Black Lace: Matching Programs to Invitations

These wedding invitations for Chelsey & Alex are beautiful! They are black, square, laser-cut lace fold-outs with inserts and a custom wedding logo. Although I can't take credit for their amazing wedding invitations, I was tasked with designing programs that matched. I re-created her black lace and printed these programs on silver shimmery paper with a crystal brad to hold them together. Here's how the entire set turned out.

Want to see more photos of Chelsey & Alex's programs? Click to read this past blog post.

Wedding programs that match your invitations! Thank you to Ann Louisa Photography for the wonderful photo work.

Wedding programs that match your invitations! Thank you to Ann Louisa Photography for the wonderful photo work.

Wildflower Wedding Invitation Set

These wedding invitations were designed on pearlized shimmery paper, with a burlap background, wildflower accents and all tied together with twine. There are four pieces: wedding invitation, RSVP card, direction/hotel card and a dance-only invitation. 

Are you getting married this summer? Don't forget to start planning for your save-the-dates and invitations 4-6 months in advance. Contact Renee to get started!

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Thank you to Mauer Photography for the amazing photos. And thank you to Ashton for the beautiful (and famous) design!

Thank you to Mauer Photography for the amazing photos. And thank you to Ashton for the beautiful (and famous) design!

Getting Edgy: Wedding Invitations & Thank You Notes

Rounded edges, curvy sides and multiple folds. If you want to send unique wedding invitations or thank you notes, these are a great option for you. Paper choices include: glossy, linen, matte, shimmery pearl, and watercolor. You can see the paper samples in person when you meet with Renee, and for now, here's a link to all 33 edging options. Send them as Save-the-Dates and include as many photos as you'd like. 

See more ideas at ACI Lab (www.acilab.com). Contact Copper Ink Wedding Designs for a design and printing.

See more ideas at ACI Lab (www.acilab.com). Contact Copper Ink Wedding Designs for a design and printing.

Wedding Invitations, Sioux Falls, SD

It's all in the details.

Check out the details for Amanda & Chris' wedding invitation set. From a custom-drawn map to hand-glued vintage papers and coordinated return address labels, this set is like none other. And that's exactly what you get from Copper Ink Wedding Designs every time.

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A special thank you to Maurer Photography for these beautiful photographs.

A special thank you to Maurer Photography for these beautiful photographs.

Kids Birthday Announcements, Invitations and Parties

Copper Ink Wedding Designs does much more than wedding designs! We can help with birth announcements, kids' birthday announcements, invitations and more. Email Renee if you have an idea that she can help with. 

Happy Birthday, Finny! So many people love you. You are one lucky girl. xoxo

Happy Birthday, Finny! So many people love you. You are one lucky girl. xoxo

Copper Ink can even help plan and decorate your next birthday party. A big thanks to Wildfire Cheer & Dance for allowing us to have our birthday party at your amazing facility in Brookings, SD. I think the big kids had more fun than the little kids.  :)  Wildfire set up 5 inflatables for us and there was a ton of room for the kids to run and play. 

Thank you Auntie Kelly! I had so much fun at my party. Love, Finny

Thank you Auntie Kelly! I had so much fun at my party. Love, Finny

Calendar Save the Date

Are you looking for a save the date with a calendar showing your wedding date? So was Sam & Lucas. Here is just one of the options I designed for them, using warm color tones, metallic latte paper, and a unique size that can be mailed in a No. 10 envelope. 

Interested in a consultation with Renee at Copper Ink Wedding Design? It's completely free and Renee would love to meet with you and hear all about your wedding ideas. Just click here to get started!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving,
Renee

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Lucas & Sam chose to have this cute calendar on their save the dates. 

Lucas & Sam chose to have this cute calendar on their save the dates. 

Copper Ink Answers Your Wedding Invitation Wording Questions

Q. How am I supposed to word my wedding invitations if both sets of parents are helping us pay for our wedding?

A: First of all, you're lucky to have such a supportive set of parents and soon-to-be-in-laws. Whoever is hosting the wedding (generally the bride's parents, but in this case both sets of parents) should be at the top of the invitation. Here's what you could do:

Mr. and Mrs. Gary and Alicia Johnson and Mr. and Mrs. Duane and Pamela Stadman
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their children
Brittany Elizabeth and Steven Michael

If the groom's parents are simply honored guests at the event, then their names can go after their son's:

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gary and Alicia Johnson
request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter
Brittany Elizabeth to Steven Michael
son of Mr. and Mrs. Duane and Pamela Stadman

Q. What If either set of parents is divorced?

A. Well, you'll need to put each parent on their own line. Or you could just use the wording "Together with our families" to avoid a long list of names.

Q. What's the best way to include my deceased parent on the invitation?

A: If that is the case (I'm sorry for your loss), the invitation should probably come from you and your fiancé, instead of your parents. For example:

Brittany Elizabeth, daughter of Alicia Johnson and the late Gary Johnson,
and Steven Michael, son of Mr. and Mrs. Duane and Pamela Stadman, 
request the honor of your presence...

Mentioning them in your program is also a nice touch. Maybe there are elements of your wedding day that pay a special tribute to your deceased parent. It would be a great idea to include a mention of those things, a poem, a special song, a photo or any other meaningful memory in your program.

As you can see, Alison & Josh had to carefully word their wedding invitations for the loss of a parent. Our prayers are with you.
As you can see, Alison & Josh had to carefully word their wedding invitations for the loss of a parent. Our prayers are with you.

Copper Ink Answers Your Wedding Program Etiquette Questions

Q: Besides the basic information about the ceremony and wedding party, what else should I include in my wedding program?

A: Your wedding program is a great place to include some personal touches. It's always nice to include a memorial section and a heart-felt thank you. Here's one of my favorite examples:

In Memory...

As we celebrate our marriage, we have not forgotten those who have passed on, instead, we remember them in our hearts. The bouquet at the front of the church is in remembrance of our family members who are no longer with us; especially _________.

In addition to the flower arrangement at the alter, the bride’s bouquet contains family heirlooms from _________ and the rosary her mother received on her wedding day.

Thank You...

First and foremost, we would like to thank God for bringing us together. Through him our love will always endure. We would also like to thank our parents for their unconditional love, guidance and influence in our lives. We love you. Words cannot express how thankful we are to be blessed with such wonderful family and friends. Thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of our special day.

If you need help writing your thank you or memorial section, Copper Ink Wedding Designs can help. You can look at what others have written for inspiration.


Q: What if we are writing our own vows? Should we include that wording on the program?

A:  I think it's a great idea. If you're in a large church/outdoor area (or you speak softly or start tearing up), chances are the guests in the back of the church won't be able to hear what you're saying. Adding the wording from your very personal vows allows your guests to follow along and makes your program a nice keep-sake. If you want other ways to personalize your program, maybe you include a (brief) story of how you and your fiancé met or how he proposed. Or making your story into a graphic masterpiece is a fun way to do it too.

Nora and Travis loved the Dr. Suess poem "Oh, the Places You'll Go" so they included the entire poem on their wedding program (doubling as a fan).

Nora and Travis loved the Dr. Suess poem "Oh, the Places You'll Go" so they included the entire poem on their wedding program (doubling as a fan).

Wedding Invitation Blogs to Give you Ideas

Pinterest is great for gathering ideas and inspiration. Here are other wedding websites with a "wedding invitation" or "paper goods" section that you can browse also! When you meet with me (Renee at Copper Ink Wedding Designs), I love to see photos of the invitations and looks you love. Magazine pages, Pinterest images, websites...anything goes. But remember, it's not in good taste to completely all-out steal someone else's designs. So bring all the ideas for inspiration you want--but that's exactly what they will stay—inspiration. I'll take all your ideas and combine them, polish them up, add new elements, personalize it, and THEN you can call it your own. 

Have fun browsing these websites for wedding invitation love!

100 LAYER CAKE – It's so much more than cakes. Check out the great DIY tab for wedding invitations. Let me know if you need help with the printing and layout so you can tackle these cute details.

GREEN WEDDING SHOES – I love the "galleries" tab! Check out "paper products" or keep browsing other topics. This site is full of ideas and incredibly helpful for the little details.

OH SO BEAUTIFUL PAPER – This site has wonderful ideas for calligraphy, higher-end invitations and DIY. I love the stamps and ink pads. It truly is oh, so beautiful paper.

AISLE CANDY – This website is helpful for finding reception ideas and has beautiful photography of the details.

BROOKLYN BRIDE – Check out the "Invitations" tab on her website for lots of unique ideas, especially water-color and stained glass-inspired designs.

THE SWEETEST OCCASION – You'll have to dig to find the wedding invitations images throughout her blog, but while you're there view the "free printable downloads" to use at your wedding. They're great.

I'm sure there are a lot more sites you've found, but hopefully these add some to your list! Copper Ink Wedding Designs is willing to help with anything you may need. Let's make your ideas come to life.

Want more inspiration? Set up a meeting with Renee to see more ideas for wedding invitations. She has lots of ideas on her iPad, from unique to budget-friendly. 

Want more inspiration? Set up a meeting with Renee to see more ideas for wedding invitations. She has lots of ideas on her iPad, from unique to budget-friendly. 

Wedding Programs that Shine

Oh, Chelsey & Alex. One of my favorite couples in the world! And here are their wedding programs. It measures 10" long by 4" wide and is printed on silver shimmery paper. A crystal brad holds the two sheets together and I designed a lace band around the top of the program so it matches her unique invitations.

​Chelsey & Alex absolutely shine. But then again, so do their programs.

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Giving a Little Bit More

What's really imporant when you choose someone to help design your wedding invitations and details? I like to think it's more than their graphic design skills or how likable they are. 

For Copper Ink Wedding Designs, it should be about our core values:

• To Meet a Higher Standard of Service:  Yes, brides can be demanding at times. They expect a very high level of service, as they should. And I appreciate that because it gives me an opportunity to shine.

• To Be Accommodating:  Copper Ink isn't just an 8-5 business. I’ll meet you on a weekend, for breakfast, lunch or after work, if that’s what works best in your schedule. And I'm right here in Sioux Falls, SD.

• To Design at a Higher Level: I want to bring out your wedding’s personality by listening first. Then designing.

• To Do the Right Thing: To do everything with integrity and character. To give back to the community. To be kinder than necessary. To remember who I am, not what I am. To do what I love for principle first, then profit. To be compassionate, helpful, humble and thankful.

• To Be a Do-It-Yourselfer: I want to be the charming, do-it-yourself company that’s small enough to dream, improve and shine. Never too big, but always big-hearted.​

• To Never Stop Learning:  I'm lucky. Designers get to be perpetual learners. I learn from every experience, every place I've traveled, and every museum/architecture tour I've been on. My favorite classes in school were AP physics and the college courses about nanotechnology and biometrics. I will always choose to learn. And read. And travel. And be curious.

"Doing what you like is freedom; liking what you do is happiness."
​And I love what I do.

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Wedding Thank You Notes and Custom Napkins

Copper Ink Wedding Designs does custom wedding thank you notes too!​ You can add photos, a special message, or your favorite quote. Speaking of favorite quotes, you can add your special quote to napkins for your reception also!

Check out Amber & Jon's thank you note and Erin & Derick's napkins--both custom made for any special details you may want. These napkins have a butterfly graphic, so they coordinate with their wedding invitations.

​Custom wedding thank you notes from Copper Ink Wedding Designs.

​Custom wedding thank you notes from Copper Ink Wedding Designs.

​Custom wedding napkins too. These are sand-colored with brown ink, a butterfly to match their wedding invitations, and a quote just for Erin & Derick.

​Custom wedding napkins too. These are sand-colored with brown ink, a butterfly to match their wedding invitations, and a quote just for Erin & Derick.

Milk & Cookie Bar Instead of Traditional Wedding Favors

​I love it. I featured Sarah & Eric's wedding invitations a while ago, but finally, last weekend was their long-awaited wedding day! I'm so honored I got to be part of their day long after the wedding invitations were sent out. 

I helped design each of their cookie "flavor" signs, their "thank you" message, and their large "milk & cookies" sign​. What a great idea to skip the traditional favors and invite all your family and friends up for your favorite dessert -- Mlik & Cookies. We're talkin' cookies in six different flavors, too. They didn't mess around. 

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Eric & Sarah Pokorny!​ Got love?

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Black & Ivory Wedding Invitations + A Love for Mom

When the bridal processional song starts...and the bride is ready to walk down the aisle...do you know who's job it is to cue the wedding guests to rise? The mother of the bride. She's the one who ​stands up first, signaling to the rest of the guests that it's time to welcome the bride. I think that's  exactly the role that mom's play your entire life. Mom's are the first to stand up and welcome you, love you, congratulate you, and listen to you. And if your mom is anything like mine, she's the one who will ALWAYS be standing there for you. 

I loved meeting Courtney's mom, Jane. She came along with Courtney to the very first meeting with ​me about wedding invitations. I'm sure she was also a huge part of Courtney's wedding day. And combining her opinion + Courtney & Chase's opinion = a beautiful and budget-friendly black and ivory wedding invitation set. Happy third day of marriage, C+C!

​A black shimmery policy envelope was a nice touch.

​A black shimmery policy envelope was a nice touch.

​She chose shimmery ivory paper for her invitation, RSVP card & program

​She chose shimmery ivory paper for her invitation, RSVP card & program

​The invite opens up to look like this! Very pretty.

​The invite opens up to look like this! Very pretty.

Top 5 Reasons Brides Love Custom Wedding Invitations

And when I say custom, I really do mean anything you want.​ 

1. Colors -- The colors you can use on wedding invitations from Copper Ink Wedding Designs is unlimited! Whether you want one color printed on your invitations, or a full-color invitation -- and whether you want one photo, no photos, or lots of photos; ​it all costs the same price. Envelopes, envelope liners and backing papers are also waiting for your custom colors. Whatever you want.

2. Quantities -- You need 87 save the dates and 123 invitations? Sure. You don't have to order in sets of 25 or 50. In fact, you could even order 3 extra invitations when your mom decides to invite her ​long-lost cousins at the last minute. It's completely up to you.

3. ​Folds and Extras -- You can add folds to your invitations, make them 2-sided, add twigs, ribbon, crystals, feathers, twine, and anything else you envision. You're unique. Shouldn't your invitations be too? You shouldn't have to order them straight out of an online template catalog with no personalized service.

4. Wording -- Maybe you have a weird family situation or you want a romantic wedding quote on your invitations. Done. Maybe you want your RSVP cards to be a cool size with unique wording. Done. Copper Ink will help you with wedding wording also if you want. (For example, if you're getting married in a church, you should use the wording "We request the honor of your presence", but if you're not getting married ​in a house of worship, you should use the wording "We request the pleasure of your company." Of course, rules are made to be broken and anything goes these days.)

5. Anything goes -- I will meet you anytime, day or night, after work or on a weekend. Better yet, I'll meet you for coffee or a beer to discuss your wedding visions (which is much more fun than an office anyway, right?) I'll text you the minute your invitations are printed and ready! 

Fill out this quick form if you want to get started! I would love to hear more about your wedding day. ​ ~Renee Halgerson, Copper Ink Wedding Designs, Sioux Falls, SD, 605-480-4471

Handmade Vintage Steampunk

​You know that feeling you get when you can't sit for another minute behind a computer screen and you just have to use your hands to make something? Well, that feeling + My eagerness to help out my good friends at Zing = Me making lots of handmade vintage steampunk-inspired Christmas (or anytime) ornaments!

More details to come, but you can shop this 5,000 sq. foot boutique when it opens in November and check out more handmade treasures.​ It's just another way Copper Ink designs for more than love on paper. This is steampunk love.​ (But not the creepy kind of steampunk, the pretty kind. The kind with vintage lace, pearls, gears, clock parts, keys, bird cages, and a mish-mash of metals.)

Remember last year's show? Click on this photo to see Renee's handmade stuff from "Handmade Holiday 2011".​

Remember last year's show? Click on this photo to see Renee's handmade stuff from "Handmade Holiday 2011".​