black damask & plum silk box wedding invitation

we just had to share one of our latest wedding invite designs — a glorious silk box invitation that mixes classic with modern, and lush with super luxe.

a rich black damask pattern is given a contemporary twist with the addition of lively plum purple. we love the mix. coordinating rsvp and directions cards continue the look, neatly tucked into their own individual pockets.

then, a smooth ivory silk box with a dramatic gatefold is paired with gorgeously tactile black dupioni silk ribbon, which finishes the gift-like package with whimsical elegance. the look is clean, upscale, luxurious, and still very simple. our favorite kind of design.

this look could be mixed with a dozen other color palettes — black with pink or lime green, or perhaps even a blue or plum box with coordinating ribbon and inks. the possibilities are endless. what would you choose?

favorite floral trend — king protea

i gravitate towards the unusual, the unexpected and the unique. so naturally, my list of personal favorites tends to include some uncommon choices.

this definitely applies to one of my favorite flowers — the king protea, south africa's national bloom. the juxtaposition of its delicate pink color mixed with its spiky, almost cactus-like leaves makes the king protea a dramatic choice for a bridal bouquet. carry this down the aisle and everyone will be talking.

these are just two of examples of how to soften and highlight this magnificent flower. it pairs with bright and soft palates, blends beautifully with rustic twigs or sophisticated roses.

can you not also imagine it in cascading centerpieces on tables and ledges all throughout an event? spectacular.

photo credits

top photo, christine meintjes. bottom photo, kent meireis.

birds of a feather

i am loving this dreamy, rustic, vintage-esque trend of including birds and branches in weddings this season. it's fresh and airy and organically delicate.

i'm seeing the design trend in gowns, like this feathery confection from the 2011 pronovias "dreams" collection, called fidji. i'm also seeing it in decor, like these chic birds and branches centerpieces from martha stewart.

probably my fave, though, is applying the theme directly on the wedding cake, like this tuscan birds and berries stunner from superfine bakery. there's something so familiar and yet so unique about it.

now, you know this means a birds and branches invitation design from paper olive is not far behind. :o)

wedding gowns in short supply this season

probably my favorite trend this wedding season is the mini-wedding dress — something stylishly bride-appropriate, yet totally non-princess and trainless. think simple, short chic.

take for example these incredibly fun, feminine gowns from priscilla of boston, who has an entire line of short dresses, in fact. one is more adorable (yet elegant) than the next.

and priscilla is not the only designer to jump on the short bandwagon. reverie by melissa sweet (part of the priscilla of boston family) and carmela sutera are just two other designers who know that one sure fire way to wow is to show a little leg...with class.

just look at this video of my gorgeous client angie, who recently married in a completely non-traditional short wedding gown. watching the processional i could literally hear her guests gasp as she came down the aisle. now that's what i call fabulous.

gown credits

first row — priscilla of boston • platinum style pl218; priscilla of boston • vineyard style karalyn

second row — reverie for melissa sweet • 2009 collection; carmela sutera • style 459

chic trends • letterpress belly bands

as you probably all know by now, i am nuts for letterpress, primarily because the beauty is all in the clean lines and simplicity of the craft. but while many brides love the texture and aesthetic of letterpress, some still want something a little bit...more.

so lately i have been talking up decorative belly bands, as featured in our new frolic design. hardly a new concept (it's a classic, actually) belly bands add an extra pop of decor that is removable, enhancing an otherwise simple design. they are wildly popular right now.

we love the crisp patterns and sharp colors of this rehearsal dinner invite, which is playful even without the band. but there is something about that extra layer of formality that, along with the monogram, takes this design to another level of sophistication without making the card too busy. it's just fun.

we plan to do a larger series of these since we are now obsessed with the idea. and of course, we can add a band to any of our existing letterpress designs. we hope you like!