joanna & Michael
live journey to custom invitations
LATEST UPDATE: 7/2/2024
Follow along below to learn more about what goes into the custom design process as I post live updates of this beautiful couple’s wedding invitation design!
THE START OF THE design process
With their wedding on the Greek island, Milos, and both the bride and groom being Greek, we pulled almost all our inspiration from traditional ancient Greece architecture and art, and the beautiful blues of the Sea of Crete that surrounds Milos. Hints of gold tap into the wreaths commonly worn by the elite that were made from olive and myrtle branches.
With our inspiration in hand, we began drafting design concepts for the crest which we would use to set the stage for the rest of the invitation and suite.
The CREST
The client selected the 3rd option as their final crest design! This crest is a greenery-filled crest featuring olive branches and a Greek key border lining the inner shield. The flowers are Apple Blossoms, as apples were first domesticated in Ancient Greece & Rome. The crest is topped with the palmette ornament and decorated with acanthus and the couples names written in Greek on a banner.
Typically color isn’t involved yet in this round of reviews, but since the client expressed their love of gold accents we felt comfortable incorporating it for them to see how they feel about how much gold they might actually want to include!
First Round Design Concept
Now that we have the crest and monogram selected, we begin drafting the actual components of the invitation suite. We discussed what information, in addition to the key details on the invitation card, the client wants to share with guests to help determine sizing needed and styles. From there we created “high-level” designs on these pieces and styles to help the client visualize what the pieces might look like.
Below is what we presented to the client, along with a detailed pricing estimate based on the materials they’d like to use.
We shared 2 suite overview concepts with different options for the watercolor illustration on the inside of the folder. Since their wedding is a destination, they loved Option 1, a hand painted watercolor map of the island of Milos that will be filled with additional watercolor illustrations denoting the locations of their wedding events, as well as key attractions guests can explore while in Milos.
Invitation Card Design Concept 1
Back of Invitation Card Design Concept | Featuring the couple's monogram surrounded by enlarged olive branches pulled directly from their crest. The back of the invitation card is a blue with a hint of shimmer and will have white details printed using the thermography technique
We provided an example of the thickness of the paper we suggested to be accented with a gilded edge in gold
We also shared an example of Engraving - the printing technique we recommended for their suite
Their RSVP card will be hot foil stamped in all gold and features the Greek key border that was featured on their Save the Date envelope, and also suggested for their Invitation Folder, hand painted in watercolor hues of blues. Carrying this over for a cohesive look, the gold foil adds a subtle twist.
Their invitation folder features the hand painted watercolor illustration of the Greek key border that was also used on the envelopes of their Save the Dates. We topped this component off with a wax seal in a soft gold shimmer that will be embossed with the Greek key border, as well.
This watercolor illustration was proposed as an option for the interior of their invitation folder.
This hand painted watercolor illustration was proposed as another option for the interior of their invitation folder, and what the client chose to move forward with.
Option 1 for Details: We presented the client with 3 options for the Details component of their suite - a single card (pictured here), a mini booklet, and an accordion-folded style. The client decided to go with this option, a single card, that we will further design for their next round of review. Stay tuned!
Option 2 for Details: We presented the client with 3 options for the Details component of their suite - a single card, a mini booklet (pictured here), and an accordion-folded style.
Option 3 for Details: We presented the client with 3 options for the Details component of their suite - a single card, a mini booklet, and an accordion-folded style (pictured here).
How do we share concepts and designs for review with our clients?
Each client has their own client portal, making it super easy to track the status of their invitations, past designs they’ve reviewed, and more! It keeps everything in one place so they don’t have to bare the burden of tracking!
ready to work with us?
Reach out for more information and to schedule your free consultation over zoom or in-person (if in the NYC area)!