Lucky Luxe

Rock + Roll Shoot

2012-01-28T12:49:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, our work was featured in a funky rock and roll styled shoot at an old cotton gin in a nearby town in Mississippi. The shoot was put together by Brittany Schlamp of Brittany Schlamp Photography.

We used Cara, one of our Collection designs, for the stationery since it's inspired by vintage rock 'n roll posters. The two-toned purple wedding invitation screamed fun, relaxed, informal wedding with a flare.

We also created menus that boasted angus burgers with a side of macaroni and cheese. They were nestled into purple cloth napkins and sat atop a funky dinner plate.

Purple accents covered the reception area and added a bit of femininity and whimsy to the black and silver rock and roll themed spread.

We were so thrilled to be asked to create the stationery for this fabulous shoot. Rock on!

Vendors
Cake : Sucre et Bon Bons
Flowers : Blooms
Venue : Cotton Ginnovations
Dress : Forrest Paper and Bridal Co.
Hair : Sarah Earl at Lacey Stevens Salon
Stationery : Lucky Luxe
Models : Kristin (bride), Sarah (bridesmaid), Brandon (groom) and Aaron (groomsman)

Special thanks to Brittany Schlamp, Bethany Gilbert, April + Paul and JoCo Foto.

Minnie and Brian featured in BRIDES Magazine

2012-01-24T21:09:00.000-08:00

You're going to want to check out the February 2012 issue of BRIDES.

One of our sweet couples, Minnie and Brian, are featured this month on pages 336-341. Lots of Lucky Luxe stationery is shown including their lace handkerchief ceremony programs, guest book cards and chair signs. They originally commissioned the much-loved Chinoiserie design from the Lucky Luxe Collection.

I swear Minnie looked like a 1950s movie star on her wedding day. There was so much opulent beauty all around in their decor and venue, too. Go pick up a copy and see for yourself. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Huang!

Luther Luxe is here.

2012-01-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

Erin here today, and we've got some super exciting news for y'all... After a couple years of brainstorming and preparation, Lucky Luxe is expanding.

My husband Ben is a man who likes timeless things. Classic cars, shaving mugs and straight razors, Hemingway, Faulkner, Ray-Bans and westerns. He believes in putting pen to paper and writing a note of thanks when he receives a gift. He likes Gene Hackman and Clint Eastwood and believes a gentleman should be both rugged and socially polished, romantic but not clichéd, well-dressed and able to fix or build anything.

At his urging and because I believe there are bound to be other men out there who would agree, he inspired us to think outside the wedding box and create something just for the gents. This is what he wrote about our newest business: "A gentleman should take pride in his name. It's the one thing about him that never changes. Investing in custom stationery is investing in that name which conjures the standards of our fathers and grandfathers. Be it a calling card handed to the green-eyed beauty at the bar or a note card to an old friend, letterpress stationery makes a classic statement that no electronic transmission can."

Luther Luxe, named after my great-grandfather, is now open for business. Your groom might appreciate our goods, and so would his groomsmen. That's a shameless plug, I know.

Ben is going to be working with clients in the new shop, so send him a note and say hello at ben{at}lutherluxe.com!

Julie and Brandon—Laurel locals!

2011-12-12T14:19:00.000-08:00

We don't often have the opportunity to work with brides from right here in our hometown, Laurel, Mississippi. Since we're an internet-based company, not many people realize we're tucked away here in downtown. Julie is an old friend of Annalee's and so she was privy to what was happening with Lucky Luxe. Here's a sneak peek of she and Brandon's rustic, vintage-inspired wedding invitations:

Makes me want sweet tea. And pecan tassies. Mmmm...

Christmas Card Giveaway

2011-11-09T13:25:00.000-08:00

Lucky Luxe is having a giveaway! Invite your friends to "like" the Lucky Luxe facebook page, leave a comment on this post, and you will be entered to win 3 box sets (green, red and gold) of letterpress

Christmas stationery. We will draw a name when we reach 800 friends!

Pictured from left: Wreath (green), Dove (gold) and Christmas Sweater (red).

Or if you're just in the holiday spirit and wish to purchase some Christmas cards, click on one of the following links to order. Cards are available in Christmas Sweater, Wreath and Dove.

Update: Our giveaway winner was Lawanda Winn from Jackson, Mississippi!

Shumsky/Quinn Wedding

2011-11-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

Remember the Storybook invitation suite? Well, today we are pleased to give you a look into the details of the wedding that inspired our newest Collection piece. Rebecca and John were married at a vineyard in Santa Ynez in August. The wedding was a perfect mix of casual and elegance as the bride intertwined the classiness of wine country with shabby chic barn decor.

When Rebecca mentioned that she and her groom were going to be wed at a vineyard in California, we immediately envisioned vines and grapes for her stationery. The bride first approached us to design her postcard save-the-dates. On the front of the postcard, we used a photo of the barn where their reception would take place. Rebecca wanted the postcards to have a vintage feel with a twist, so we antiqued the photo but left the roof red.

We designed everything from the invitation suite to the ceremony programs for this wedding, and it is one of our favorite weddings (and brides!) to date. The wedding colors were sage and lavender, so we were able to create a traditional invitation suite with a hint of romance and whimsy.

The ceremony was held outdoors at the vineyard, and the reception at a barn on the property. Old photos of the relatives of the couple were displayed amongst candlelight and beautiful flower arrangements. White lights were hung from the beams of the barn's ceiling, wine barrels adorned the property, chandeliers created a romantic ambience.

The bride arrived by car and made her grand entrance amongst the hills of wine country. After vows were exchanged, a bagpiper led the wedding party to the reception site.

The bride is the smiliest lady we've ever seen, and it looks like no one has more fun than the groom. Browsing through the wedding photos, Erin and I laughed and cried several times - wishing we could have been there all the while. Every little detail of this event was spectacularly thought out and well-executed, but the best part is the look of joy on their faces. Rebecca looks as if she's having so much fun, and John just looks happy to have her by his side.

We worked with Rebecca for months, and she is one of the sweetest, most relaxed brides we've ever had the pleasure of working with. We had so much fun getting to know her, and we wish her and new hubby John the very best!

All wedding photos by Laurie Bailey Photography.

Mowgli & Craig's farm wedding on Snippet & Ink

2011-10-18T09:58:00.000-07:00

Stop by Snippet & Ink and see Kathryn's feature on Mowgli and Craig's farm to table wedding in New York. Lucky Luxe created their Bespoke paper suite with ecru and kraft paper and vintage farm animal silhouettes.

How amazing is that red barn?

Collegiate Posters are Here!

2011-09-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

The first round of collegiate posters arrived over the weekend, and they look even better than we imagined. These limited edition 11x17 letterpress prints are numbered by hand and will be part of a print series. As soon as we sell out of this first round of prints, we will create a brand new design for each school.

The Lucky Luxe team will have a booth at the 2011 Loblolly Festival in Downtown Laurel this Saturday, so all you locals come by and see us! You can also find the posters at Quinn's Pharmacy and Frames Unlimited (both in Laurel).

We ship the posters in a tube for added protection. If you order online, it'll arrive at your doorstep in a matter of days! :)

If you are an out-of-towner and would like to purchase a print, click here to order Ole Miss or here to order Mississippi State. We are gauging interest for other schools at this point, so if you want to see your school become part of this series let us know!

Lots of folks are ordering these early for Christmas gifts, so be sure to place your order while supplies last!

Anne & Josh in Martha Stewart Weddings!

2011-09-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

While designing a Bespoke suite for Anne & Josh, we became fast friends and before long conversations turned from invitations to recipes and weekend plans. Last November, Ben and I got the chance to meet the Lustyans while we were in New York for our anniversary and it turns out they're even sweeter people than we ever imagined.

This is hands-down one of our favorite weddings in the Lucky Luxe portfolio, and maybe it's because we've seen with our own eyes how kind and loving Anne and Josh are. We're so proud to be credited as their stationer in the article about their wedding hitting newsstands October 3! Here's a sneak preview of their Turks & Caicos wedding and message in a bottle themed suite:

Pick up a copy of it! I know there's going to be more inspiration on its pages than you can shake a stick at. You can also read all about the wedding on the Martha Stewart Weddings website on Friday, September 30.

Art Deco Weddings

2011-09-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Sarah at Art Deco Weddings featured our Gatsby save-the-date postcard this week! The Art Deco Weddings website is a fabulous resource for all things vintage. Sarah created the site to help brides seeking inspiration for their upcoming nuptials.

She explains: "I'm a vintage-loving lady who, when planning my own wedding last year, spent hours upon hours roaming the internet looking for art deco/vintage wedding related goodies. There are lots of great vintage wedding resources, but I felt like the wedding planning community needed one central hub for deco delights, so here we are!"

The site is filled with ideas for 20s-inspired dresses, stationery, music, jewelry and more. She even has tutorials for makeup and pin curls! If you have an upcoming wedding or if you're just looking for nifty ideas, visit Sarah's site!

Click here to read the full post on our Gatsby postcard.

Storybook Invitation

2011-08-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

Get excited! We've added a new design to the collection called Storybook that has tons of customizable iconography. Beach wedding? We've got an anchor, seashell or whale. Farm wedding? We've got a pig. The sample shown was a vineyard wedding with a vintage engraved icon of grapes. If you have something in mind that's not shown, we probably have that too so inquire for details!

Rustic Wedding Chic

2011-08-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

Look who was featured over on the Rustic Wedding Chic blog today!

I just recently discovered this blog and I'm loving the style of the weddings featured. So Lucky Luxe-ish, isn't it?

I can't wait for y'all to see tomorrow's blog. Found a great new Mississippi-based company that I know you're gonna love!

Green. Vintage. Fabric. Bouquets.

2011-08-06T10:52:00.001-07:00

We've built our business on textural pieces like the handkerchief invitations and letterpress invitations, so you know I'm a sucker for anything textile and nostalgic. How gorgeous is this bouquet from Cotton Gin Events? It's made from vintage muslin, linen, and the bride's own sentimental collection of fabrics.

The bride's grandmother's vintage pillow case became roses with whipstitching along the edges.

The buttons were a part of an aunt's collection, and the tulle came from the bride's mother's wedding dress.

Can you think of a more perfect way to carry the memory of a loved one on your wedding day? Because I definitely cannot. You can keep it forever! I think sentimental fabric bouquets are about to give the floral industry a run for their money.

The ladies at Cotton Gin (another Mississippi-made company!) create custom bridal bouquets starting at $200, and smaller bridesmaid bouquets starting at $125.

Boston with a punch of pink

2011-07-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

In case you're considering the added expense of edge painting on your invitations, I think you need to see our first-ever hot pink edge painting on a Boston suite in double-thick Crane Lettra. We love a punch of color in unexpected places—especially on a black and white invitation!

Ilene & Larry

2011-07-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

This morning the sun was perfect for photographing letterpress and showcasing what is possibly the finest invitation suite we've ever done. Ilene's wedding will be French-inspired so we took cues from our Paris postcard and the Deco suite to create a lavish, ornamental and textural invitation that I can't stop picking up and touching:

The belly band and 2nd color ink throughout is a barely-there cameo pink that I hope we have the opportunity to use again and again. Oh, man. I want a do-over on my own wedding invitations!

Addressing Hemingway

2011-07-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

The travel-inspired Hemingway suite is certainly our most popular letterpress Collection design, but this is the very first time I've seen them addressed so simply and beautifully:

Tahlia discovered the perfectly understated FREE font called 'Telegram'. I think it's awesome for addressing your airmail envelopes on the cheap. Isn't she clever? She had them hand-cancelled at the post office as well so the postage mark coordinates with the icon on the envelope flap. I love when brides send us photos of the finished product! Congratulations, y'all!

Steve Miller Band

2011-06-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

Next up in the Live At The Garden concert series—the Steve Miller Band! Everyone loves The Joker, and in a nod to that song we put some vintage peach engravings in the flourishes and in reference to Fly Like An Eagle, the words 'tick tock' are quietly mixed into the framing. I wish I could take credit for those lyrical references, but that was all Martin, my former boss at Red Deluxe. Many thanks once again to the killer job by our head pressman, Friedrich!

Paris

2011-06-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

Do you read the Oh Happy Day blog? She's giving away a 7-day trip to Paris and I just entered the competition! We honeymooned in New York City, and I've seen most of the US and Great Britain... But I sure would love to spend a week in France. Check it out!

One Week at Lucky Luxe

2011-06-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

Today, Sarah-Guyton, our recent one-week intern, will be guest blogging. I'm so thankful for her help while Annalee has been out of the studio!

Earlier this year, I approached Erin about doing a brief internship with Lucky Luxe to learn more about running a small design business. My sister found her blog online, like many other people, and forwarded the site to me. I immediately asked my mother, an old family friend of Erin's parents, to contact Erin about a "mini" internship this summer. I was afraid that she wouldn't know who I was if I asked her directly! I'm so thankful that I had this opportunity to visit with Erin and learn about her career and business. While my time with Lucky Luxe was brief, I picked up many helpful tips and insights:

Be a good business manager.

It surprised me to learn that many people think Lucky Luxe is run by a large team of designers and office staff. In reality, Lucky Luxe has one designer and one business manger and works with 3 pressmen. This month, Erin is running the shop alone while Annalee is taking a school course! She is super organized and never seems stressed out by her workload. For example, this week she had a shipment of envelopes go missing. It took her awhile to figure out where the envelopes were shipped (a customer service rep at the paper company suggested the package might have been signed by someone at the Lucky Luxe loading docks ha!), but she remained calm and collected the whole time!

Cultivate your artistry and skill.

The cards that Erin designs are so intricate and beautiful, and I love the postcards and the hankies! Erin is constantly challenging herself to find new embellishments, fonts, and faster ways to edit images. I learned so many new things that I can’t wait to use in Photoshop and Illustrator! Biggest lesson: even though free fonts seem super amazing on the outside... nothing beats what you can do with a paid font! (this is a tough lesson for those of us who are college kids trying to design outside of the fonts already on our computers!) :)

Fill your life with the things you love.

Ben and Erin’s loft apartment (Lucky Luxe headquarters) is absolutely adorable and truly reflects who they are and what they value. I love literally EVERYTHING about her apartment! While I realize that it's important to find inspiration in everyday things, it is also essential to make your environment into something that will inspire you.

Embrace and promote your community.

After calling Laurel home for nearly twenty years, my family moved away in 2006. The city, and especially the downtown area, has changed so much since we left! Laurel has so many unique things to offer, like an amazing crepe shop and tons of loft apartments! This whole week I felt like i was in a different city. Both Erin and Ben are very involved in Laurel Main Street and I am very excited to see what this part of town becomes in the next few years.

Erin, thank you so much for letting me visit with you for the week. You taught me so much about being an artist and a businesswoman. I am eager to try out your tips and tricks. Your grace, hospitality, and passion will inspire me for years to come.

Thank YOU, Sarah-Guyton! It was amazing having another set of eyes to critique our work and another set of hands to prepare our orders. You're welcome anytime at Lucky Luxe!

ZZ Top Show Posters

2011-05-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

For a few months this year, Lucky Luxe will be stepping outside the norm of wedding world and designing rock show posters for Live At The Garden, a summer concert series in Memphis. In college I was an intern at Red Deluxe Brand Desire and I was flattered when they contacted me to design the posters for each of the 5 concerts coming up. Last week, the first bundle rolled off the presses:

Graceann Miller and Kyle Falkenhagen Wedding

2011-05-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

It's been a very hectic and exciting week here at Lucky Luxe! We have been featured several times over the last couple of weeks including a Style Me Pretty post on one of our recent brides. Graceann Miller and Kyle Falkenhagen’s March wedding in Austin, Texas, is quite possibly the most beautiful wedding we’ve ever seen featured on SMP.

Graceann ordered our floral handkerchief invitation for her outdoor Spring wedding. The glowing bride said, “After we were engaged, someone told me that “the invitation sets the tone.” I took that very seriously. I scoured the internet and local paper shops for an invitation that would not only set the tone, but would also be something I loved to look at for years to come. I was so bored by everything I saw - nothing was whimsical, and nothing made me feel happy. Just when I was about to give up hope and order traditional invites, I found these dolls from Lucky Luxe. It was love. And that set everything in motion. We invited our guests to the wedding with a handkerchief that read “dinner, dancing, and merriment to follow” (whimsy) and a return postcard that mentioned being there “with bells on.” The responses never ceased to make us laugh.”

It’s positively heartwarming to help our sweet brides-to-be create their dream wedding. It was such a joy to work with you, Graceann!

All photos by The Nichols

Sneak Peek: Hope & Jonathan

2011-04-29T12:50:00.001-07:00

I've been eagerly awaiting the day when I could finally design this particular invitation. Hope has been my best friend since our 7th grade art class. That year we painted little ceramic tiles of our names, and later they were glued side by side into the backsplash of the classroom. Just like those tiles, we've been stuck like glue ever since. When she and Jonathan began quietly dating a few years ago, I had no clue I would someday be writing their names on such an important document! She wanted her invitation to reflect the fun, informal setting of their upcoming wedding with lots of bright colors and hand-drawn nature-inspired elements, with silhouettes of their likeness to add a touch of tradition.

The wedding will be a colorful and festive affair on the lawn of a beautiful 1900-era home, with floral print bridesmaid dresses and games on the lawn, and they'll be serving corn dogs and candy apples from a carnival wagon while dance music from the 50s and 60s plays for the guests. I am just dying for June to arrive so I can see my sweetest friend become Mrs. Staples.

Marie Antoinette in the South

2011-04-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

It seems like we often hear from brides who are looking for a French/Southern inspired invitation—which happens to be my very favorite combination of design/era. Jessica and Christopher wanted to mix their separate visions (she : old world France, he : the genteel South) for their wedding day, and these were a few of the inspiration images I really loved that they submitted to us for their Bespoke suite:

With a traditional black and ecru palette in mind, we took handwritten script, ink drops, and French-inspired framing and came up with:

Many thanks to our pressman, Friedrich—he always does such beautiful work!

Deco in Vintage Blue

2011-04-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last week, we shipped out this lovely Deco suite in vintage blue and metallic gold:

I think this suite feels especially French-inspired in this palette.

Baby Duhon

2011-04-06T19:58:00.001-07:00

Although Lucky Luxe is truly a wedding stationer, every now and then an expectant mama sends us an inquiry that we can't refuse. Justice was just such a mama, except she already had a tee-tiny little baby girl who was born prematurely. With such a blessing to share with their friends and family, the Duhons asked us for an announcement that would be delicate and beautiful, just like their baby girl.

I especially love the scripture they chose from Proverbs: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.

As we were working together on the suite, baby Cecilia was still in the neonatal unit. Can you believe my dear friend and photographer, Sam, was able to take such an angelic photo under the glare of hospital lights? This photo was tucked beneath the belly band of the announcement.

Photo by McAlister Creative

Now baby Cecilia is finally home. Miracles happen all the time, y'all!

Basket Shower & Brunch

2011-04-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Today's post is a little personal project for my best friend Hope who's getting married this summer. Since 7th grade we've been attached at the hip and when she asked me to be her matron of honor, I was... Well, completely honored!

When Ben and I got married she wanted to throw us a shower that was out of the ordinary—a basket shower. Have you heard of this? Ladies were assigned a certain kind of basket to bring, say a "Mrs. Fix-It" basket or a "Gourmet Basket", where a related container is filled with all sorts of goodies that you can't register for—the things that make an empty house into a home. As soon as she set a date, I decided to throw the same shower for her. If you're ever in charge of planning a shower, I highly recommend it. We needed and used every last thing that we were given at that shower! My neighbor Mallorie and I are hosting at her loft apartment and whipping up a yummy brunch. She's even going to attempt making cake pops like the ones from Starbucks!

I wanted the shower invitations to have the look of a vintage, springish postcard, but in a greeting card format with more information inside:

I've been saving these lovely Audubon-style bird illustrations for this very sort of thing!

Since bridesmaids and friends are also receiving a card inviting them to a bachelorette party, I bought these great little cellophane envelopes for mailing them:

We're so pleased with how the cellophane envelopes turned out that Lucky Luxe will now be offering them for our postcard clients. That's pretty exciting, huh?

Tom & Nichole

2011-03-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled upon one of our sweet couples' wedding on OnceWed! Nichole and Tom were married in New York City and commissioned this postcard for their wedding invitation:

Their wedding day aesthetic was full of eclectic surprises set in a dramatic and cool venue. I'm in love with the look of it all:

Photography by Josh Goleman

Photography by Josh Goleman

Art Nouveau Destination Wedding

2011-01-21T08:21:00.001-08:00

Andrea and Sean are having a destination wedding in Malta and she requested a Bespoke invitation suite that would be art nouveau-inspired. Somehow, no one has ever requested that of Lucky Luxe and I was thrilled to give it a whirl. I love working with the celadon color family, so we mixed in some grey pieces for contrast and here are the lovely results (many thanks to our new pressman, Friedrich Kerksieck):

Welcome Annalee to Lucky Luxe!

2011-01-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

For the first time in the history of Lucky Luxe—I have a real, honest-to-goodness co-worker!

Which (frighteningly) makes me somebody's boss. Which is awful and weird sounding. So I won't call it that.

At my rehearsal dinner, November 21, 2008.

Me, Annalee, and Hope at Annalee's baby shower last summer. Look how Photoshopped the photographer made us! We're very... Stepford.

Annalee and I have been friends since we were wee little girls. Our parents were childhood friends, our grandparents were the very best of friends, and we first got to know each other at sleepovers and play dates. There is a photo somewhere out there of the two of us, 8 years old, holding balloons posing for the 'No-Cavities' club at her daddy's dental practice.

We lost touch in high school and college, not for any reason really—we just went to different schools (I was a rebel and she a bulldog) and had different extracurriculars. After we were both college grads we got reconnected (thanks facebook), and were excited to be planning our weddings at the same time. I went first, then she followed a couple months later, and when it was time to design her wedding invitations she trusted me to do the job. My very first paid wedding invitation job. She gave me total creative freedom, and I gave her the now somewhat famous handkerchief save-the-dates. Because of that single blog post, a wedding photographer in New York found me and ordered them for her own wedding and thus, Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence was born.

She knows everything about etiquette, is a genius in public relations (she should be—she has a master's degree in it), and knows all the ins and outs of event planning. Naturally, she was at the top of my list to help me make Lucky Luxe grow someday.

And now, we're finally there. Her official title is general manager and design consultant, meaning she helps new clients navigate the laws of etiquette, choose a design, and place their orders.

If y'all have a chance, leave her a hello!

The Napiers.

2011-01-11T09:20:00.001-08:00

There's this funny thing—when you do something for a living, you're the last one to use your own services. I've been a stationer for over 2 years now, but never set aside the time to create a stationery suite for Ben and I. Finally, finally...

Grey letterpress on ecru Crane Lettra. I did custom silhouettes the day he finally got a haircut. What a gent!

I tried not to let it get too feminine since Ben is on there too. No swirly fonts for this one. A while back, I gave him calling cards for our first wedding anniversary, and I thought this would all coordinate nicely.

Absinthe in Manhattan via Seattle

2010-12-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Kate and Bill are having a Seattle wedding with reception in England, and they wanted to use an absinthe green for the Manhattan invitation suite. I am loving this suite so much:

I'm also loving this springish weather we're experiencing in Mississippi. It's 70 degrees and sunny out there. Merry Christmas!

Molly & Ken's art nouveau wedding

2010-12-15T09:51:00.000-08:00

Hi folks! Yesterday was a banner day for Lucky Luxe—our sweet clients, Molly & Ken, were featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. It was the first time for me to see their smiling faces and I felt all mushy in my heart seeing their precious wedding photos.

Doesn't Molly remind you of a young Demi Moore?

My favorite photo is of Ken, a big tough guy, getting emotional as Molly walked the aisle and he laid eyes on her for the first time that day. I have a thing for sentimental men because I'm married to one myself.

This, folks is what a wedding is really about—not the invitations or flowers or dress, love so overwhelming, you just HAVE to marry a person to satisfy your heart. I do love getting to work with people who are in the midst of that kind of love.

Back in February, there was a post on the brainstorming process for their save-the-dates, in which Molly envisioned a French flea market, art nouveau, home style wedding. For the invitations she gave me no constraints on color, and insisted that I use my intuition to determine the palette. Here are the fun results:

Happy Wednesday, y'all!

Tactile Goodies

2010-12-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

I've had the pleasure of working with 2 brides over the last couple of months with amazing visions for their Bespoke wedding invitations. Hallie and I met as art majors at Ole Miss, and I was flattered that she (a talented designer herself) called on Lucky Luxe to create her wedding invitations. She's getting married in the same chapel at Ole Miss where Ben and I were married, then having a throw down wedding reception at the Big Truck Theater near Oxford. She wanted the invitations to reflect a mix of soft, traditional elements in desaturated grey, green and blue tones, and a rustic touch with kraft paper envelopes. The results turned out beautifully—possibly my favorite thing we've ever done:

We used a celadon ink for the flowers, and vintage blue for the text.

The flowers are so dimensional it's like they're real.

Kraft paper paired with traditional fonts

Heather & Jesse, a couple from London, wanted a glamorous invitation—silver script and formal serifs, with a monogram crest and painted edges. Her wedding will be a New Orleans soiree, and we wanted to bring the architectural and ornamental styles of the French Quarter into the design.

The blind embossed ornaments are the star of the invitation.

Don't you love it when the paper takes an impression so beautifully, it's like butter?

Ceremony programs are now available

2010-11-12T11:15:00.000-08:00

Pricing starts at $147 for (25) programs

Great news for all you brides who need a ceremony program without the higher cost of letterpress printing! Lucky Luxe is now offering digitally printed folded programs on archival quality cream linen stock. Your invitation design (Collection or Bespoke) is on the front, your wedding party and ceremony are on the inside, and a short 'thank you' note to your friends and family adorns the back cover. Let us know if you'd like to place an order!

MaryCollis Patrick is here!

2010-10-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

My dear friend and soon-to-be Lucky Luxe PR gal, Annalee, and her husband Chad just had their first bambino and I had the pleasure of creating the birth announcements. She also had me try my hand at newborn photos, but again let me say I am a total NOVICE at photography. Here are the results:

They'll be slipping this photo in the envelopes with the announcements.

Annalee has a thing for vintage prams.

Of course I had to stick a little birdy in there.

Spencerian with a twist!

2010-10-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Shanna Lumpkin Events contacted us a few months back about her Mississippi bride who wanted a custom invitation for her Christmas wedding. She had her calligrapher, Jennifer Gillespie, send us her gorgeous script for the invitation to use for the retired design Spencerian from the old Lucky Luxe catalog. We obliged — and I can't wait to see these old Britain/Narnia/Christmas themed invitations fully assembled with their envelopments and family crest!

Jessica & Shawn

2010-09-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses, Jessica and Shawn's version of the Boston invitation with a mod damask pattern debossed into the supple 100% cotton Crane Lettra:

Christmas time is coming soon

2010-09-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

And so is the first ever Lucky Luxe Christmas Collection! Starting November 10th, we'll be offering 3 notecard designs with envelopes in little box sets of 10.

To purchase the 2010 Christmas Collection notecards, click here!

These sweet 100% cotton letterpress notecards come with unprinted envelopes in box sets of 10 for $16.95. To pre-order, send us an email!

'Christmas Sweater' — Macintosh red ink on 100% cotton ecru Crane Lettra

'Wreath' — Olive green ink on 100% cotton ecru Crane Lettra

'Dove' — Metallic gold ink on 100% cotton pearl Crane Lettra

For your convenience...

2010-09-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

We now have a pricing grid for the Lucky Luxe Collection! If you'd like to place an order, just send us an email to get started!

Welcome to the all-new Lucky Luxe!

2010-08-31T20:39:00.000-07:00

The new Lucky Luxe website is done. After months of photographing, editing, building Flash movies, caption writing, and web building, it's DONE. Pop over and see the new collection gallery with tons of photos, frequently asked questions, a press gallery and a more user-friendly format for all those brides-to-be who are looking for a potential stationer. Come take a look-see and let me know what you think. Now all the real work can resume. Whew!

Artist calling cards

2010-08-31T11:17:00.001-07:00

Adam, a local watercolor artist recently ordered letterpress calling cards for his shop. We did the letterpress and design, he did the watercolor. Each one is different and I'm loving the results.

Love designer dresses?

2010-08-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

When I was planning our wedding and trying to choose a dress, I had my heart set on a Monique Lhuillier number with an outrageous price tag and found a knock off for much less... But this... This takes "lower price" to a whole new level. If you want a couture or J.Crew dress but don't like the prices, check out inweddingdress.com.

This gown is exactly the same as J.Crew's Sascha gown, except it's $188.

This dress looks like Monique Lhuillier's Scarlet gown, but it's not. And it's $289.

Another dress that's a replica (or the same) as J.Crew's Dune gown, only $189.

Okay, girls. Go nuts.

Brooke & Brandon

2010-08-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Lucky Luxe is situated on Magnolia Street in a sunny 100 year old loft in downtown Laurel, Mississippi. We have a great neighborhood of friends here, as Ben and I, both our college roommates and their spouses, our friends who are artists and ministers and musicians and students and designers and financial advisors, accountants and stylists all live and work right here within these few blocks of downtown. We have get-togethers in the park below our windows in the fall, and dinner parties in our loft apartments when the heat is too stifling outdoors. Just a block over, right around the corner, is a coffee shop & deli where some of our friends work and where we spend lazy afternoons. One of these girls is my sweet friend Brooke who just got married last weekend to Brandon, another downtown boy. They had a true DIY wedding, with lots of help from their uber-creative friends that I'm so proud to call my neighbors. Here, you can see some of their gorgeous photos by Mississippi wedding photographers Lovely Union:

Bouquet made by the bride's sister Dawn of Hello Dearie, friend Gabby of Anchor & Sparrow, and all the bridesmaids. Her fingernails were the something blue!

Brandon & Brooke, photo by Sara Beth Hinton

The awesome boutonniers were also made by Dawn, Gabby & the bridesmaids.

Gabby of Anchor & Sparrow and her boyfriend Patrick, who was my own wedding photographer in 2008.

As a wedding professional and blogger, I've long been aware of the lack of attention sweet little Mississippi gets for all the cool things happening here. We may not be from the big city, but we're a very creative and hospitable bunch. I just wish you could come visit and see for yourself.

My family.

2010-08-17T19:16:00.001-07:00

My grandparents, James and Ouida.

Aviator Ray Bans and a cigar. Of course she was in love with him.

Some of you might not know that I have a personal blog that I update every single day, no matter what, that documents the one best thing that happens on each particular day. I started it at the beginning of the year, and so far I've not missed a day unless I was in the mountains without internet access and then I posted the next day. It's been a sort of resolution, and a blessing more than anything. When you're looking for the best thing every day, I find that you start trying to make good things happen all the time. It's been a very good habit to form.

Anyway, as you know by now — all of my work is heavily inspired by the vintage, by the worn, by the nostalgic. Old photographs are some of my favorite inspiration, and a few days ago I blogged about discovering my grandmother's old photo boxes. Inside I found the history of my daddy's side of the family, and saw my grandparents as 20-year-olds first falling in love. If you like old photos and a good story, you might mosey on over to my blog and visit a while.

Coming soon!

2010-08-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

Get excited — because the Lucky Luxe website and blog are about to get a major makeover. Launching this September, we'll finally have a gallery of photos of the entire collection, answers to your frequently asked questions and more. Every day, progress on the new website is trucking right along. I hope you'll all help me celebrate when we finally get this thing off the ground!

Movie Inspired Engagement Sessions

2010-08-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

Don't you love a classic romantic movie? Today on Yahoo, there was an article about couples having movie-inspired engagement photos taken. I know most of you have seen the Breakfast at Tiffany's and Up inspired photos, but have you seen the couple who were inspired by The Notebook? It's pretty sexy and sweet if you ask me:

We're on facebook. Finally.

2010-08-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Believe me, I know we're light years behind the world by just now creating a home for Lucky Luxe on facebook. We'd love for you to stop by the page and 'like' us, because we really really like you. :)

Change is good.

2010-08-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

Business planning was in high gear today. Ben and I had a long discussion about the next steps for Lucky Luxe, what I think the long term goals should be, and where we go from here. Soon there will be giveaways, a new website, coverage on more blogs, coverage in more magazines, and I am SO excited about the plans we have for the future. For now, I can only offer these images in the way of hints and inspiration:

via Cup of Jo

Ernest Hemingway in 1928 Paris

Balthazar in NYC

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Talented Mr. Ripley

I'm excited to show you what all we're up to, but you'll have to wait until 2011.

Baby on Board

2010-07-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

Let me assure you that photography is usually out of my realm of expertise, but when my dear friend Annalee asked me if I could just give it a shot for her maternity photos I couldn't say no. We spent an afternoon in a field, on a porch swing, and in the park in 100 degree heat and she was a total trooper. I'm actually really pleased with how they turned out (many thanks to Photoshop), but I don't think I'm going to be selling photography services any time soon. These are some of the fruits of our labor (teehee! labor!):

Gabriella & Peter

2010-07-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Get excited — this design has been added to the Lucky Luxe collection. To view the Hemingway suite, click here!

Never have I ever felt so much joy while creating an invitation suite. Originally, Gabriella was envisioning a vintage airline ticket suite, in a nod to their love for travel. After some thought, I began to imagine something Hemingway inspired — love letters sent from around the globe, handwritten and imperfect, personal and cherished, with drips and puddles of fountain ink adorning the corners of each piece. It is hands-down my favorite invitation suite I've ever designed and we will be happy to offer it in the Lucky Luxe catalog in the near future. The finishing touch is the calligraphy of my dear friend, Mrs. Holland Wilson. She has a way of making a flat envelope come to life with personality. I am forever amazed by her talent.

An airmail border was letterpressed on each envelope.

The envelopes are hand-stamped just like vintage mail on the back flap.

Each envelope is lined with a vintage map on linen paper.

To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart. — Phyllis Theroux

Gorgeous lettering by fellow Mississippi artist, Holland Wilson.

Holland Wilson Calligraphy

2010-06-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this lettering? Look out Betsy. Remember Anne's beautiful envelopes from a couple months ago? Holly's finally opened up shop! If you'd like to have her lovely lettering on your envelopes or have an exclusive Lucky Luxe design from her lettering styles, shoot us an email. For more information check out Mrs. Holly's new blog by clicking here!

Katherine & Scott

2010-06-03T14:16:00.001-07:00

Remember this wedding? Check out their stellar montage video of the big day (!!!!) by Damon Chamberlain of Frontside Films.

Scott and Katherine from damon chamberlain on Vimeo.

A Swedish Print-At-Home Wedding

2010-05-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

Did you know that we offer a print-at-home option in which you get the custom design experience with a tiny price tag? We think it's an awesome option — especially for our really crafty DIY brides. Alexandra is from Sweden and she and Charlie are getting hitched there this coming August. She was daring enough to take on everything for her wedding in a print-at-home package (our L'Ouiseau collection), then enlisted the fabulous Jenna Hein to address the envelopes. I love all the details — the vintage postage (found at The Paper Nickel), the little extras Jenna wrote on the envelopes, the baker's twine... Everything, really! If you're looking for great design on a budget, this is a perfect example of what's possible.

Art Deco Elegance

2010-05-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses are Bethany and Garret's bespoke invitations for an art deco-inspired wedding. Bethany's wedding day aesthetic centers around feathers, vintage chandeliers, and birdcages with a soft gold and vintage pink palette. I had a blast creating this suite which combined elements of Orchard, L'Ouiseau and Boudoir. Have a look!

Flights of fancy

2010-05-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

I'm sort of twitterpated with the newest design that rolled off the presses yesterday! Jessica contacted us a few weeks ago and asked for the Boston invite but with a dash of whimsy. She mentioned the scene from Disney's Cinderella where the little birds are helping her get dressed for the ball, and it felt natural to make the threads of their names like little ribbons with swallows flitting around them. I can't wait for Jessica to see them in person!

Katherine's wedding

2010-05-03T07:29:00.001-07:00

I always love to see my clients' weddings finally come to fruition after all the planning and design is in place! A few months back, we created this invitation for Katherine, a fabulous hairpiece designer who's even created accessories for Lady Gaga:

I should have known that anyone whose work is featured on the cover of Neiman Marcus (one of her hairbows will be on the 2010 Christmas look book!) would of course be a knockout on her wedding day, but this little snapshot has me really looking forward to seeing her official wedding photos:

Apartment Therapy

2010-04-08T09:17:00.001-07:00

Exciting news, guys! Our loft home (also known as Lucky Luxe studio headquarters ;) was featured on Apartment Therapy today. Click here to take a peek!

Y'all come in!

2010-04-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I have been keeping a journal of the one best thing that happens each and EVERY day on my personal blog, Make Something Good Today. It documents only the good things in the daily life of the Napiers and tonight's post is going to be pretty juicy. Since I am separated by states, countries and continents from 95% of the sweet brides that work with Lucky Luxe, I'll be posting some images of our loft home/studio this evening. It'll make me feel less hermit-ish and solitary to pretend you all stopped by for a Coke and some wedding talk. For now here's a little sneak preview:

Celtic apothecary calling cards

2010-04-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Because my husband's family comes from a big Scottish clan, we were dying to have bagpipes in our wedding, and Jessie is the incredibly talented piper who did that for us. She's a rare bird, being one of the only girl pipers in the state of Mississippi, and for that reason I wanted her cards to be equally rare, eccentric and bold. These were printed on ecru cotton Lettra, and it's like holding a little piece of turn of the century ephemera in your hand. I hope these will serve her well!

Late winter frenzy

2010-03-05T16:53:00.001-08:00

It's been a whirlwind start to the year for Lucky Luxe! Our recent influx of early summer weddings makes me wonder if it's warming up all over which reminded these ladies that spring time is rapidly approaching? I recently received an inquiry from the editors of Brides Magazine about our save-the-date options, so who knows where this might take us in 2010. All I know is the good Lord has certainly showered us with blessings so far this year and I am utterly thankful to all you Lucky Luxe lovers who have been spreading the word!

February alone brought in 19 new clients with many different tastes and inspirations, and here's a peek at some of the recent projects we've been taking off the presses:
(my husband's 1st anniversary gift — paper)

(calligraphy by Holly Wilson)

French flea market?

2010-02-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I get in a creative rut, and then a bride comes along who wants something that forces me to go outside my comfort zone and really get creative. Today, I looked at Molly's inspiration images of vintage French perfume labels:

And this is what I came up with for her save-the-date postcard:

I must tell you, it felt really good to finish a project and know I gave it my very best. Don't you love the feeling of a job well done? Well... She hasn't seen her proofs yet, but here's hoping!

Now offering edge painting!

2010-02-25T10:31:00.001-08:00

Lucky Luxe is now offering edge painting for our letterpress customers! Pricing for this service is $1.00 per invitation. Imagine a pop of bright color on a traditional invitation, or a gilded edge on something fun and informal... It makes such a luxurious impression, no?

Across the Pond

2010-02-14T11:54:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, I shipped off an order of the Laurel invitations to Laura in London, England. At the time, I had no idea how crafty and creative she was, or what her big plans for the suite would include. Yesterday I got a surprise in my inbox, when Laura sent me photos of her entire finished suite, complete with vintage postage and baker's twine (two of my favorite things):

God bless you, Well Wed.

2010-02-04T15:24:00.001-08:00

I know a lot of you remember the hankies from Luke and Alicia's gorgeous wedding last year (I am still getting daily inquiries about those goodies). The good people at Well Wed New York were kind enough to mention Lucky Luxe and the hankies in an article about the wedding in the spring 2010 issue, so all you New Englanders — pick up a copy and look at the details of this awesome wedding! (I'm especially loving the umbrellas)

Calling all past clients!

2010-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

I just realized how pitiful my photography skills are when browsing the only photos I have of our invitations and I would really appreciate if any of you past clients would please forward me any photos your wedding photographers might have taken of your paper goods. Just email me any information to erin@lucky-luxe.com. Thank you darlings!

Color palette #1

2010-01-25T12:14:00.000-08:00

This is generally not my cup of tea, but I recently saw a photo that inspired a color palette that I would LOVE to use. Variations on the grey/pink scheme have become popular recently, but I prefer that the pink drift in the peach direction. There's something nostalgic about it, like a satin slip or a cameo necklace.

L'ouiseau!

2010-01-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

It's high time I added a new design to the Lucky Luxe arsenal, so today I give you: L'ouiseau. An invitation to compliment the very popular Paris postcard.

The focal point of this invitation are its shaky, handwritten typefaces and swirling calligraphic doves.

I honestly just can't get enough of the handwritten look, so you'll be seeing more of these typefaces in future Lucky Luxe pieces. Happy Monday!

Real(ish). Vintage. Postcards.

2010-01-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

I have some exciting news, folks. I know how you have loved the vintage postcards, but things are getting even better. The Lucky Luxe vintage postcards are now being printed on linen, just like in the old days! Check out your grandparents' World War II era correspondence and I'll bet it's on linen stock. (actual vintage linen postcard found via Flickr)

(actual Lucky Luxe design just WAITING to be printed!)

I've been searching for the right printer who can take on the jobs we create with the kind of quality all my sweet couples deserve and we've found our winner.

Cheers to the new year.

2010-01-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

Today, I'm thankful for the blessings that last year brought us and grateful for the opportunity to move on from the things that held us down or broke our spirit. This print I found on etsy gave me the notion to finally get around to doing something I've been thinking about for a long time now. I've started another blog, one that will document the one most important thing that happened on that particular day. You can read all about it here: Make something good today. Soon, you'll find Lucky Luxe popping up at the ever gracious and always fabulous Once Wed and I hope that we'll be well-received by those precious readers. My goal for 2010 is to be an example of optimism this year, to keep my chin up if business is down, to bake once a week, to pray fervently, to love wholely, to work hard, and to make something good every day.

(Print by PleaseBeStill)

Blessings.

2009-11-25T12:19:00.000-08:00

This year, I have had so many blessings and so many reasons to be thankful. Because of you Lucky Luxe lovers and supporters, we're expanding with the new year. I am leaving my day job in marketing and advertising so that I'll be even more available to all you precious people who have given me so much joy since I opened shop a little over a year ago. I hope to start producing some really unique new items in 2010 (for all you save-the-date shoppers) since the hankies have been such a hit. I'll be going out of town for a few days for the holiday, but until next time... Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank goodness for Francophile brides...

2009-10-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

I just completed two new postcard save-the-date designs for Ali and Greg who are looking for something vintage French inspired for their wine country wedding. I loved them so much, I added them to the Lucky Luxe catalog this evening.

Inspired Bride

2009-10-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's been an exciting week here at Lucky! Since we have made our new home on the web, The Inspired Bride featured a sweet entry on some of the customizable collection. If you've not yet stumbled upon Abby's beautiful blog, check it out. She has such an amazing eye for style.

Here we go!

2009-09-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

Exciting news! The brand new Lucky Luxe website is set to launch today or tomorrow, so if you hit your bookmark and it doesn't bring you here, not to worry - just click 'blog' on the home page. Thanks for all your support and sweet words over the last year!

Website coming soon...

2009-09-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

I think if I write it down in public so I count be held accountable, I am really going to finish designing the brand new website for Lucky-Luxe.com. The blog will still exist, but it won't be the real deal website (good news for me since I am a pitiful excuse for a blogger). In the mean time, I would love any suggestions for features you'd like to see on my website. Until next time...

Lucky Luxe featured in Well Wed, Weddings Unveiled

2009-08-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

I was super excited today when one of my newest New York brides-to-be sent me articles from Well Wed in New York, Well Wed in the Hamptons and Weddings Unveiled featuring little blurbs about Lucky Luxe! This was a very pleasant surprise on a somewhat crummy Tuesday, so thanks Beth! :)

The Orchard Collection

2009-08-07T08:50:00.001-07:00

Today's post is in honor of the upcoming season, the best season of all, autumn! I am so ready for the day I get to pull my favorite old cowboy boots and purple coat out of hibernation... One of my fabulous brides is getting married this November (it will be my own 1-year anniversary. I can't believe it!) and because she and her groom have a special affinity for all things outdoorsy and organic, I created the Orchard Collection as an option. Is there anything more autumnal than an apple? Candied apples, apple pies, apple cider, caramel apples... I could go on and on. The inks on these invites are a deep Macintosh red with metallic gold. I'd like to see the invites wrapped in twine and sealed with a red wax stamp and tucked into a kraft paper envelope. What are your thoughts?

Jim & Mallorie, part 3

2009-08-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the final piece I'll be posting from my cousin Jim and college roommate Mallorie's wedding paper suite, a vintage postcard rehearsal invitation. The amazing photo is by Gulfportraits Photography based in Gulfport, Mississippi. I just loved the expansive sky and movie-quality kiss.. I'm so excited their wedding day is so soon!

Oh how I love silhouettes..

2009-07-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

Although this one was customized for my sweet bride, Margaret and her fiance, Charles, I love this new vintage postcard design so much it will become a standard offering when I FINALLY establish a package catalog. It's in the same family as Gill & Nate's ski postcard, as you can see... There's just something so romantic about a silhouette.

What do you think?

Gillian & Nate's wedding!

2009-07-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

No invitation suite has made me long for cold weather quite like this one. In Mississippi today, the high is 104 degrees with 90% humidity. You have no idea how oppressive the air outside my insulated office is. Designing these pieces made me imagine how crisp the Boston air will be for Gill and Nate's wedding this fall... I CAN'T WAIT for autumn! Because this pair met on their college snow skiing team, the sport is a sweet reminder of their relationship. Her wedding coordinator, Sarah of True Event, sent me this fabulous inspiration board to work from with a color palette designed by 100 Layer Cake.

Gill loves texture, so we incorporated a very subtle snowflake damask blind emboss in the paper with a simple, formal navy ink for the text. I found the crossed ski pole graphic on the back of a vintage postcard for a resort in Vermont and we all decided it was the very thing for an accent on the liners and other paper pieces. Printing begins on this suite in the next few weeks, so I am SUPER excited to see how the blind emboss turns out.

Weathered, worn... and FESTIVE.

2009-07-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

The first thing Mallorie said when she saw their engagement party invites was: "I like it. It's FESTIVE!" Hopefully, guests will be excited to attend this little fiesta my brother and his wife are hosting too when this postcard arrives in the mail. I'm crazy about worn, weathered and painted textures but it's not an area I get to dabble in much with my stationery endeavours. This was just a fun afternoon project so I thought I would let it reflect the style of the city signs I also create:

Stay tuned for a formal/New England/ski themed wedding!

You can find us on the Martha blog!

2009-06-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ben and I were really excited to find an entry about our wedding on the Martha Stewart Weddings blog this morning. Take a look-see if you'd like to read all about the creative process and details of our own wedding that took place in November of last year.

Print-at-home packages now available!

2009-06-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to introduce my readers to Lucky Luxe's newest service - print-at-home packages and pricing. Our penny-pinchers deserve beautiful design too! By going this route, you can purchase a high-resolution, custom designed invitation for printing at home. In the coming weeks and months, I'll be establishing a ready-made collection with new pricing and a new catalog. For now, here's the pricing guide for print-at-home designs. Keep checking in!

Mallorie & Jim — sneak peak!

2009-05-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

This bride and groom are near and dear to my heart for sure, so I would love to give my readers a little background about this precious couple. The groom, Jim, is my first cousin (a financial advisor and restauranteur), and the bride, Mallorie, my college roommate (an accountant with amazing interior design and fashion sense).

They met at my senior BFA thesis in my last week of college (an advertising campaign for Jim's restaurant, The Reserve), and were engaged one year later on the night of my wedding:

I couldn't wait to get started designing their suite (it's the first thing I thought of after "OHMYGOSH LOOK AT THAT RING!"). Because of their very cultured tastes and financial background (not only their careers, but Jim's restaurant is housed in the historical former First National Bank in our town), I was inclined to give the invitation a vintage stock certificate look, complete with gilded gold ink for the flourishes and olive for the text. The ceremony will take place in a garden beside an old plantation style home in our hometown, and in a nod to the couple's love for the Big Easy, a New Orleans jazz trio will be performing. For that reason, Mallorie asked if it would be possible to subtly incorporate a fleur de lis in the design (look closely!)

Check back later for more images of their final suite!

Nate & Gill

2009-05-26T13:41:00.001-07:00

Here is another fun save-the-date postcard, this time for a couple who met on their college snow skiing team. Gillian, the bride, and Sarah of True Event are planning a subtly vintage-ski themed wedding to take place in Boston this coming fall. I can't wait to see what we will come up with for their invitation suite. Stay tuned!

Bienvenue!

2009-05-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for the delinquent posting! It's been crazy in the Lucky Luxe world lately, and I somehow always manage to neglect the one thing that brings in traffic.I'm going to start doing better (I hope!) Incidentally, I am working on a brand new website with all of the ready-made stationery suite options as well as custom offerings, so hopefully you'll have a new place to visit for Lucky loot.

Today's post is the Eilleen postcard, a save-the-date for a destination wedding in Louisiana. Eilleen and Trey met in the Cayman Islands, moved to Texas, and are celebrating their nuptials with fabulous Marie Antionette-ish French flair. There is a reason people love this theme — was there ever a better color combo than pink and aqua? I think not.

Business hankies!

2009-04-17T09:39:00.001-07:00

When the extremely talented Dallas-based wedding photographer, Stacy Reeves, contacted me about purchasing business "card" hankies, I was thrilled by the possibility... I mean, can you imagine being a prospective client and taking home one of these precious momentos? You can feel the past lives of each little piece of cloth, imagine the tears they've dried, and feel connected to others' histories of love and joy. Thank you so much Stacy, for the wonderful photo. And I certainly won't take credit for the fantastic branding - that design belongs to Ashley Jankowski of For the Love of Creating and the new design boutique Luxecetera.

The Gatsby postcard

2009-04-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Today's post features the vintage postcard designed for Katie and Ben's upcoming wedding at a mansion on the shore in Connecticut. Since it will be an outdoor affair under a tent, Katie asked me to evoke a glamorous Gatsby-esqu fete. Her color palette of washed out turquoise, ink, and sunny yellow is perfectly refreshing together.

Kelsey/Roberts wedding

2009-03-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Today's post is the invitation suite for Shelley and Philip, a very cool couple from Ontario who were looking for a design that echoes their venue - vintage mariner, nautical (but not kitschy). Their color palette is fabulous - cool greyish blue, pomegranate, mustard and brown. I am especially excited about the airmail pattern around the mailing label, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it prints. I wish I could see this wedding in person because these two have oodles of style. What a fun couple!

The Kate postcard

2009-03-17T14:24:00.001-07:00

I am in love with the colors from Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (and apparently everyone in the blog world is too) and I was thrilled to bits to get to use the color scheme in the reply card for Kate, my precious new client. Enjoy!

Lucky Luxe cards... Finally!

2009-03-11T10:22:00.001-07:00

So I finally took some time for myself and made some Lucky Luxe business cards and envelopes. I'm so happy I splurged on the expensive paper because it makes all the difference in the world. Let me know if you'd like a sample because I've got an arsenal ready to mail!

Robinson stationery

2009-03-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

You've seen the Robinson girls' personal stationery, and now their parents have their very own set too. I love the impressions the cotton paper took. Definitely one of the favorite stationery sets I've ever designed.

Baby Papelbon Birth Announcement

2009-03-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted an image of Parker Papelbon's christening invitation, and now I'm finally able to post the main course - her birth announcement. Parker's sweet parents, Jonathan and Ashley, asked for something gold & pink, something angelic and sugary sweet. We inserted a photo of Parker that their family and friends can remove and keep.

Clark/Walker Save the Date

2009-02-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Today's piece came off the press yesterday! I designed this piece for Alisha Clark and Luke Walker, a couple of SUPER talented wedding photographers who are getting married in New York this coming June. She wanted to try mix and matching vintage handkerchiefs instead of using new hankies, so every guest will receive something unique in the mail! I think the imperfections, tears, and little stains make these heirloom pieces just... perfect! Thanks for the great photos, Alisha! :)

Gholson/McKelroy Save the Date

2009-01-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

You'll be seeing more of this couple whose wedding is coming up in May! Today I'm posting an idea I had for their save-the-date. The gorgeous photo is by Wiljax Photographic Design

Rice/Patrick Booklets and Place cards

2009-01-02T14:31:00.001-08:00

I just completed a little pocket guide book that will go in all of the out-of-town guests' welcome baskets. Inside are recommendations for the bride and groom's favorite restaurants, shops, and attractions in their home town. Also, I just finished up the place cards for the train depot rehearsal dinner!

Baby Papelbon

2008-12-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

Newborn Parker's parents contacted me about a christening invitation and birth announcement (coming soon!) and I could only think of pink, purple and gold. You might recognize little miss Papelbon's name — her proud papa is the closer for the Boston Red Sox. Just imagine how fun a baseball themed baby boy announcement would have been!

The Robinson Girls

2008-12-30T07:28:00.000-08:00

I just finished a letterpress stationery suite for the Robinson sisters, Lindsey and Kelsey. I only wish you could see the lovely nuances of the printing!

Rice/Patrick Rehearsal Dinner

2008-12-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

Because this dinner is being held in the historic Laurel Train Depot, the bride wanted something train themed for the invitation. I designed a train boarding pass for all guests that would incorporate the nostalgia of the building into the invitation. The month and day will be hole punched, and the PM beside 7:00 circled with a red pen to give it authenticity. I also added a scan of the finished envelope (after mailing).

Gholson/McKelroy Wedding

2008-11-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

I'm excited about the possibilities for type for this letterpress suite. The bride is looking for something formal and eccentric.

Napier Rehearsal Dinner

2008-11-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

The invitation to our ultra-casual rehearsal dinner at Taylor Grocery. I used a fantastic new filter from Mr. Retro to give them a hand-printed look.