Planning a Wedding with Rebecca Rose Events | Part 3 - Graphic Design & Print Production
Hey there!
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how RRE differs from other event planning operations. Check back if you haven’t had a chance to read it just yet! This week, Becca, Betsy, and I are diving in even further to give you all a behind-the-scenes look at the process and insight of each of our three roles. Tuesday, Betsy shared insight into logistics (coordination/planning), yesterday Becca wrote about creative direction, and today I get to share a little bit about graphic design and paper goods… ready to keep learning?!
There are so many different, small details to consider when it comes to the paper elements used throughout a wedding or event. As part of our creative session (which Becca described in yesterday's post!) we start to develop a plan for all of the pieces needed for each wedding. While every couple's event is unique, in general, we know that we're probably going to work on a save the date mailing, an invitation suite, cocktail napkins, menu cards, signage, welcome gifts, itineraries, place cards and/or escort cards, and the list goes on. Once an overall vision is established in our creative session, I start to work with our clients to help them select some key elements such as paper color, texture, paper weight, fonts/lettering, color palette, graphic artwork direction, envelopes, envelope liners, postage, and more! Each one of these items has a unique importance and use behind it (in addition to designing meaningful pieces, we also have to always consider etiquette as well as efficiency and the need to adequately communicate information to guests!).
After talking through each of these details and starting to refine an overall goal, look and feel for each piece, Becca and I meet together to be sure that all is in line and cohesive with the overall creative vision. Cohesiveness matters tremendously! Next, I provide direction to one of our talented graphic designers so that he/she can get started on some initial proofs. The process begins very similarly to how a branding process would begin. We start by developing core artwork (this could include a monogram, key treatment details, or simply the couple's names together) and then build out each piece from there. I love these examples below from Molly and Patrick's wedding. As you can see, the invitation suite was very traditional, but we worked to infuse a bit of fun into some of the other details. The silhouette on the koozies in the first image was created because Molly and Patrick wanted to include sweet cavalier king charles spaniel, Lucy, in their wedding. The program booklets included a sprig of fresh rosemary with a little description. This meant the world to Molly as a tribute to her grandmother who always use to give out fresh rosemary "for remembrance". We had linen hemstitch cocktail napkins embroidered with the couple's custom married monogram - artwork that (per etiquette!) wasn't introduced until after the vows were said and they could officially share a last name together. The final image shows the welcome boxes - complete with snacks/goodies for the guests, a custom illustrated map in the welcome booklet, and the familiar silhouette artwork.
Each process is different and that's what I love most about my job! I work with our graphic design team and print production partners to help bring each little detail to life. There is almost nothing off-limits about the way we approach development of custom artwork. These details are about telling a story and introducing/continuing cohesive aesthetic. Whatever our couple's stories might be, we love to get to know them and work together to cultivate those little bits of background and significance into a unique set of paper goods, gifts and design details that will ultimately be meaningful to the couple and purposeful for their guests.
Until next week…
XO - Nicole
Special thanks to Landon Jacob Photography & Nancy Ray Photography for the beautiful images in this post!