For the wedding programs on the left, we used the same artwork from the invitation and pulled out the couple’s name, so there wouldn’t be another charge from the calligrapher.  Then, we selected complimentary fonts for the rest of the text.  These were printed in-house on our thermal wax printer, which is the most economical process of printing that we offer.  There is no additional charge for multiple ink colors when you print on the thermal wax printers and you can print full color pictures too (not an option on letterpress, thermography or engraving).  The calligraphy artwork itself is $150 – $200 for wedding invitations, depending on how long it takes the calligrapher.  If you wanted just your names for the wedding programs, it would be about $75.

Custom Calligraphy Wedding Programs and Invitations

Outgoing Mail from Wiregrass Weddings

I just posted pictures of the wedding programs that were shipped out from here last week onto our Facebook page.  I’m going to TRY, TRY, TRY to keep this up each week!!!  Stay on me, please!  Let me know which is your favorite by commenting below or on our Facebook page at this link:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151454558502837.525387.67049177836&type=1&notif_t=like.

I’ve been seeing my inbox fill up with orders for wedding programs, like always — but this year we have gotten a ton of orders for wedding napkins and wedding invitations too.  Also, I just started a group mentoring session (like going to a shrink for your business) with Stacie Francombe of Inspire Smart Success.  She keeps telling us to stop working “in” our business and to start working “on” our business.  I struggle with that so much — simply because I truly love what I do.  I love typesetting place cards for the last minute customer in Colorado.  I love trying to figure out how to make raffia look cute for the bride down the street who doesn’t want ribbon on her wedding programs, and I love cutting down the newly printing letterpress wedding invitations that my husband and I printed last night…  I also get caught up dealing with the day-to-day stuff that’s not as much fun, but critical — like figuring out a glitch in my Quickbooks that was not letting me charge customers credit cards this morning (ugh…).  The to do list of an entrepreneur is never ending — but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Welcome back busy season, we’ve missed you!! Now I’m going to hit the shower, then tackle this scary office of mine! I can’t work like this anymore!

My Messy Office

Here’s how you do it:

1)  Take a single piece of ribbon, about 12″ long and fold it in half.

2)  Put the folded end into a single hole and pull it through enough to create the loop.

3)  Knot off the ribbon on the backside of your wedding program, so that it will not slip through the hole.

4)  Take the two loose ends of the ribbon that are on the front of the program and tie them into a tight knot.

Or, just buy your wedding programs from Wiregrass Weddings and we’ll hot cut the ribbon for you (so that it’s won’t fray) and assemble them for you!

In case you are just tuning in — I went to a conference in early December in Mexico.  It was the “grand finale” for 2011 for a new wedding industry company by the name of Inspire Smart Success.  The conference was truly spectacular in every way.  I have been to several other industry conferences as well as stationery shows, but NEVER have I come away with some many helpful take-aways and new friendships with people that are real “movers and shakers” in the wedding world.  One of the breakout sessions was called “Getting Published”.  It was full of tips on how to get published in print, online and on TV. 

A couple of days ago, Stacie Francombe — founder of Inspire Smart Success — put out a plea for images to use with an article for her new print magazine that targets wedding vendors.  The topic:  tangerine — Pantone’s “2012 Color of the Year”.  We were quick to repond and pulled together an awesome looking wedding stationery suite.  I ran it all up to Mike at Moseley Studio and he took a fantastic shot, which we promptly sent over to the geniouses behind ISS.  Well — our hard work paid off!  Stacie informed me today that not only did we make the first edition of the new Inspire Smart Success magazine, she STOPPED THE PRESSES to make sure that it got included after seeing our submission.  What an honor. 

I replied to her email with something along the lines of “you don’t know what an honor this is for us.  We don’t get these kind of opportunities very often in our neck of the woods”.  And she replied with “You can do anything, doesn’t matter where you are located”.  It’s that kind of inspiration and opportunity that makes Inspire Smart Success so different from the rest. 

I don’t know what I can share before the issue is delivered — so I just posted a picture of Mike doing his magic to the winning image, which included a wedding menu, save the date, a table number, a pocket wedding invitation and a wedding program.

We did these spectacular custom monogram wedding napkins last week for one of our regular event planner clients, Rachael Grammer of Two Hearts Weddings and Events in Birmingham, Alabama.  They are beverage sized napkins in an ecru color with a gold foil imprint.  I think the really turned out nice!

Here is my first DIY project from Pinterest.  I had so much fun making this jewelry thing today out of plywood, burlap and an assortment of cabinet hardware (drawer pulls).  I still want to add a few more knobs in the empty spot for bracelets, but overall, I’m pleased with how it turned out.  I just wanted to share it here because I think it is a unique Bridesmaid gift idea as well!  How about you?  Have you made something you love that you found on Pinterest?  Share it here!