Exciting News 2u!

It's a Mad Hatter kind of Affair!

2012-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

This was such a fun project, not only is it for the Baby Shower of one of my good friends, it will also be appearing in the Spring Issue of PLAYGROUND Magazine. The theme is a Mad Hatter Tea and Lunch. Which I knew was going to be fun from the start. It's exciting as a designer, when you get to be fun and funky! As you can see from above to create "Fun and Funky" she chose Fiber Mark's Black Touché Paper, and embellished it with a Fun Patterned Ribbon and Black Feathers.

As you can see on the flip side, we had fun with the copy, creating a rhyme to fall in line with the Mad Hatter state of mind. (Props to PLAYGROUND Magazine for this amazing copywriting)

We accented the die cut printed invitation with this amazing glitter damask black and white paper. It turned out sophisticated and fun. Congratulations to Heather on her upcoming "Bundle of Joy!"

So Exciting! We are on the Orlando Wedding Magazine Bridal Council!

2012-01-19T14:05:00.000-08:00

I am excited and honored to share this. I was asked to be on the Bridal Council at Orlando Wedding Magazine. We congratulate our fellow council members as well, also you can see 2 of our invitation images were also in the current issue!

Inspiration Series-Lisa Stoner of E-Events Design!

2012-01-12T07:59:00.000-08:00

I am often asked how I fight through creative block and what inspires me. So, here is an installment of my Inspiration Series to start the new year off right!

I've found that sometimes to break out of a NON-creative funk, it's best I go look at some work of other artists I admire. Being a traditional artist as well, It's fun for me to see what other artists use as their outlet, although I paint, and sketch my primary outlet for my art is through graphics, type and paper. Sometimes to see how other creative minds put out their ideas, and the creations they create will jostle my own creative juices.

Thanks to Abby Liga, Damon Tucci, Garrett Nudd, Jen Larson, Rhette Pyle, Mark Pennington and Thom Larussa

For this post I chose Lisa Stoner, of E Events. I am lucky to not only call Lisa a good friend, but to work with her on regular basis. Her work is inspiring and trend setting. She has a style that is un-rivaled and all her own. Her eye for details makes every event she touches classy and spectacular in every way. Not only is she amazing in her professional life, but in her personal life as well, she has 2 wonderful daughters, and one of them I'm sure will be the first woman president. (and I'm being serious!) Just proving further how inspirational she truly is. Take in some of the beautiful imagery below from some of the events she has designed!

You can see what I mean about the eye for details. Romance is carried through, even in the cute heart shaped pat of butter!

Whether it's transforming an existing venue or creating a venue in great wide open with a tent. Lisa really knows how to pull it all together.

One of my favorite things that is evident in Lisa's work is the use of the ORGANIC.. She takes, natures most beautiful textures, colors and shapes and incorporates them in her events with modern flair.

If you aren't familiar with Lisa Stoner, of E Events, then it has been my pleasure introducing you to her. If you are familiar with her, then you understand why she is inspiring.

Platinum Perfection!

2012-01-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I know, I'm horrible that I went a little MIA over the holiday season. But I'm back now, and excited to share this below wedding!

If you are a reader of my blog, you've know I've written how color choices for weddings follow a trend. 2011 was the year of PLATINUM.. I did 5 weddings in 2011 with the palette Platinum, and some form of champagne, ivory or cream. And sometimes coming up with ideas over and over with the same colors can be challenging, but for some reason this invitation was not difficult. It flowed right out of me, as if the bride was channeling me herself! :)
The bride, wanted simple, elegant, and nothing over the top, and you can see by the below images, that direction created a gorgeous wedding.

Congrats to Linda and James!

Vendors for this wedding:

Wedding Planning- Christine Godsey of Engaging Affairs

Flowers - Edge Flowers

Invitations - Amy Morelli, The 2u Collection

Photo - Mark Betlinger, Rodney Bailey Photography

The Happy Couple! Looking Gorgeous.

Platinum Metallic Paper with Champagne Metallic Inlay with Satin Ribbon Accent.

Here's what the bride had to say about her invitations and working with us here at The 2u Collection.

"I really enjoyed working with Amy on creating our perfect wedding invitation. She took everything I said and wanted into consideration when making our invitation! The final product is truly stunning! So many of my family and friends have told me that they are best wedding invitations they have ever seen! Thank you so much Amy and the 2ucollection.com team!"

Amazing Floral and Decor!

Great Job to all involved, and congratulations again to Linda and James!

Winter Park Bridal Stroll here we come!

2011-12-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

If you are newly engaged and looking for some of the best wedding vendors around, then you need to come to the Winter Park Bridal Stroll. We are happy to say we not only did the design for this event, but we will be participating with both of our stationery lines! Both The 2u Collection and Paper Couture Stationery will be at the stroll this year, be sure to come see us!

To buy Tickets go to winterparkbridalstroll.com

Inspiration Series-Liga Photography!

2011-12-02T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am often asked how I fight through creative block and what inspires me. So, here is an installment of my Inspiration Series.

I've found that sometimes to break out of a NON-creative funk, it's best I go look at some work of other artists I admire. Being a traditional artist as well, It's fun for me to see what other artists use as their outlet, although I paint, and sketch my primary outlet for my art is through graphics, type and paper. Sometimes to see how other creative minds put out their ideas, and the creations they create will jostle my own creative juices.

So today I want to share with you, one of my favorite places to go and be inspired. Liga Photography...And Luckily for me, I don't have to go very far. Abby is a close friend of mine as well as she trusts me to handle all of her marketing and branding, and I trust her to photograph all of my work. So if you've visited my blog before you'll know Abby shoot's all of my stationery and products. She even lends her creative eye, imagery and style to our joint stationery line Paper Couture Stationery.

With work like her's it's easy to be inspired to create great marketing and advertising pieces. And I can tell you that because I have access to all of her images for her marketing efforts, she is an AMAZING TALENT. I can assure you, she isn't one of those photographers that shoots thousands of images, to pull a few strong ones. Everything she shoots is strong, emotional and thought provoking. Whether the subject is Weddings, Engagement, Corporate or just something that personally fulfills her, her images always make a statement. (pictured above is the striking cover of her presentation brochure I designed. Of course the beautiful image really brings it home how talented she really is)

This is one of my favorite Engagement Shoots she has ever done. The style of the couple is mirrored in Abby's thoughtful placement of props and subject. The true naturalistic environment lends to the natural and easy going feeling of the couple, and Abby's genuine love for LOVE is evident as she captures the spontaneous and intimate moments of the couple.

I am obsessed with details, and I love these images above Abby captured while traveling around France. You can still see her passion for great moments in time... even without human subjects.

And of course, something she is particularity good at is Weddings. If you are in the market for a wedding photographer- you couldn't go wrong if you choose Abby. As you can see she brings an emotion to her client's day that will live on for years to come. (above is a recent wedding of Miss Liga's. Visit her BLOG to see more. Below is a page out of her presentation piece)

Custom Holiday Cards Give A Personalized Touch!

2011-11-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

We always love it when our brides regularly include us in their life events! I love this couple for many reasons, but one of them is I get to be a part of all their life events. This year they contacted me to design their Custom Holiday Cards, they wanted their friends and loved ones to get something personalized.

Aparna and Mike always have flattering things to say, here's what they said about our above creation: "They are absolutely stunning!! I love the paper quality and the shimmer that even comes through in the pictures. The crystals add just the right amount of sparkle, we LOVE them!! Best part is how you captured our wedding color as well as matched our photo backgrounds to the card. I'm so glad I have extra because I really want to frame and put these up next to our wedding stationary! Thank you so much!!

11/11/11

2011-11-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

As many of your know, 11/11/11 was the most popular wedding date on the planet! I want to share with you my 11/11/11 couple. I love them both, they were a joy to work with and as you can see the result below was stunning. This couple came to me 2 months before their wedding, which makes it all the more special. I feel very flattered when a bride a groom love my work so much that they decide to switch gears so close to their wedding and get me in on the stationery design. Because we didn't meet until well after their invitations had gone out, we created only the ceremony programs and placecards.

Wedding Planner: Hope Bott, Chefs Galley Special Events

Officiant: Senior Pastor Barton Buchanan

Flowers: Little Shop of Flowers

Ceremony: Windermere Union Church

Reception: The Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Musicians: Walter Jaworski

DJ: DJ Carl

Cupcakes: Sweet! by Good Golly Miss Holly

Backdrop + Drapes: Design Elements

Video: Elegante Films

All images by Luz Virginia

Reception Stationery The 2u Collection

Nikki and Danny- looking Gorgeous!!

Unique Die Cut Dove Shaped PlaceCards to rest on the glass at each place setting

Ceremony Programs- The bride and groom wanted to share their favorite songs with the guests! So we incorporated the CD into the programs. Here's what the bride had to say about our above creations: "I couldn't be happier. Everyone Raved about the Programs and Placecards!"

For more of the beautiful wedding watch the slideshow below!

Gotham Hall...Gorgeous! (continuation of Letterpress...Yes Yes!) PART II

2011-11-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

All Venue and Wedding photography is by Shira Weinberger - NYC Wedding Photography,

all in studio product photography by Liga Photography.

Wedding Location: Gotham Hall, New York
Wedding Planning & Design: Cristine Godsey of Engaging Affairs

Letterpress by Mama Sauce

Design and Hand Silk and Crystal work by: The 2u Collection

AMAZING floral by: Tantawan Bloom

To read Part I-- click here

I hope you all really enjoyed Part I of this blog.. Here is what you have been waiting for.. Part II.. You can see the amazing decor, and the rest of the stationery that we designed and created.

Miss Samira- looking Gorgeous!!

Love this shot!! Happy Couple!!!

Here's what Samira had to say about her invitations: "I have gotten so many compliments on the invitations....i lost track after the 57th. People who are related to people who received the invitation are going nuts over them! Men are actually commenting on how they are the most beautiful invites they have ever seen! My cousin has it on display at her house! I can go on and on!"

Here's what the happy couple had to say about the reception stationery when they received it.

JESSE: "WOW...Don’t know what to say..the program, table cards etc are exquisite. Excellent job—thank you."

SAMIRA: " I just received the package. Thanks so much for everything I was just looking at everything….so beautiful!!"

Wedding Location: Gotham Hall, New York

Beautiful, Beautiful Beautiful.. That is all I can say, the draping created such a beautiful atmosphere. Keep reading, it only gets more gorgeous! I must says Hats off to Samira and Cristine Godsey of Engaging Affairs the design of this wedding was GORGEOUS on so many levels, and of course my hats off to all other vendors that were involved.

Let's start from the beginning.. The guests first witnessed the exchanging of vow and wedding ceremony. We created the beautiful programs below for the ceremony.

Pewter Metallic Paper, compliments Champagne Metallic Paper, with the Monogram Design we created for Samira and Jesse, which is found throughout the entire wedding package. And don't forget the Swarovski Crystals to finish the Monogram.

After the ceremony it was time for dinner, dancing and reception fun!

The guests were created with this AMAZING escort card Tree created by Tantawan Bloom. Some of the cards hung from the tree and the rest sat on the table.

Beautiful Custom Printed Escort Card Tents with Swarovski Crystals

Then the WOW of the design and decor of the venue!

Love the Menu and Table Numbers we created for this event. Below you can see them both IN STUDIO and the evening of the event.

Silk Hardbound Table Numbers with Satin Ribbon and Swarovski Crystals finishing.

Congratulations to you both. You make a beautiful couple, and I wish you many years of happiness!

To finish it off, a beautiful Thank You Card.

I hope you enjoyed this 2 part post!

Gotham Hall...Gorgeous! (continuation of Letterpress...Yes Yes!) PART I

2011-10-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

This October I had the pleasure in being a part of an amazing union. This bride came to me last March, she had a color palette of platinum and champagne. She was a joy to work with, we collaborated for the last 7 months to create the stationery below. I've been so excited about this stationery, I couldn't wait and I've blogged about it before. However, now I have the whole wedding of Samira and Jesse, so keep reading...it's a visual treat! And there is so much to share, it will be a 2 parter, so be sure to check back in a few days for Part 2!

All Venue and Wedding photography is by Shira Weinberger - NYC Wedding Photography,

all in studio product photography by Liga Photography.

Wedding Location: Gotham Hall, New York
Wedding Planning & Design: Cristine Godsey of Engaging Affairs

Letterpress by Mama Sauce

Design and Hand Silk and Crystal work by: The 2u Collection

It all started in March 2011, Samira found me through referral and was excited for us as The 2u Collection to handle her wedding stationery. We were super excited as well, and the modern chic style of the bride, left us limitless possibilities!

Meet Samira. Love her, and her style is pretty much summed up in this image!
Here's what she had to say about her invitations: "I have gotten so many compliments on the invitations....i lost track after the 57th. People who are related to people who received the invitation are going nuts over them! Men are actually commenting on how they are the most beautiful invites they have ever seen! My cousin has it on display at her house! I can go on and on!"

Save the Date, and Invitation, Letterpress package with Handmade Silk Hardbound books finished with crystals and Satin Ribbon. Pewter Metallic Paper, Champagne Metallic Mailing envelopes and Labels, Ivory Felt Cover Stock for the Letterpress. Black Leatherette Box lines with Platinum Metallic Tissue Paper.

Save the Date

Handmade Platinum Silk Hardbound Book with Pewter Silk Bow, finished with Swarovski Crystal.

Letterpress on Ivory Felt, 3 Swarovski Crystal finish the Monogram and make the inside pop!

Satin Ribbon holds the details cards.

Great Shot of the Details and Response Cards. Layered with Pewter Metallic Paper.

all product photography above by Liga Photography.

In Part 2, I will share the rest of the reception collateral we created. Enjoy a few images from the wedding to help set the stage!

Beautiful shots of the invitation as the bride gets ready! Shira Weinberger - NYC Wedding Photography,

Hello Gorgeous, in an amazing Vera Wang design!

The Groom and his Gentlemen!

Oh so happy couple. Wedding Location: Gotham Hall, New York

A sneak peek of what is to come in Part 2. What a beautifully designed venue! An below is AMAZING floral by: Tantawan Bloom

Throwing a Holiday Party this year? How about a CUSTOM invitation!

2011-10-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Are you throwing a Holiday Party this year? It's not too late to have a unique custom invitation created.. We just recently created this amazing Custom Die Cut- mounted invitation for an ELEVEN ELEVEN ELEVEN Party!
The client was extremely pleased! Here's what she had to say: "I have never had people go so crazy complimenting me on an invite before!!! One email I got was in all caps raving on and on! Nice job!!!!"

Inspiration Series-The Color Blue.

2011-10-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

Inspiration Board for the Color Blue! Makes such an impact. Who says Blue is depressing and sad?

Images courtesy of Marthastewart, Ikea and The Knot!

Check us out! Weddings Illustrated Magazine.

2011-10-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

If you haven't gotten the fall issue of Weddings Illustrated Magazine, check it out. One of our invitations made it in the current issue.

Top left image, that is us. See invitation below for more detailed view!

Custom Holiday Cards and Party Invites are the HOT thing!!

2011-09-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

I know, some of you will read this and say.. WHATTTTTTT... This year is flying, it is not time for the Holiday's. Well, I couldn't agree with you more, however my clients are speaking with me now about creating custom holiday cards and party invites for them. So after freaking out and consulting the calendar, I realized... it's that time like it or not. The way this year has flown by, This Holiday season will be here before you know it. And if you want something unique and different for your holiday cards- that means CUSTOM- and Custom means time. You can visit our Custom Stationery Division to see more of our custom work.

I wanted to share some fun holiday things we've done in the past with you, to get your holiday juices flowing. Because if you are thinking about Custom for this holiday season it's time to start, Design, Printing and Production take time, and to get your card delivered by Late November it's best to start the CUSTOM process before October 15th.

If you don't have the budget for CUSTOM, check out our sister Stationery Line, Paper Couture. There are some great ready-made options and there will be ALL NEW HOLIDAY CARD Designs uploaded Mid October! Below are some of the great Holiday Cards currently on the site available for purchase and be sure to check back as the holiday's approach, as we will have all kinds of new designs uploaded!

Our ready made line, Paper Couture has these great Santa Tags.

Need a little help tagging gifts from the North Pole?

These 50 gift tags From Santa’s Workshop will help keep the tradition of Santa alive. 25 original tags that were created and signed by elves, reindeer and Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves! Your children will never question Santa’s “handwriting” again! (21.95 per set of 50 tags & ribbon)

(Buy Now)

Repost by popular demand! Stationery Etiquette!

2011-09-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have had many brides ask me specific questions about Wedding Stationary Etiquette. So today is all about etiquette, keep in mind some of the information below, is how I do things here at The 2u Collection and Paper Couture Stationery, some of these "rules" have been modified to what I've found works best over the years, so in researching etiquette rules you may find different rules. What I've found over the years, is it is mostly personal preference how you handle some of these things. And I could write on etiquette for pages and pages, so with that in mind I just tried to create a brief overview of the main items and the questions I get asked the most.

With the current days of online invitations, eblasts, wedding websites, etc. it is easy to understand why there would be so many questions. Well instead of having to thumb through Emily Post’s Etiquette, I would like to help clear up some of the do’s and don’t’s of the world of wedding invitations.

WEDDING INVITATIONS

The main goal of the wedding invitation is to let your guests know the who, what, when, and where of the event. It will also serve to express the formality and tone of the event through the complexity, color, fonts, and design of the invitation. Once the invitation has successfully accomplished the 4 W’s the last step is to ensure that they are addressed and delivered with the proper courtesy! Keep in mind the Save the Date or Invitation is the first introduction your guests have to your spectacular event. It's a window into the Tone and Design of the event, and a great opportunity to start a BUZZ about your wedding. So, it's always best to WOW them, so they are excited and looking forward to the unveiling to come.
When to send the invitation:
Typically 2 months before your wedding date. The standard is 6 weeks before, but depending on travel, location of wedding and whether or not Save the Dates were sent is what will determine just how many weeks before your event you send your invitations.
What are the proper Formal Social Titles?
Mr. - Formal Male Title
Ms. - Formal Female Title, for divorcée or over 40 single woman
Mrs. - Formal Title for Married Females
Miss - Formal Title for Unmarried Females under 40 years old

How to address your invitations:

Couples-

Standard - Mr. And Mrs. John Smith

One has a Professional Title - Doctor Jane Smith and Mr. John Smith

Both have a Professional Title - Doctor Jane Smith and Doctor John Smith or The Drs. John and Jane Smith

Unmarried Couples - Miss Jane Smith

Mr. John Adams

Single Guests-

Unmarried Female - Miss Jane Smith or Ms. Jane Smith

Divorced Female - Ms. Jane Jones

Widowed Female - Mrs. Jane Smith or Mrs. John Smith

Children -

Under 16 - Only list parents name on the outer envelope and list the children's name on the inner envelope. For example: Jason and Brittany.

Over 16 - Get their own invitation! Addressed: Miss Brittany Smith or Mr. Jason Smith

When to use an Inner and Outer Envelope?:

Typically, we usually only use an outer mailing envelope, but if you are having a very formal or traditional event, then you will want to have both an inner and outer envelope, it gives an heir of sophistication and implies formality.

How to word the invitation depending on who is paying for the wedding:

Example when Brides Parents are paying:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of

their daughter Jennifer Michelle to Mr. James Joseph Clark on Saturday, the sixth of

November Two Thousand Eleven at two o’clock in the afternoon at Little Chapel

Winter Park, Florida.

Example when Groom’s Parents are paying:

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clark request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Miss Jennifer Michelle Smith to their son Mr. James Joseph Smith

When both are paying:

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith request the honor of your presence at the marriage of

their daughter Jennifer Michelle to Mr. James Clark son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clark

When the Bride and Groom are paying:

The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Miss Jennifer Michelle Smith and Mr. James Joseph Clark

Miss Jennifer Michelle and Mr. James Joseph Clark together with their parents request the honor of your presence

Do you need a wedding website?

It isn't' 100% necessary, However the majority of brides choose to have one these days. It is beneficial for several reasons, and you can get them free at most wedding websites these days (weddingwire.com, theknot.com, marthastewartweddings.com, etc) And if you are splurging on Custom Invitations, a website can be created that matches the design and feel of your invitations.

How to use your Wedding Website:

Now a days couples are using a website (otherwise called a wedsite) tailored specifically to their wedding to help spread the word about issues that are not considered polite to express on the actual invitation, such as posting where you are registered, addressing a “No Children” policy, when giving complicated or detailed directions, informing your guests of hotel special room rates, and providing links to area activities for out of towners.

SAVE THE DATES

The Save the Date is used to informally invite your wedding guests in further advance than the invitation, to help prevent them from planning events on your wedding date. They are good for anyone inviting friends/family that will need to travel to the wedding so that travel arrangements can be made. The Save the Date is also a great place to inform your guests of your wedding website!

When to send your Save the Dates:

Typically 4 to 6 months before your wedding date. If planning a destination wedding they can be sent up to 12 months before your wedding date!

I hope this blog helps, any of you with questions, if you have a specific question I haven't addressed you can always email me at amy@2ucollection.com. And keep in mind, don't get caught up in following everything to a T, as time moves forwards and traditions and standards change, these rules can be flexible and it's really about your personal preference.

Be Unique, Be out of the Box!

2011-09-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

Every bride that comes to me says the same thing, 'I want to be different and OUT OF THE BOX, I don't want my wedding stationery to be boring.'

So I decided to write a blog with this concept in mind, how do you make your Wedding Stationery unique and different? Well here are some tips.

UNIQUE SIZE AND SHAPE: Have your stationery company create something that isn't the standard shape, or size. Whether it's your Save the Date, Invitation, or pieces of your Reception Collateral, different sizes and shapes can really give your stationery an added wow factor!

DOES Invitation and Wedding Collateral HAVE TO BE PAPER?: Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE paper. Some who know me would say I'm addicted! (and I wouldn't disagree) However, it's always fun to use Paper as the compliment to some other element to WOW your guests. See some of the pieces below.

This was a fun project.. Did you know that Breathalyzer tests in their infancy involved a balloon? Well I didn't until I did research for this Stock the Bar, Housewarming Party. The invite required guests instead of bringing a housewarming gift, to bring a bottle of something to help stock their bar. What a fun idea. So we followed with the invite, The invite was a balloon attached to and insert card. All the details were on the balloon once you blew it up!

This was an amazing table number. The wedding was all about pearls, so instead of a standard Square or Rectangular piece of cover stock with a number, we used a glass vase, filled it with pearls and wooden numbers that had been pearlized with paint!

This is also very fun!! Try sending food!! Of course make sure it's food that won't spoil to much, in this case, we sent nuts, pop corn, dates and ritz crackers! It was a hit, nothing better than receiving snacks in the mail!

Don't want to use paper? Try Fabric! This invitation was unique and beautiful Printed Fabric with Satin Ribbon edges.

Here is another fun one.. Want something different. How about a video invitation? In this great invitation, a video invite was created and we presented it with paper as the accent in this great organic natural pocket!

USE TEXTURE: Another great way to be unique is to use Texture and embellishments when you can. Texture and use of interesting elements that aren't "NORMAL" for invitations always are a wow for the guests.

Using different textures can really bring the WOW to your guests. Textured AND colored paper is always a wow.. Adding Lace, ribbon and crystals bring depth and excitement, Also seen above, we took silk flowers and guilded them in metallic silver. It really brought drama to the invitations. Lastly, incorporating different colored and textured paper with elements like Raffia and Wood, also can bring life to any ordinary stationery set.

Make 2D into 3D: Do something unique, think outside the box, incorporate a 3-dimensional gift with your invitation, make your place cards stand out by placing them on the wine glass at the setting, protect your invitation or card from the BIG BAD Post office, with an origami hand made box.

Inspiration Series-The Color White.

2011-09-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

So sometimes to get my creative juices flowing I create inspirations boards for things about the wedding I'm designing an invitation for. And in all this time I realized I've never been asked to create an invitation for an all white wedding, So I decided to take the party concept of White Party, and create and inspiration board for an all white wedding.

Martha Stewart's White Crudites

(middle left)

A jubilant symphony of pale crudites, including cauliflower, white asparagus, endive, and celery, is arranged in a triangular dish.

Martha Stewart's

White Petits Fours

(middle left)

Heart-shaped petits fours are decorated with Darcy's and Andy's initials. "It was a way of making it more special for Darcy," says Jenny of the many personal touches.

photos by Johnny Miller/Martha Stewart Weddings

(top right)

amazing, white on white on white floral!

dress by Vera Wang

(middle center)

photos Martha Stewart Weddings

(middle right)

love the idea of the guests wrapping their gifts in white, what great photography it would make.

photos courtesy of Brooklyn Bride

(bottom left)

NYC Loft all white, with all white furniture.. So elegant!

dress by Maggie Austin Cake

(bottom right)

Vintage 1930s bridal shower with a Modern Twist.

2011-09-13T06:41:00.000-07:00

I am kind of a chameleon when it comes to genre of style. My fashion sense is one style, the decor in my house another, and my stationery work-- well that changes depending on the mood I'm in, client I'm working with, and the influences around me at that time.

For example, a few summers ago I took a trip to the New England Area for a wedding (a family affair, non work related). While there I got to visit Yale, New York City and Newport Rhode Island. Something pretty cool in Newport Rhode Island, you can go on a tour of Some of the most amazing Mansions. There are 11 Mansions, several of them owned by the Vanderbilts in the 1800s. When touring these mansions the over the top opulence and decor dripping in gold just screamed out at the creative side of me. I've held on to these images, of the beautiful hand workmanship and ingenious devices in these homes, for the last few years, dying to create and invitation with the inspiration of what I saw there and idea of parties with formality, style, etiquette and flair.

This as you can imagine isn't a huge request, so I had to wait for the right client, the right collaboration. This year it happened! A wonderful sister of the bride, came to me with an idea for a shower she wanted to throw for her sister. The first thing she said was: My sister is an old soul and I want to throw a shower that is very 1930s, white gloves and fancy hats. I was so excited by this. So I got right to work, and the imagery that immediately popped into my head was the opulent, detailed decor and hand painted details I had seen in some of those 18th & 19th century mansions. The colors I chose, as well as the textures and materials all came as inspiration from the decor in these opulent mansions in Newport, and the stories of the formality and etiquette of their social calendars.

I hope you enjoy the result. The bride and sister of the bride were in love with these invitations and favors. And from what I was told, they were a big hit with the guests! Also a fun thing, the invite requested guest where a period hat of their choosing along with the gloves included in the box!

Shipping Box for the invitation.

Chocolate and Blue Box for the invitation. It was lined with lace, and included white satin gloves and a bronze metallic envelope closed with a wax seal.

Invitation on Champagne Metallic Paper- graphics and font chosen for their victorian formal attributes.

Finally, the favor we created for the shower. The bride loves to read, so we created these silk wrapped bookmarks with embossed metallic gold paper and an antique key tied with satin ribbon.

Letterpress... Yes Yes!!!!! Part II

2011-09-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Read Part I

I am so excited about this project, we have been giving you bits and pieces as we complete them. We still have the reception stationery in the making, but I'm so in love with some of this stuff that I can't wait to share! I love love love texture, and anytime I can use textured materials, I jump at it! Plus, this bride has been hands on in the design process, which is adds collaboration, which is always fun for me.

What the bride had to say

The invites look amazing and we are getting so many compliments!! Many people are saying that they are the nicest invites they have ever seen."

Pictured above: Letterpress, Silk Hardbound Book Invitation and Save the Date, with Satin Ribbon and Crystal Embellishments. The way the textures and design compliment each other creates a sophisticated, stylish and modern invitation with a traditional flair.

Silk Hardbound Book mailed in a shipping box and presented in a leatherette box lined with pewter tissue paper. (See top right of collage). Remember Brides, when you sent something this extravagant, you must allow for the additional postage, and packaging in your budget. This is something most brides don't consider when sending boxes.

Inside of the silk book. Pewter Metallic Paper Inlayed with Felt Letterpress. Accented with Swarovski Crystals. Below Detail cards.

Front of Silk Book, with Satin Ribbon accented with a Swarovski Crystal, presented in a Pewter Metallic Tissue Paper Line Leatherette Box.

Matching Save the Date. Was Blogged about in Part I.

Letterpress production by Mama Sauce!!

Inspiration Series-Maggie Austin Cake!

2011-09-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

I am often asked how I fight through creative block and what inspires me. So, I've decided to write an Inspiration Series each week I will try to write a few things about what inspires me.

I've found that sometimes to break out of a NON-creative funk, it's best I go look at some work of other artists I admire. Being a traditional artist as well, It's fun for me to see what other artists use as their outlet, although I paint, and sketch my primary outlet for my art is through graphics, type and paper. Sometimes to see how other creative minds put out their ideas, and the creations they create will jostle my own creative juices.

So today I want to share with you, one of my favorite places to go and be inspired. Maggie Austin Cake. Her cakes are amazing, and I am so excited to share her with you.

She can make a gorgeous- SIMPLE white cake. And I'm sure as simple as they may look, they probably come from a complex design production process.

And use texture, like I've never seen before. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I LOVE LOVE LOVE texture, and Maggie Austin Cake is AMAZING at use of Texture.

Hand-Painted Goodness!! OH MY!! I love love love this hand painting work. This is so inspiring to me, because although I am a trained traditional artist, sometimes I get caught up in the graphic side of things, and forget that I have the hand talent to incorporate into my work. These cakes remind me that hand painting is GORGEOUS!!!

Here use of Bright Bold Colors is inspires me to think outside the box! Especially when I get 4 brides in the same season with the same color palette!

And look at these amazing details. Pieces of sculpture in their own right.

And finally, she makes these AMAZING hand painted cookie.. In the painted styles of traditional art. Impressionist, Bauhaus, Art Nouveau and Botanical.

Fun, Funky and Chic at The Ritz!! Part III

2011-09-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

I so loved this couple, and their whole project. I've written about them many times before, now I wanted to share this highlight montage courtesy of the amazing Jeffrey Stoner Video.

Read Part I or Part II.

Vicky & Danny's Wedding Highlights from Jeffrey Stoner Video on Vimeo.

Platinum & Pearls!!

2011-08-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Every year there is a color combination that stands out of the trend of the year.. This year PLATINUM!!! I have had several brides using Platinum/Pewter as the main color in their wedding. From Invitations to Flowers & Centerpieces, this is the color of 2011-2012 Planning season.

With that in mind, I wanted to start blogging some of the favorite invitation creations coming out of my studio this year using Platinum as the main color! Today let's talk Platinum & Pearls.

This invitation set was fun to create, and since I was designing for 2 other brides with Platinum as well, it was quite the challenge! I decided to give this set it's own unique flair by adding pearls and feathers! Platinum Metallic Paper with the invitation inset printed on White Linen, the contrast of sparkle and texture really makes this invitation pop! Of course the Satin White Ribbon, White Pearls and Feathers really bring the concept home! The bride added splashes of Wine to set her apart.

Paper Rings WHAT?!* These are AMAZING..

2011-08-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Artist Yael Friedman carefully crafts these gorgeous rings from PAPER! 11 designs in all. Each is unique, hand folded, and available at Moss in NYC.

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a slight Paper OBSESSION.. Okay, and those of you who know me, know-- it's not slight.. It's MAJOR. I love paper textures, handmade papers, and pretty much anything unique and different you can do with paper. So on that note I had to post these, they blew my mind.

Letterpress...YES YES!!

2011-08-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

So today I wanted to talk a little bit about preserving our past. I know in the world of technology, it is all to easy move quickly forward leaving the things of the past behind us without another thought. With the newest latest and greatest coming out every 3-6 months it seems it is easy to get wrapped up in race for better, faster, quicker.

Today I wanted to write and implore you all DON'T JUST ABANDON ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS from the past. For example, how many photographers do you know still shoot film? How many artists still hand render their artwork? How much printing is still done on a manual press? These things are dying arts, and it breaks my heart to see some amazing processes thrown to the wind, because now a computer does it faster. Don't get me wrong, I love the newest technology like the rest of you, but I think balance is the key.

Film grain and hand drawing, printing, and finishing can be beautiful, adding texture and flare to your project. With that in mind, I created these great LETTERPRESS Save the Dates, with Crystals and Ribbon done by Hand.

What is Letterpress printing? Relief printing of text and image using a press with a "type-high bed" printing press and movable type, in which a reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into a sheet of paper to obtain a positive right-reading image. It was the normal form of printing text from its invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the 19th century and remained in wide use for books and other uses until the second half of the 20th century.

I know this is probably a little technical for some of you, so a brief summary is: Plates are created, inked and PRESSED into the paper, creating a beautiful impression of the design into the paper. See the image below!

We are lucky in Orlando to have a company that is MASTERFUL at letterpress production! Mama Sauce!! We are working together on this current project, stay tuned later in the fall to see the full package for this wedding!

Every Last Detail Insight for Brides

2011-07-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

We are always looking at other blogs for new information and ideas and found this one to be very insightful! It is definitely worth checking out. Every Last Detail Insight for Brides

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!

Announce Your Bundle of Joy in Style!

2011-07-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Custom Baby Announcements!! all studio product photography by Liga Photography

This is a fun way to announce your bundle of joy in style. Your friends and family will be WOWed, with this Magnet Closing Accordion Book.. Both Ends have magnets in the covers so the piece- stay closed.

I did this announcement for my niece Gracie's birth, in 2010. I did a small mention of them when I announced her birth last year, but here are a few more details.

Metallic Photo Paper Hardbound Magnet Covers

Pearl UB Gloss Paper inside, with all the details of her entrance into the world.

Added detail: I took an image of her, turned it into a sketch and used it on the envelope. It really wowed all who received it in the mail.

Featured on Weddings Unveiled Magazine Blog!!

2011-07-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Featured on Weddings Unveiled Magazine's Blog Completely Unveiled today!

Weddings Unveiled Save the Date Contest

2011-07-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

Last march we were asked to collaborate with Weddings Unveiled Magazine and provide a contest for their faithful readers! Kirstin at Weddings Unveiled, posted the contest on their blog, Completely Unveiled.

I have been so excited to post these, because they are one of my all time favorites! But I wanted to wait until the Bride and Groom sent them out, as to not ruin the surprise for their guests. But finally the time as arrived.

What the bride and groom had to say

"The Save The Dates are perfect. You were able to capture the theme and feeling of our wedding. Our guests haven't stopped talking about them and now they are even more excited about what's to come."

Andrea & Eric

The Die Cut is what makes this so amazing! Andrea came to me with a anthropology-esque theme for here wedding. I was so excited and this is the creation. We used Gold Linen Metallic Paper, an Ivory Satin Ribbon, which all complimented the Champagne Die Cut with Gloss UV Coating!

I'm in LOVE with it.

Please comment and tell us what you think!!

Guest Blog by Anna Cakes!

2011-07-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

So anyone who knows me knows. I LOVE LOVE LOVE cake.. And it's not really that I like eating cake, I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but I am obsessed with Cake Design. It has really come along way from throwing eggs and flour together and putting the mix in a round pan.

So on that note, I asked the Amazing Anna Hightower of Anna Cakes to Guest Blog on some of the hottest trends in cakes! See her at work below! And read her thoughts on some of the hottest trends in cakes! (PS ALL CAKES ARE ANNAS WORK-- if you are a photographer and you haven't been credited I apologize, please comment and I'll make sure I make the proper edits to give you credit!!)

THE SIMPLE MESSY WHITE

I have to say this is quickly becoming one of my favorite designs! Letting the spatula marks fall as they may, this unpretentiously-iced cake is the epitome of simple elegance. No fuss, no fondant...just tiers of delicious buttercream frosting, and a few fresh flowers are all you need to make this design pop!

PS..if you are into the simple white cake without the messy spatula marks- check out this cake below.

MIMICKING ARCHITECTURE

Modern cakes are getting daring in both shape and composition. We have gotten a lot of requests lately for a particular cake that is comprised of various sized square tiers, stacked in a way that almost seems to defy gravity! Guests are amazed by these intricate wedding cake "structures". It becomes the focal point of the entire reception.

OUT OF THE BOX CAKE TOPPERS

I always say I am going to start an album on my site called, "When bad toppers happen to good cakes." LOL. A topper can definitely make or break a wedding cake. I have arrived at a venue on several occasions and been so disappointed when I saw the topper awaiting me on the cake table. I try to encourage brides to choose something unique. It doesn't always have to be a made-for-cake topper. Veils, Brooches, hand-made paper or clay crafts, even a photo of the couple can be used to make a statement. Your cake topper can become an amazing keepsake from the wedding itself, and possibly even a family heirloom!

BE DARING WITH FLAVORS

Gone is the standard white wedding cake. My motto with flavors is anything goes! I offer a different flavor for each tier, at no extra cost, so my clients really feel free to be creative. Try coconut cake with guava filling for the top tier. Mix it up with a lemon and pineapple middle tier, and top it off with a devil's food chocolate cake, with peanut butter buttercream filling for the bottom. Your guests will rave about your cake flavors for years to come.

RETRO COLOR AND TEXTURE

Lately you see a lot of bridal magazines boasting the retro-modern wedding cake. These cakes typically have bright colors, and play up on the graphic patterns -- circles, rings, repeated diamonds or triangles. Think wallpaper and textiles -- you can find amazing wedding cake inspiration in the prints and patterns all around you!

BRIGHT COLORS WITH BOLD TEXTURES

I really enjoy when a wedding theme lends itself to a bright, colorful wedding cake. It is exciting to get out of the routine of white on white on white, and mix it up with color and texture. Sculpted rosettes, mimicking fabrics, different colors for each tier -- as long as you have a repeating element with each layer, the cake will have a cohesive, tasteful look, while still being adventurous.

CUPCAKES MASQUERADING AS WEDDING CAKES

The cupcake tower is a popular trend with a dual purpose. Not only is it more cost effective than your average wedding cake, but it also saves your caterer loads of cake cutting/serving time. Depending on the venue, this can also save you the dreaded "cake cutting fee". Cupcakes are a hip new craze that add a light-heartedness to your reception. Nothing gets your guests more excited than walking by and smelling that vanilla frosting cloud that surrounds the cupcake display. Just make sure they wait until after cake cutting to help themselves!

HAND PAINTED CAKES

Hand-painted cakes add an extra special touch to your wedding. Although you will be limited on your icing choice, as this is a technique that can only be achieved with fondant-covered cakes. Not every bakery can produce this level of art work, so be sure and review portfolios and choose wisely. This technique requires quite a bit of time and detail, so the cost is reflective...but the impact is worth every penny!

I hope you enjoyed this blog! I know I did, and a special thanks to Anna Hightower of Anna Cakes for her time and effort to help us put this together.

Our Ready Made Line is all grown Up! Paper Couture Stationery Official Launch!!

2011-07-15T16:11:00.000-07:00

So many of you know we did a soft launch earlier this year in January. But last night was our official launch.. Now that we worked out the brand and figured out the look and feel, it was time to give it a proper party! We want to thank everyone who attending and of course, special thanks to Alexandra Calvet and Cristina Calvet Harrold of CCH Weddings for throwing us this fabulous party.. If you missed it, check out the slide show below!! We are so thankful and proud of this Stationery Line, and love sharing it with you!

Favorite Trends! Guest Blog Collaboration.

2011-07-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

This is something I've been wanting to blog about for a while, but I knew if I was left to my own devices it would be about stationery ONLY!! So, I enlisted the help of Alexandra Calvet from CCH Weddings to collaborate with me and below are some of our favorite trends happening this year!
Thanks to all who contributed! And thanks to Alex for helping me put this together!

1. KEEP IT CLASSY A classic staple has made its way into the modern weddings of today. GREY is the New Black. Grooms are opting for change, gone is the traditional black tux. Also Bow ties are making a come back to replace the tie. Bow ties come in an array of colors and patterns, which the groomsmen will enjoy picking. Mixing and Matching different bow ties for the groomsmen is also adding some artistic flair to the grooms style. photography by: Elizabeth Leighton Photography 2.THE NON-TRADITIONAL CENTERPIECE Some interesting tablescapes are breaking through this year. It's all about shaking up the traditional. A lot of Floral Designers are working with brides to create unified variety. Creating a few different UNIQUE Centerpieces and putting them throughout the reception. This way each table has it's own unique style, and your reception is filled with variety! photography by: Liga Photography — floral by Avant-Gardens — planning & design by Jennifer Schwatz with Anje Soirees 3. ICE COLD Candy bars are on their way out and ice cream bars are coming in! Martini glasses, ice cream cones and gourmet ice cream, you can’t go wrong with this fun idea. Instead of putting candy in a bag, you can now use it as a topping on your yummy ice cream. photography by Jeff Hawkins Photography 4. COLOR YOUR GOWN GORGEOUS Vera Wang’s new 2012 collection is full of color! Brides are getting away from the traditional white and choosing blush colors with lots of texture. If colors are too bold for you, PLATINUM is the new black! It's every, it's chic and classic. 5. BALLOONS AREN'T JUST FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES ANYMORE Martha Stewart Weddings just featured this wedding with this simple modern design. One thing that stood out to me, was how they used these white classic balloons for the centerpiece and table numbers. BRILLIANT! What a classically modern way to handle balloons. Be careful- using this trend could lead you down the 5th Grader Birthday Party Look, but if you use the image above as a guide, you can't go wrong! 6. BRIGHT BOLD COLORS This floral from OnceWed shows that brides aren't afraid to take risks this year! The brighter, the bolder, the better! 7. SIMPLE ARTISTIC STATMENTS Cakes this year seem to be dialing down. I LOVE IT.. This Simple Understated, yet IMPACTFUL cake from Maggie Austin Cake will blow your guests away. Simple does NOT mean boring, and this cake just proves it. 8. SMALL BITES Keep your guest dancing the night away by ditching the sit down dinner. This year weddings will take a modern twist on catering. RSVP reply cards with food preference will not be needed because heavy bite sized hors d’oeuvres are the new trend to keep guests full, yet light on their feet! photography by: Liga Photography

From the Vault!

2011-07-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

We keep busy around here, and I don't always get to blog every project that I design, so everynow and then I like to pull a favorite design from the vault and share!

This one, I LOVE because it's fun, funky yet still formal. A while back Solutions Bridal Designer House moved their Orlando Location to the The Mall at Millenia Area. We were so honored to be asked to create the invitations for their grand opening event!! This was the result, they were a big hit, and I am a little biased, but this is one of my favorite projects.. (I know I say that about them all.. I'm HOPELESS!!)

For this project we did Bar Signage, Sponsorship Tins, and of course Invitations!

Fun, funky and Chic at The Ritz!! Part II

2011-07-09T06:35:00.000-07:00

Read Part I

all studio product photography by Liga Photography

all wedding and venue photography by Thom Larussa

Couple Vicky and Danny, happy on the day!

I hope you enjoyed part one, Save the Dates and Invitations out of the way, it was time to get down to it and create an amazing stationery package that would gracefully yet boldly work into the event design. From Flower Structures by Lee Forrest to the overall event design by Lisa Stoner of E-Events, it was a challenging and fun task!

Tell us what you think, how did we do?

One of the unique things about this wedding was they did all kinds of personal things, and had little areas of flower structures and defined areas! This I always love, so it was fun that I got to create all kinds of signage for the event, from tray passed drink cards, to bar signage and escort table signage! Check out all these pieces in their environment at the reception!

The Escort Card table was one of my favorite things, as you can see Lee Forrest did an amazing job above, and my signage worked right in and another great little touch was we added a orchid blossom to each escort card, which rotated between 2 designs (see below in studio)

Tables look amazing! Props to both Lisa and Lee! Loving the Table numbers worked into the flowers! And you can see a peek of the menu, see detail shots below. Also note, the gorgeous centerpieces (by Lee) below, as well as the cooliest cake ever by The Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando!

LOVED the die cutting of these.. It was such a fun way to incorporate the original graphic shape from the invitations. They really work well, with the orchids and linens below!

Oops, and I can't believe I forgot to mention the Programs. Vicky and Danny educated their guests on the traditions incorporated into their wedding ceremony.

Here's what Vicky had to say after it was all said and done!
Amy did an excellent job transforming my unconventional invitation requests into amazing pieces of art. Her work is truly spectacular and one of a kind.

Fun, funky and Chic at The Ritz!! Part I

2011-07-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

all studio product photography by Liga Photography

all wedding and venue photography by Thom Larussa

This Spring I got to be a part of something wonderful! One of my most fun brides with her own unique style and flare. So take this journey with me. There are so many wonderful things to say about this wedding, this project, and many of the other amazing vendors that came together to create what you are about to see, that it's a 2-PARTER!

This couple was fun, and the with the collaboration that happened from the very beginning I knew this was going to be a fun interactive process. From the Mother of the Bride, to Lisa Stoner from E-Events Design to Floral Designer Lee Forrest Collaboration was in the air!

Cute Couple Vicky and Danny!

Unique Save the Date! Vicky came to me with this great poem.

"We are NUTS about each other.

Danny POPPED THE QUESTION,

So save the DATE,

See You at the RITZ"

So I designed this cute little box with the poem and wedding date on the tags! A great treats
for the guests, it contained the food from the poem, Nuts, Popcorn,Dates and mini-Ritz.
The guested loved it..

Here's what Vicky's mom had to say after they went out!
2uCollection was an integral part of my daughter's beautiful wedding. It started with the Save the Dates and continued all the way through the end. The Save the Date Announcements and Wedding Invitations were so incredibly unique. I kept a log of the reactions that people shared with me. Never had they ever seen anything so clever and beautiful. It continued with the Wedding Programs which matched the invites which matched the save the dates. The dinner menu and dinner escort cards were something I have never seen before. The table numbers matched the invitations. The entire package was amazing and I would recommend 2uCollection anytime. I know we plan on using them again for our next child's wedding. Loved, loved, loved, their work. Thanks Amy!!!!

The fun continues! Linen Paper made this design POP! The Bright Bold Colors really fit this couple! Wait until you see some of the great design by Lisa, at the reception. See the details below.

STAY TUNED Part II posts on Saturday Morning!

The Year of Purple! How to stay unique with the same color palette?

2011-07-01T06:01:00.000-07:00

all product photography by Liga Photography

Most wedding vendors can tell you what the hot colors of each year were! Because we do so many weddings and get to see the work of some many of our talented peers, we can see the trends for each year.

The 2009/2010 wedding season for me and my clients was what I refer to as the "Year of Purple".
I get asked alot how do I create unique, and different designs for each client when their themes, or wedding designs are similar. Well I'm not going to lie, it can be difficult sometimes. As a creative brain, sometimes when you are dealing with the same themes and colors, it can put your ideas "In a box." But as wedding professionals it is our job to not let that box, limit the creative process. A good tip to break out of your box, take an element from each bride that is personal to them, what is most important to them for their wedding, is it the dress, is it the floral or design element, is it a personal family tradition? These will sometimes help you focus on this bride, this wedding, instead of getting stuck in designing around the color palette.

So I wanted to share with you some of the beautiful invitation designs from the "Year of Purple" and get your opinion. What do you think? Did I do it? Does each piece feel different and unique to the client it was for?

This bride was opulent and traditional. Her ideas were to create an over the top luxurious wedding with all the formality of kings and queens. So our idea was to add this amazing Ice Blue paper to the design to break up the patterns and the purple. And of course satin and crystals were used to add the air of luxury.

This bride wanted her wedding to be romantic and moody. She got married in the late evening in a dark room with the dramatic lighting of hundreds of candles. Creating a gorgeous romantic intimate feel.

This bride was getting married in the spring in a castle in upstate New York. This was by the far the thing she seemed most excited about for her wedding. She wanted light and airy with an elegant tone. So when designing I focused on the castle, we used old world elements in the design. Candelabra's, Quill Pens and lace.

This bride's favorite element of her wedding was the dress. She was so excited about the dress it was the first thing she showed me. Her wedding was to take place outdoors in the evening. But she didn't want the outdoor setting to be limiting. She wanted to bring formality and elegance to the outdoors. This was done by hanging chandeliers and crystals from the trees at her location.

So we designed these invitations around the dress, that had a perfect balance of lace, floral, satin and crystals in creams and subtle hints of silver.

A Sneek Peak of what we are Currently Working on..

2011-06-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Okay I know it's been a while.. I'm ashamed. But it is wedding season and we have been busy giving our absolute best to our current brides and their weddings!! We try our best to give the attention deserved to each event and sometimes that means I fall behind on catching up with all of you wonderful readers.

But Wedding Season does NOT mean work stops in our other division 2u Creative!! So, I wanted to give you a sneak peak of what we are working on. Earlier in April we were happy to welcome Kelleen Hite of Pure Sugar Studios as a client! She loved all the brand development (to view this see below for links to past blogs) I've done for Abby Liga of Liga Photography. and wants me to re-brand her!! Thanks Images for a Cure Workshop for letting Abby RAVE about me in her Workshop!

So we've been busy working on getting her new website up!! Below is the Teaser Coming soon page we've created.. and I also wanted to share the custom icons we illustrated for the site..

Stay tuned we hope to launch her new site by August 1st, and we will be sure to announce it when we do!!

Please comment and let us know what you think so far!!

This is the Current Teaser page up at PureSugarStudios.com.

Custom icons we illustrated for the site. Please comment and let us know what you think!

Links to see the branding work we've done for Abby Liga. and PS.. an updated look is in the works for her as well!! Her website is done in the new look, and we are working on a NEW Editorial Magazine Style Brochure, you can see a sneak peak of the new look on the first link below.

A New Look for Liga!
The Liga District.
Look What we Accomplished!
Lawton's Printer, The Liga District and 2u Collection Successful Collaboration!

Interested in Branding and Why its so important? Check out these previous posts on the subject!

The Importance of Branding & Advertising- PART I

The Importance of Branding & Advertising- PART II

TODAY ONLY!!! Brunch of Brides-- Free Registration!!

2011-06-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

Waldorf Wednesday! Register today for Brunch of Brides A Social Gathering of Brides & Our Favorite Vendors! Email Kristen@anaffairtoremember.net and mention Waldorf Wednesday to skip the registration fees! Ends at midnight tonight. We can't wait to see you there!

A Brunch of Brides Showcase IS BACK!!!

2011-05-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to again be a part of The Brunch of Brides Showcase!! This time it's at the Waldorf Astoria, a great venue!! I was asked again to create the invitations and marketing materials.. Stay Tuned an invite should be arriving into your mailbox any day now. If you want to attend and are not sure if you're on the list you can email me at amy@2ucollection.com or go register at www.anaffairtoremember.net/brunch. We hope to see you all there, and are expecting as great of a showcase as the last one!!

Raise Your Glass!!

2011-04-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Recently Paper Couture Stationery, our ready-made limited edition line won the 5 Carat Diamond Award- which is voted for by brides!! We are so honored..

Our Custom Line, The 2u Collection also created the amazing invitations for this event. You can see how great they were below, the theme was Raise Your Glass, and it was held at the NEW ONE80 Grey Goose on the top of the Amway Arena. Congratulations to all the CFB and PWG Ladies as always they put on an amazing show!!

Check out the video below to see how great the party was.. Also if you go to around 2:40 in the video you can see me accepting the award!!

RAISE YOUR GLASS - five carat diamond award party from Edmund Rhodes on Vimeo.

Invitations were designed to match the modern vibe of the venue. We die Cut Linen paper and added a unique tie metallic ribbon to add the finishing POP!

Our Wonderful Intern Stephanie and Me!

The Wonderful PWG and CFB Ladies.

Congratulations to our Ready-Made Limited Edition Line. Paper Couture Stationery!

2011-04-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

We are so proud to make this announcement.. The Central Florida Brides have voted Paper Couture Stationery Best in the Invitation Category!! We are so honored to have received the Five Carat Diamond Award from Central Florida Bride magazine. Thank you to all of my brides that voted for me--this means more than you will ever know!

I will post more photos from the event, when I can!! But please go visit Paper Couture Stationery to view some of our beautiful designs!