Meet Milwaukee’s Wedding Invitation Specialists!

While it’s hard to get out and about right now, we thought we would bring some vendors to you.

Get to know some of the best creators of invitations in SE-WI!

DCo Lovenotes

Meet Danielle!!

What do you love about creating invitations?
The easy answer? I like making pretty things! Haha! I love helping couples bring their idea to paper. When I’m able to take what they have in their head and present it to them it’s such a gratifying feeling when they say, “I love it! It’s exactly what I envisioned!”

What is your most favorite custom collection you’ve created?
That’s a tough one. I have 3 in particular that I absolutely love for different reasons. I would have to say Rose and Jack from earlier this March. Rose found me online and we literally scheduled a consultation the next day. She was getting married at Good City Brewing in 4 short months and had emeralds and corals and pinks in her wedding. When she came in she said, “Call me crazy, but I am envisioning my wedding flowers coming out of beer bottles because that’s what we are doing for our centerpieces.” So what did we do? We bought an image of a watercolor beer bottle and got to work! We recreated her wedding flowers with my large library of florals, made a custom beer label for the bottle that we turned emerald green and went with it. We then made pieces to match, including a watercolor map of Milwaukee with their favorite spots to eat and get drinks. When she told me her fiancé’s name was Jack, she happily agreed to having me place a sinking Titanic ship in Lake Michigan after I freaked out a little over the Titanic reference. We then carried out her theme to the table numbers, place cards, programs and acrylic bar signs. I can’t wait to see the pics from her photographer!

What is a tip you have for couples who are starting the journey to look for save the dates and invitations?
Don’t be afraid to put a little bit of you in your invitations. They should reflect your personality as they are your guest’s first impression of your big day and will really set the tone. I have so many couples that come in with these great ideas and they hold back because “that’s not what their parents did….they won’t like them” or “people won’t like that, or get it”. It’s your day not anyone else’s, you should do what you want!

What are some new trends for 2020?
Less is more. Instead of a crazy splash of color, I’ve been seeing more and more people lean towards going the simple route. Maybe just a crest, or a fun envelope liner with a simple invitation with more focus on the text. I’m also seeing more people wanting letterpress, which of course never went out of style, but can really make an impact when your focus is just on the text. I also can’t omit acrylic. I know it’s been around for a few years, but more and more people are interested because it’s something different. With today’s technology being able to print right on the acrylic the possibilities are endless!

Signage…couples don’t forget!! Any additional tips on creating signage?
Signage is not only a beautiful detail to your wedding, it’s also giving your guest’s direction. In my opinion signage is an important thing that some people forgo and later wish they had. Most of my couples that opt for signage carry along the theme from their stationery, but for those who come to me for just signage we just try to create something that will compliment their decor. I’m a huge fan of bar signage. So many times I’ve been to an event with a white piece of paper typed up from Microsoft Word with the drink offerings. This is something that every person at your wedding will be seeing. Do you want it to compliment what you’ve worked countless hours on planning or do you want it to just be an afterthought. Obviously signature cocktails signs are my thing since I have a large collection of watercolor drinks, but if you don’t have a signature cocktail, try making something classy with your beverage offerings. I’ve done the cutest signs that have beer and wine pictured along with the types offered that states cash bar at the bottom. Lastly, this is an easy way to include your pets in your wedding. They are our family after all, and if they can’t come to the wedding they can be there in spirit. With my new collection of dogs and cats I’ve started making lots of signage with images of signature cocktails beside images of the couple’s beloved dog or cat.

Paperwhites

Meet Deb!!

What do you love about creating invitations?
Wedding stationery is often the first element of the wedding that guests see. We have the opportunity to really set the tone for the event. We love getting to know the couple and their love story and vision, and then taking their ideas and bringing them to life on paper. We have the unique opportunity of adding some calm to their planning process.

What is a tip you have for couples who are starting the journey to look for save the dates and invitations?
There are so many tips, it’s hard to pick just one! Maybe the following as it applies to both save the dates and invitations:
Make sure to count households rather than total number of guests for the total quantity of Save the Dates or invitations you’ll need. Know your budget and where you can be flexible.

What are some new trends for 2020?
We love all the custom monograms we are seeing on stationery! You can bring the monogram into other parts of your wedding to create unity throughout. We’ve seen them used on signage, websites, lighting, photo albums and even engraved on ring boxes. You can also use it after your wedding as your own family logo!
As for papers, vellum is a beautiful way to add softness to a romantic wedding and velvet paper has such an elegant feel. We are also seeing clean, white and a return to traditional with a modern twist. Unique wraps are replacing pockets.

Signage…couples don’t forget!! Any additional tips on creating signage?
Signage is an important part of the day itself. It really helps guests understand what to expect and do and where to go, so they have a wonderful experience celebrating with you. Large format signs (often framed and displayed on an easel) are great for welcome signs, unplugged ceremony signs, programs or seating charts. Smaller signs (typically 5×7 or 8×10) are great for your cards/gifts table, guest book, signature drinks, bar menus and more!

CMYKnot

Meet Ashley!!

What do you love about creating invitations?
I love pulling together a feel, a color, a theme and combining them to create the perfect invite for the client’s big day! The look on their faces when it all comes together is something you can’t replicate. I live for that look! Additionally, continuing to stretch my design skills for the ever-changing wedding industry is so important to ensure I’m moving forward with current trends.

What is your most favorite custom collection you’ve created?
Such a tough question! Every suite has a small piece of my heart. My favorite might be this Champagne Glitter suite. Between the beautiful pearl stock to the elegant champagne glitter background and monogram wrap, all elements of this piece were strategically picked by this couple. We incorporated the pearl stock through the rest of their big day with Programs, Table Numbers, Name Cards & Signage. Seeing all elements come together is so rewarding.

What is a tip you have for couples who are starting the journey to look for save the dates and invitations?
I’d suggest couples who are first starting out should nail down a few aspects they will incorporate throughout the entire day and share that with their designer. Whether it’s a color or a pattern, even an inspirational photo or texture can help achieve the start to your stationary needs for your big day.

What are some new trends for 2020?
From a stationary side, I’m seeing a variety of themes with clients. I’d say the most requests I receive include simple greenery such as eucalyptus, succulents and soft white flowers. Generally, the clients like a very crisp white and black stationary package. On the flip side, I’ve seen a number of requests for metallic patterns as well. Dark blue stock with a metallic copper or rose gold foil really adds some edgy drama to your big day!

Signage…couples don’t forget!! Any additional tips on creating signage?
I suggest to clients to think about the location for their big day when they consider signage. Is your ceremony and/or reception at a location where other non-wedding guests may be such as a hotel or banquet hall with multiple rooms? It’s nice to have Welcome signage directing your guests to the right area, and, in turn, keeping other non-wedding guests from getting mixed-up in the shuffle. Additionally, with so many guests with food sensitivities, I’ve seen many more requests for signage near buffets or dessert tables including ingredients that may trigger a reaction. Lastly, don’t forget the “Thank You” sign if you want your photographer to grab a few shots for your Thank You Cards! You don’t want to be down to the last few days before your wedding and scrambling to find something to fit your theme or personality.