Comments Off on Penn State Alumni Wedding – Custom Thumbprint Guestbook
by Allison
It is back to school time again! As the college students are headed back to campus this week, I wanted to share with you a fun way to commemorate your alma mater on your wedding day by working with me to create a custom University themed Thumbprint Guestbook.
This couple, Kim and CJ both went to Penn State University together. I worked with them to create this thumbprint guestbook which after their wedding will be a unique keepsake adorning their walls for years to come.
At Kim and CJ’s wedding in a couple of weeks, their guests will sign the path towards the Nittany Lion Shrine with their thumbprints. As you can see, I painted the fall foliage in honor of this fall wedding, and customized the Penn State sign with the couple’s name and wedding date.
Whatever the University or College, every campus has a section of it that resonates with the campus community…that would be the personal spot to feature in your Custom Thumbprint Guestbook.
Comments Off on Watercolor Flower Bridal Shower Invitation
by Allison
Sometimes I’m lucky enough to work with family members or close friends of brides. In this case I worked with an aunt to create a lovely purple flower bridal shower invitation for the lucky bride. This design features a purple floral watercolor border which is loose and ethereal partnered with a lovely script font. This feminine design is perfectly enclosed in a lavender envelope.
If you are interested in working with me on your custom party invitation, whether bridal shower, birthday party, retirement, or graduation, I’d love to work with you. Contact me for your custom quote.
Comments Off on Alice in Wonderland Wedding Day Paper
by Allison
Wedding day paper includes menus, escort cards, ceremony programs, favor tags, thumbprint guestbooks, and other various signs such as dessert table signs, such as the macaroon sign above. As you can see, adding this little detail of custom paper to your wedding day brings the whole look of the event to another level.
The paper are the items your guests will be holding and using to navigate throughout your event, so it makes sense to give them the same attention you would for the invitation set. In fact, the wedding day paper items are also a way to carry the theme from the wedding invitations throughout the wedding.
In the case of the Alice in Wonderland wedding the detailed illustrations from the Alice in Wonderland wedding invitation set are not in the designs of the wedding day paper. Instead a colorful watercolor wash is used in the design to coordinate with the invitation but not be too matchy-matchy. One of my strengths as an artist is figuring out how to transition and grow a design into the coordinating designs so that they all feel like they are in the same family, but aren’t identical.
The Alice in Wonderland theme is really interesting because while there is the eclectic tea party aspect of the event, there is also this mystical haze throughout the forest Alice is wondering about. The watercolor wash is inspired by that haze. I just love this design, as you can tell. The team of vendors did such an amazing job designing the decor and the table settings. I love how all the details came together. It is really an inspiration, and I am so excited that other couples can use bits and pieces of this inspiration for their wedding days!
Comments Off on Alice in Wonderland Invitation Set in the Shop
by Allison
You too can have an Alice in Wonderland inspired wedding because the Alice in Wonderland Invitation set featured above is now available for purchase on the Hand-Painted Weddings Invitation Shop! The invitation has detailed illustrations reflective of the tea party in the woods alongside nooks of whimsical, colorful mushrooms. You can choose to upgrade your envelopes to have the antique key envelope liners, which add a very fun pattern to the overall set.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the coordinating pieces to the Alice in Wonderland invitation set. Spoiler alert – they take whimsy to another level and focus on the overall haze of the Alice in Wonderland experience by transitioning to a ethereal watercolor wash design.
Comments Off on Alice in Wonderland Wedding Featured on Ruffled Blog
by Allison
On Monday I announced on social media that the Alice in Wonderland styled shoot I created paper for was featured on Ruffled blog! Styled shoots are a lot of fun because they give wedding vendors and artists a chance to express their creativity and go crazy with ideas for the sake of inspiring engaged couples. By using creativity with no limitations, a styled shoot has the power to open up new ideas that might connect with couples getting married – it is pretty powerful!
Styled shoots are also a great way to meet new vendor friends. In the case of this styled shoot, I worked remotely with vendors in Chicago. One of the things I love that within my career I can collaborate with people all over the country, even the world!
This styled shoot is chockfull of colorful, whimsical wedding inspiration, that you should definitely check out. Above is just a snippet of the post, so click here to see the full post.
Comments Off on Amethyst Gemstone Wedding Reception Inspiration
by Allison
Quartz, geode, and gemstone decorations are gorgeous, classy, and very unique touches to your reception decor. If you go with the Amethyst Quartz theme, don’t feel like you need to stick with the Amethyst rock solely. Have fun and add other quartz rocks and other gemstones to the mix.
The reception look can be earthy with a flair of hippie aesthetic, or it can be sultry and romantic. The gemstone details can be subtle or dominant.
Don’t forget to have fun with candy crushed cupcakes or rock candy sticks (which would be lovely in a dessert station or as favors). Incorporate gemstones into your escort cards or work with a calligrapher to create your very own geode table numbers.
If you choose to create an Amethyst wedding, you are sure to have a heightened energy wedding full of calm and intuition, the energies of the amethyst stone.
Comments Off on Amethyst Quartz Wedding Inspiration
by Allison
The Amethyst Quartz wedding inspiration revolves around the color purple. I love an ombre purple wedding with colors ranging from soft, muted purples to deep violets. This color palette looks lovely paired with soft whites, or more vibrant with magentas. I’ve had a lot of custom wedding paper requests lately with the color purple, and it seems to be a popular wedding color these days. It also, by the way, looks great as a watercolor wash, allowing the purple ombre to organically transition from dark to light.
This inspiration board is a collection of bouquet, jewelry, wedding gown, cupcake, and favor inspiration, alongside the Amethyst Quartz wedding invitation.
I love how the lilacs pair with the magenta peonies and the touch of amethyst quartz in the bouquet. Long quartz necklaces, earrings, or even rings are lovely bridesmaid gifts. You can even attach them to a card that reads, “Love Rocks” or “You are my Rocks” as a meaningful gift.
Giving gemstones as a favor at a wedding is probably a little woo woo for most weddings, but I can see it being appropriate for the right wedding. It could also be given as a more select gift for the wedding party.
The purple or lilac wedding dress is to die for! I don’t know why we don’t see more purple wedding gowns. It is all blush or soft blue….why not lilac?!
Also, maybe my favorite is the amethyst cupcake. Chop up purple crystal candy and sprinkle it on top of a cupcake = pure unique perfection!
Comments Off on Calming yet Bold, faceted Amethyst Quartz Invitation
by Allison
The Amethyst Quartz invitation is magical and modern at the same time. Amethyst is the birthstone for February, so it would be perfect for a February wedding. It would also be perfect for someone who is attracted to gemstones and perhaps has proclivities towards yoga.
I don’t talk about it too much within the Hand-Painted Weddings capacity, but I have some unique hobbies. I have a daily yoga practice, which for me is more than a physical practice, but is also my spiritual base. Branching out from my spiritual study of yoga, I study the ancient art of Ayurveda, and also collect gemstones.
Gemstones have been studied to have mystical and magical powers. Similar to the study of aromatherapy, the Amethyst is said to have a calming effect like lavender. I have two lavender invitations (1, 2) in the Hand-Painted Wedding invitations shop because I believe in having a sense of calm on your wedding day which allows all of your senses to take in the enormity of the event. The Amethyst Quartz invitation has the same calm meaning as the lavender invitations, but is more unique and much more bold. Perfect for a yoga wedding or spiritual wedding, this purple watercolor gemstone invitation is a beautiful way to introduce your guests to the calm, bold event to follow.
I also have seen a surge in bohemian weddings lately, and I think that the Amethyst Quartz Invitation would be a perfect touch to a bohemian wedding as well.
This is a group of really beautiful invitations, some more subtly fall themed than others, and I’m really happy to be included. Definitely check out the full list on the blog post here.
Comments Off on Unique Wedding Ceremony Idea – The Unity Cocktail
by Allison
I’ve said it many times…I love when couples infuse their wedding with their unique personalities! When I was perusing Shannon and Bryan’s wedding photos I noticed a couple of photos of them with a shot and beer glass in their hand during their ceremony. Well, that isn’t something you see every day, so I inquired with Shannon…
Question: You had beer during your ceremony! What is the story behind that?
Shannon: We had a unity cocktail! We wrote the ceremony ourselves, and we really wanted our personalities to shine through. Other couples opt to light a unity candle, or combine sand, or some other variation on the unity theme. Well, anyone who knows us knows that Bryan loves beer, and I love whisky. And what goes better together than beer and whisky! So we combined the two in a unity cocktail, and I dropped my shot of whisky into Bryan’s glass of stout. We each then took a sip. (It was a huge hit with the guests!)
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Thank you Shannon and Bryan for letting me feature your wedding on the blog this week. Readers, I hope you glean some unique wedding inspiration for your upcoming nuptials! Remember, have fun at your wedding. Do something rarely seen, like having a unity cocktail during your ceremony. You and your guests are sure to remember these distinctively personal touches fondly for many years to come!
Comments Off on Real Wedding: Literary Wedding in Philadelphia
by Allison
Today I’m sharing with you a continuation of yesterday’s post introducing Shannon and Bryan’s gorgeous literature wedding. One of the reasons I know weddings are the right place for me as a painter and designer is because I truly feel a connection with the couple and what they are going through with wedding planning and also a connection with how the wedding is crafted together. I care about the thoughtful design elements that are incorporated into the wedding as well as the intangible moments that happen during this monumental day in the couple’s lives.
While I know as an artist, I could certainly just put my attention on the art only, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t give thoughtful, caring attention to the couple. I think that this care resonates when couple’s work with me.
I believe the lasting details of a wedding consist of the feelings or surprising interactions and the visuals that linger in your mind as you look back on that day. With that in mind, I have asked the bride, Shannon, the following questions about her wedding day:
Question: What was your favorite detail at your wedding?
Shannon: I loved so many of the little details, but I have to say it was the handmade signs our friend made for us were my favorite. Aaron of The Point to Point created such gorgeous and memorable signs that really added a special touch to the day. Everyone was commenting on them because they looked so cool, but they also served a function and completed our literary theme. Plus, of course, the fact that they were made by a friend made them even better.
I also loved our band. The ballroom where we had the reception is known for its acoustics, so going with a live band was the natural choice. The band we chose, though, was amazing. They had everyone up and dancing the whole night, and they played all the songs we wanted perfectly (which is saying a lot we are very fussy about music!) They really set the atmosphere and made it a truly fun night big props to the Uptown Getdowns!
Question: Favorite moment at your wedding?
Shannon: Immediately after the ceremony, Bryan and I had to hide while the guests left the room and headed to cocktail hour. We waited in a small, quiet space and just chatted, taking in the enormity of the situation. That was definitely my favorite moment of the day. We have been together since high school (1999), so to finally be married and to have a few moments alone after the whirlwind of planning and prepping for the day, was really nice. Honestly, I think it’s my most vivid memory of the day and the rest of it seemed to fly by so fast!
A close second favorite moment would be my dance with my dad. The band did a really nice cover of a song that always meant a lot to us, “Learning to Fly” by Pink Floyd.
It’s tough to pick a favorite moment, though, since the entire day was so fantastic. Everyone says that it’s the happiest day of their lives, which sounds so cliche, but it’s really true. It was hands-down the best day of my life.
Stop by tomorrow for the final post about this gorgeous wedding, which will feature a really unique ceremony cocktail…yes, I said cocktail!
Comments Off on Real Wedding: Literature Themed Wedding in Philadelphia
by Allison
I’ve got a treat for you this week! This week I will be sharing Shannon and Bryan’s beautiful book-themed wedding.
Shannon and Bryan are a couple I met at the Lovesick Expo this past January, and I’m so glad I did! They both got married in April, and hadn’t found their invitations designer yet, so we worked very closely and quickly throughout January to design their unique, custom invitations. They had a literature themed wedding that took place in a library at the German Society building in Philadelphia. This was definitely a unique spot for a wedding and I loved the theme, so I was so happy to work on this project!
Shannon and Bryan’s invitation set was a classic book cover design invitation with hand-painted vines and flowers on the cover in a soft Spring color palette. The RSVP card was a soft antique gold library card, to coordinate with the book invitation and literature wedding theme. We also worked together on table cards that were named after the couple’s favorite authors.
This couple put together a truly gorgeous event which was unique to who they are. I love seeing how everything comes together at a wedding! I asked the bride, Shannon, a few questions about her wedding to give you a glimpse into this beautiful wedding.
Question: Why did you pick a literature theme for your wedding, and get married in a library?
Shannon: It was important that we chose a place that was special and had some sort of meaning for us. I had been to the German Society before when I saw Edgar Allan Poe’s great, great nephew give speech there about Poe’s life and works. I’ve always been an avid reader, and seeing Poe’s descendant in person, right next door to Poe’s house, in the setting of the German Society’s beautiful library was such a special, happy moment. When I found out that the Germany Society was available to rent for weddings, my mind was instantly made up; it had to be there! Since the ceremony was going to be in the library, I thought it would be fun and personal to do a literary theme. Bryan and I picked our favourite authors to name the tables after (we sat at the Poe table, naturally!), and we played up the book/writing theme in all of the decor and the invitations! Our friends and family absolutely loved it, since it was really a reflection of who we are, and it added a very personal touch to the day.
Question: How did your wedding invitations tie into your wedding?
Shannon: They were absolutely perfect, and they set the tone ahead of time so guests sort of knew what to expect at the wedding. It tied the whole theme together perfectly. Plus, everyone loved the library card RSVP! It was like they were participating in it, and not just simply replying Yes or No. I can’t tell you how many people wrote personal responses on the cards about how excited they were to see our “story†begin, etc. – they all seemed really excited about the theme thanks to your lovely invitations!
Stay tuned tomorrow and Friday for more Q&A with Shannon and glimpses into their beautiful wedding!
You may have noticed the changes happening around Hand-Painted Weddings these last couple weeks. I am happy to announce that the Hand-Painted Weddings website has been redesigned and there are a few big, exciting changes that I can’t wait to bring to your attention. These changes were all made with the customer in mind, allowing more flexibility and more chooses for their wedding paper purchases.
1. Product pricing – This is a big one. You can now order products in increments of 10. AND you can now build your own invitation sets, because the invitation, RSVP, wedding particulars card, and thank you cards are all options under the same design.
2. White envelopes are now the standard with our invitation sets, with color envelopes being an upgrade option. This allows you the flexibility of choosing whether colored envelopes are important to you.
3. Envelope addressing is now available to order on Invitation sets through the shop.
4. There is a brand new Process page which outlines what to expect when working with me on a project, whether from the shop or a custom order.
Website redesigns take up a ton of time, which is why the blog has been quiet. But I have some real wedding features and some new watercolor work to share starting next week! For now, I have a much-needed mini vacation with one of my best friends this weekend to Toronto, and then it will be back to business next week!
Comments Off on Flashback Friday in celebration of Fourth of July
by Allison
Today I’m reminiscing and sharing a few photos of the Fourth of July wedding styled shoot that a group of us Philly wedding vendors collaborated on more than a year ago! This styled wedding took place at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia. The first photo took place with the National Constitution Center in the background. Philly is all a buzz this long weekend celebrating Independence Day!
I wish everyone a Happy Independence Day! Enjoy your friends and family on this long weekend.
A literature themed wedding has touches of antique and looks lovely amongst a rustic or historic wedding venue. In general a rustic wedding exudes a casual vibe to it and an antique, historic wedding exudes a more refined vibe, but don’t feel limited to pick just one look. Use your wedding venue as a guide and feel free to mix and match different elements from a rustic and antique literature theme. The books can be the glue that holds the look together.
Be sure to shop at flea markets, antique stores and yard sales to collect your classic hard-bound novels to possibly read and use in your decor. I personally love the look of really old books…you know, the type that is so worn that the pages have yellowed and the spine has signs of wear. There has also been a trend in the redesigns of classic novel covers which would be a really fun way to make the antique literature theme more modern and unique. Loose bouquets with lots of texture look lovely with this look. Also antique gold pieces like picture frames, antique keys, and gold rimmed glasses and chargers work really well with this theme.
The Literature Wedding Invitation is perfect for a couple getting married in a library, or for the couple who is in love with reading. I love when couples choose to bring their hobbies and loves into their wedding. A wonderful way to personalize your wedding is through your wedding paper starting with the invitation and continuing through wedding day paper such as ceremony programs, menus, escort cards, table numbers. Later this week I will be sharing more literature themed wedding inspiration.
Please note that the statue busts in this invitation can be male and male, or female and female upon request.
Comments Off on Marriage equality finally ruled legal in all states!
by Allison
I’m so excited to share in the happiness of today’s announcement that the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage legal in every state! There really is nothing more beautiful than the government taking this stand for love and marriage.
In celebration I am posting some beautiful same-sex marriage couple photos along with some same-sex wedding detail inspiration such as the Mr & Mr cake topper (which is also available as Mrs. & Mrs. from the same Etsy seller).
I’m really in love with the same-sex couple photos above. The love is so strong in these photos that it makes my heart melt! I am so happy that same-sex marriage is finally legal in all states.
Comments Off on Rainbow-inspired LGBT Pride wedding
by Allison
Rainbow-inspired LGBT Pride wedding is super fun and joyful! I love that a couple can go all out and incorporate many rainbow ideas into a wedding, or they can pick a bright color (or white) as their dominant color and then add rainbow accents such as a rainbow cake or cascading rainbow flower centerpieces. A white wedding with rainbow accents would be stunning!
This rainbow-inspired LGBT Pride wedding style is perfect for the same-sex couple that is looking for a lighthearted, happy wedding…the kind where the brides (or grooms) are wearing colorful Converse shoes as in the first inspiration photo above.
I also love the rainbow cakes I have been seeing…they vary from a colorful rainbow candy coated cake masterpiece to a white cake with rainbow cake layers inside as a surprise!
Comments Off on Pride Invitation in Celebration of LGBT Pride Month
by Allison
I made this invitation in celebration of National LGBT Pride Month. As a firm believer in same sex marriage equality, I believe that all of my invitations are made to be appropriate and unique to the couple, no matter the gender or sexual orientation. That said, I also wanted to design an invitation that specifically celebrates the Gay Pride movement, so I created this hand-painted watercolor rainbow invitation commemorating LGBT Pride month.
The rainbow art is bright and happy with a nod towards Gay pride which is more subtle than using gender graphics or symbols. I am really proud that I am in the generation where gay couples are receiving equal rights to be legally married. It actually blows my mind how long this government process has taken but it warms my heart every time a new state passes a law in favor of same sex marriages. This invitation is a design of celebration and pride, as well as a small prayer that we as a people will be accepting and welcoming of same sex couples.
It is back to school time again! As the college students are headed back to campus this week, I wanted to share with you a fun way to commemorate your alma mater on your wedding day by working with me to create a custom University themed Thumbprint Guestbook.
