Fab * Blog by InvitationConsultants.com

Introducing the Launch of Preston Bailey Wedding Invitations

A few months ago we had the pleasure of meeting with Preston Bailey, the amazing and fabulous event designer. We exchanged many ideas about color, typography, brides and grooms and about how we can create a line of wedding invitations that are beautiful. We want to inspire the bride and groom with flowers. And we wish that these floral arrangements and designs created by Preston will be a source for inspiration in their wedding's centerpieces and room decor.

Preston is well known for his outstanding event design and focus on floral inspirations. The celebrations he designs range from Sweet 16's to weddings for celebrities and royalty. Today, October 15th we are launching a sampling of the line. We are so excited that after months of designing, they are now available for sale. Additional designs will be added throughout the fall of 2009. So check back often as we will certainly show more of these fabulous designs on the blog.

More Info: View more Preston Bailey for Invitation Consultants Wedding Invitations l Read more about Preston Bailey!

New Photo Holiday Card Line: Prints Charming

We are so excited to add the Prints Charming line of digital Photo Holiday Cards and digital Photo Christmas Cards. The designs are colorful (a requirement for us) and the patterns are versatile. We love the usage of more colors than just the classic red and green. The use of blues, purples and browns are delightful. Some people choose to send Christmas themed photo cards and others like to send just plain pretty ones, and the patterned cards are my favorite because they can be used for any holiday. We are delighted to add them to InvitationConsultants.com.

These are my favorite Prints Charming photo holiday cards: Purple Damask Portrait, Pink Portrait Perfection, Woof Greetings, Glorious Frames,  Hungry Holiday Squirrel, Elvish Stockings.

The Sweetest Thing

On Wednesday, a bunch of us got together and decorated cupcakes to match our Red Leaf Papers Invitations. I may be a little partial, but I think they came out adorable as well as yummy. Clockwise from top: black frosting with pink glitter icing to match Little Black Dresses, red frosting with coconut and blue sprinkles to match Snowman Party, yellow frosting with custom mixed aqua frosting and red glitter icing to match Let's Mai Tai, and grey frosting dripped with gel food coloring to get the splattered effect of Paint Ball Champion. No one wanted to eat them, they were too cute.

And as a bonus, at the bottom a perfect little purple cupcake by Brittany of the Fab*Blog logo.

Happy Friday everyone & have the sweetest of weekends!

{Wednesday Trendsday} Black & White

No two shades are trendier and more wearable than black and white. In a previous Wednesday Trendsday I mentioned winter whites and I'm so excited we're getting closer to that season. So today, I'm drawing inspiration from the two contrasting colors, and from my favorite fashionable girls from Gossip Girl: Leighton Meester and Blake Lively. They both always look great, and make it look easy. Dressed as they are, they look like they're heading to a white party. White parties require all of the guests to wear all white and I like the idea of the guest of honor wearing black to contrast. So get out there and celebrate simply in black & white. Get started: brand new white party invitation.

Unique Invitation of the Day: Gobble Gobble

Gobble Gobble

Everything Pumpkin!

I love the color orange, whether it be tangerine, pumpkin, spice, or Home Depot orange. Fall is just around the corner and orange is putting me in a cool mood.

These are my favorite things inspired by pumpkins!

Fall Food

Pumpkins are delicious and not just for decor, they are to eat and create many different types of delectable dishes. The Perfect Pumpkin Dessert and Libby's Famous Pumpkin Pie.

Crisp Fashion

Fall fashion forward and I am loving orange inspired clothing, particularly in one of my favorite fabrics, corduroy - A-line Corduroy Skirt. And also remeber to accesorize with orange purses and shoes - The Perfect Orange Purse.

Bright Decor

Transcend pumpkin into your decor. Simple additions like candles can set the fall mood - Pumpkin Candles.

Pumpkin Paper

While planning my fall gathering I was very focused on finding an invitation with pumpkins and other accents that showcased the freshness of fall. These are my favorite Pumpkin Invitations.

{Wednesday Trendsday} Lovely Lavender

I first caught a glimpse of Kate Spade's new clothing line on Oh Happy Day, and I instantly fell in love. It is one part adorable, one part sophisticated, and completely sweet for the fall and winter season. The pieces range from bright red tights paired with black and white print jackets to girly lavender ruffles paired with softened black and white tweed. 

When I saw the lavender sleevless top above, I instantly thought of our brand new holiday card, Damask Trio. The card has a pop of red, like so many pieces in Kate Spade's new line, and it's the perfect combination of sweet and chic.  

Enjoy & come back next Wednesday for a trendsday where I mix the best of fashion and design with the latest papers. 

Paper Bakers {I heart Charm City Cakes}

I assume you watch Ace of Cakes. If you do not, you need to. Ace of Cakes is my favorite show (well, one of them), and here's why: The Charm City Cakes staff is hilarious, out of this world talented, and they are genuinely cool people. It's not your ordinary reality show.

I was watching last week's rerun (there's one on tonight at 10:30 pm on the Food Network!), when I started to think about how much I could relate the invitation world to the world of cake baking and decorating. For one thing, bakers and stationers get to be involved in the most important moments of their clients lives- their weddings, their birthdays, the birth of their children, and their greatest achievements. This is not an honor that we, at IC, take lightly. We love being your source for the pieces of paper that announce big events and invite your friends and families to your most anticipated celebrations. And, from watching Ace of Cakes, the staff at CCC loves to be feed them sugar once they get there.

So that's how we're alike. And, here are some party themes we've both tackled (with an added picture of Geoff because he's my favorite staffer):

Red Claw Crab and Crab Cake (crab cakes are what Maryland does!), Fire Truck Cake and Sound the Alarm, Robot Cake, Geoff, and Space Ranger Robot.

10 Things I Love About Fall

Fall is almost here. Once Labor Day hits, the entire mood changes and I love it!

Here is our fall invitation preview and my 10 favorite things about fall:

1. No more white shorts or shoes, they are not flattering

2. Changing leaves make for great table decor

3. It's time to wear fabulous clothes like wool sweaters, scarves, and boots

4. Beautiful colors are everywhere, like in clothes and furniture: eggplant, dark aqua, mustard, greens

5. Comfort food is now ok to eat again

6. Goodbye to bathing suits

7. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays

8. Fall is the best time to have outdoor get-togethers with friends like a day at the lake, picnics, barbecues and tailgating

9. Football is back...rock on!

10. Better hair days, seriously this is important.

My Favorite Fall inspired invitations: Paisley Harvest, Hayride Feet, Leaves Galore, Corner Scrolls Autumn.

Lovely fall inspirations: leaf wreath, beautiful trees, pumpkin panna cotta, fall olive jar arrangement.

Design Contest Winners Announced

We are so excited to announce the winners of our Design Contest. What a group of talented designers participating in this contest. Congratulations!

1st Place: Designer: Mary Beth from Austin, TX

2nd Place: Designer: Danielle from Renton, WA

3rd Place: Designer: Laura from Huntington, NY