Tiare Clay Hair Flower used in a Proposal in Paradise Video

DK Designs had the opportunity to participate in a wonderful video project with local wedding professionals in her area, which is aptly called "Vendor Chic". The event & project designer asked DK Designs to create a clay hair flower and custom invitations for the video project. Lea McIntosh of Ready to Propose brought together 18 talented wedding professionals to create a Proposal in Paradise. It's such an innovative business concept and much needed in the wedding industry. Why just stop at a stylish and memorable wedding??? Kick it off with an over the top wedding proposal! What's even better, one lucky couple could win a Custom Wedding Proposal! Check the Ready to Propose website for details on how you could enter and win!

The clay hair flower seen in the video is uniquely different, but yet stylish and adds the perfect touch. The model in the video shoot wore it pretty much for the entire day and evening and it's seen in almost every shot. Most people wouldn't even know it was clay until they felt it or touched it. That's the amazing thing about the clay flowers. They look so real. The video shoot lasted from early in the morning until late at night, so the clay flower was perfect. There's no way a fresh flower would last that long without wilting or turning brown.

Modern Whimsy: An Interview with Cheerupcherup

Today's interview is with the talented Alaina of Cheerupcherup. She brings charm and her sense of modern style to play when creating spontanious stationary for brides from all over.

Where are you located?

Columbus, Ohio

Tell us a little about yourself.

I love bright colors and can never seem to get away from using them, not only in my designs, butin pretty much everything I do. My kitchen is bright green, my laundry room is bright orange, and my office is purple… and I’m pretty much wearing a different colored pair of shoes everyday. I make wedding invitations in my spare time, and I work full time as a graphic artist.

What special things do you create for weddings?

I design and make wedding invitations, and other important wedding paper goods.

Who or what sparked your interest in making wedding-related items?

Good question. My best answer is that weddings are so much FUN.

What is a little known fact, or something unique about your work that is interesting?

I am obsessed (maybe a little OCD) with the way the envelopes HAVE to match the invitation PERFECTLY…. I’m not sure if that is interesting or not.

If you are married, what’s the one thing you wish you had for your wedding that you didn’t?

Wish we had hired a professional photographer, instead of having a friend do it.

What is your favorite wedding song?

“True Companion” by Marc Cohn

What is your favorite part of the wedding journey?

Cake tasting!

What advice can you share for all the brides getting married this year?

Don’t be afraid to spend the extra money on something you really love. It’s worth it. You only get married once (hopefully)

What is your perfect honeymoon spot?

Italy

If you could pick anyone famous that would purchase your items for their wedding, who would they be?

Oprah?

If you could choose 1 item from your shop that you wish every bride could have, what would it be?

I’m not sure, but my calendar save-the-date is very popular, and is really versatile and can work for any wedding because the color possibilities are endless.

Links where we can find out more about your work:

www.flickr.com/cheerupherup or http://whimsicalbliss.blogspot.com

Pretty Stationary for Beautiful People: An Interview with Fubabee

Today's featured artist is Lisa of Fubabee, a very talented graphics designer who uses her professional experience to make beautiful invitations and stationary to fit any bride's unique personality.

Where are you located? Brooklyn, NY

Tell us a little about yourself. I’m an art director and graphic designer in the corporate world. Making stationery is my part-time love affair. It’s where I find my balance. If I had a choice I’d delve into the stationery world headfirst since it’s such a gratifying thing. People appreciate the beauty of the creative process, and the uniqueness of what I do. In the corporate world, it’s all about starched, standardized uniformity.

What special things do you create for weddings? I create handmade wedding invitations, note cards, and gift sets.

Who or what sparked your interest in making wedding-related items? The whole wedding invitations designing started back several years ago when a friend asked me to design some response cards for her. It just took off from there.

What is a little known fact, or something unique about your work that is interesting? Each and every single Swarovski crystal is hand adorned using non-toxic, acid-free glue. I must have glued over then thousand crystals to all my cards and invitations just this year alone! It’s almost zen-like when I get into it.

If you are married, what’s the one thing you wish you had for your wedding that you didn’t? I’m not married yet, though we are talking about it. It’s funny because with each wedding we attend as guests, we see something we’d absolutely love to do, or would totally avoid. For instance, one couple had jars of candy set up for favors, and everyone mobbed the area. Definitely not our style. Another couple set up a cookie bar station, which we loved the idea.

What is your favorite wedding song? There’s just so many great ones. Brian McKnight’s Back at One is a great one. You by Tara MacLean is another.

What is your favorite part of the wedding journey? From the outside, I would say it’s the creative planning process of two people. I always love how the brides-to-be light up when they find the perfect invitation that sets the stage for their wedding. Or when they find the perfect escort cards that give their reception that added touch they wanted. It’s a fun discovery to witness.

What advice can you share for all the brides getting married this year? Don’t force anything, be open to possibilities, and let the professionals guide you.

What is your perfect honeymoon spot? We went to the Virgin Islands earlier this year, and were blown away by the beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. We’d definitely visit the Caribbean again. Or anywhere that has crystal blue waters for snorkeling, scuba, kayaking. We’re all about fun beach activities.

If you could pick anyone famous that would purchase your items for their wedding, who would they be? This is a great question. I’d say Angelina Jolie. She has a fun and down-to-earth personality, and would appreciate the fact that the stationery is made of 30-70% post-consumer recycled materials.

If you could choose 1 item from your shop that you wish every bride could have, what would it be? Thank you notes. It’s a must have for everyone.

Links where we can find out more about your work: http://lisafu.info

http://fubabee.wordpress.com

Letterpunch Design - the winner of our logo design contest!

This interview is in honor of Laura of Letterpunch Design, also know as lilribbers on Etsy. Her modern and classy design was chosen as the new brand image of the Etsy Wedding Team. Read on to find out how she is inspired and how she specializes in creating branded weddings, where all your stationery is custom designed to match.

Where are you located? Chicago’s vibrant North Side.

Tell us a little about yourself. I’m a born and raised Midwest girl, living in Minneapolis, St. Louis and graduating from the University of Kansas. As of this past summer, Chicago, where my husband is pursuing his dream job as a trader on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange. For me, that meant leaving my graphic design job at a small St. Louis marketing agency. Spoiled by the fun and flexible work environment of my last job, I wasn’t terribly excited about the job prospects in Chicago (you couldn’t pay me enough to work in a cubicle!) So, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my own dream as well…self-employment. Now, everyday I get to do something challenging, creative and fully satisfying…and the fact that people pay me to do it…just a bonus! For the time being it’s just my husband and I, my overflowing studio, and our two spoiled cats, Jazzy and Kiwi, the closest thing we have to children. We’re thinking a dog next, then maybe the children.

What special things do you create for weddings? Mainly, I create custom wedding invitations, but also do matching save-the-dates, thank you notes, place cards, favor tags, menus, programs .I’m pretty much willing to tackle any challenge thrown my way. I tend to borrow from my experience in the corporate branding/event planning world, helping brides create a unique and consistent look and feel throughout their entire event. For some brides I end up becoming a mini wedding consultant. I love it!




















Who or what sparked your interest in making wedding-related items? I think most graphic designers who’ve gotten into this business will say “I couldn’t find anything that wowed me when I was planning my own wedding, so I figured…’I’ll just design my own invitations!’ I can do what those large companies do and I think I can do it better!”

What is a little known fact, or something unique about your work that is interesting? Every invitation in my shop/website is inspired by a real bride. Whether it’s one I’ve personally worked with, a friend, or one I’ve read about in a magazine. Real people, events and themes are more inspiring.

If you are married, what’s the one thing you wish you had for your wedding that you didn’t? The entire Etsy Wedding Team! I discovered Etsy about a month or so before my wedding . I ordered a few last minute items and wedding party gifts, but I would have ordered much more had I known about this wonderful little community. What is great about them is that you can take an idea for most anything and you can find someone to bring it to life…you’re not stuck picking pre-made things out of a catalog.

What is your favorite wedding song? We did “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton, sweet but not too sappy.

What is your favorite part of the wedding journey? As an invitation designer, I’m usually in the picture earlier than later. I love helping brides bring their visions to life…that “ahhh” moment when they really start to see things becoming reality, it’s always fun to hear the reactions when couples see their names together in print for the first time, I’m lucky to be a part of that sentimental moment.

What advice can you share for all the brides getting married this year? Worry about the details all you want, but the second that first family member gets off the plane/arrives to celebrate your marriage, put away the planning book and stop. If you are like most couples with family in all corners of the country, this could be one of the only times when all your loved ones will be in the same place at the same time … enjoy every moment!

What is your perfect honeymoon spot? Well, we went to Bermuda … perfect weather. It sounds exotic, but it’s only a little over an hour plane ride from the east coast.

If you could pick anyone famous that would purchase your items for their wedding, who would they be? I don’t know, whose getting married, divorced and remarried again? That would be great for business.

If you could choose 1 item from your shop that you wish every bride could have, what would it be? A custom design package! Wedding stationary has the ability to offer up a bold first-statement about your upcoming event (the save-the-date/invitation), as well as a final lingering impression (the thank you notes). Not to mention that it can also help tie in your theme throughout the wedding day programs, menu’s place cards and favors). Make it extra memorable by making it truly unique!

Links where we can find out more about your work: http://www.letterpunchdesign.com/