The idea of Love...

 I thought it only fitting that after all this time I write a blog about what else...love.  After all I do run a store that is all consumed by the idea of "happily ever after".  I feel it is only prudent for me to start by saying that I am a skeptic, a cynic, a non-believer in the idea of soul mates and picket fences, but I have to admit that even sometimes the most jaded of us all can be pleasantly surprised by this little thing called....

I have watched for the previous five years as the most strong and independent and capable women that I may have ever met came into the store completely transcended by this love thing; so in love with love that even the font the chose to write their name must be perfect to encompass the passion that they feel inside.  Watched women perplex about the details of the cake and the food and the song that they will first dance to with this man that they ate so in love with that they have forgotten how to even spell their old last name... 

This was all a bit like watching a foreign film without the subtitles to me...until I knew what it was like.  That's right I do believe that I have been somehow bitten by this infamous love bug that everyone so frequently speaks about but never shows his face.  I, of course, have thought a time or two that this has happened to me but I assure you that what is happening to me now hasn't happened before.  I can't even sleep without thinking about the next time we can kiss or I can smell him next to me....I can imagine a future that is not my own.  It is the scariest thing I think I may have ever experienced...so ME the jaded girl who plans the weddings she can't have is reaching out to all the love sick brides who have gone all ga-ga in the store with me for some advice on what in the world has taken over me and who is this person who all of the sudden believes in "happily ever after".  Is this what it is supposed to feel like or could I possibly need some meds??

Thanks for listening and if you shop with us please don't come in and go all gushy on me..it's still me!

BRIDES Magazine breaks into wedding invitations....

Founded in 1934, BRIDES magazine is the world's first ever magazine devoted to the wedding industry.  In the past 77 years it has remained the most popular in it's category and the first place that a newly engaged bride-to-be will turn.  So this year it was HUGE when they announced their partnership with Checkerboard, an invitation powerhouse, to nationally distribute an invitation line. 

With the expertise that both of these companies bring to the table it was bound to be a hit!  It is a line that speaks specifically to a bride in her own language, or better the language she has been accustomed to from reading the magazine cover to cover.  The album presents invitations in a way that allows a bride to chose a suite that reflects not only her vision; but also her venue, flowers, cake and dress to create her dream event.  The line is completely customizable with some of the most unique fonts and liner choices I have seen in 5 years.  The prices range from $2.39 to $around $6.00 each for 100 and this is very competitive in the industry. 

The inspiration from the Bridal experts at BRIDES and the customer service and commitment to excellence at Checkerboard I can't wait to utilize the creativity behind this line.  If you are a bride in the fall of 2011 or the upcoming year please come in and check out this stunning addition to our invitation lines.  I can't wait for you to see it....

Here a few of my favorites!

Working on next weeks blog....what's your go to wedding gift!  The most unique post will win a $25 gift certificate to Open House.

Where has the handwritten note gone??

Pondering the lost art of writing notes....

One of life's pleasures is to get a handwritten correspondence in the mail....along with all of the bills and solicitations it is such a nice surprise to see that someone cared enough about you to sit down and write to tell  you.  Whether they are saying thank you or simply hello it is a wonderful gift that shows their capacity for kindness and generosity.

I can appreciate the speed and ease of email.  It is so easy to send off a message without getting an envelope, card and stamp.  It is easy to just auto fill your best friends contact info rather than looking up their address in your address book.  It is easier to click send than to walk to the mailbox.  However, on the other end, it is so much more satisfying to receive that handwritten note!

I like to write notes.  I like to put pen to paper and express my gratitude or love or say "I'm sorry".  It is great to curl up on a Sunday afternoon with my custom created stationery and pen and go to work on a list of people who deserve to be recognized.  If for some reason I am having a bad day it makes me feel better to put down in words how special someone is or how kind something they did was...it lifts your spirits to remember the good in the people in your life.  In a few days the person receiving this note will have the same uplifting spirit that I experienced writing it.

My Mother instilled this in me with every thank you I was forced to send, and I think that I finally understand the impact it has.  There is just so much busy-ness in all of our lives these days that to know that someone took the time to sit down and think about me and write the note means the world to me....I hope you all will get a handwritten note really soon...or write one yourself!

Come in and see us for some personalized stationery...check mine out!

Wedding Invitation Trends for 2011

Top Wedding Invitation Trends for 2011

Fresh hues and standout colors with bits of personal style will be the standout trend for invitations in 2011.

As the very first element of style your friends and family will see, the invitation is foremost when it comes to setting the stage for your wedding’s theme, color scheme, vibe and tone. Gone are the days of stiff white card stock and pale silver lettering; brides are now using invitations to convey their personality and style.Below are some of the hottest trends for color and style for 2011.

Fresh, Exciting Colors

• Mineral Earthy Hues: Nature’s color palette is often used in decorating, and these fresh and natural colors will carry forward into the New Year. Watch for raw material tones, such as jade, copper, slate and gravel, to dominate invitation color palettes, both in printed pieces and in paper stock.
• Lemon and Lime: As fresh as it gets, an invitation color palette that incorporates bright yellow and lime-green is for brides who want an element of fun in their wedding planning. Ideal for an outdoor summer wedding, yellows and greens are also easily carried over into place settings, decor and floral arrangements. 
• Marine-Inspired Hues: This recurring color theme from 2010 is here to stay, due to its soothing appeal and gentle shades. From pale aquamarine to deep ocean blue, marine-inspired tones are multipurpose and can be used for both casual gatherings and elegant nuptials.

• Lavender and Gray: Combined, a lavender and gray color palette delivers subtle elegance via pale tones that are soft and easy on the eyes. This color combination will be subtle enough to use throughout every season.

• All Things Purple: Considered the color of royalty, purple is one color that rarely goes out of style. Deep shades will be prominent in 2011, especially later in the fall and Holiday season.  

Standout Invitation Styles

• Chandeliers: Always signifying elegance, chandeliers will become the iconic symbol of 2011 and will be used throughout wedding invitation designs to covey a variety of themes including eclectic, elegant, trendy and whimsical.

• Travel Documents/Boarding Passes:  With destination weddings becoming more and more popular brides are incorporating this theme in their invitations.  It allows you to make your friends and family feel ready for travel the moment that your invitation arrives.

• Calligraphy: Whether your hire a calligrapher to had write your names or your entire invitation this is a STAND OUT that creates elegance and grace with each word that your guests will read.  You can also choose one of the beautiful calligraphy fonts that are available for this same feel at a less expensive price.

• Flat Printing: Once the only means of creating a professional-looking invitation, engraving methods are stepping aside for flat printing, which is much more conducive to elaborate graphic designs, and much less expensive.  This opens the door to vast possibilities for your invitation and limitless creativity.

Monograms: Personal branding is a hot topic, and one that is flowing into weddings as well. Brides will be branding their special day through the use of monograms, and carrying out the monogram theme in all elements of the wedding, from postage to place cards.

Take a peek: our newest custom designs!

Lucky for us, our to-do box has been brimming with custom design orders for party and wedding invitations. We, of course, love this, because it really allows us to showcase our creativity and all that we're capable of here at Open House. Below--our latest designs for our happy customers!

A wedding invitation set that perfectly sets the tone for an intimate beachfront ceremony and reception.

 

And, above, the Lowcountry beaches inspire yet another beach-themed wedding set. 

This elegant design might just be our favorite ocean-inspired yet :)

A vintage take on the very modern save the date: a telegram-inspired card that we LOVE! It was so fun designing this. Simple, yet so very different.

 

And how fun is this black, white, and aqua stunner for a teenager's birthday party?

 This bride is from New Orleans, so of course we had to go with this

colorful design for her masquerade shower. We loved designing the mask from scratch

and putting the whole invite together! We ended up printing it on our Waste Not Paper line in charcoal gray.

Hello & welcome to Open House!

We're so excited to give you a glimpse into our store that's brimming with sightly finds (if we must say so ourselves). We're what you could call home decor and gift connoisseurs; we just love filling your space with unusual things that really express your individuality (or those you are shopping for)! Oh, and we design invitations and stationary, too! We definitely know how to make a statement...in a well-designed way, of course. So please, pay us a visit. Or follow our  blog. We'll be updating it daily so that you can continue to be inspired by the very things we adore.

Happy reading,
Open House