I really do love pink, and yes, especially for weddings. There is something utterly romantic when a couple (think bride) chooses pink for their wedding. Whether it is the blush of a beautiful bride, roses, or a groom’s bow tie, blush pink is definitely our choice of color for our wedding inspiration board today!

Colors: Soft Sage, Blush, Soft Pink, Whisper Gray

We love the soft blush of the bride’s lips captured so beautifully by Elizabeth Messina under a simple veil. So innocent and pure. The whimsical wedding invitations will begin to set the tone for a romantic wedding and can you say ahhhh-mazing to this ring!? Positioned on powdered sugar doughnuts no less. Cute! What about this gorgeous chair decor? I have fallen head over heels for these chairs. Simply stunning! The shabby chic rose would make the perfect accent whether as part of the ceremony or reception decor. So delicate and pretty! And I adore a man in pink, just saying ;) Pink gingham bow tie and pink sweetheart roses for a boutonniere. Love!

Think pink! For your wedding that is. Go ahead, your groom will get over it. :)

xoxo

Row 1: Bride captured by Elizabeth Messina Photography via Utterly Engaged, Invitation by Moira Design Studio via Oh So Beautiful Paper, Ring Shot by Scarlet O’Neill Photography via Style Me Pretty

Row 2: Chair Decor via A Chair Affair Rentals, Shabby Chic Rose Dprintsplayful - Etsy, Groom’s Attire captured by Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings

We are so excited to have Heather from Simply Designed back for another installment in our Stationery Series. Today she’s going to discuss printing process options for wedding invitations. Be sure to also refer back to Heather’s posts on Letterpress Wedding Stationery, Day-of Wedding Stationery and Stress Free Wedding Stationery.

Many brides enter into designing their invitations and are overwhelmed by many terms that are almost like a foreign language to them. As a custom stationery designer, I like to explain the entire process, terminology, and anything else my brides and grooms might come across. My favorite part of the whole design process is printing. I love the smell of the paper and ink, and the physical texture of the paper and the way ink reacts to the paper. It is one of the few times I will admit I like science!

Because of my love for printing, I thought I would take you through some of the most common printing methods for wedding stationery and explain a little bit about each one. Hopefully this summary will help you decide which printing method will fit you and your wedding the best. I promise I won’t get into the science behind this!

Digital Printing

This is a fast, affordable, modern printing technology that results in stationery with a flat surface and vivid, beautiful colors. Digital designs can be printed on cotton based paper so your invitation looks and feels just as luxurious as letterpress. The bonus is a lot of digital printing can be done eco-friendly. Many printers have now converted their facilities to wind and solar power, add in your FSC certified paper and you have one very “green” wedding invitation.

Digital Printing sample (Design by Simply Designed | Photo by Kim Robbins Photography)

Thermography

Another very popular printing method for stationery is thermography. This process results in a raised or three-dimensional print effect that emulates the finished quality of engraving, but not at the same price. Thermography is a simple process typically used in conjunction with any conventional wet-ink printing press. When the printed sheets come off a press pass, they pass through a powder application where resin is applied to the wet ink. The resin is then removed from the sheet except where it adheres to the wet ink. The printer then heats the paper, causing the resin to melt and fuse to the ink. The page is then cooled, which finalizes the process. However, stationery with classic engraving still tends to have a fuller, more complete raised printing effect. The letters from a thermography print are also shinier than engraved characters.

Flat Offset Printing

Flat offset printing is sometimes referred to as flat printing. This printing method is commonly used for magazines, brochures and when you are looking for some fun out-of-the-box projects. The color range is limitless! When using this technique, you can add varnishes and use many different paper styles. It’s less expensive than engraving or thermography. The process starts with a metal or paper plate from a black and white image. The printer then hangs the plate on a press and the image is transferred onto paper. When printing in this method you can use up to 5 specific Pantone match colors, or 4 specific Pantone match colors and a varnish. The combinations are endless!

Flat Offset Printing sample (Design and Photo by Simply Designed)

Engraving

Developed during the 1700s, engraving is a classic, formal printing process. Think of your mother’s wedding invitations. Up until about the early 90‘s, this was one of the most popular ways to print your wedding invitations. Engraved invitations have a distinct look and feel that is easily recognizable. Because of their superior quality, engraving is the most expensive printing process available. The paper is pressed against a metal plate, causing the printing press to raise the letters on the paper. You can feel each character when you run a finger across the back of the paper. The raised letters in a matte ink finish produces an indentation on the reverse, and a gentle wave or ripple on lighter papers that gives engraved stationery a look of distinction. Surprisingly this printing technique is making a come back.

Letterpress

My absolute favorite! One of the things I love about letterpress is that this printing method is steeped in craft and tradition. The letterpress process results in stationery of exceptional beauty and authenticity. Letterpress is a printing technique that dates back to the 1400’s. Individual letters forged out of lead or wood were carefully hand set, inked and impressed into sheets of paper, creating one of the earliest forms of modern printing. Modern day letterpress is slightly different, but the end result is still as unique and beautiful to the touch. The design is rendered and refined, and made into printing plates. The inked image is transferred directly into the paper. Sometimes a slight embossing appears on the reverse side of the paper because of denting caused by the letterpress process. The finished letterpress image is usually sharp and crisp, each resulting piece is a unique piece of art, the culmination of hours of craft and creativity. The best part of printing your invitation on a letterpress is the ecological benefits. Letterpress is one of the most eco-friendly ways to print. All the inks are vegetable-oil based with low VOCs, and all the papers used are either 100% cotton or 100% bamboo which grows in abundance and is replenished very quickly.

Letterpress sample (Design and Photo by Simply Designed)

We heart this design and use it frequently as our business stationery :)

Embossing

You know we love everything about weddings and want to make sure that you have the best vendors to help you plan, coordinate, decorate and capture your special day. We are so blessed to work with these pros and we love to share their talents with you! Come take a look!

Decor & Event Design

Pastore Events loves to share inspiration! Check out their blog for fun ideas for getaway vehicles!

Do you have a special heirloom tablecloth? Olam Wedding Canopies can use it to create a gorgeous canopy for your wedding.

Great Facebook etiquette advice for couples planning their wedding from Danielle Pasternak, Wedding Coordinator!

Are you planning a rustic wedding? PNZ Designs creates the sweetest designs for your decor!

Stationery & Paper Goods

Is your style bold and modern? Tabibi Design has great designs to capture your wedding!

Blush Printables offers some great advice on their blog on how to personalize your wedding stationery.

Simply Designed Invitations is always busy creating new designs. Did you know they have awesome stamps too?

Did you know that peacock feathers and colors are a popular element in weddings? ALH Designs has the perfect invitation!

Bridal Fashion & Beauty

Looking for something a little sparkly for your wedding day? Happily Ever Borrowed has something (to rent!!!) for everyone!

Wedding Photographers

A dip kiss always melts our hearts and Natalie Franke Photography captured this one perfectly!

Sweet snuggles at an engagement session with Ruth Eileen Photography.

The sweetest elopement from With Love and Embers.

This wedding from Britt Croft Photography includes the most amazing vintage car in tiffany blue!

A.J. Dunlap Photography is a master of the wedding timeline and their photos show the time and care that they take for amazing photos!

Katherine Henry Boudoir has a way of capturing boudoir that makes every woman feel special.

Melania Marta Photography loves wedding season and would love to work with you!

Natural light is a favorite of Njeri Bishota Photography and this engagement session says it all!

An ethereal moment captured by Jacquelyne Mae Photography.

A super sweet engagement session with Mikkel Paige Photography.

Looking for more information on these fabulous vendors? Please visit the Vendor Boutique and check out the beautiful inspiration boards that we feature for each of our amazing vendors! Don’t forget to check out their websites and blogs too! :)

xoxo

If you are interested in joining the Heart Love Weddings family and Vendor Boutique, click over to our Advertising page and fill out the form. We’ll be in touch with our media kit within 24 hours! We would love the opportunity to work with you!

Shabby chic is one of those styles that, once it was introduced back in the 80’s, never went away. Embraced by wedding stylists and brides alike, it combines a little vintage, a little handmade and a whole lot of sweetness that makes it distinctly a style all its own and immediately identified. Our wedding inspiration board today combines all of the styles for a distinct shabby chicness so pretty in peach.

Colors: Rosy Peach, Peach, Soft Blue, Rustic Grey

I love all the textures, soft and fuzzy, in this gorgeous, yet simple, bouquet captured by one of our favorite wedding photographers (and premier partners in our Vendor Boutique), With Love and Embers. The rosy glow of this amazing engagement ring is really perfect and reflects the whole peachy-ness of our inspiration board. The softness of peach and blue are a sweet color combo for the wedding invitations and those fabulous tassels as decor are pretty rad too. The peach suede Gucci shoes really compliment the little bit of vintage for our shabby chic bride. Can you just see them with the bouquet and dress above? Yes! And the little banner on the wedding cake is cuteness overload, right? Right!

I really love all this peachy keen shabby chicness! Don’t you? :)

xoxo

Row 1: Bouquet made by Sullivan Owen Floral & Event Design captured by With Love & Embers via Bridal Musings, Rose Gold Diamond Ring via Studio1040 - Etsy, Invitation via Wide Eyes Design - Etsy

Row 2: Tassel Garland via Tuck and Bonte – Your Cloud Parade, Gucci Shoes captured by Zara Zoo Photography via The Pretty Blog, Cake by Polkadots captured by Forever Photography via Style Me Pretty

Recent personal and even worldly events have made me pause and ponder the words, love hurts. We’ve all heard this before. Love hurts. Love sucks. Whether it refers to a failing relationship or a challenging one. Relationships with a significant other or spouse, a friend, a sibling, a child, or a parent, are hard. Especially when we are giving it our all. All our love. We put all our love into our relationships because we want to encourage, inspire, protect and sustain.

But what I have come to realize is that love doesn’t hurt. It’s rejection. It’s the negative words. It’s fear. It’s worry. It’s people behaving badly. It’s actions. It’s negative energy. Comparisons hurt. Criticisms hurt. Poor choices hurt. It’s words that hurt. It’s the words said in anger, in haste, without thought, that hurt. We’ve all been there. We’ve all thrown out those hurtful words that we think are said in the name of love, because we love that person. But if we really love that person and really cherish that relationship, should we not pause a moment (I know it’s hard when you are in the heat of that moment) and ask ourselves, are we saying these words with love, or are they being said to get our way, make a point, and yes, even hurt.

A few years ago, I found myself using the dreaded, “I hate you!” to someone I dearly, dearly love. My husband. Definitely not my finest, nor proudest moment. It was a particularly challenging time in our relationship. I never, ever thought I would utter those words to him. I didn’t even regret those words right after I said them. I wanted to be mad for awhile. To make a point. Surprisingly, my husband wasn’t even shocked. Didn’t fight back. During that time, we spoke a lot of words that were not with love in mind. I thought love really hurt at that time. So did he. It sucked. We’ve moved on from that difficult time. To a much better place I’m happy to say. We talked about some of those challenges and some we’ve never brought up again. I realized that the words “I hate you!” were said in anger and it was not that I hated him, it was that I hated the choices he was making and how they made me feel. I hated my reactions to those choices and that my needs were not being met. I hated the circumstances that we found ourselves in. And no, love did not hurt then, it was all the other stuff that we were focusing on. If we had focused on our love for each other, we probably would have weathered that storm a little better. But we’ve grown, matured, love each other more, better, patiently. It’s a journey. (We’ll be dating for 36 years this July and married for 32 in June.) I think we’re going to make it. :)

I share these thoughts with you because I believe that everyone will utter or hear those dreaded words, love hurts, at some point in their life. Whether you hear them from a teen that just experienced their first break up or when a long-time relationship goes bad. Stop for a moment and realize that love doesn’t hurt. Because in actuality, love heals, comforts, and encourages. And at the risk of sounding a little cliche, love does indeed never fail. Love does conquer all.

Love doesn’t hurt.