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.  

"Birthday Funny"

...why thank you Target Store stationery department, we kinda think so too!
We are happy to see our 8-card line featured at Target Stores nationwide.  All "Birthday Funny", all the time. Get them while they're hot, or early October when they replace them with Halloween cards.
Who sends Halloween cards?...

This one inspired by my lame birthday texts to my siblings.  Yes, that's you Mary.

Inspired by my dear friend Iwona... she's the nicest person alive, but godblessher, she can't remember my birthday to save her life.  It's June 5th, in case anyone wants to send me a gift.

Tony says you'll get this is if you're into music "trust me".  

I bought this bra just for this photo... so don't worry, it's not like one of mine or anything (double ew.).

We get alot of bills.  We DO kind of pee a little when we get something that isn't.

We aren't big fans of wearing pants.  I think that's why we have to work from home...  too much information?...

Sadly, oh so true...  I even broke the piggy bank right after this photo was taken (there wasn't anything in it, boo).

It's kind of funny to buy a baby bottle when you don't have a baby.  I keep salad dressing in it now and Tony refuses to use it.  He said it creeps him out.  

Don't Forget, Father's Day is June 19th!

When you're looking for that perfect card to go with the golf balls or tie you're getting dad this year for Father's Day, be sure to stop by your local Target. That's where you will find four brand new Father's Day cards by everyone's favorite card designers... Spilled Ink Press! And after you pick out one of our cards, you might want to shop around for a different gift. Dad is probably sick of ties by now.

BRIDESMAIDS!

Wed Shower invitation poking fun at being a bridesmaid

We are very happily jumping on the "you really need to see this movie" wagon.  We work with brides every day and many a movie has been made about the trials of a woman's path to the alter.  It's just plain refreshing and interesting to see the whole process through the eyes of a bridesmaid.  I've been reading a lot of reviews that are quick to point out the empowering and albeit hysterical female-centric voice of this movie.  The groom literally doesn't have one line, and the only "love interest" (enter tired old "chick-flick" formula) is a character that has the interest in the main bridesmaid character Annie (Kristin Wiig) and not the other way around.  Girl meets boy, boy likes girl, girl leaves boy's house in a commitment freak-out.  Aaaah.  Now, that's nice- add a heavy helping of raunchy hilarity and you're in for a good time.

And let me tell ya, playing the role of the bridesmaid is a rite of passage that many women have to... um, I mean, are blessed to go through.  And to prove it, for old times sake... here are my badges (and dresses) of honor:

My sister Tina's wedding, circa 1995.  Notice I was not allowed to have a dip in the front of my dress like the rest of the bridesmaids.  There was nothing to "dip" to anyway.  I still gag when I smell a Star-gazing lily.

My highschool friend's wedding... and one of the first wedding invitations we did!  This dress I bought at a Good Will in San Francisco and added some detailing to-- thanks for giving us the freedom to pick out our own dress Andrea!  I was seriously BROKE.  I also had my hair and makeup done with the rest of the wedding party but came home and washed my face and hair and had my sister Tina redo it.  I looked like a clown!

My oldest friend's wedding.  This is us doing a dance we've done together since we were probably 8.  I loved the candy-red apple dress.  Also my first time wearing one of those voodoo clear strap bra's. 

And my college roommate and dear friend's wedding at Disney World... Disney Land?  Whatever, the one in Florida.  That's the Disney Chapel we're in!  Yes, this time I had something holding up my dress and just noticed I was the only one who went strap-less.  Guess I was workin' it.  It's a shame you can't see the pretty embroidery at the top of the dress.

Springtime Invitations

It doesn't quite feel like spring yet here in Chicago, so hopefully these springtime invitations and their tulip design can kick-start mother nature into turning up the temperature. It is supposed to be pretty nice this weekend....we hope!

Green Wedding Alliance Membership Mixer

Spilled Ink Press is a proud member of the Chicago Green Wedding Alliance, and we want you to be a member too! Come and meet current GWA members for a drink or two at our favorite “green” drinking hole in the city, ask lots of questions, meet some other environmentally friendly wedding vendors and feel the love.

The Green Wedding Alliance will be taking applications twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. The spring application period goes through March, and the mixer is a great opportunity to learn more about the Alliance and its members before submitting your application.

Hope to see you there!

What: Chicago Green Wedding Alliance Membership Mixer

When: March 22nd, 7pm to 9pm

Where: Uncommon Ground on Clark