How to find your wedding inspo

First of all, stop looking at other weddings!

No, really! Hear us out: Searching for wedding inspo in today's world means scrolling down the rabbit hole of other people's pinterest boards and wedding blogs, right?  But THEIR wedding is not YOUR wedding!

Your wedding day should be unique to you as a couple, which is why we beg of you: PLEASE, stop sending us to someone's else's Pinterest wedding board and instead, let us help you find your own wedding vibe.

Look for inspiration in other avenues - textiles, seasons, locations, and even other events. That way you won't end up with a knockoff of someone else's wedding.

So here we go...

5 ways and reasons to find inspiration without looking at other weddings.

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1. Use good keywords

Using keywords that resonate with your style will make your search much more fruitful.

Here are a few ideas for keywords:
- minimalist
- modern
- simple
- elegant
- bohemian 

The KEY here is to find your own keywords :) Don't just use these!

Mix and match your keywords with anything wedding related ("bohemian + flowers" or "minimalist + table settings").

Hot tip: do an image search to get a whole bunch of visuals quickly.

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2. Look at other events for inspiration

There are many different kinds of stunning events - weddings are just one. That means, by narrowing your search only to weddings, you're missing out on so much possible inspo!

A few of our favorites when on the hunt for inspiration are:

• Birthday parties: even children's birthday parties can be packed full of inspiration
• Seasonal based events: Bonfires, thanksgiving, harvest festivals (just to name a few for fall)
• Location specific events: having an outdoor wedding? pair a keyword + outdoor events and you have a whole new page of inspiration.

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3. Find color palette inspiration in artwork & textiles

This has to be one of our favorite secrets to developing a killer color palette. Artists know their color palettes, and their artwork is a great way to find unique and beautiful palettes. 

Don't be afraid to get a little specific here either! 
And pay attention to artwork and textiles you are drawn to.

*WARNING*

Searching color palettes takes new keywords. Such as:

• muted
• rich
• pastel
• nude
   

Search Examples: muted textiles | minimal nude color palette
*if you have a specific color in mind do a little research on more names for it, and then search them.

*our biggest tip here is really avoiding the typical picture with 5 blocks of color underneath them. These are typically not very sophisticated palettes. 

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4. Search your season

Anytime we am digging for some inspiration, seasons are one of my go-to places! 

Go beyond "fall", but rather think about the things during that season you could draw inspiration.

Here are a *few* examples for Fall:

• Thanksgiving
• Fall Leaves
• Pumpkin
• Gathering

Searches Examples: Modern Fall Event Decor | Modern Thanksgiving

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5. Paper inspiration

We know we are a little biased here, but to us, paper is a HUGE deal.

We were on the search for some new inspiration for our wholesale album for Alee & Press, launching soon (check it out, it's gonna be great!), and needed some fresh new vibes before the work could flow out of us.

We didn't want "wedding" or "letterpress" inspiration but rather wanted other influences to show up on our work. 

Cue mad full-out search for all resources! 

We won't give away all of our secrets here, but our search words included some of the following: 

• typography
• layout
• publication
• branding

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Thanks for sticking in there with us...

STOP SEARCHING "WEDDING"

It is not about finding all of your inspiration outside of weddings, but rather finding it in ways others aren't. 

By searching keywords that represent you the most you will discover more meaningful inspiration. 

Even if your inspiration doesn't paint the whole picture. Your professionals are there to help your inspiration become your wedding reality.
 

YOU DESERVE A DAY UNIQUE TO YOU

When you search wedding anything, you are looking at the exact same inspiration as thousands of other brides. That's all well and good, but we believe you deserve a day more special than that. 

Sure there are hundreds of thousands of weddings a year, but this is your one big day, look for inspiration others aren't.

A Suite Story of Adventure

|story| of this intivation suite:

|venue|: Calor Woodford Gardens

|season|: late Summer early Fall

|feel|:  The overall design of this identity suite was meant to feel modern with a touch of old world. To accomplish this we mixed two different typefaces, a modern san serif paired with an antique, hand-done script. Featuring earthy tones that are reminiscent of the colors seen in late summer to mid-fall. It is elegant and warm, while being informal and truly personal. 

|details|: The final product was a six-page letterpress, hand-bound booklet that contains the invitation, perforated reply postcard, weekend events page, Atlanta hot spots and travel information personalized by the couple. To finish off the booklet, it was wrapped in a sheet of vintage paper that read a quote from E.E. Cummings.

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the backstory

For this couple home is not seen as a place, but as a state of being. It’s defined not only by where you are, but more importantly whom you are with. For them, travel is a mirror to their souls. Made up of circumstances, moments, and feelings that are best captured through seeing the world.

Having a handful of mutual friends they couldn’t help but question why they weren’t introduced earlier. They began their relationship by admiring one another’s photos on social media. He would see, and envy, her photos taken on a business trip in London, and she would do the same with his photos taken on a hiking trip through Iceland. Finally, they got together and knew their adventurous spirits had found a match in each other.

This couple has a story rooted in intention and the pursuit of something wonderful and new. From their first weekend trip to Maine and a road trip to Texas hill country, they’re always being called to a new adventure. Their warm souls explored the cold of Alberta in the fall and winters in Rome. They’ve wandered through the lavender fields of Georgia together and have strolled through the ever-spreading grape vines in Bordeaux.

This moment, this circumstance, and these new feelings is their greatest adventure of all. We were so lucky to be a part of telling their story.

“This moment, this circumstance, and these new feelings is their greatest adventure of all. We were so lucky to be a part of telling their story.”

the consultation

During our first consultation we discussed what palette would be best to tell their story. We decided on an earthy tone reminiscent of the colors seen in late summer to mid-fall. It is elegant and warm, while being informal and truly personal.

The overall design of this identity suite was meant to feel modern with a touch of old world. To accomplish this we mixed two different typefaces, a modern san serif paired with an antique, hand-done script.

We brought an illustrator on board to help us tell their story in a more personal and fun way, so we included small, vintage illustrations throughout the book.

the final suite

The final product was a six-page letterpress, hand-bound booklet that contains the invitation, perforated reply postcard, weekend events page, Atlanta hot spots and travel information personalized by the couple.

Since the beginning of their story began with their admiration for one another’s passion for travel, the cover of the booklet expressed the same sentiment. A printed vintage map of the couple’s favorite travel location that was then labeled with a custom monogram including their initials and GPS coordinates. The GPS coordinates lead to the location of the first kiss they shared.  

A perforated reply card was included within the booklet that mimicked the vintage postcards they had seen while in Bordeaux. It was a perfect way to add a personal touch that made the whole suite even more cohesive.

To finish off the booklet, it was wrapped in a sheet of vintage paper that read a quote from E.E. Cummings. It was then tied with a copper string and letterpress tag that had the date printed on the front. It was the perfect way to introduce their story and invite their guests to experience this beautiful time in their lives from the beginning.

“anywhere i go
you go, my dear,
and whatever is
done only by me
is your doing,
my darling”

— E. E. Cummings

Why choose local custom wedding invitation designer?

We all dream of our special da. It’s personal and unique to us, so you want it to be like nothing you’ve ever experienced. This dream lies in the details.

Ordering wedding invitations online seems like the easier route, right? That is up until you’ve filed through hundreds of pages of premade templates only to realize none of them feel quite like you. After a while, they all begin to blur together and make each one less unique than the last.

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An Invite is more than an invite 

It’s important to find a designer who is dedicated to listening to your vision and carrying out your ideas. Every element of your invitation will set the tone for your event. Is it elegant and romantic, or rustic and chic? You get to decide what story your invitation tells.

This all comes through the colors, fonts, and images you choose. At The Impressionist we want your guests to open your invitations and know whose event it is right away. We want to help you think big picture and understand that every aspect of “you” can be a part of this creation.

Skip the uncertainty

The same way a shirt may look different on a manikin, the colors and design you see on websites may look different in person. The setback of ordering invitations online lies in the fact that once you order your invitations you can’t make changes. The last thing you need is to realize there’s a typo on an invite because you had to be responsible for proofreading.

At The Impressionist we will send you proofs of invites so if you see something you don’t like we can make that change. We want you to be a part of the process and have plenty of say in the end result. 

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The Nitty Gritty

Inks, fonts, papers, sizes, envelopes, motifts, monograms. That’s a lot of detail that may seem overwhelming to you, but The Impressionist will help you navigate these waters with ease.

We’re going to work around the budget you’ve set. If you see a style you like that’s more expensive than others, but we’ll make sure we achieve the style you want while staying inside your budget.

We won’t limit your vision. Online, factory-made invites can only offer you so many choices. We have artists to fit whatever style you’re going for so no aspect is restricted. It’s all about pulling in the right talent to pair with your vision.

Choosing Local                 

Getting the opportunity to work with someone local is always a great experience. You will be working one-on-one with a designer from beginning to end and will have a true understanding of your wants.

Having someone who will work to accommodate your schedule in any way doesn’t hurt either. Your time means a lot to us, which is why we have a quicker turnaround and are available to talk and discuss details whenever you shoot us an email or give us a call. You’re our main priority and we want you to have a happy forever.

Good news, If you ever need anything from us again we’ll know what you’re all about already! This makes our next time working together even more seamless.  

Your guide to Custom Wedding Invitation Planning Consultations

A consultation sounds so serious, but there’s no better word for it. Unless we make one up: Super sweet celebration preparation. There. That’s better.

Anyways, back to the matter at hand. How do you get the most out of your meeting to decide on what will set the tone for your upcoming event? There’s lots of ways to prepare, and good news, all of them are very simple.

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Our Invitation & Stationery planning consultations are hands on. We won't just be looking through albums of designs. We will be pulling your story together by mixing and matching many different visual elements.

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Let’s start at the basics

Let’s get to know your story as a couple. We are suckers for a good romance and want all the deets. This way we can root our process in how this love came to be.

Tell us your favorite tastes in music, your quirks, hobbies, and nicknames. Anything and everything that will help us get to know you.

Here is a list of things to think about to get things rolling:

-       What parts of your personality to you want to shine?

-       Do you want the focus to be all on you or the experience of the event?

-       What are some things you love and want to include in the invitation? And on the flipside is there anything you dislike (glitter, a certain color, etc.)

-       Do you want to address the envelopes yourselves, with a calligrapher, or any other specific way?

Next, bring in a mood board. Ladies, we know you probably have a strong Pinterest game and hey, maybe your fella does too. Bring in images that resonate with you, random things you like, fun patterns, and colors. This mood board will be a visual representation of everything you like. The end goal is to use this to get a feel for the vibe you want your event to give off.

Not into mood boards? No worries. We will have a lot of visual inspiration here and can help you along the way. Sometimes you have to see it to know what it is that you actually want! That is where are letterpress printed samples come in.

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Inspiration & mood boards are the best way to visualize your invitation story.

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Let’s talk details

Before coming in to our Atlanta, GA based studio it will be good to know about how many invitations you think you’ll need. If you aren’t exactly sure just yet, a ball park guestimate is great.

Budgets are never fun to talk about, but it’s a necessary evil and a good idea to start thinking about how much you’re willing to spend before we start planning what sort of paper goods you’ll be needing. Below is a list of possibilities to get you thinking about what fits your event.

            - Save-the-Date

            - Invitation

            - Reply Card

            - Reception Card

            - Thank You Note

            - Envelopes

            - Return Address printing on the back flap of your envelopes

            - Rehearsal Dinner Card

            - Brunch Card

            - Map & Directions Card

            - Envelope Liner

            - Inner Envelopes

            - Website Card

            - Weekend Itinerary

            - Wedding Announcement

Don't forget your day of pieces. We can discuss these at your first meeting or revisit them as your day gets closer and you have finalized all the necessary details we will need.

            - Ceremony Program

            - Escort Card

            - Table Numbers

            - Table Menu

            - Favor Tags

            - Welcome Bag Items

Our Wedding Invitation Suites typically range from $800-$3,000 depending on the quantity, pieces, and print method. We specialize in fine letterpress printing and all of our letterpress wedding invitations are printed in-house. Foil stamping, flat printing and engraving are our other offered print methods. If you’d like to request a quote ahead of time to make sure it’s within your budget we’ve got you covered.

But if this all seems overwhelming, don’t worry, we will be sure to ask you all the right questions to get this thing just right.

Setting a time to meet

At the The Impressionist we want to make this particular aspect of wedding planning the most fun. Be sure to plan our meeting on a day that isn’t too full for you. We are located close to Buckhead, Dunwoody in the Brookhaven neighborhood. We’ll need to set about two hours aside for the initial consultation; sorry we mean super sweet celebration preparation. Feel free to bring anyone with you that you want to be a part of this process, especially if it’s someone who understands your vision. We’ve got plenty of bubbly to go around!

Visit our website to book our first meeting and get started on some pretty awesome custom invitations, announcements or stationery.