Dana and Joe's Purple Invitations

We do a lot of wedding invitation jobs here at Spilled Ink Press headquarters, but every once in a while a job stands out. Usually it's because I really dig Amanda's design, but in one case this summer, it was because we were lucky enough to make the wedding invitations of an NFL quarterback. I think I was more excited about this job than Amanda was for once.

The purple invitations matched the quarterback's team colors, and that only leaves two options...the Ravens or the Vikings. As a big Bears fan it's a good thing it was the Raven's QB Joe Flacco, and not Christian Ponder or Joe Webb from our NFC North rival. If it had been a Viking player's invitation I might have had to call in sick instead of working on that job. Sure, I'm trying to run a business, but I have my priorities, and I'm loyal to the Monsters of the Midway. Of course when we got the job from our friends at Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants, Amanda had to ask me who Joe Flacco was. The only NFL player she recognizes is Julius Peppers.

Luckily for Mr. Flacco and his new bride I have no ill feelings toward the Ravens, so their invitations turned out pretty great.

A nice close up of the escort cards we did for the reception. The "love" stands were provided by the bride, but we did get to print cards with names like Michael Oher on them. Photo by Jason Prezant Photography

Photo by Jason Prezant Photography ....check out his blog to see more of his great work.

Art Nouveau Photo Save The Dates

Sometimes it's hard to wait until it's time to send out the invitations to announce your big day to the world. Once your engagement photos are done, you might find sending a photo save the date is a great way to get everyone excited about the party you are so busily planning. The Art Nouveau graphics on these save the dates are a nice touch if you have a vintage style.
And what we especially like about these is that after the big day, Grandma can slip the photo out of it's place and put it into a frame and toss... er, recycle... the actual Save the Date!

In the home stretch/ go green all the way!

884 escort cards.

735 ceremony programs.

116 table number cards.

446 menu cards.

590 thank you cards.

This is what my to-do list looks like for this week.  Ok, so it's not all one wedding, it's a combination of 5 weddings... but its kind of fun to see the numbers.  And it's also interesting to take a step back and appreciate the amount of paper your wedding uses.  You of course think, oh yeah- we thought of that, our wedding invitations were totally recycled paper.  Awesome!  But don't forget about the homestretch!  Your day-of accessories are made of smaller pieces, but collectively just as much, if not more paper.

So as a guest of a wedding, or as the lucky couple hosting... remember the importance of coordinating clean-up/ recycling/ compost, and ask the same questions:  

1-  Is my paper post-consumer recycled

2-  Does it come from responsible mills/ forests?

3-  Can it be recycled when all the fun has ended (some coated/sparkly paper can't be)?

4-  And different from your invitations- YOU have control over how these babies are disposed.  Will the venue space you hired to host your reception recycle or compost your paper waste?  If not, make it happen!

And a few tips for the couple...

1-  You don't need as many programs as you may think.  I like to estimate that you could conservatively order 50% to 75% of your expected guest count.  Not everyone will take one and not everyone will be at the ceremony.

2-  Assign someone to be in charge of gathering up paper waste (younger members of family love to be helpers!)  

3-  Double up escort cards and include couples instead of individuals (don't stress about having to say "Joe Smith and Guest"-- Joe should have known better to tell you his date's name.  It's not a big deal).

4-  You can always double up table numbers with the menu in lieu of an individual menu per setting.

The music stops, the kisses have been given, the tears of joy have been wiped clean.  Now... who's making sure 884 escort cards are being recycled?

Own your big day from day one until AFTER the clock chimes midnight.