Yes, it's a polar bear

We create lovely custom wedding invitations (at least we think so) and then hand them off to the happy couple to send on their way- into the trusted hands of the United States Postal Service. Our designs always start with the RSVP as a postcard. It's becoming pretty popular- you save postage ($.28 vs. $.44, which isn't much, but hey- it all adds up), and more importantly, you save a few trees.

But lately, I've heard more than a few brides grumble to me that they were a bit dissapointed when they got to the post office and realized all they had to choose from for the postcard stamp was this:

I did a little research and it appears that the USPS issues new postcard stamps every year or so. So the polar bear is here to stay for a while. I'm not one to pay attention to the stamp when I receive mail, but I know how the finer details can make a bride crazy (and after going through the fun process of customizing your invitation, I suppose Mr. Fuzzy here could be a little distracting). Sooooo, doing a little more research I found www.photostamps.com:

The cost per sheet of 20 stamps is $18.99 for the $.44 stamps and $15.99 for the $.28 postcard stamps. So your savings from postcard to regular stamp just went out the window, but the option of uploading ANY picture you want is pretty tempting! Here we have Captain Kirk and Uhura in a loving embrace. Yes, this is an image from our friend's Thad and Didi's invitations (blog post on THAT one to follow, can't resist bragging about a Captain Kirk invitation). But you get the idea. You can imagine how lovely your engagement picture would look, or maybe the graphic from your invitation even, oh the coordination will blow your guests minds! The website is pretty easy to navigate too.

So I say, what the heck, go for it. Support our nearly bankrupt postal system and create custom stamps if you don't have any love for the polar bear (it is kind of random, I have to admit).

Just a word of advise though- ORDER THEM EARLY. The website says it takes 3 to 5 business days to get them... but, um, well, it IS the USPS, so I would order earlier. When we meet with couples to review the final hard copy proof, I always tell them to take the sample as-is in it's completed state and have it weighed AT THE POST OFFICE to verify postage. Usually it's the typical stamp for the main envelope, but occasionally it will weigh more (as in instances of heavier booklet style invitations) and need the $.61 stamp
(at least they got you covered with this one!). But you'll know what kind of stamp you need for your RSVP no matter what, so have fun and get those early.

If you want the most options for your stamps, aside from the custom photo ones, go here and have fun perusing the selection: stamps
Here are my favorites, in case you were wondering (geez, my tastes are all over the place):

Happy Wedding Day, Lisa Simpson!

Spilled Ink Press would like to congratulate Lisa Simpson on her wedding today! We could have done a better job on the invitations though.

As Seen on GreenBrideGuide.com: Don't Let Your Accessories Go To Waste

Check it out.... the fine folks over at the Green Bride Guide asked Amanda to write a guest expert post on their blog. Here it is!

So you’ve received the responses back, have the menu figured out, the flowers on order, and the DJ loading up the playlist. The details are falling into place! “Day of” stationery needs are next on your to-do list. But if taking a look at this step with your green goggles on, you may hesitate at the amount of “extra” paper today’s bride could possibly divulge in. Just to start the list, you’ve got programs, place cards, menu cards, table numbers, favor tags… oh my!

Don’t fret, green bride. Verify that your printed products are at the very least printed on 30% post-consumer waste paper. This is the paper industry’s minimum to qualify for “recycled content” labels, so getting to 30% of the good recycled stuff shouldn’t be hard. The next question should be, “Is the paper recyclable?” (because not all papers are). In any papers that are “shiny” and metallic, the shiny content must be made of organic materials in order to be recycled. You can’t stick the glossy, coated, or otherwise “sparkly” papers into ye old recycle bin.

Ok, your paper is recycled, recyclable, and the next and final step is making sure you actually recycle it! Now this may take some creative thinking. How many weddings have you been to where, as you’re wiping your eyes and walking away from the ceremony, you look back and oh the horror! Programs are strewn all about! What do you think that wonderful church janitor is going to do with those? (Hint: Compost them to the parish worm bin is NOT the answer.) And the bride, of course, is thinking about other things. Like, “Oh my god- I just got married, where’s the photographer, is my grandma doing ok, how’s my lipstick look?” So put some time into the recycling thought process before the big day. And the answer is… a Recycling Ambassador! Ladies, let’s retire the useless “guest book attendant” role and start adopting the Recycling Ambassador. Be bold (and a tad bit ironic, I might add) and put the title and credit right on the programs. Say it proud!

What is a Recycling Ambassador, you ask? This person’s mission, shall they choose to accept, is to follow behind at each step of the ceremony and reception and gather up the paper products. The programs are distributed, and then immediately following the ceremony scooped up. Give them a decorated bin (most likely the same bin you brought them to the ceremony site in, no doubt) for depositing recyclables. After the meal, the menus can be collected, and toward the end of the night, the table numbers, place cards, etc. etc. At Spilled Ink Press, we always offer to take back the paper products from our clients and recycle them on their behalf. You know, so they can enjoy their honeymoon without recycling remorse.

If your stationer hasn’t offered this service and you don’t want to worry about it yourself, make sure your Ambassador has access to a paper recycle program- perhaps your venue even has a receptacle in the building. If this same person is going to the post-wedding brunch, where perhaps gifts will be opened and cards read- be sure those now disposed of envelopes and cards end up in the bin as well! How many showers have you been to after all where the little wide-eyed ones circle around the bride on the floor and want nothing more than to snatch up the ribbons and wrapping paper and be the “helper” of the day. Imagine granting your niece--who was too old for the flower girl gig, but too young to be a bridesmaid--the “Recycle Maid” position! Your wedding day will be that much more green, and your friends and family will be happy to fill this special role. Done and done!

Chicago Green Wedding Alliance: July 13th

Well, time flies when it's summer in Chicago!
Just a friendly reminder that our next Chicago Green Wedding Alliance meeting is Tuesday, July 13th at Logan Square Kitchen.

As usual, please feel free to bring a bottle or snacks to share.
We have a lot to discuss, hope all you green wedding vendors out there can make it!

Debbie and Ale

Debbie and Ale are planning a wedding that not only represents the union of their lives- but also of two geographies, Chicago, Illinois and Seville, Spain. What better way to represent that than our accordion invitation with the skyline of Chicago spilling into the skyline of Seville?! We literally split the panels equally between English and Spanish text- the English hovering over the Chicago skyline and the Spanish hovering over the Seville skyline.

Debbie sent me the inspiration board shots so I could appreciate the boldness of the blue they wanted to capture. Aaaah, bright blue- what a vibrant way to say "Welcome to Chicago! Welcome to our wedding!"
Thank you for another fun invitation Debbie and Ale!

Open House at Bloomingdale's

We'll be at the Bloomingdale's in Old Orchard Center for an Open House this Thursday, the 24th of June....stop on by and say hi.

Love and the forces of the Universe

"The four fundamental forces of physics: electromagnetism, strong nuclear interaction, weak nuclear interaction, and gravity. We’ve been talking here about the forces that bind the universe. But what binds humans? Love. Powerful in small spaces and yet with profound affect in distances, love defies time. Outliving its source and object, love is faster than light, for light requires time in order to travel through space but love reaches its object instantaneously. Love journeys forever into infinity and is here binding together two lives."

Ok- so I first saw this on one of our bride's wedding website and thought it was an amazing quote. So I googled it... and turns out it's from the TV show Numb3rs. So way to go random writer living in LA probably not getting any credit for this! Your words have traveled the blogosphere and in my google search it came up on A.LOT. of other wedding websites.

But it's so true and profound, so I'm happy to share it with you all. ESPECIALLY since we've been sucked into the land of "stupid busy", as another wedding vendor coined the phrase and haven't had any time to post. I'm going to make a point to snap picks of jobs as they go out the door though so at least you can be updated on what's shaking at Spilled Ink Press headquarters.