Postal rates going up on April 17, 2011

Dear USPS,

You are the bane of my existence...yet without you, I would be nothing. For months you taunt me with rumors of rate hikes, then tease me with the possibility of stable and unchanging rates, and then slay me with confirmation of said rate hikes during the peak gotta-mail-invitations-now-for-all-the-summer-weddings season. I know that I'm at your mercy, but you can't make me love you.

Signed,

A begrudgingly faithful stationery designer

Ok, enough melodramatic stuff. Take note of this date, people: April 17, 2011. Postal rates ARE going up on this day, and you can read up on all the changes at the USPS website here. Personally, I dislike wading through mountains of information and found this handy table which outlines the stuff that I'm most interested in as these are the common weights/prices I encounter in mailing out event stationery.

via Endicia.com

If you're in doubt about anything having to do with mailing your pretty little invites, head to your local post office and ask away. Better to ask the experts than deal with a mailing or postage snafu.

Blingin' again

Just blinged out these lovelies that are headed overseas for a summer wedding in Sweden. Oh, how I wish I could slip into an A7 envelope and hitch a ride for an impromptu European vacation!

Simple pleasures

There's something about seeing all these pretty ribbons hanging in my studio that makes me so happy.

Just got my hands on hundreds of double-faced satin, organdy, grosgrain and dupioni silk ribbon samples in every color under the sun. If you're looking for a particular color or width for your wedding stationery or favors, please send an inquiry to emi@emiink.com.

Please take your seat

Escort cards are a common way to let your guests know where they are seated. Whether they're designed as flat or tent fold cards, lined up neatly on your registration table or hanging from manzanita branches with pretty organza ribbon, escort cards are something tangible that your guests can pick up and carry to their assigned tables.

Another option is a large seating chart that you can set up on an easel next to your registration table. Here's a recent piece that we created for a bride and groom that incorporated one of their engagement photos, with alphabetized guest names and assigned table numbers.

 

And here's some food for thought...

FOR ESCORT CARDS:

• Instead of printing the table number directly on the escort card, just leave a blank space where you can fill this in by hand 1-2 days before the wedding.This option provides you with the highest level of flexibility and you can move guests around to your heart's content...until you put pen to paper.
• Always produce extra blank cards...you just never know if you'll need them.
• Think about how you will be displaying your cards. Will they be protected by the elements (i.e. rain, wind)? Find a way to secure your cards if you're at an outdoor venue. There are lots of creative options to consider...think outside the box!
• If you make changes to your table assignments, it MAY be easier (and cheaper!) to reprint a few escort cards than to reprint a large seating chart.

FOR SEATING CHARTS:

• The size of your seating chart should ultimately be determined by the number of names you're printing. The chart pictured above measured 24" x 18" and included just under 100 names.
• If your headcount is substantial, consider printing two seating charts to avoid congestion with lots of guests crowding around a single chart.
• Proof your seating chart. Have someone else proof your seating chart. Ask a third person to proof your seating chart. It's worth it to have a thorough review process if it'll prevent you from having to reprint it.

And because it bears repeating, YOU WILL HAVE UNEXPECTED CHANGES TO YOUR TABLE ASSIGNMENTS. Unfortunately, this is an inevitable part of the planning process so you'll be better off just coming to terms with that now so you're not blindsided with it in the busy weeks leading up to your wedding. I can't even count how many times I've had clients send me frantic emails asking if it was too late to make revisions to their printed pieces just a few days before the wedding. It's stressful, it's inconvenient, it just downright sucks...but it's ok, it happens to everyone, and it's not uncommon. Daily affirmation...done.

Love, Romance and Street Fighter?

If you know who E. Honda, Blanka and Chun Li are, I'm guessing either you or your significant other is a Street Fighter fan. I had the unexpected pleasure of being schooled in Street Fighter characters when I created custom stationery pieces for a bride and groom for their out-of-the-box wedding celebration.

Beginning with the couple's invitation, I designed a simple Street Fighter-inspired power bar featuring the names of the bride and groom (as opposing players), wedding date, and a single white heart and red infinity symbol to complete the look. The tag was attached to a wraparound belly band that easily slid off the pale gold pocketfold.

The interior of the invitation is where we mixed it up a bit. The couple's wedding coordinator, Mona Hirata of Weddings by Grace and Mona, suggested that we find a way to reflect the bride/groom's medical profession. This is what transpired:

I have fun designing all of my clients' invitations, but this particular invitation was SO much fun! It's hard to make out the details in the photo, but in the yellow section off to the right, I included cute little warnings like "Do Not Read While Intoxicated" and "May Cause Excessive Happiness." With the main invitation designed as a prescription label, it only made sense to design the response card to look like a doctor's prescription.

For the ceremony, I designed reserved seating cards and programs that incorporated the wedding colors of gold and deep red. For the reception, well, this is where things got crazy! Traditional table numbers were swapped for fancier cards featuring different Street Fighter characters. Allow me to introduce you to dear, sweet Blanka:

These images were taken from the custom bar menu that I designed for their signature cocktails:

The groom supplied the character images and I was given the freedom to interpret the rest of the design in anyway I wanted. What a gift to be given carte blanche on this fun job! The last piece I produced for the wedding involved printing the same powerbar from the invitation, but as an oversized 6-ft foamcore sign. It hung inside the reception room as the backdrop to the couple's Street Fighter tournament. Yup, that's right...video games, large screens, tons of fun. I didn't get to see the giant sign in person as it went directly from the printshop to the hotel, but I'm sure it was the perfect finishing touch for this awesome wedding!

Ocean inspiration

Back in December I received an email inquiry from a bride who wanted to incorporate a painting by a local Kailua artist into her wedding invitation. I asked her to send me the link to the artist's website and instantly fell in love with the gorgeous print that she had in mind:


"Ebb and Flow" by Colin Redican

We had a tight production timeline so I had the bride contact the artist, Colin Redican, right away to seek permission to reprint. A day later, I forwarded a copy of the invitation mock-up for his review and with his swift approval, printing was underway! The couple's beachside wedding and affinity for the ocean was reflected perfectly in this beautiful print.

I'll have a sample of this custom oversized 7"x7" invitation on display in the Emi Ink booth at the Hawaii Wedding Expo (April 29-30 @ the Hawaii Convention Center).

A little aloha for Japan

So much can happen in a month's time. A few weeks ago, I started a mental log of all the wonderful things I wanted to blog about. Unusual design inspirations, cool clients, fun events happening about town. I had so much to say, but I was waiting for the perfect moment to catch my breath before I could put pen to paper.

Then news came of the Japan earthquake and devastating tsunami. Although most of us in Hawaii were able to count our blessings in those early morning hours, our hearts went out to all those suffering in Japan. The personal stories of tragedy and triumph across the Pacific have inspired an outpouring of sympathy and charitable contributions. Every donation, small and large, can make a difference and in an effort to aid in Japan's recovery, Emi Ink will be donating 5% of all orders booked throughout the month of April to the Aloha for Japan campaign.

To my faithful readers, I encourage you to help in anyway you can. If not with a monetary donation, then with a prayer of support. And to our friends in Japan, 頑張って!