Friday, March 02, 2007

The Details...

Susan's Invitation
Originally uploaded by bridedesign.
“The details are not the details. They make the design.”
—Charles Eames

This quote from an iconic American designer and architect perfectly captures Bride Design's creative mission. In an attempt to create truly unique and original wedding and event stationery, I often take what seems like a small detail and use it as the launchpad for an entire design. For this reason, I truly enjoy meeting with clients and/or discussing their needs with them over the phone. Getting to know the people I serve enables me to showcase their own style and personalities in the design I create for them.

The invitation shown at right is one of my favorite examples of a detail making the design. My client Susan was in love with the idea of using peacock feathers on her invite. As a young bride, her mother had carried peacock feathers in her wedding bouquet and Susan wanted to continue the tradition while adding her own twist. With its opulence and deep colors, the peacock feather inspired me to create an invitation that was bold, elegant and regal (much like the bride herself!). And while the individual feather hand-tied to each invitation may seem like just an embellishment or detail, it really was the foundation for Susan's entire stationery trousseau. Both her rehearsal dinner and post-wedding brunch invitations also included original peacock illustrations. And recently I was asked to create a baby shower invitation complete with Mother and Father peacock standing over their soon-to-be hatching egg!

For a free consultation or to find out what sort of details might help make your event stationery truly stand out from the crowd, please email admin@bridedesign.com. It's never to early to get on our calendar and begin thinking about the perfect invitation!

Monday, September 25, 2006

Coming soon to a computer near you!

Liz's Invitations
Originally uploaded by bridedesign.
Be on the lookout later this fall for the revised bridedesign.com website. I will be sure to share this exciting launch with all of Bride Design's friends and clients the moment we go live. Recently, I had a talented local photographer, Crystal Petrisak, take photographs of my work for the new site. The result was a fresh look at the many styles and options Bride Design offers.

I loved Crystal's take on this modern and distinctive invitation I did for Elizabeth and Jessup, a bride and groom from Wisconsin. From the urban colors and graphic details to the sharp-looking brad fasteners and vertical shape, this invite truly reflected the fashion-forward tastes of this unique couple. Just as I work hard to express the singular style of each couple, family, individual or business that Bride Design works with, Crystal's shots similarly capture the authentic design approach I bring to each and every invitation, stationery suite, and event accessory I create.

The new website should launch right around the same time that I'm due to welcome another new and eagerly anticipated creation into the world, my second child! I am looking forward to the arrival of both the new site and the new baby and the adventures that await my business and family in the year to come.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Edible InvitationsTM


Edible invites
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.
Back in March, I promised to blog about Bride Design's collaboration with Jen Comfort of She Takes the Cake. That month, we debuted our Edible InvitationsTM at Syracuse Wedding Magazine's bridal show at the Lodge at Welch-Allyn in Skaneateles and were met with great enthusiasm. After the launch, we were recently featured as a "Women TIES Success Story" in the Spring 2006 Women TIES Newsletter.

Starting at $10 per invitation, hostesses can send their guest a unique custom made cookie printed with the time, date, and location of the event. Pictures and art work can also be printed on the cookie. Shrink-wrapped, tied lovingly with tissue paper and ribbon, and enclosed in a high-quality A7 mailing box with a decorative sash, these invitations hold up well in the mail. And as the Women TIES article noted "...they are just as good as they look."

Just in case a guest can't wait to consume Jen's delicious sugar cookie/shortbread combination recipe, a printed paper invitation is also included along with the cookie. Tailored to the individual needs of an event, edible invitations are perfect for bridal showers, bridesmaid luncheons and teas, birthdays and anniversaries, as well as weddings, corporate events, or any celebration that you'd like to announce with a deliciously different twist !

She Takes The Cake and Bride Design are the only source offering this new and (literally!) tasteful approach to invitations. Inquire today regarding this unique product by emailing admin@bridedesign.com. Bride Design and She Takes The Cake have also joined forces to provide additional exclusive wedding services for the discerning bride. More on that in a blog to come. Happy planning!

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Catch your cards in our new custom created cake boxes!


Cake Card Box
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.
Guests always appreciate the unique details of a wedding. Instead of having guests drop cards in a plain old box, why not dress up your gift table with a custom designed cake card holder from Bride Design? Designer Erin Nowak takes you beyond the typical ivory, satin, and pearl-trimmed options by using tulle, silk flowers, lokta paper from Nepal, and a variety of ribbons and distinct embelleshments to create a functional faux cake that's just your style.

Available in one, two and three-tiered designs, cake card boxes are perfect for weddings, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, and more. They can even be created to match or compliment your actual wedding cake! For more information or questions about this one-of-a-kind way to collect your cards and monetary gifts, email Erin at admin@bridedesign.com. Happy Planning!

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Our Menu

Kristen's Table Numbers
Originally uploaded by bridedesign.
With the new year upon us, I figured it would be a great time to review the many services available at Bride Design. Besides custom designed wedding invitations, we also offer bridal shower invitations, wedding programs, place cards, table names or numbers, and menus. Hand bound guestbooks and albums that match a bride's stationery wardrobe, have also been very popular.

While we've always offered Save the Date cards, we've recently launched a line of Save the Date magnets. They're a stylish and functional way to keep your guests updated on the big day! Call or email for information or a quote today.

In addition to our bridal offerings, Bride Design Baby carries handmade announcements, baby stationery and thank you notes. Each design is as unique as the little person who inspires it! Recently Bride Design has also made a splash with corporate and charity event invitations.

Bride Design is booking up fast for 2006, so please email admin@bridedesign.com for a free consultation today. We've also begun scheduling for 2007 dates, so it's never to early to get on our calendar and begin thinking about the perfect invitation for your event! Thanks for all of your business in 2005! I look forward to hearing from you!!!

Friday, November 04, 2005

Holidays!


Winter Wedding
Originally uploaded by epmdesigner.
The holidays are a busy time here at Bride Design. We are hard at work designing mock-ups for spring and summer 2006 weddings. Each wedding is special, exciting, and a joy to work on. This year we're getting to work with some very cool themes, several inspiring color palettes and a wide variety of media. But there is more than just mock-ups going on these days!

Winter is close at hand, which brought to mind a lovely invitation I was honored to create for a wedding last December. Pictured here, it used embossed holly berry paper and a shimmering soft white envelope. The stylish ribbon resembled a bow on a Christmas gift and the envelope reminded me of newly fallen snow. In addition to wedding invitations, Bride Design gets into the spirit of the season by creating custom greeting cards and holiday party invites. Whatever your needs, we try to help make your stationery dreams happen. We might not be able to ensure that your letter to Santa makes it to the North Pole, but we can certainly help you put on the prettiest paper possible! Email us at admin@bridedesign.com if you'd like to find out more about holiday offerings or Bride Design in general. Happy holiday shopping everyone!

Friday, September 02, 2005

Want to make your own amazing invitations?

Green Spirograph Invitation Suite, and Program
Originally uploaded by bridedesign.
Are you looking for designer wedding invitations but find yourself with a do-it-yourself budget? Would you like to celebrate an upcoming birth by creating one-of-a-kind announcements? Well you're in luck! Bride Design now offers custom invitation, announcement and stationery workshops in the Central New York area.

Erin Nowak, owner and principal of Bride Design, runs each workshop herself, sharing with you years of professional design experience and a few artistic tricks of her trade. Workshops are best with 4-8 people and will get you started designing and assembling your own invitations, announcements or stationery. Using a variety of unique papers, ribbons, brads and other specialty items, each participant will make 1-3 sample invitations. At the end of the session you will leave understanding several techniques that you can take home and use to create an invitation or announcement unique to your event or purpose.

Custom workshops can take place at your home, or location of choice. Fee for workshops is $35 per person and includes materials. You provide the hospitality and I'll bring the supplies and instruction to help you create and invitation or announcement with you own personal touch! To schedule a Bride Design Workshop today please email admin@bridedesign.com.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Fall is around the corner...

Kris' Invitations and Program>
Originally uploaded by bridedesign.
and things are busy here at Bride Design! Congrats and best wishes to all of my spring and summer brides. I had the pleasure of seeing pictures from a few of the weddings I created invitations for and each bride looked radiant and lovely.

Looking ahead to Fall, there is a lot going on. Please stop by and visit us from 1-4 pm on September 25th at Syracuse's Perfect Bridal Show at The Holiday Inn. My entire portfolio with be available for you to view at this event, so be sure to check out some of the items I offer in addition to invitations. I will have thank you notes, shower invitations, and save the date designs with me.

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and the flexibility of Bride Design, please keep in mind that I can work with brides and grooms in almost any situation. I have worked with couples all over the country, most recently with brides in California, Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin.

Now is also the perfect time to start thinking about invites for winter 2005-2006 and spring 2006 weddings. It's also never to early to get a jump on finding the perfect invitation for your event. Please email admin@bridedesign.com for a free consultation today!

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Blogging for Brides

Erin's Wedding Suite
Originally uploaded by bridedesign.
I enjoy my personal blog so much that I thought I would start one for my business. It is my hope to showcase some of my work here. I also thought this might be another outlet through which I can communicate with brides and other clients. I look forward to a future of fun and profitable business blogging. Hope to hear from you soon!