P is for Pantone

When discussing your wedding stationery, you may hear your graphic designer refer to PMS colours and wonder what on earth they're talking about. 'PMS' stands for Pantone Matching System - it was developed almost 50 years ago as a way of standardising colours so designers and printers have an accurate way to communicate with each other. When we choose PMS 123C, we know the egg-yolk yellow we have in mind is the same as the colour the printer will use.

We include a replica of a Pantone chip in each issue, giving you a reference if you'd like to replicate our theming palette.



Today Pantone has grown to supply colour matching products for a vast range of industries including interiors, fashion, architecture and most recently digital-based businesses. Here at Wedding Style Guide we use the Pantone swatch books that feature over 1000 colours - they look like this:






There is one swatch book for use on coated gloss papers, one for coated matte papers and one for uncoated papers - the same colour can look very different when printed on each different paper kind so there is a lot to consider when making decisions.

Of course there is a lot more to printing successfully using the Pantone system but hopefully this will make things a little clearer. Do have a look at their website as there is a wealth of information about colour forecasts and colour matching products. Their cotton swatches and new GoeGuide system (with over 2000 colours) are high on my list of 'needs'!





Posted by Jane Cameron

Lovely Louli
The mastermind behind the Australian label Louli, Lucy Young, has released her Spring/Summer 2009 collection. Personalised napkins are becoming the in thing for snazzy weddings and Louli has this art perfected. From monograms to the prettiest patterns in the most gorgeous shades they make the perfect gift for your guests to take home. She also has a range super cute fashion pieces such as singlets and divine cotton summer dresses. Visit www.louli.com.au to check out the range.



Posted by Emilie Harrison

Stitched Up

I received a parcel in the mail last week - an Etsy purchase from Lucky Little Dot. It was so beautifully wrapped, tied with brown string (they had me there) and finished with a very sweet swing tag in a most pleasing neutral palette. What caught my eye was the exquisitely perfect row of zig-zag stitching at the bottom of the card. What a beautiful detail - such an easy yet effective way to add a special touch to any stationery piece.



Posted by Jane Cameron

How To…

To answer a question from Volunteer Opportunities in relation to my previous Safari post, simply click on the little checked icon that is shown top left of any Safari page.



You can then change the pages it selects for you by clicking the 'edit' button bottom left. I hope you get as much use out of this as I do.

I have since been told Safari IS available for PCs (shows you how much I know about the world of PCs!) - you'll find all the info here. What a relief the whole world can share in this magical software.

Posted by Jane Cameron

Get With It

For those poor souls who aren't fortunate enough to work on an Apple, I'm sorry, but this is going to hurt... look a the fabulous new feature in the newly update web browsing program Safari V4.0.3...



It shows me my top 24 website or blog favourites in screenshot format. At a glance I can see if any of these pages have been updated and with just one click, I'm instantly transported directly to the site. For someone like me (or all you busy brides) who trail through many, many websites and blogs each day, this is a super fantastic feature. Maybe it will convince you non-users to cross to the bright-side.

Posted by Jane Cameron

Pretty Promotion

Yesterday I received a lovely little package in the mail from Annabel and Dorathee at Belathée Photography in New York. We have featured their beautiful photographs in previous issues - their style is quite modern which I like.






Vané Broussard's wedding photographed by Belathée featured in Issue 9.

Anyway, I digress... inside the package I received in the mail was a little consertina leaflet, about the size of a business card when all folded. It opened to reveal a selection of their beautiful photographs. I thought this would be a really nice way to commemorate a wedding as a thank you gift for guests - an insight into the entire day.







When placing photographs directly next to one another like Belathée have here, consider placing a busy one (with lots of detail) next to one with a plain background - a close-up shot perhaps. This will make it easier to distinguish the different photographs from one another. Also, consider the colour palette, choosing pics that will complement one another. A stunning black and white photograph placed amongst colour photographs can also look very effective. If it's all a bit much to organise it yourself, consider asking your stationery designer if they can do it for you - that way you know it will match everything else you've used throughout the wedding.

We're currently working on another one of Belathée's wonderful weddings that we will be featuring in Issue 13 - it's stunning.

Posted by Jane Cameron

Postscript...
Further to my recent post about the lovely monogram book, I thought I'd show you the reason I knew this book was meant to be mine. On the first page I opened, I saw this one…





I knew it was a sign I had to take this book home. This is the only monogram I have removed from the book, but I've marked the spot from where it came so it can easily be replaced.

I've temporarily put it inside a beautiful 1800s frame I bought at the Portobello Markets in London. I am undecided about the best way to mount it - but I'm sure it will come to me. I love the convex glass and delicate details around the metal rim of the frame and think it is a fitting home for this lovely letterpressed insignia.

Posted by Jane Cameron

Three Potato...More
Yesterday I received an order from Three Potato Four in the US - oh how I love their ever-changing range. They were nice enough to include a lovely little surprise within my package - these great metal type slugs, in my initials. Their matt-silver finish matches the finish on my computer perfectly so I have positioned them squarely on my desk - just incase anyone forgets where I work!





They would make a great addition to a wedding tablesetting, one initial letter for each guest - a nice keepsake for everyone. Contact Three Potato Four for more details.

Posted by Jane Cameron

A Few of My Favourite Things
On a recent trip to Paris, I visited the incredible Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, a market that was seemingly never-ending. Towards the end of the day I found a beautiful little stall selling the kind of books you'd find in a movie. Every turn revealed a new treasure. And then I found this, complete with gilded pages and gold fastenings...



As an avid fan of monograms, I was spellbound by this comprehensive collection - all together in the one book. The book's owner had collected monograms from letterheads and envelopes and catalogued them, adding hand-written notes to some.



I knew the value of this book as I had seen one very similar in the archives of our State Library. My heart was pounding as I asked the price in my best basic French. 450 euros. Gulp. Did I hear right? Yep, 450 euros. Ok, I had to have this so I made him an offer. We bantered a little until we agreed on a price, ok, done deal - I just had to pop over to the cash machine to get some money. When I returned he had it all wrapped for me and handed it over in exchange for the large wad of notes ('don't think about it' I was telling myself - 'you'll never find another' etc etc).

Upon arrival back at our hotel, I opened it up and started to flip through. There were pages missing. There were torn out pages. A whole section of red wax seals had been removed. About 40 pages I estimated had been torn out. I was totally and utterly devastated. I was leaving the next day and couldn't have returned to the seller even if I was brave enough to confront him. I felt deflated and disappointed that he could have abused my trust. Still a lesson learned I suppose.

I didn't look at the book again until I arrived home, but having forgotten some of the hurt, I was again enthralled with what I had and am still to this day, overwhelmed by the intricacy and workmanship required to produce some of these pieces. Even with its missing pages, the book is still an incredibly comprehensive collection of monograms from the 1700s to early 1900s - around 200 examples I am guessing. It is a constant source of inspiration and pleasure to me as I try to imagine the lives and stories of the people behind the ciphers.

















I hope you too enjoy the beauty of this book.

Posted by Jane Cameron

Exciting News
After much anticipation, Wedding Style Guide is very excited to announce the launch of the Martha Stewart Celebrations range. Soon to be released in Spotlight stores nationally, the gorgeous new crafting range will change the way you think about DIY.

In the coming months we will be bringing you the most innovative ideas and showing you the most beautiful way to use these products. The introduction of the Martha Stewart Celebrations range promises to open up a whole new avenue of ideas for the planning of your wedding. Stay tuned for further updates.





Posted by Jane Cameron

Runaway Success
A quick thank you to the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) who kindly wrote an article about Wedding Style Guide in their national newsletter that was sent out to its thousands of members. As a long time member of AGDA and a passionate designer, it is humbling to be honoured in this way by a professional body of designers who have recognised the importance we place on the design of our magazine.





Posted by Jane Cameron

A Sprig in Time
I so love these natural linen napkins by Jewelweeds. They are $20 USD + shipping for a set of two. What a lovely, simple design to inspire a wedding setting - the colour alone is so uplifting. If a napkin for each guest exceeds the budget, they could be used only on the bridal table or to line bread baskets on each table. There are many more designs to choose from.





Posted by Jane Cameron

Top Cat
The contributors to the Etsy site never cease to amaze me. Look at this spectacular top hat from Topsy Turvy Design in the US. I know, I know - it's dramatic but in the right wedding setting, I think it would look spectacular.


The Victorian Top Hat in Velvet $199USD + shipping

All things of a millinery-manner are top of mind with us at the moment. Our London correspondent, Elizabeth Syer, compiled an inspiring story about key UK milliner Stephen Jones for the current issue.

Here are a few of Mr Jones' delightful creations…



To read about the magical work of Stephen Jones, see Issue 11.

Posted by Jane Cameron

Beautiful Blossoms
Look at these delightful porcelain flowers from Noun, found via the gorgeous blog, Oh Joy. They would make lovely accessories, tablesettings or decorations. Three kinds including cherry blossom, magnolia an dogwood - all $9USD + postage.



Posted by Jane Cameron

Cute as a....
Brown Button. Our lovely friend Kimberlee from Brown Button blog has opened a store. Good on her. Honestly don't know where she finds the time to work full time, host a most-entertaining blog AND start up a webstore - but she must have super reserves of energy somewhere.

Brown Button Trading has some gorgeous products for sale. My favourite is the range of Marvis Toothpastes.


Marvis Toothpastes from $7.95 + postage

Finally I have found a tube of paste that would look good in the bathroom. Now all I have to do is find a beautiful wooden toothbrush like the ones at Baileys in the UK (have tried to buy but they only ship them with the oak holder and I don't really want that - but may be willing to buy it anyway just for the brushes!).


Toothbrush holder with toothbrush from £14 + postage

[Note to Colgate, Oral B etc... please, please, please design a range of pastes and brushes that are aesthetically pleasing whilst also doing their job.]

Now, together with the range of simply stunning products by Watkins in the US, I think I would be set.



Posted by Jane Cameron

Every Face Tells A Story
I used to lecture in typography at Uni - that is, the study of type. It's something that I'm passionate about–a gorgeous typeface can send me into a spin. Have you ever considered how each typeface has a personality all to itself - it doesn't take much training to know what certain faces are saying...


Splendid - formal and elegant


Mrs Eaves - classic and understated


Inspiration - relaxed and inviting


Bayer Sans - contemporary and bold

Therefore, the typeface you choose for your wedding stationery is really important as it will instantly convey a message. It will let your guests know, at a glance, the style and level of formality planned for the big day.

Take a moment to consider what typeface speaks best for you. There are countless websites devoted entirely to fonts - try My Fonts, P22, Emigre or Archive Type - all incredible sources of inspiration (well, I think so anyway!).

Posted by Jane Cameron

Garland Ga Ga
I'm a sucker, through and through, for pretty decorations - especially of the tissue-paper variety. I have quite a collection of vintage pieces but always have room for new beauties like these... Fancy Flower Garland £3.45 for a 5m string from Pedlars in the UK.


Posted by Jane Cameron

Paper People
In my web travels I stumbled across the lovely Melangerie Inc. and thought I just had to share. One thing we do love here at Style Guide is unique and stylish stationery and Melangerie Inc. have hit the nail right on the head. Designing bespoke gifts, memorabilia and event details for all occasions, big and small they are a creative force to be reckoned with. With great attention to detail Mélangerie Inc. can help design everything from a gorgeous invitations and favors to a whole wedding identity (think super-supped up monogram) and accompanying paperie suite. Just need some advice? Mélangerie Inc. is happy to offer design or gift consulting for an hourly rate. Just some of the pieces they can create for your wedding incl.

Save the Date cards
Wedding Identity or Monograms
Invitations
Programs
Guest Books (or creative alternative)
Escort Cards & Place cards
Table Numbers
Menus
Favours
Wedding Stationery
Thank You Notes
Welcome Gifts for Guests
Bridal Party Gifts
Custom Memorabilia

One thing I was particularly taken by was Melangerie Inc's. wedding genealogy charts (images 2 & 4). Wedding genealogy's are customised charts, simialr to a family tree, that detail the realtionships of the bride and groom to all of their wedding guests. Such a great idea for those couples who opt for the bigger wedding! Melangerie Inc. can also post to Australia! To view all of Menagerie Inc's. great work visit www.melangerienyc.com.



Bespoke invitations


Wedding genealogy chart


Bespoke welcome gift for wedding guests


Wedding genealogy chart


Bespoke beach day essentials "for two" to encourage guests to make the most of the weddings destination

Posted by Emilie Harrison