Family Day > California Academy of Sciences

We took a much needed little family day trip last Tuesday to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.  I grew up in the bay area so we travel often to SF for little day trips just to hang out and soak up the city.  And we we've been wanting to see the newly renovated building since it's opening.

It's really difficult to take lots of pics with a little one in tow and really enjoy our day together at the same time.  So, not many pics from this trip.  We hadn't been to the newly renovated building and we had lots to experience.  

The most impressive part to us was the Rainforest structure.  A spherical structure that showed the many levels of a flooded Rainforest.  From the under the water to the the top of the canopy.  Butterflies, fish, birds, tropical trees & flowers.  It was amazing.  Hot and steamy - but amazing.  If it wasn't for the heat, I could have stayed in there for hours.

We always wrap up our SF trips with a stop at Pier 39.  We checked in on the Sea Lions, walked the pier, grabbed ice cream, clam chowder in a bread bowl and then headed home.  Pic of Wyatt's demolished cup of Bubble Gum ice cream - Ewww.  

Reception > Table Cards & Menus

We're not just all invitations here at SJD.  It's any paper, creative thing-y you may need for your event.  Stationery, favors, guest books, any little 'ol thing that maybe you just can't find somewhere else - we'll create it together - custom, unique, and from scratch.

Last night, I delivered these sweet table cards & menus for Christina & Troy's wedding today!  My good friend and planner extraordinaire, Alison of Alison Ulshoffer Events & Design, called me up for this fun project.  

The table cards were oh, so cute with names like - Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch, Chapel of Love, It's in His Kiss, And then He Kissed Me - just to name a few.  Are you humming along yet?  I like the classic simplicity of numbered cards - but love the idea of naming the cards with either a theme or things that mean something to the couple.  They can be a great conversation starter for guests.  The menus just as cute, followed suit in the same design palette with a custom monogram heading up the panel.  Each card, table & menu, I adorned with Swarovski Crystals for a little surprise and a touch of bling factor for Christina.  

Happy Wedding Christina & Troy!!

Shows > Dream Wedding Show WINNER

Yes!  This is such a late post.  It has been nuts around here with the wedding frenzy upon me.  And the last thing I have had time for is blogging.  I have so much to share from new designs to real weddings!  Blogging again starts today!!

The winner of the Dream Wedding Show Drawing for 50 Custom Invitations is Merisa W.  from Lodi, California.  Her wedding will take place on her family estate - which I love!  My wedding (way back when) took place on my Grandparent's property in Granite Bay, California.

Merisa's wedding is taking place fall 2010 - full with lush browns, oranges, reds and a touch of purple thrown in there.  Can't wait to get designing with her!!!

Congratulations again, Merisa!!

Shows > Dream Wedding Show

This weekend!  I'll be at the Dream Wedding Show at CalExpo.  Come see me and all the other great wedding professionals that will be in attendance.  I'll be hosting a drawing for 50 Free Custom Invitations -or- $500 credit towards your stationery suite, your choice*.  Need to be present at the show to enter - Drawing winner picked and announced on my blog - Monday, March 2nd.

Dream Wedding Show

CalExpo, Sacramento

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Fashion Shows 10.15a | 12.30p | 2.30p

Exhibits Open 11.00a -to- 4.00p

$10 for Exhibits & Fashion Shows

Save $2 Registering Online

SJD Located in Building 4

I have 2, count 'em, 2 tickets to give away to the Dream Wedding Show.  First bride/mother of the bride/groom/ attendant/etc. to email me ... get's 'em.  

Hope to see you Sunday!!

*Cannot be combined with any other SJD offer.

Shows > Bridal Expo, Radisson Sacramento

Tomorrow!  I'll be at Bridal Expo - Radisson Hotel in Sacramento.  Show is from Noon to 5PM.  Please visit the Bridal Expo website for all the details.

SJD Messages > When to Order?

I uploaded this nifty little 2009-2010 Ordering Calendar for ya'll.  The calendar shows recommended months to order your wedding and social stationery based on the month of your event.  As always, it is best to order early - but should you find yourself in a panic with your event rapidly approaching - I do my best to accommodate rush orders.  If I'm really pressed I can (depending on the type of stationery) get an order done in two weeks.  The greatest exception to that rush two weeks is silk products.  Silk products take on average 4-12 weeks to arrive from the manufacturer.

Weddings ... in the chart I show columns for save the dates (and/or engagement announcements), invitations & reception.  The reception column speaks to table cards, escort cards, place cards, programs, favor tags, etc.  I do recommend ordering everything together - around the same time you're ordering save the dates & invitations - however, with reception stationery you have a better idea of quantities once all your replies are in.  You can always place your order early then we can adjust quantities as necessary prior to production.

When to Mail for Weddings ...

Save the Dates = Send 4-6 Months before the wedding 

Invitations = Send 8-10 Weeks before the wedding 

When to Mail for Social Events ...

Invitations = Send 4-6 Weeks before the event

Cheers!!

Tip > Spend Wisely

Being smart about how you're spending your wedding dinero - doesn't mean that you are being cheap.  It's definitely human nature to want the best.  Hello!  I design myself into a labor intensive nightmare with my son's birthday invitations every year (note: pics coming soon .. tee, hee, hee).  

Follow me through this scenario ... Take the above invitation, Megan and Peter's wedding ensemble was everything they wanted in design, style and presentation.  Being smart meant we looked at their budget FIRST and designed from there.  If you are looking to be smart about spending, you can and still end up with a fabulous custom invitation.  It's really about what you actually need vs. want - in a word flexibility.  (Wouldn't it be nice if all things in life were as simple as stationery??)  Ask yourself, do I really need printed directions?  Do I really need this or that or is it more a luxury I'm willing to compromise on?

Although the invitation above looks simple enough, there were still opportunities to pare it down.  By removing all the extra enclosures attached to the back and sticking simply with the invitation & reply (with envelopes).  That's were the flexibility comes in.  You can start a free -or- inexpensive wedding website and list all the accommodation, direction and any other details there.  You may need one extra little card at minimal cost to direct guest to the website - but it's certainly a lot less costly than a multitude of panels with your invite.  

A word of warning ... don't include home printed directions or scissor cut papers with extra info that do not directly coordinate with your professionally printed invitations ... it looks really tacky and they stick out like a sore thumb.  Not a great first impression to one of the biggest days of your life.  Remember, your invitation is a keepsake for you just as much as an announcement to your guests - the invitation is the only professionally printed stationery you'll have to remember the day - other than the lovely state documented marriage license.

Back to business ...today, the pared down version breaks down to the following:

Invitations (100):

5x7 -or- 5x5 Panel Design

Double Matte Invitation Panel

Mix & Match Metallic or Matte Papers

3.5x5 Reply with Envelope

Total = $625

With my ... Luxury at a DIY Price Special

Total = $525

Add-on's:

Return Addressed Reply Envelope $75

Return Addressed Outside Envelope $75

Crystal Embellishment (1 per invite) $37.50 (DIY Price $29.00)

Let me know what you think of this post ... is it helpful??

A Dazzling 70th

My super-friends (super ... because they have 5 little ones under 5!), The Rekers Family, ordered birthday invitations for mom's 70th birthday celebration.  The invitation was inspired by the dazzling and luxurious Mom herself.  She loves pink - and I thought a muted palette lent itself to vintage, dusty rose accents.  It's a 7x7 panel design, with a triple matte, metallic & matte papers, ribbon trim and hand glittering.

I'm so into this hand glittering right now.  It is really time consuming but the effect is well worth the work.  Up next, my little one's Scooby invites ... working on those babies tonight!!