Wedding Paper Timeline

We have created this handy Wedding Paper Timeline for all of you Brides out there! Feel free to print and use as a guide throughout your wedding planning process. If you have any questions or would like to talk with us about designing your wedding paper - just drop us a note hello@emmajdesign.com

Visit www.emmajdesign.com to view our wedding portfolio.

Hiring a professional : WEDDING INVITATIONS

Throughout the 10 plus years I have been working in the paper industry, I have seen the good, the bad, the ugly and unfortunately, the DIY disasters. In a new world of DIY everything, your invitations should not be one of them. Please hire a professional for this timeless piece of your marriage as your invitations will be something you treasure for many years to come. Here are my top 5 reasons to hire a professional to design or print your wedding invitations.

PRINTING

Thinking about printing your invitations at home or at work? My guess is your printer doesn't provide archival inks and offset printing quantity. What does that mean? 5 years from now, you're going to look at your wedding invitations only to discover the ink has started to fade and turn yellow or brown. Over time, the design will mostly disappear leaving you with a faded piece of paper that has also started to yellow and fade. Stick to offset printing, letterpress, thermography or letterpress and 100% cotton papers so that in years to come, you can share your invitations with your children and they will see it in the same way you intended: classic, timeless and representative of your wedding day. I still have a copy of my grandparent's folded traditional wedding invitation - still in the same condition from almost 75 years ago.

DESIGN

Graphic designers and Stationers have specific software they license to create invitations and graphics. This software is extremely expensive and they are trained to use this properly. When it comes to the artwork on your invitations, a seasoned designer can properly illustrate graphics for your invitation - either from scratch or from trusted libraries of design elements. Attempting to use clipart from your word program or pulling images from the internet will not result in a good quality image. All images on the internet have been reduce in resolution so they will often appear blurry. Images needs to be at least 300 dpi in resolution to be used in graphics and printing, while all web images are only 72 dpi in resolution. If you do choose to design your own invitations, please do not take artwork from other designers' websites and samples - this is highly unethical and unfair to these professionals.

FONTS

Graphic designers and Stationers have extensive libraries of fonts available for commercial use. Their sources will far exceed the font selections available on your computer. We take time to study font trends, purchase updated versions and new scripts to make available to our clients. From choosing a classic font designed by a calligrapher or a block print that will stand the test of time, we know what will best in the design and what will not look dated after a couple of years. Chances are, if you can find fonts on a free font website, they have been in the market for quite a few years and are starting to look dated. Best to stick to classic fonts and hand-rendered lettering.

ETIQUETTE

Oh, how this is SO important for your wedding invitations. Referring back to my blog post a few weeks ago, this is just the icing on the cake - there are many layers to the correct wording on wedding invitations. So many in fact, that a true professional will know all of the proper etiquette rules for your wedding invitation wording. Through their experience, resources and etiquette guides, they will provide you with the correct name order, host lines, time, date and location specifics. I cannot tell you how many wedding invitations I have seen over the years with improper wording and etiquette. A few of the most common mistakes are: 1) Using "Requesting the honour of your presence" while getting married outside of a church setting. This is reserved for a house of worship ONLY. 2) Including the Zip code in the address line, 3) Not including full spelled out names of parents and bride/groom and 4) Not spelling out the state on the envelopes - this is just to name a few! In addition to wording etiquette there are specific ways your invitation should be layered in the envelope, addressed and mailed. 

PAPER

The paper industry is a very broad industry - there are hundreds of paper options available to the public, trade-only and designers. We have the experience to know how designs will look on specific papers with chosen printing techniques. In most cases, the printers you have at home will not be able to support a thicker stock appropriate for wedding invitation. Paper and envelopes often get stuck in the printer leaving you with frustration and an unsuccessfully printed invitation. It is also important that all of the paper is purchased from the same company. Paper runs can vary at times leaving you with varying shades of whites or ecrus. Buying from discount sites can sometimes leave you with mismatched envelopes and paper. 

Whether you work with me at EMMA J DESIGN or one of the many talented stationers available to brides like you, please let us assist you in designing a unique and timeless invitation for your wedding day. 

Have questions?

emily@emmajdesign.com

Invitation Etiquette

Over the years, I have assisted party hostesses, brides and wedding planners with invitation etiquette and wording. In order to spread the word about invitation etiquette, I have created this handy guide to wording, dos and don'ts. Feel free to share, pin or study for your next event!

Custom invitations are available through EMMA J DESIGN.

Signature Style

My heart is so full of inspiration, humbleness, motivation and energy after the amazing weekend I spent with 21 of the most talented women I know. I will forever be grateful for the experience of attending and speaking at The Stationery Academy, an intensive for stationers just like me. For any of you out there contemplating a career in stationery design, I highly recommend you to go next year. I was asked to speak about Signature Style and Visual Branding. Excitedly, I shared my experience, story and journey to find my own signature style. My brand has evolved and so has my style. I feel like I truly know myself now and know exactly what I want out of life, business and personal growth. It takes time for everyone to get there - you just have to take the steps in finding out WHY you want to be YOU. It has harder than it sounds, but once you can determine the values, fears, strengths and inspiration at your CORE, it is possible to truly discover who you are as a designer or business owner. BE YOURSELF - not anyone else.

Signature style is any representation of yourself - what defines you and what makes you unique.

Have the confidence to design what you love, everyone will follow. Some of the most successful designers in the style and paper industry have made a conscious decision to design against the norm and it proved to be successful.

DESIGN WHAT YOU LOVE, NOT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING.

Like what you like, design how you want to design and you'll always be authentic.

Stationery Academy

What is Stationery Academy you ask? It is a comprehensive workshop experience for stationers alike and will be hosted this year by Whitney English Kolb and Natalie Chang. I am so excited to be attending and plan on soaking up every bit of motivation, experience and ounce of paper loving peeps I can take in. Spending 4 days with passionate designers like myself will be so wonderful and inspirational. Anyone can attend and you can visit the website here to sign up. Spaces are filling up fast so book now to guarantee a spot! Hope to see you there!

NYC National Stationery Show Sneak Peeks for Twist Paper

All of the paper gurus from English Paper Company are headed up the big apple for the National Stationery Show to sell and promote lots of fabulous new designs from Twist Paper!

Here are a few of my favorites from the everyday collection:

and from the holiday collection...

Master's Themed Party Invitation

A friend of mine approached me about doing a custom Twist Paper invitation for a party she was throwing celebrating a newly engaged couple. I thought it turned out so cute!

Pink and Green Baby Shower

I had the delight of hosting a baby shower for my friend, Brandy! Along with the help of 2 other hostesses, we were able to pull together quite a fabulous soiree if I have to say so myself! Starting with the invitations, we set the tone with pink and green hues with a vintage feel. For the shower, we used the same palette and threw in a little Lilly Pulitzer with the tablecloth and attire! We completed the event with a Mimosa Station, Sweets Station with the help of Custom Cakes, delicious food and paper accents from emma j design. Enjoy!

The Invitation complete with her Serena and Lilly-inspired bedding pattern on the reverse and custom envelope liner. Calligraphy by yours truly.

Flower arrangements by your truly, flower from B + C Wholesale Florist.

Monogrammed Flower Trio, Brandy is using these for the nursery

Baby Claire Name Garland

The fabulous hostesses and the mommy-to-be, Brandy in green.

I'm so excited for her and the arrival of Baby Claire!

South Magazine Editorial : Twist Paper + emma j design

I was so thrilled to participate in the latest issue of South Magazine, Savannah's creative and stylish publication! It all started with an idea over lunch with the uber-inspiring Erin Wessling from South. We pulled it together with the talent of Savannah's leading industry peeps. Thanks to everyone who make it possible! I'm just ecstatic over the final result! Run out and pick up this coffeetable-worth book before it sells out!

Photographer, Angela Hopper

Stylist, Project Runway Contestant, Mitchell Hall

Paper provided by emma j design + Twist Paper

Makeup: Glow

Trunk: Vintage from my Grandparents Dress: Vintage

Twist Holiday Cards!

It's that time of year! My pandora has changed to my favorite Frank Sinatra Christmas station, I've made my first purchase of peppermint coffee creamer, the emails have started arrive inquiring about holiday cards and I'm picking out my annual baking and drink recipes for gifts! These wonderful traditions spark the selection of holiday cards! This year will be the first year all of my holiday cards are online for purchase and I could not be more excited! Here are a few of my favorites this year - all come with coordinating party invitations, gift tags and address labels.

All available for purchase at your local Twist Retailer and online

www.getpapered.com  |  www.lemontreepaperie.com

Also, a few of my favorite holiday party invitations!

Local Savannah Retailers pick up Twist Paper Products!

SO excited to announce that 3 retailers in Savannah will be carrying the Twist Paper line!

Feel free to stop in anytime to check out the new line and place your orders for Holiday Photo Cards and matching accessories! Tell them I sent you! 

Introducing Twist Paper:

{ DOWNTOWN }

La Paperie

409 Whitaker Street
Savannah, Georgia 31401
No 912.443.9349

www.lapaperie.net

{ MIDTOWN }

Merry Times

5521 Abercorn Street

Savannah, Georgia 31405

No 912.354.6314

{ ISLANDS }

Polka Dots

107 Charlotte Road, Suite E

Savannah, Georgia  31410

No 912.898.3730

www.polkadotssavannah.com

Not only will they be carrying the imprintables that you can quickly order invitations and stationery in the store, but they are carrying...

Holiday Album

{Great for Holiday Cards, Invitations, Gift Tags, etc}

Baby+Child Album

{Birth Announcements, Birthday Party invitations, Gift Tags, calling cards}

Accessories Album

{Calling Cards, Gift Tags, Stickers, Melamine Plates, Placemats, etc}

Safari-Themed Baby Shower for Jami

I have the pleasure of having such great friends here in Savannah! One of them is expecting a new little bundle of joy, Baby Liam!!! Now there is one thing I LOVE doing and that's hosting showers! All of us rolled up our sleeves and got to work on this fabulous jungle-themed shower for Jami! Her nursery is Jungle friends from Pottery Barn so we only thought this was appropriate! After a couple of weeks of the hubby's growing  honey-do list, we were able to make some of the decor changes to the house in time!

Here are the details!

The invitation

inspired by her nursery bedding from Pottery Barn:

Food signs adorned the delicious dishes our hostesses prepared:

Loved the Martha Stewart tissue ball kits at Michaels!

Of course we had to serve bellinis! Baby bellinis for the mommy-to-be!

The living room ready for guests!

Monogram utensil bands completed the table along with our always fabulous favors from Two Smart Cookies!

The framed monogram that all of the guests signed. Jami was able to take it home in a frame for the nursery! Also, welcome your guests with a sign on the front door!

The fabulous hostesses with the stylish mommy-to-be!