Don’t you just love learning something new? As I scrolled through my Twitter feed this morning I clicked on a link that invitation designer Tara Bliven from Ephemera had posted, and low and behold, my mind was blown! Did you know the USPS produces a catalog called USA Philatelic and a sister website called Beyond the Perf that showcases stamp designs? I sure didn’t, but what could be a better resources for couples looking for the perfect stamps for their wedding invitations and save-the-dates than that?
The quarterly (and free!) USA Philatelic catalog is “your official source for the complete line of stamps and stamp products from the U.S. Postal Service. Inside you’ll find images and descriptions of what’s new and what’s coming, as well as detailed product listings and pricing.” It allows you to order all the stamps you’ll need from home, and the lovely website Beyond the Perf gives background into the artists, creative processes and histories behind many stamp designs. If you’re getting ready to send your wedding invitations out, or if you’re just a lover of good old-fashioned snail mail, check it out!
Soft, delicate and distinctly aromatic, lavender wedding bouquets, hair accessories or decor details can add a feeling of the French countryside or a touch of vintage romance to any wedding day! Photographer Marie Labbancz Photography paired with a team of talented wedding professionals to shoot these inspirational images in rural Pennsylvania, showing just what a little (or a lot) of lavender can do. I swear I can smell those gorgeous flowers from here!
What three adjectives best describe your wedding? Relaxed, Intimate, DIY
What inspired your personal wedding style, and how did you incorporate your style and personalities into your big day? Music had to be an integral component of the celebration – that much we knew for sure. Paul and I met at Berklee College of Music and both of us have found careers in the music industry in one capacity or another.
I spent a lot of time building the ultimate ceremony and dance playlists on Spotify (I work there) and melting 75 vinyl record bowls for table markers and wedding favors. We rallied our friends to bring their instruments to play during the wedding. The vinyl sleeves were used as invitation liners and the vinyl covers we had screen printed with our program. During the ceremony, Paul and I performed our own rendition of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zero’s “Home“.
Looking back, what are the moments, decisions or memories that you love the most about your wedding? Everyone’s eagerness to help make our day a special occasion truly touched our hearts.
As it is for many people, the wedding was a total coming together of family and friends. Paul’s brother Erik’s girlfriend Midori made the invitations and save the dates and designed the programs. My sister cut and surged 75 napkins. I melted all of the record bowls for favors and decorations (yarn signs and yarn balls) were done with the help of friends. String lights were flown-in from Christmas trees around the country. Paul and I hand-made our wedding rings with the help of a family friend and artist that does metal casting.
The Monday before the wedding all of our family and closest friends helped us bake 12 pies for dessert! The ovens started smoking really bad and we had stop all pie-making operations to cool, then clean the ovens before baking them. It was also 97+ degrees outside and we had to air out the house. It was an all-day operation and a definite labor of love.
On the wedding day, our friend Lauren gave us a morning yoga class to start the day off right. It was a group DIY effort, for sure.
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