Milestones - January

Can you believe tomorrow is the first of February?  Once again, time seems to slip away so quickly.  This has been an exhausting week for me, but as I look back on the month of January, I have so much to be proud of.

While I am a very task-oriented, list-making person, I tend to not dwell on big goals for myself.  I think it can be difficult to look in the mirror and into the future, and know what you are supposed to accomplish.  However, this little business of mine has had my head-spinning with ideas and things I want to achieve.

I'm a big fan of celebrating when even small accomplishments are achieved.  Here's what has me smiling this January.

1. I completed my first start-to-finish wedding invitation suite for a client.  This was such an amazing experience for me.  I learned SO much, and truly enjoyed the customer interaction and challenges that were introduced.  I cannot wait to work with more brides this upcoming year.

2. I signed up for Stationery Academy 2013.  If you've been following along on my journey, then you know this was one of the main conferences I wanted to attend when I first started my business.  I am so happy that I have committed early this year.  It will force me to work hard to pay for the expenses of this trip!

3. Freshly Minted.  As most of you know, I have been competing in the Minted Challenges for about 6 months now.  It was my goal for 2013 to have a winning or picked design selling on their site by the end of 2013.  Well friends, this goal was officially accomplished as of Tuesday.  Much more excitement to share in this category, but happy to announce that one of my baby announcements was selected.

I encourage each of you to look back on the month of January and pick out a few things that made you smile or proud.  Let's celebrate the small accomplishments that will eventually make up the big picture of 2013.

Wedding Invites FAQ

The last few weeks I have been very busy with wedding consultations.  After all, wedding season is just right around the corner!  I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help so many local brides with their wedding suites.  Amidst my conversations, there always seems to be some recurring questions regarding invitations.  So, I thought I would list these most frequently asked questions about wedding etiquette.  I look forward to sharing some of the finished wedding suites very soon!

Why do you need the inner envelope?

The outer envelope is typically addressed to the man or woman of the household only.  It is also used to protect the entire wedding invitation from wear and tear through the mail.  The inner envelope should specify exactly who is invited to the wedding, whether it be just the main persons of the house, guests, or children.  More and more brides are steering away from using inner envelopes, but this is a tradition that will likely stay for generations to come.

How many invitations should I order?

It is recommended that you order 10% more than the number of guests/households you plan to invite.  Just in case!

Can I please put that this is an adult only wedding?

Etiquette says that you should NOT specify that kids are not allowed, or that it is an adult only wedding.  The inner envelope should let your guests know exactly who is invited to the wedding.

How many months out should I send my invitations and when do they have to reply by?

If you send a save the date prior to the invitation (which should be sent 6-7 months before the wedding), then the invitation can be sent six weeks out.  I recommend giving yourself eight weeks or two full months.  This allows your guests one month to reply with their RSVP, and gives you one month to plan with your final or expected guest totals.


If you are interested in learning more about my custom wedding design process, please email me!
brittany@goldenberrypaper.com

You're engaged, now what?

First off, congratulations to all of the soon-to-be brides that got engaged over the holiday season.  This seems to be the most popular time of year to get engaged and I personally know several girls who have recently started planning.

Have you found yourself wondering where in the world you are supposed to start?  What should you do first? Should you call a photographer or venue first?  I'm sure if you asked 10 women, they would give you 10 different answers.  I spent ALL of 2011 planning my wedding and here are my top 3 recommendations for planning assistance:

1. Emily Posts's Wedding Etiquette

This book was gifted to me by one of my bridesmaids, and it became such a lifesaver.  From the formalities to planning a wedding to the different types of floral bouquet arrangements a bride can carry, this book was oh so helpful for everything!

2. Mindy Weiss Planner & Organizer

Mindy Weiss is one of the most well-respected wedding planners in Hollywood.  I enjoyed reading and following her blog to dream about the exotic weddings she plans.  This book/organizer is her newest product and would be a great addition to the Emily Post Etiquette Book above.

3. BLOGS!!

Well, I truly became addicted to the blogosphere while planning my wedding.  If you enjoy finding inspiration on the web, this is the most resourceful place to find, learn, and gain wedding tips.  It can at times be overwhelming so be sure to take everything in small doses.  Here are just a few of my
favorite wedding blogs that I still follow today.

Style Me Pretty
Grey Likes Weddings
Snippet & Ink
Budget Savvy Bride
Ritzy Bee Blog

Again, congrats to all of you planning!  I will be updating soon about some of my current wedding invitation suites available so stay tuned!

Minted: Baby Announcement Challenge

For those that aren't familiar, Minted is a company that promotes independent designers around the world by hosting design competitions.  The winners of the challenges are then sold on their website and the designers receive a percentage of the sales.  This has been a wonderful resource for me as I grow as a designer and it allows me to practice, make mistakes, and try new things.  I have already improved tremendously since my first entry back in August.

The current challenge is baby announcements and voting is now open.  If you have five minutes, I would love it if you could create a profile and vote for my designs below.  I hope your week has gotten off to a great start!  

Tiny Miracle

Sweet Stripes

New Orleans, Louisville & the Fleur-de-Lis

Tonight, my alma mater, the University of Louisville will take on the Florida Gators in the Sugar Bowl.  A ton of our friends traveled to New Orleans for the big game tonight.  While I wish I was there, I’m excited to cozy up on the couch to watch what will hopefully be a shocking Cards victory.

There is one unique symbol that ties Louisville, New Orleans, and stationery together and that is the Fleur de Lis.  This symbol has become so popular for stationery, invitations, and trendy goods, so where did it come from and what do New Orleans and Louisville have to do with it?

The Fleur-de-lis is French for “lily flower” and became the official emblem in the state of Louisiana as its roots stem from the French colonization of the Americas.  It is most widely seen as the NFL Logo for the New Orleans Saints, and has become a symbol of community and hope in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Similarly, the city of Louisville adopted the Fleur-de-Lis as its official seal of the city and represents French aid that was given during the Revolutionary War.

In honor of the entire city of Louisville traveling to New Orleans for the game tonight, here’s a fun collection of the Fleur-de-Lis used in stationery.

Go Cards!

Source

Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe today is January 1st!  December was full of fun holiday parties, our much anticipated Junior League Hollydays event, designing Christmas cards, and finally a vacation to Key West.  Needless to say, I haven't had much focus on updating the blog.

Here are some pictures that summarize what I've been up to lately.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  Here's to accomplishing your goals in 2013!

Created lots of fun personalized stationery that made wonderful gifts

Christmas Card for a great friend who recently got married

Save the Date cards for a friend's upcoming wedding

Another Christmas card designed for my cousins

Spent Christmas in Key West, Florida with the Warren's

Sunset Cruise

Had a Cabernet Wine Tasting Party for New Year's Eve, tasting card designed by yours truly.

My sister, in town from Honduras.  Happy New Year!!