About a year ago I was browsing through Etsy‘s Alchemy feature – for those of you who don’t know what that is, it was this AWESOME place where people could post a request for something they would like custom created for them, and sellers could put in bids on how they would create it, post preliminary sketches or photos, and set a price on the item, then the buyer could determine who they wanted to create it. I scored a good number of jobs this way – it was beneficial to everyone. The buyers usually saved a little bit of money, the sellers got a little more business in addition to the normal traffic to their shop – it was GREAT. And then Etsy nixed it. Probably for good reason (there were a lot of “I like this, but can’t afford it, who can make the same thing but cheaper” kind of requests, which only leads to stagnant creativity and feels pretty crappy for the person who spent countless hours creating the original), but still. I feel a little shafted and miss my Alchemy.
ANYWAY.
So I was browsing through Alchemy and someone had posted a request for an invitation showing a bride holding a bouquet of peacock feathers. Genius. I am the peacock bride. I am Peacock Printing. Why did I not already think of this? My Peacock Bridal Shower Invitation was born.
Ever since, this has become my best seller! I have done a number of variations of this invitation. Changed background and hair color:
Not to mention the veil and an endless supply of font variations:
Skin tone:
As well as many other variations, like for different wedding related events (brunch, bachelorette party, rehearsal breakfast, etc):
(notice the flower in place of the feathers here)
I even had a bride ask for an ostrich feather detail instead of peacock feathers!
I don’t have a photo of either of these, but I also did a variation with the bride wearing a KY Derby hat, and another with the bride holding a pocket watch for a ‘around the clock’ shower.
So what’s my point, you ask? You think I just want to show off some of my work? Well, yes (shameless link to shop). But also, this is a nod back to yesterday’s post re: my clients giving me ideas that I’ve taken and ran with. The possibilities are endless!
But speaking of nice invitations with personality and why it’s important to have them, a friend of mine (who was married last weekend! Woohoo! Shout out to Mrs. Klimek!)…
…recently shared a bridal shower invitation with me that looked something like this:
…except it was much worse. It was horrifically scrolly, had zero personality, and was on excruciatingly flimsy card stock. Maybe 65 lb max. I’m assuming this shower was thrown by an 80-year-old woman on the groom’s side of the family, because that’s the only explanation I can come up with as to why you would EVER get invitations like that for a FRIEND or your DAUGHTER.
That’s not to say that you can’t find cute boxed invitations at your local Wal-Mart or Target (actually, Target has some REALLY cute ones! Check these out too!).
But seriously, people. Why not spend a little more to have them customized with your friend’s wedding colors at least? Or have her name on them in a lovely scripty font rather than written in your sloppy handwriting (you know who you are!)? You know what, you don’t even need to buy them from me. Just promise me you won’t spend all that money throwing your best friend a shower and then skimp on the invitations!
I’m always saying that invitations are important because they set the tone for the event, be it a wedding, a shower, a luncheon, a birthday party, or even a movie night. Do your save-the-dates have to match your invitations? Of course not. You can change themes, colors, etc after you’ve sent out the initial notification to your guests. But it will confuse people if you have a totally casual save the date and then a super formal invitation, or vice versa. It won’t make sense to have a gold leafed invitation on a pearlescent card stock, protected by a sheet of vellum and then wrapped in satin ribbon if you’re having an outdoor BBQ reception.
Choose your tone, and then stick to that. You’ll be happy you did, and so will everyone else!
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