Anne & Scott say I DO with Simple, Romantic, Elegance

Onsite Prep Photography:  The 2u Collection     Event & Studio Photography:  Liga Photography   Invitations & Stationery:  The 2u Collection    Venue:    Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel        Videography:  Imprint Cinema     Floral, Decor & Linens:  Botanica International Decor & Design Studio     Officiant:  A Beautiful Ceremony     Cake: The Sugar Suite      PhotoBooth:  Click! Photo Booths   Entertainment:  The Buzz Cats      Design & Coordination: E-Events Design by Lisa Stoner     Draping:  Swag Decor

We always love to tackle a project, where there are no design limitations. It's every designers dream! And I am no different! It's extremely fulfilling to my creative brain, when I get to present out of the box unique ideas and the client not only trusts my judgement but is open to the non traditional. When I met Anne and Scott early in 2012- it was a breath of fresh air!

From the first design brainstorm meeting over skype with the bride, her mother and Lisa Stoner from E-Events to the last minute pieces we pulled together at the end- this couple (and family) was a joy to work with!  We were hired for full service Stationery and art direction of all media (printed pieces, logo projections, etc).  I am often asked what full service custom stationery entails. And this is the perfect wedding to explain it. Basically, I am at the clients beckon call for anything and everything in regards to graphics, stationery, websites, staging, etc, from the moment they book me to the day of the event,  and any last minute designs or pieces that may be needed as the event grows near.

This also includes being there during the event set-up to support E-Events and other vendors with regards to the graphics, stationery, etc. Many times the designs I create can be elaborate and often include various working parts and pieces. In these cases, we offer full service as to not burden the coordinator and other vendors with the tasks of having to set up our complex pieces. I always love it, because then I get to see the bride and grooms reaction to our work... we often don't see their reaction first hand, because most of the time the stationer isn't needed onsite during event set up.

So here we go! Let's start enjoying these details! When I first met this couple, I was told... NO FRILLS, and Nothing TOO FORMAL or  GIRLY. The bride and groom both play soccer and are pretty laid back -- and wanted their wedding and wedding stationery to reflect that, creating a mood of close-knit, family warmth and comfort.

Since their wedding was over a holiday weekend, they wanted to ensure that guests weren't shut out of booking rooms due to the holiday weekend. So we sent the above eblast to the guest even before invitations when out!

Next on the agenda... Rehearsal Dinner, again an eblast was sent inviting guests to the night before the wedding festivities. In this case it was a down home cookout!

The invitations were next to arrive in the post and give the guests a bit of excitement for the event ahead.

Super thick 130# felt paper with 2 color letterpress bound together with a white satin ribbon and silver flat charms with their initials punched into them. We developed a monogram for the bride and groom, that you will see throughout the whole event! 

Take in some of the details of the invitation below.

We did all kinds of wonderful stationery for the event itself. Below you can see the whole group, and 

I'll discuss each detail below as I share the amazing event with you.

I am always amazed at how an ordinary ballroom can be transformed into an amazing oasis, and this wedding is no different. Lisa Stoner from E-Events outdid herself this time!! (and every other time.. lol) And of course the full team that was pulled together all did their part to create this amazing event. (see credits in the top of the blog)

BEFORE (above): Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel  --Venetian Ballroom. This is event day around 10am. Vendors are starting to arrive, the room has yet to become it's destiny! 

 AFTER (above): Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel  --Venetian Ballroom. This is event day around 6pm. What an amazing transformation! Props to Swag Decor and Swank A/V at Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel, 

 the draping and dramatic lighting really changed the room!

Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel  --Citrus Piazza. The couple exchanged vows under the stars.

Lisa created a divided room, with drapes and dramatic lighting, so there was a dinner area and an entertainment dancing area. Beautiful White Leather Furniture surrounded the ROUND dance floor- that's right.. ROUND.. What an amazing touch!

The room also had a large movie screen for a slideshow during dinner. We created our monogram graphic for both, to carry the stationery and monogram theme throughout. Below you can see the light projection on the dance floor above, with a close up below, as well as the screen projection graphic.

Before I go too much further, I have to give props to Ian Prosser and his team at Botanica International Decor & Design Studio, his decor and floral really made this event romantic and elegant!  Checkout some of my favorite details of the 

decor below.

These crystal candle sticks... SWOON.. I told Ian at the event he needed to keep an eye on me, because I wanted to take them home!!  As you can see his floral and decor design, really added romance and elegance. Creating the warm and cozy family feeling the couple were looking for.

 Lisa and Ian! On Event day.. working hard, but always time out for a little vendorly love!

 Lisa (center) with her E-Girls! On the Left her future sister-in-law, Jessie Carr. (Soon to be Stoner!) And on the right, her beautiful daughter, Sara Konency.

Now, Back to the stationery! I wanted to set the stage for the remaining pieces we created. As I mentioned earlier, the couple and the family of the bride, were a joy to work with, and they trusted the vision of all the vendors involved and handed us the reigns to do the best job we could! With this in mind, I did some creative thinking and created some pretty unique pieces. 

Guests were greeted when they arrived after the ceremony to cocktail hour, where they found this escort card/favor table.

Because the bride and groom are both avid Soccer Players, we created Dusty Rose Vellum Pendant escort cards. And once the guest took they their pendants, the mercury glass vases were cleared leaving the center of the table filled with 

"Gifts From Home" as take away favors. 

Dusty Rose Vellum Pendant escort cards with letterpress monogram button tag and white satin ribbon, on metallic silver 

dowel rods! Below:Details of the Gifts from Home!  The groom is from Traverse City, Michigan. A place know for Kilwins Fudge and Salt Water Taffy. The couple decided to share a bit of home with the guests with these great snacks! Assorted Fudge and Salt Water Taffy in a brown kraft bag adorned with a letterpress monogram button, white satin ribbon and a small note from the bride and groom, also on Dusty Rose Vellum.

We also created signage that sprinkled throughout the event for various things, The Photobooth, the Bar, Directional Signs, etc. We even created yard signs for their day after brunch, which directed guests where to park! These signs were on Dark Grey Paper- with white felt mounted with the message.

As you read above I am gushing about the design, decor and floral of this event. With that being said, the pieces I designed for my contribution to the decor were Acrylic Table numbers and Vellum Belly Band Menus. I didn't want to disappoint, as I knew these pieces I created would be showcased on the tables with all the other amazing decor. To this end, I wanted to design elements that were strong pieces on their own, as well as lending to the overall atmosphere that Lisa was trying to create. These pieces needed to be not-too-showy, while still complimenting the other elements in the room.

                   Dusty Rose Vellum Belly Band Menus- wrapped around the silver silk napkin resting on the plate.

 One of my favorite things from this entire event... Acrylic Table Numbers!! We created these beautiful Acrylic Table numbers for each table, the bride and the grooms sweetheart table got one as well, as a nice keepsake for years to come!

These great Letterpress Monogram Buttons we created for various applications throughout the event.

 Because this couple was so NON-FORMAL, we did a fun program, that gave a fun overview of the ceremony. I also want to give some love to The Sugar Suite as this is one of my favorite cakes from ALL OF LAST YEAR!!

Last minute, the family decided they wanted to put a brochure and map cards in the hotel rooms for guests, so they knew of holiday events around town, dates, times, phone numbers, directions etc. Below is a 8 Panel Accordion brochure that gave the guests all the information the needed for holiday events, shows, etc. happening locally.

 The Thank You: Dusty Rose Vellum Belly Band with Letterpress Monogram Button mounted, inside, letterpress thank you message from the bride and groom.

In Closing- we are proud and thankful to have been involved in this event from the smallest detail to the large! This is what the bride and groom had to say:

"Well what can we say?  The wedding was amazing and everything we could've imagined!  Thank you thank you thank you. All of your ideas were creative, fun, and also personal to us."

--love anne and scott

2012 Holiday Season Series- New Years Glam, Old Hollywood Style

To read the first blog post on the invitations click here.

Event Photography: Wings Of Glory Photography     Studio Photography:  Liga Photography   Invitations & Stationery:  The 2u Collection    Venue:  Ronnie & Will's home on Lake Brantley       Videography:  Key Moment Films     Tent:  Classic Tents & Events     Floral:  Lee Forrest Design & Pink Flamingo at Petals     Officiant:  A Beautiful Ceremony    Chairs: A Chair Affair      Linens:   La Tavola Linens       Furniture:  Hitched Event Rentals       Hair / Makeup:  Kristy's On-Location Makeup Artistry & Hair Design      Cake: Anna Cakes      CupCakes:  Pink Pig Bakery     PhotoBooth:  Click! Photo Booths   Entertainment:  Carrara Nour      Design Collaboration & Execution: E-Events Design by Lisa Stoner      Desserts:  RW Couture Chocolate Fountains     Dress: Solution’s Bridal, Orlando     Tuxedo: Absolutely Fitting      Caterer: Moore Fine Foods     Draping & Chandelier:  Swag Decor

We at The 2u Collection we have been reminded how fun it is creating wedding stationery for one of our own in the industry! What you may not realize is that working in the wedding industry doesn't necessarily make planning and executing your own day much easier. In fact, knowing the ins and outs of your vendor's capabilities can sometimes create option overload! Such is the case with fellow vendors Ronnie Renaud and Will LaValle of RW Chocolate Couture Fountains & Decadent Desserts! and Click Photobooth Rentals. This wedding was a while in the making, as great business owners, they kept postponing to put the needs of their brides weddings ahead of their own. 

   

The original inspiration was driven by the fact that the bride hadn't really decided what kind of wedding and experience she wanted to create. So we brainstormed and thought her invitation could be her "something blue"! And of course we didn't want to ignore new years, so Pale Blues & Dazzling Golds, Gleaming with Glitter and a Sprinkling of Iridescent Confetti are just some of the ideas we landed on! Then as her dream wedding design started to take shape. Thanks to Ronnie's collaboration with Lisa Stoner of E-Events Design this amazing Old Hollywood Glam Wedding started to materialize. Ronnie had underestimated her guest list, and once the "Something blue New Years Concept had gone out, she realized she was going to need about 50 more. So we took the existing design and turned it Hollywood Glam. 

And to make the project a bit more challenging, due to the need for quick turn around on the second round design, we weren't going to have enough Glitter Die Cut Letters. So we took the challenges In stride and created the above "Mix and Match Idea of the same invitation!"

Side by side the invites are reminiscent of one another, but when you take a closer look the individual delights of each begin to stand out. It even becomes a playful way to engage your guests and get them talking! Without competing these pieces have managed to create a "Which one did YOU get?!" buzz while lending the same feel to the overall creative concept of the wedding event.

Abby Liga of Liga Photography, the fabulous bride Ronnie Renaud, Amy Morelli of The 2u Collection and Lisa Stoner of E-Events Design

It's always fun working a wedding for a "Friendor" because getting to be a guest and a vendor is a good time! Blowing off steam with the people you have been working hard with for months  makes for a little personal connection with people in the industry.

As the decor and the Old Hollywood theme started to reveal itself, I dove into the Paper Design using sparkly linens, our glitter invitations, chandeliers, beading and drape as inspiration. I tried to imagine a New Years Eve party, circa 1940s-50s old hollywood movie. We started by finding old Hollywood movie quotes from movies that would be appropriate for some of the pieces we were creating. These quotes were peppered throughout the stationery on various tags, signage, etc. 

Having worked with almost all of these vendors before, we all are accostumed to each other's design style, so as I was designing I was trying to image what the wonderful Lee Forrest would do, Swag Decor, etc. How would my paper add to the overall design of the event?  Enjoy some of the details that sparked my creativity. Above: Disco Balls by RW Chocolate Couture Fountains & Decadent Desserts sparkled in the Signature Gold and Silver of the Event. 

Die Cut Gold Glitter Letters shined in candlelight on these unique layered paper Menus we created. Black Soft Touch Paper layered with Gold and Champagne Metallic added another luxurious detail to the table centerpieces. 

Disco Balls Hung from the Bar and Dancing Tent, While Chandeliers hung from the trees and Dinner Tent. Guests were WOWed at every turn of Ronnie and Will's lakeside yard, From the silk and beaded drape, to the details below. New Year's Eve was in the Air!

During Cocktail Hour, the guests used silver and gold paint pens to sign Ronnie and Will's keepsake magnum of red wine. We created a Gold Foil Label for the magnum, Raffle Tickets for a "Singles Game" were also found on the welcome table. There are also some sparklers for the guests to pick up and use at the exit of the ceremony, but more about those later.

While the above magic was being created, Ronnie and Will were hidden away getting ready for their big moment. I want to give a quick shout out to Kristys On Location Makeup Artistry and Hair Design. They made the bride look gorgeous, and as a special thank you for my part in her special day Ronnie had them make me look fabulous as well! And did they ever, I felt like I stepped right out of one of those Old Hollywood Movies myself.

And here comes the bride...here comes the vows.

Working with Ronnie we came up with a Sparkler exit after the announcement of Mr. and Mrs. , it kept the New Year's feeling while adding the Glam factor! The back of the tag prompted guests to light the sparklers and make a wish at the couples first kiss.

Traditionally at a wedding when you clink your spoon against your glass the bride and groom should smooch. With this in mind on each plate was a gold, black or silver noisemaker, with the old Hollywood Movie Quote "Put your lips together and blow".

Traditionally at a wedding when you clink your spoon against your glass the bride and groom should smooch. With this is mind on each plate was a gold, black or silver noisemaker, with the old Hollywood Movie Quote "Put your lips together and blow".

I'm going to leave you with a few more of the amazing details from the evening below, and of course Ronnie and Will's dog Murphy made an appearance! He's just too adorable to leave out. 

Above flower cake details. Below an amazing brooch embellishment for the bridal bouquet.