Broaching the subject of brooches

Pretty brooches add impact! (Photo by Kris Labang Photography)

I have long been a fan of bling, although that wasn't always the case. When I launched Emi Ink in 2005, my tastes weren't necessarily simple, they just weren't sparkly in any way. But I quickly realized that a single crystal could provide that WOW factor to any invitation. Small touch, big impact.

A few years ago during a consultation, a bride told me that she wanted a beautiful, elegant invitation with my signature crystals added to it. Signature? Me? I don't know how it happened...maybe it was the fact that I always made a big deal of whipping out my big crystal chart during client meetings or my frequent admissions that crystal application was like meditation for me (it really is)...but somewhere along the road, people started associating me with the blingiest of bling. I was surprised at first but then I thought about how my design style had evolved over the years. Wow, they were right...and oh how I've embraced the bling since then.

I recently added some SUPER BLING to my product line-up and have fallen head over heels for vintage-style brooches. Their super power is transforming any piece (invitation, favor box, menu card) from blah to beautiful! Crystals, pearls, crystals AND pearls...so much gorgeousness!

Full disclosure: adding this type of embellishment to invitations will pose a few extra challenges for mailing. You'd need to mail your invitations in a lovely box or padded envelope. If that's not really your cup of tea, consider adding a brooch to your favor boxes, table number cards or menu cards...it would instantly allow your stationery to perform double duty as beautiful accents to your table decor!

Naughty or Nice?

"Naughty" favor boxes (Photo by Derek Wong Photography)

"Nice" favor boxes (Photo by Derek Wong Photography)

Continuing on with Erin and Matt's holiday-inspired wedding extravaganza...

They presented their guests with a choice of "Naughty" or "Nice" gourmet chocolates packaged in red and white pillow boxes. We designed corresponding tags and a framed sign that invited guests to make their selection at the end of the evening. Love bringing clients' creative ideas to life!

Eat your veggies

Or, you can just decorate your table with them.

The current issue of Hawaii Bride & Groom Magazine includes a fun editorial spread in which vegetables and other organic produce were incorporated into beautiful tablescapes. Emi Ink contributed to the decor for one of the tables by providing wood-textured favor boxes and coordinating menu cards.

Who knew that red cabbage and bitter melon could look so pretty?
(Created by Watanabe Floral)

This favor box design is one of my favorites. Such a unique shape and no glue or tape required to assemble!

Pick up your issue at newsstands today or check it out online here.

Brown paper packages tied up with...NOPE

Here's a sneak peek of two new favor boxes that we'll be showing at this weekend's expo. The gable box on the left is truly a classic style and if you finish it with a pretty satin ribbon tie, your favors will most definitely add that special touch to your table decor. While I love the look of the gable box and its functional elegance, I have MAD love for the chair box shown on the right! Arrange all of the boxes on the reception table and they'll serve double duty as escort cards. Invite your guests to "take their seat" as they pick up their boxes on the way to their assigned tables. Or, if you prefer to set the boxes at each place setting, they can serve as place cards. I appreciate cool, multifunctional pieces and this is one of my favorites!

You can check out our new collection of favor boxes here (prices and ordering info coming soon!).

And a brief word about these favor boxes. Until now, I offered just a few box styles but after a serendipitous meeting with a fellow designer, we both realized the potential of partnering up and pooling our resources...thus, I'm thrilled to be able to offer more of what my clients have been asking for all these years!

Wedding Expo this weekend!

Head over to the Hawaii Convention Center this weekend and check out the Hawaii World Class Wedding Expo!

Friday, April 29
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Fashion show @ 7:30pm

Saturday, April 30
11:00am - 5:00pm
Fashion show @ 2:30pm

Admission is $8.00 at the door.

Stop by the Emi Ink booth for a special sneak preview of a new invitation that we're working on and get a first look at our favor box collection!