Is it possible to have a nautical-themed wedding invitation and still remain simple and classic? Bride Laura and her groom, Robert managed to pull such a feat perfectly. The couple enlisted the talents of Estelle Baker and Dorothy Bridger of The Fisherman’s Wife to create the couple’s ivory invitation, printed with taupe ink and topped with a charming—yet subtle—anchor motif.
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| Image courtesy of Britt Croft Photography |
The Bride
How did you and your fiance meet, and how did he propose?
Robert and I met through mutual friends in college. He proposed on his grandfather's pier at Lake Waccamaw, NC. His grandfather plants thousands of flowers on this pier every year and other family members have gotten engaged in that very spot. It is absolutely beautiful and is a very special place for both of us!
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| The infamous pier |
Tell me about the process of choosing
your wedding invitations — did you have something in mind going into your first
appointment and did that change?
I researched online prior to my first appointment and was drawn to invitations that were simple and not too fussy. We got married at the Carolina Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach and I wanted something nautical, but classic.
I researched online prior to my first appointment and was drawn to invitations that were simple and not too fussy. We got married at the Carolina Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach and I wanted something nautical, but classic.
Describe the invitation suite you ended up with and why you fell in love with that design.
With help from the very talented women at The Fisherman's Wife, I chose a flat ivory invitation with taupe writing. I chose neutral colors for the wedding (ivory, tan, blush pink, sea foam green) and I thought that this invitation complimented them well. I loved the clean lines of the invitation and the simple taupe anchor motif cleverly placed at the top of the invitation, RSVP card and return address. This invitation represented us perfectly!
Was there anything about the process of choosing your invitations that you weren't expecting?
I was surprised at how easy it the ordering process was. We had the invitation designed and ready to send for proofing within 30 minutes. After a few minor tweaks, the invitations were ready to order. I was thrilled with the final design and was beyond excited when they came in!
Tell me about your wedding! What were you looking forward to the most?
Our ceremony and reception were at the Carolina Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach, NC. We both love the water and wanted to get married near the beach. We thought that this location was perfect. The bridesmaids were beautiful in long blush pink chiffon dresses and the groomsmen looked handsome as ever in light tan suits. We could not have picked better weather for our wedding day. Our favorite part was that all of our family and friends came to celebrate with us. Robert and I had the time of our lives and I would not have done one thing differently!
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| Image courtesy of Britt Croft Photography |
The Stationers
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| Dorothy & Estelle of The Fisherman's Wife |
Lara was already a customer when we started helping her with her wedding invitation. From the first time we met her everyone in the shop knew that Lara was very special... unassuming, kind and a pleasure to help. Lara is not fussy, so we knew her invitation needed to follow suit. Her wedding was on the beach so we took a cue from that as well.
What questions do you always ask at that first
meeting with a bride?
We try to ask questions that help us get to know the bride and learn about her style—traditional, modern or in-between. We also find out the particulars of the wedding—location, time of day, colors, “general feel” of the day that our bride desires.
We try to ask questions that help us get to know the bride and learn about her style—traditional, modern or in-between. We also find out the particulars of the wedding—location, time of day, colors, “general feel” of the day that our bride desires.
What are some of the big invitation design trends
you're seeing these days?
Destination weddings—here in Wrightsville Beach as well as in more tropical locations, influence invitation design. The natural surroundings, i.e. flora and fauna, as well as sea motifs are popular. Lara's wedding was at the Carolina Yacht Club on Wrightsville Beach, so she chose an anchor motif. The Custom Department was so helpful in working with us.
Destination weddings—here in Wrightsville Beach as well as in more tropical locations, influence invitation design. The natural surroundings, i.e. flora and fauna, as well as sea motifs are popular. Lara's wedding was at the Carolina Yacht Club on Wrightsville Beach, so she chose an anchor motif. The Custom Department was so helpful in working with us.
What advice do you have for brides who are ready to
make their first invitation appointment?
Allow yourself enough time to leisurely look at all of the many beautiful choices... paper, ink color, typestyle, lining, etc. This should be a fun decision and we want you to enjoy it!
Allow yourself enough time to leisurely look at all of the many beautiful choices... paper, ink color, typestyle, lining, etc. This should be a fun decision and we want you to enjoy it!
When it comes to choosing wedding invitations, how is
today's bride different from those five years ago?
Today's bride often is choosing the invitation with her fiance. In Lara's case, however, she included her parents as well as her fiance's mother in the decision. It was such a pleasure to get to know Lara's parents and to get to spend more time with her future mother-in-law, who was already a special customer of ours. Honestly, every bride is unique, and it is such a privilege to help each one!
Today's bride often is choosing the invitation with her fiance. In Lara's case, however, she included her parents as well as her fiance's mother in the decision. It was such a pleasure to get to know Lara's parents and to get to spend more time with her future mother-in-law, who was already a special customer of ours. Honestly, every bride is unique, and it is such a privilege to help each one!
Are you a bride, bride-to-be or stationer who ordered William Arthur or Vera Wang wedding invitations? We'd love to feature you in our Real Weddings series! Email us at submissions@crane.com for more info.
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