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Yes, I stated my displeasure for pocketfold invitations last week. With all of that being said, I do get quite a few orders for them. I'll suck it up, I guess ;)
I have a couple different options for the pocketfolds now. One of them is a bit more frugal and pockets are pre-made (ie. less labour involved) ... the other are more on the pricey side but the options (colour, texture, etc) are more plentiful. Totally depends on what the client prefers! Below I'll break both down a bit more ...
The following shells are the pre-made pockets. I have well over twenty colours to choose from and a few different textures. One of the cool things is you first choose between a square or rectangle shape ...
This brown rectangle pocketfold is a marketing project I completed for the wonderful
.: Irina Photography :.
Rébecca wanted a mix of French and English invitations (something we're happy to do!) ...
The other pocketfold design is a bit more custom. The paper is cut off site (over a fifty papers to choose from) but then everything else (construction of the pockets) is done in studio. 
The shape decided on is almost always square in this situation. It's a *very* classic look when completed though.
All I ask when you decide to go the pocketfold route is that you know how many materials you're using (no need to go crazy!) ... after all, you're the one that will be keeping these forever, right?
June 16, 2009
I'll Carve Initials In It
June 15, 2009
Just Had To Trust Imagination
If you can't find a particular picture that you would like on your invite or if you have something very specific in mind, we can help you with bringing your vision to fruition. All of the wonderful graphics below are by the talented .: Deeya Design :. And if Reem can't figure it out (although that's never happened), we have handpicked a few other talented designers that can assist.
Adapted from a business card, this invitation and table card were a signature piece for the Leanne Beagan Fashion Bash in support of Rethink Breast Cancer.
Lisa called us up because she needed something special for her destination wedding. Reem came up with this bright and colourful map outlining where the festivities would be.
Part of Mira's set were these table numbers ... err ... tress. Loving the individuality, Mira decided to name all of her tables after trees. Turned out beautifully!
Suzanne wanted to have a very special item represented on her stationery. Her husband proposed to her under a Victorian lamppost ... such special meaning to them both!
So you see, even the most exact of wishes can be granted!
June 14, 2009
For Giving Me The Best Day Of My Life
This is coming more from a planner standpoint than a stationeer ... I love this idea! This is definitely going the extra step for your guests ...
All you have to do is think about things ahead of time and be prepared with a sign at your wedding. Ask your photographer if he/she would mind taking a couple shots like this (who wouldn't want to be in on the fun?!) and you're done!
June 13, 2009
Tie A Yellow Ribbon ...
Ribbon can add so much to paper. That's possibly why I have stacks of it. I'm a sucker for a good spool. My name is Susan and I'm a ribbon whore.
Confessions aside, here's a post with a bunch of different ideas for you to be inspired by ...
Above and below are two fantastic ideas for Save-the-Dates ... one a little more creative with props to Martha Stewart ;) 
Gate-folds can also benefit immensely. I personally think when the width of the ribbon is increased, a wonderful dramatic look is expressed.
How about ribbon all over? It doesn't have to be in a straight bow or line to have a striking look ...
But with that being said, the right ribbon going straight across an invitation can complete the look, making it polished.
As always, give us a shout at products@momentsthatshine.com for more information!
June 12, 2009
And Nothing Else Compares
Since it's almost the weekend I wanted to have some fun with today's look into invitations.
How can you make yours stand out? Are your guests going to remember what you give them? Are they going to keep your invitation? If you go all out and make them creative, you can bet people will.
Using embellishments can turn an ordinary piece of paper into something out of this world.
Beads are one of my favourites. You don't need many to make an impression, either. This first invitation is playing on the "How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count The Ways" saying ...
And this one is just classic. Using rich colours were incredibly important and then a few strings of beads were added to give it pizazz.
How about playing with the actual paper? This design is so much fun!!! It's a paper saver, which makes me happy. And it can also be mailed with no crushing problems.
And the best, in my opinion, is thinking completely outside the box. Having a movie theme? What about using film as your inspiration? And if you're going on a destination wedding, try a 'message in a bottle' invite!
Have a blast with these, everyone! Invitations are the first impression you're making on your guests ... how about a lasting one?
Contact us at products@momentsthatshine.com for any of the above!
Engagement Portraits
With all of the craziness of planning your wedding, I cannot recommend it enough to get some proper Engagement Portraits done. With the stress of the planning, it is a great excuse to get dolled up for an afternoon and model for a couple of hours! The result is portraits of the two of you being, well, you. On the day of your wedding, everything will be chaotic so it is nice to have more relaxed portraits taken of you in and your partner in your everyday attire. Doing an engagement portrait session is also a great way to get to know your photographer better that then allows you to know what to expect on the day of the wedding. Here are some of my favourite engagement portraits from recent sessions.
June 11, 2009
I'm Sharing Secrets I've Never Let Go Before
I love paper. I love invitations. I love being creative.
I don't, however, love pocketfolds. It my be because they use a lot of materials or because so many people want them. But one of my biggest pet peeves about this particular style is they're incredibly time consuming. That doesn't mean I won't do them at all (so you can still request them ;)) but to divulge a bit of a secret, if you want to watch your budget, ditch the pocketfolds. As a business owner I have to charge more for them and it's not because I'm making a huge profit ... it's because of the materials and, more importantly, the labour involved.
Since a great number of people still love these little gems, I came up with a bit of a compromise ... a 'Faux Pocketfold'. It gives the illusion of a pocket and still holds the inserts in place ... but it isn't a glued down piece of paper. That means less materials are required and I'm not sitting around for extra hours putting these together!
Included in this post are a few Faux Pockets I've done in the past. 
As you can see, monograms aren't affected at all ... you're still able to do whatever you want on the front! When open, you can see the inside is the same as a regular invite as well. We're still able to do funky graphics, customize your fonts and even show off ribbon.
The fun aspect of this invitation design is how the inserts lay. Everything is still together in a neat package for your guests and you have a happy Stationeer in me because we've come up with a fun and affordable solution!
In all, these invites can save you upwards of 10%-15% of your bill ... just by rearranging your thinking a bit. Give us a shout at products@momentsthatshine.com to find out more!
