames.  One time I even had to write ‘Anna and Shithead’ on an inner!!!!

Q: Are any other common questions you get a lot?
A:  One question I do get is if there is a discount for quantity. The answer is no – if one envelope takes 3 minutes, 10 take 30 minutes and 100 take 300 minutes – it does not speed up with quantity. And personally, I do not copy computer fonts, nor do I copy other calligrapher’s styles.

Well that’s about it for this little crash course, but naturally there are other questions we’ve not yet addressed here.  Have any unique addressing quandaries or concerns of your own?  Post them below in the comments section below and we’ll do some homework and get back to you.  Class dismissed.

Check out these stunning  letterpress wedding invitations submitted by our friends at Inklinations. Our modern Irving (by Ben Whitla) design looks softer in a new color palette and script font.

inks: taupe + sand  | fonts:  salzburg + didot | paper: 1-ply ivory | invite size: sq7 inner  | liner: european formal in sand ink |

Dogs are a man’s best friend and an even a better addition to your wedding day! Don’t leave your furry, lovable friend out of the mix – besides, he is family, right!?
If you have a pet that is near and dear to your heart, use a part of him on your invitations like we did on the Overlook letterpress custom invitation! A small paw print is all you need!

overlook customization = inks: geranium + black | fonts: laramie + okay cursive | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | foil edging: silver shine | liner: traditional oxford in black + geranium | original design by Lindsy Aragona | customized by in-house designer Lindsy Aragona

photography by: Zev Fisher Photography

It’s not just metallic gold that’s making a big appearance in wedding invitations this year — all different shades of shine are showing up and we couldn’t be more exited! Metallics instantly bump up the wow factor of any invitation while creating an elegant and glamorous appearance. There are lots of ways to incorporate metallics into your wedding suite: you can go all out with foil stamping and foil edging on your pieces, or pair them with a metallic envelope liner and a metallic envelope to really make heads turn! Not feeling that much dazzle? You can mix in small details of shimmer just by adding foil edging or a metallic envelope liner.

If you couldn’t already tell by all the foil in our new 2012 wedding invitations, we’re obsessed with foil stamping as a way to add some sparkle to your wedding invitations! We offer a wide variety of illuminating foil options, from vintage and formal golds, silvers and copper, to edgy and eye catching forest green, red or indigo. You can combine any letterpress ink with foil stamping in a single design; print your invitation in bold beautiful colored foils (fuchsia! purple! teal!); or go two tone, mixing a gold matte foil with a gold shine foil for a truly wowing look.

Foil edging adds an awe-inspiring, smooth, shiny surface to the edges of important pieces in your wedding suite. It works wonderfully as a complement to a wedding suite full of foil stamping or to add an unexpected pop of color to your letterpress invitations: think fuchsia, blue, green, or copper!

 

Our metallic envelope liners and metallic envelopes are shimmery, pretty, and FSC-certified—they’ll create the perfect balance of shine and sophistication for your unique wedding invitations!

No matter what dose of metallics you choose for your invitations, it’s sure to make a statement!  Still not sure what metallic combination will best capture the style of your wedding? We offer free design consultations after you place your order, where you’ll have a chance to talk one on one with our designers about all of your invitation choices (or if you need help now, just ask!).

Metallic gold is showing up everywhere this year, from high-fashion to home decor and especially in weddings. Metallic gold is one of the most glamorous and elegant colors you can add to your wedding to make it an event to remember! We love this trend so much, we’ve incorporated it throughout our new 2012 wedding invitations. This dazzling metallic isn’t just for traditional or formal weddings — it also works perfectly to add a feel of romance to vintage inspired weddings, and an unexpected flare to modern and contemporary weddings. To add this sparkling shade to your invitations, you can mix letterpress and gold foil stamping, or go with all foil printing (think matte gold and shiny gold for a super-stunning effect!).

If you loved our Pinterest contest last month, wait til you see what we’ve got in store for March! We want to see what good means to you: is it volunteering at an animal shelter? Planting trees? Donating to your local food pantry? Building homes for the less fortunate? Whatever it is, we want you to tell us about it and show us how you’re making a difference — and we’ll give you 25 free invitation sets* just for doing your good deed! It gets better: for the grand prize, we’ll give an entire set of free invitations to the person who submits the ultimate good deed. No purchase is necessary to participate, and the contest is open to everybody worldwide!

*25 free invitation sets when you order 50 or more.

To help get you inspired, check out these inspirational quotes that our designers put together (the designs are based on different Bella Figura designs!). We’ve also got a great list of ideas from our eco-partners, staff, and designers for different suggestions of things that you can do to make a difference in your community.

Here’s how it’ll work:

Deadline: Your good deed must be done during the month of March 2012. Good deed submissions should be made by April 1 at midnight.

Prizes: Everyone who follows the above guidelines and enters their good deed will receive a coupon and a unique code for 25 free invitation sets with the purchase of 50 or more. This promotional offer is valid through July 31, 2012. “Invitation sets” includes the invitation, reply card + envelope or reply postcard, invitation envelopes, and any coordinating embellishments (this includes envelope liners, edge painting, etc.). The grand prize consists of 100 1-ply, 1-color invitations, reply cards, and envelopes, and must be redeemed by October 31, 2012. The grand prize winner will be announced by April 16, 2012.

Criteria: You determine the definition of “do good.” For the free 25 invitation sets, anything you consider good will work. For the grand prize, we’re looking for actions that bring us hope; that demonstrate the power of an individual to do good; and that show us how the world can be a caring and beautiful place. In either case, please be sure to get a photo or video of yourself in action.

Judging: The team at Bella Figura will choose the top 5 do-gooders and will post them to a finalists board on Pinterest by Wednesday, April 4. Everyone is encouraged to read about the five finalists on the Bella Figura blog from April 4 through April 11, and should “like” their favorite on Pinterest in order to cast a vote. The do-gooder with the most likes on Thursday, April 12 will win the set of 100 free invitations. You must have a Pinterest account in order to “like” one of the finalists, so if you need an invitation, email dogood@bellafigura.com and we’ll send you an invite right away.