Thursday, September 19, 2013

Sweet Pea Print Receives 2013 Best of Rochester Award

So exciting!!!!

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sweet Pea Print Receives 2013 Best of Rochester Award
Rochester Award Program Honors the Achievement

ROCHESTER September 2, 2013 -- Sweet Pea Print has been selected for the
2013 Best of Rochester Award in the Custom Invitations, Favors and Stationery category by the Rochester Award Program.

Each year, the Rochester Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Rochester area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 Rochester Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Rochester Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Rochester Award Program
The Rochester Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Rochester area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Rochester Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Rochester Award Program

CONTACT:
Rochester Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Custom Circus Themed Birthday Favor Tag and Thank you note

While I originally starting off focusing on weddings, as my brides or their friends have babies I have been lucky enough to be asked to continue their stationery needs.  What I love about doing with kid birthday parties is how creative each one is and really goes after bold colors.  For Joey's first birthday they had a whole circus theme that really made use of primary colors.  Having customized favor tags really gave the theme an extra little touch that many guests noticed at the party. I really like how this family also kept the same graphic and colors for the thank you not cards as well.










For more information head to www.sweetpeaprint.com to begin your custom order or "like" us on our Facebook page for more inspiration.  

Happy wedding/life planning!

Custom Polo Themed Graduation Invitations

The Little Extra Touches
I just love the whole look of this set.  I love how coordinating each piece is, but also different in it's own right.  This family wanted Polo graphic, but to take it to the next level also added a plaid pattern.  By having that extra touch by using it in the envelope liner, it made the thank you note coordinate even better.  I highly recommend using envelope liners.  I feel as though it really takes invitations to the next level and makes them stand out.   I also love that they set the tone by using custom made address label. 




For more information head to www.sweetpeaprint.com to begin your custom order or "like" us on our Facebook page for more inspiration.  

Happy wedding/life planning!

Custom Photo Pennant 1st Birthday Invitaiton

There is just nothing like having a photo card for an invitation of a child.  Not only does it give an update of what a cutie your child is, but also sets the tone of the party.  Here is one I did below of a custom photo pennant.  One of the add ons that I love when clients ask for is address labels.  It adds not only easiness to the invitation, but makes it special and continues the theme.






For more information head to www.sweetpeaprint.com to begin your custom order or "like" us on our Facebook page for more inspiration.  

Happy wedding/life planning!

Monday, September 9, 2013

In Love with Black and White/Ivory Color Schemes


There is just something about a black and white wedding color scheme that says sophistication to me.  I love the simple elegance of it. There are multiple ways to play up this color scheme so that it still stands out and is personalized to you. 

What I love about black and white/ivory weddings:
·         It will never go out of style. People will wait to see what the trendy “in” colors of the upcoming wedding season from magazines and runways are, but with a black and white theme, your wedding will always be “in trend”.  You will look at your invite 10 years later and not think it looks dated.
·         It is so easy to add slight touches of color elsewhere, like in your flowers or centerpieces.  It helps make those colors really stand out.  The addition of a few drops of color can be a spotlight against a background of black and white/ivory without being the main focus or stealing the show.
·         Since you are limiting your color palate, you can play up different patterns and textures without taking away from the elegance of the event.  For example, using plaid or polka-dot frames for table numbers will not look out of place.

Now for some sets that in cooperate this theme:
Black and Champagne Custom Pocket Wedding Invitation Suite
Notice how this couple added on a simple rhinestone in their pocket invitation.  It was a simple add on, but really made it stand out.  It was an invitation that was very classic looking, but also had that “wow” factor in the simple yet stylish design.  To this day, it is one of my most asked about invitations from potential clients.  For many clients, it serves as their inspiration for their new design.

Black and Champagne Custom Pocket Wedding Invitation Suite - Escort Cards

This theme was carried on throughout the wedding, as we also did the escort cards, and added rhinestones to the escort cards, and added ribbon with rhinestones to help decorate around the venue.

Black and Champagne Custom Pocket Wedding Invitation Suite - Cake
And just look at how great this cake looks?  Need I say more at how stylish you can make a classic black and ivory wedding look modern and stylish at the same time?  Don't worry, I will ;) Cake designed by Premier Pastry


This couple also used a classic white theme, but with an added design, it gave this invitation a fresh modern feel. Damask patterns are so on trend right now and have so many possibilities to make yours completely unique from anyone else. I get asked constantly if I am able to do damask prints and the answer is YES!

  

 Finally, this couple embraced adding a little bit of color, unlike the other two sets above.  Notice how this wedding is still mostly black and white, but has a small touch of color.  The color  really pops, but without taking away from the main color scheme of black and ivory.  I just think that the small hint of color is beautiful on the menu cards and table numbers adds to the romance of the event. 

So, as you plan for any event such as a wedding, shower, or even a birthday, do not shy away from this classic color scheme.  Weren't we always told in history class that history repeats itself? There is a reason why black and white/ivroy invitations have stood the test of time.  

Feel free to contact me info@sweetpeaprint.com if you have any questions or "like" Sweet Pea Print  on Facebook!

Happy wedding/life planning!



Sunday, August 25, 2013

Wedding Trends: Skylines

Skylines- The Next Big Wedding Trend?

Lately, I have been getting numerous inquires of doing skylines for invitations.  I have done a couple of skylines as you will see pictures below.  What I love about this idea is how this can easily turn into a theme.  You can label tables by famous building or streets of a city, or places of significant to a couple.  

What I have noticed when people are doing a skyline:
  • They have a view of the skyline at their reception.  Many are at the heart of a downtown area and the skyline is already an amazing backdrop.  One couple that asked was having a rooftop wedding, which I thought was super fun!
  • To honor where they have met.  Some couple met while they were in college and while they might not live there anymore, they want to incorporate how they fell in love in some way at their wedding.
  • To incorporate where they live now.  Most brides get married in the area they grew up, but live in a different city.  Therefore, these brides want to bring some city landscapes into their wedding.
  • They have a lot of out of town guests and by putting a skyline in for their save the date, it helps with these guests knowing the location.

Ways to keep the theme going while at wedding:
  • Naming tables by famous building or streets
  • Escort cards being luggage tags, buildings, or something known about the city.
  • Having a signature food or drink of the area.  For example, here in Rochester NY, garbage plates are unique to the area. Or having am "apple-tini" for NYC.  The possibilities are endless. 
  • Having lights everywhere.  Stringing lights helps create a romantic feel and will help with the theme.

Some examples of skylines I have worked on:

BOSTON, MA:  These pictures were for a rehearsal dinner invite and just made it look classy and modern by using the skyline.
 


BUFFALO, NY:  This couple started with just save-the-dates, to help highlight the city they were going to be married in.  However, they ended up loving the save-the-dates so much, that we kept the theme going throughout their wedding.  We ended up using the skyline on thank you tags to tie it into their original save-the-date.  It turned out beautifully, and they only needed subtle touches to get their theme across.    





Overall, this is a theme you can incorporate a lot or very little.  It allows you to have much variety, but still gives you a focus.  Skylines will work with any color scheme and can give a couple a way to tell a story, like how they fell in love.


So, what do you think of this new trend?  Leave your comments below and don't forget to "like" Sweet Pea Print on Facebook so see more ideas and pictures!

Happy wedding/life planning!





Thursday, August 15, 2013

Themes, themes, and themes!

I have so many clients that come to me asking if I think their idea of a theme is cheesy for a wedding. Many worry that it takes away from the actual event, however I think it is a great way to really zone in on colors, ideas, and inspiration that a couple tends to be more creative and think outside of the box.  Helping clients with their theme wedding tends to be very fun for me creatively as often times I get free rein so to speak to help make their ideas come alive!
Peacock Theme
This theme was subtle, but by using peacocks their color scheme was already picked out in beautiful jewel tones that was incorporated into their whole wedding from invitations to favors the color scheme stayed and really looked beautiful across the room. This is a couple who was not flashy with their theme and helped guide their planning without being the focal point of the event.

Valentines Day Theme
Getting married on around valentine’s day already has a theme built in, so I had a couple that just wanted to embrace what that day and your wedding should be all about: LOVE.
 
These clients really used their wedding stationery to set the tone of love by using a heart, and the room on their wedding day was very romantic feeling due to the timing of the event, and embracing the theme.  Candles really helped set the tone in the room

Winter Wonderland Theme
Getting married in winter doesn’t have to be all dark and cold, after all you are celebrating your marriage.  Embracing what is beautiful about winter in your wedding will certainly add a fun element to your wedding.  This client really loved the idea of creating a winter wonderland that had snowflakes everywhere.  The stationery set the tone of the wedding, and looking at the silver sparkles, white, and subtle blue across the room made it very cozy and beautiful all at the same time. 

Vegas Theme


This couple got married in Vegas and embraced the theme right away.  From a box invite that incorporated their location of Caesar’s Palace to favors that included personalized chocolate poker chips, they kept the Vegas theme going in a very classy way that was fun to be creative with.

So don’t be afraid to embrace a theme if that is what you are leaning towards and if you want to brainstorm some ideas on how to make your idea for a theme a reality, I am always readily available.
Happy wedding/life planning!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Let’s talk about complementary colors


Remember being in elementary school and you had to know about primary and commentary colors?  Well, some of the best stuff we learn as children we tend to forget when it really counts, like when needed to decorate for one of the most important days of your life: Your wedding.

Being engaged is one of the most exciting times and in the very early stages of wedding planning picking out your color scheme can be very overwhelming to many couples.  Many of my clients always want to know a way to make their colors “pop.”  This can be achieved multiple ways, but one of the easiest ways is to utilize complementary colors.

Complementary colors, when used together in color schemes, are especially vibrant and pleasing to the eye at the same time.  The combinations of complementary colors are dynamic together because they play up to each other’s intensity.  Think of how a little bit of blue will really play up an orange invitation as the one below shows from a former client.

A more expanded form of complementary color wheel here also incorporates warm and cool color ideas:


Notice how this former client utilized a more red fuchsia color to go with a mustard color below.


Now, to really expand your thinking on the complementary colors is looking at the additive model of color: 




The complements using this wheel are green and magenta, red and cyan, and blue and yellow.  I have had many clients use colors similar to this scheme and this is also very popular for business logos--- think of IKEA using blue and yellow.  Not only does this scheme complement each other, but also draws your eye to their logo.

Notice how this client uses just a little bit of yellow to really make their pattern stand out:
Design by Sweet Pea Print
photo credit: Images Unveiled Photography http://imagesunveiled.com/

Or this one that does the exact opposite, using just a little bit of blue, to complement the yellow background and bow:

The possibilities are really endless when using complementary colors as different shades will complement different colors.  And just when you thought you never really used anything from elementary school ever again!

Happy wedding/life planning

Sweetpeaprint