paper & ink: greener options, part 1

** i was honored very recently with an invitation to be a guest blogger for the ever-amazing bridal blog BridePOP - a hip, ahead-of-the-curve resource for all things wedding.. for brides (and outside of folks like me) written by brides.  my first post went live this morning, and i have to admit, it felt pretty neat seeing it up. :) here it is in its entirety though, for all of you that may have missed it! enjoy, and hope you learned something new! **

These days, as the “trend” of going green moves farther and farther from being the ultra-hip cause of the month, to an absolute necessity, it’s no wonder that more couples are searching for ways to make their wedding day as eco-friendly as possible. One of the easiest parts to tackle is your invitations, along with the rest of your printed items — from save-the-dates and ceremony programs, to menus and thank you cards.

Yet with all of the options out there, how do you know what is what? And how do you know it’s legitimately making a difference? Especially from a DIY standpoint, how do you choose the most responsible option when you’re standing in front of a vast shelf of paper and envelopes in 1000 shades, patterns and colors? Well, here’s part one of our quick guide to decode all those mystifying acronyms and options, when it comes to greener paper and ink. Two of the most common options out there…

FSC Certified
Probably the most recognizable and fastest growing green certification in the paper and timber industries is doled out by the Forest Stewardship Council (hence, FSC) – an independent nonprofit started in 1993, focusing on sustainable and socially responsible forest management. What does that mean, and how does that make the world a better place? Here’s a quick, summary from treehugger.com (via Heart of Green)

• Never harvests more than what grows back


• Protects biodiversity and endangered species


• Saves rare ancient trees


• Guards local streams


• Supports the local people


• Uses narrow skidding trails so as not to disrupt the rest of the forest


• Prohibits replacement by tree plantations


• Bans toxic chemicals


• Bans genetically modified trees (no GMO)

Rather than allowing companies to clear-cut old growth forests, or using harmful chemicals, they ensure that harvesting is done in a responsible manner, taking the overall impact to the environment into consideration. And while there are other forest certification organizations out there (Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the international non-profit PEFC, etc.), for the most part the FSC stands head and shoulders above the rest. SO, seeing that lovely logo is definitely a step in the right direction!

Recycled

This one is hard to misinterpret, as I’m sure most everyone is familiar with the process of reducing and reusing their waste by RECYCLING. Paper is no different than your soda cans and plastic bottles – once it’s sent through the recycling stream (washed, deinked and ground into pulp where it is then bleached.. preferably chlorine free, and formed into new sheets or rolls), it is repurposed for another use. BUT, there is another little acronym to be aware of: PCW, or Post Consumer Waste – paper that has already lived a useful life in the hands of consumers and is now rising from the ashes to live again. In order to qualify as a “recycled” product, the minimum post-consumer waste content is 30%. 30% isn’t BAD per se, but it’s definitely not the BEST you can do. It’s also important to note that a product can be 100% recycled without 100% PCW, as PRE-consumer waste (paper never printed on that was immediately recycled) or just RECYCLED content (having never reached the consumer) also count towards the total. All in all though, go green by choosing that recycled stock for your DIY stationery or when you’re working with your invitation designer.. then go the extra mile and raise some eyebrows by asking about the PCW content!

Next up… part 2: tree-free paper!  Cotton, banana fiber… elephant poo? Stay tuned!

"Weddentity" - Wedding Branding At Work

I read an article a little while back, written by a groom graphic designer who approached his wedding planning as if it were one of his clients. And what do most clients look for, when they’re talking to artistic types like us? ..corporate identity, that magical “something” to unify the look and feel of their company, their business outlook, their ideals, their BRAND.

Wikipedia defines corporate identity as “the persona of a corporation which is designed to accord with and facilitate the attainment of business objectives. It is usually visibly manifested by way of branding….”

But enough of that business-speak shtuff, and back to the fun!

Mr. Groom was really on to something, and that concept (which, from here on out, I’ll refer to as “weddentity” in order to wipe ourselves clean of that uptight, money-grubbing corporate feel) has snuck into my wedding work time after time after time… and in my opinion, all for the better! Yes, you have your designated wedding color scheme, and yes you have your  “theme” picked out - from sunny, beachy, goodness to sophisticated vintage flair. But why stop there?

Starting with save-the-dates, hinting to your guests-to-be what fabulousness is to come, giving a little more with your invitations, and then rounding it all off with matching programs, menus, table numbers and thank you cards -- it’s all part of the planning, a part of completing the puzzle giving everyone the big picture, a part of your weddentity as a new couple. Creating a complete suite of items complementing the rest of your special day can really make that difference and provide that subtle exclamation point on the entire wedding experience for you AND your guests.

Your wedding day is an extraordinary, never-to-be-forgotten package from beginning to end. So while you are meticulously putting together all of the personally meaningful, exquisite details, take it one step further to create your own weddentity, to tie it all together!

real wedding, real client: evelyn & vincent | san francisco, ca
(photo credits: henry shoots & vivian kwok)

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color, color everywhere

Ok, well not EVERYWHERE.... But color schemes do play a huge role in all big events such as weddings. And as the first hint of what is to come, the invitation showcases to your guests what is in store.

While contrasting colors provide a tried and true, beautiful effect, this year monochromatic schemes are taking weddings by storm. Choosing a single color, and all of it's various incarnations allows all kinds of options. For example, layering multiple blues from navy to turquoise to french blue becomes a vibrant rainbow of it's own. Similarly, varying shades of yellow from gold to lemon to a soft sunshiney tint create a lovely, cheerful look.

Speaking of which, another color trend this year can be found in your orange and yellow hues. Both are incredibly versatile, appropriate for both casual, festive events and more formal, black tie affairs. Don't be intimidated by orange! There are wonderful ways to make your stylish, bold statement with a bright tangerine, a deep rust, and every shade in between. They all can be paired nicely with pinks, any type of blue, bright white, and then some. In terms of yellow, on top of the aforementioned idea, a dynamic contrast with black is also very chic and brings a contemporary air of sophistication. It's not just for bees anymore!

(bouquet in photo, credit: whimsey florals)

it's in the details

As everyone scrimps and searches for the next best way to simplify and save, one of the foremost questions these days is -- how do we still make our event special without going overboard and over budget? Well, when it comes to the invitations, it's all in the details.

While we all know how exciting it can be to receive a dressy invite packaged so neatly in a pocket enclosure, wrapped in ribbon, or even resting in a fancy satin box. But if all those moving parts are an issue, monetarily or not, there are many ways to make that plain vanilla card pop with vibrancy!

It all started with corner rounding, where invitation and consequent inserts have their sharp corners rounded off. Not only is this a simple, elegant touch, but it also makes each piece wonderfully unique!

Another process, is something called edge painting*, where the edges of the cards are hand-painted in a highlight color as a contrast to the clean natural surface of the paper. Originally a technique reserved for the highest quality hand-bound books (where the pages were often gilded in gold), this is now a fantastic way to subtly showoff your attention to detail.

Back printing is also yet another technique to take that standard card up to another level. Rather than leaving the reverse side of a given invitation blank, why not dress it up with a wash of color, or a lovely floral or damask pattern, both of which never really go out of style.

* used primarily in letterpress invitations due to the thickness of the paper

affordable luxury

During these tough economic times, everyone is looking for ways to save money while still enjoying the beautiful things in life. And when it comes to invitations and event planning (weddings in particular), creativity is taking on a whole new meaning.

While cost cutting has become an inevitable part of putting together a one-of-a-kind event, there is no need to sacrifice one's individual style. Where there's a will, there's a way -- and that means anything is possible if you know where and how to do it.

No one should have to sacrifice style to stay within their budgets. And in working directly with our clients, Bamboostar Studios can tailor almost any project so they don't have to. That is the beauty of what we do. Each project is a custom fit.

We offer simple, straightforward solutions to satisfy your needs without breaking the bank or sacrificing that personal touch. And as a result, instead of a generic, "out-of-the-box" invitation, it is a project that has become an exceptionally elegant representation of you.

(photo credit: Laura Pedrick Photography)