A New Year Has Begun

Wow!  Are we really one week into 2015?  This year is off to a busy start around the office, as I have begun the large process of redesigning our website, blog, proof galleries, and so much more.  I'm pretty much spent all of the past few days glued to my monitor, designing away.  I'm really excited about the new look, unfortunately it will still be a while before I'm ready to launch everything.  I can't wait to share it with you!

Finding the Right Stationery {Guest Post by Zephyr Weddings}

 

 Coordinating everything your guests receive - from the save-the-date to the invitation, the ceremony to the reception, all the way to the thank you card as newlyweds – is the ultimate in planning. I truly believe it is these thoughtful touches that make your wedding stand apart from the rest and let your guests know how special this day is to you. 

With custom design work, it is never too soon to get started.  Schedule your initial consultation as early as 12-15 months before the wedding date for save-the-dates, 6-9 months ahead for invitations.  When scheduling your first appointment, it is best to have set your wedding date and to have finalized some details regarding your ceremony and reception locations.  Whether you will be married at a formal church, in a rustic barn, or on the shores of a tranquil lake – the setting will provide important clues for your designer in translating the style and mood of your invitation.  We have many tips and tools on our website to assist you in wording your invitations and addressing your envelopes – two areas in which couples usually have the most questions. Then, at your personal, face-to-face consultation we offer additional advice and suggestions for communicating clearly to your guests what to expect. Formal? Casual? What should I wear? Where do I stay? What type of gift should I bring? These are all questions that can be answered by a thoughtfully designed invitation. At Zephyr Weddings, your designer will continue to offer solutions to your questions as they come up throughout the design process. We understand that each wedding is unique and any special circumstances need to be treated individually.

 A custom designer does not use templates, so you know that your invitation will be unlike anyone else’s. Using any colors, sizes, shapes, fonts, artwork and styles, Zephyr Weddings specializes in creating designs that fit you and no one else. Online retailers often limit your choices for colors or graphics. Their prices can be deceiving as well. An invitation may be advertised as $1.29 each, but when the envelope, rsvp card, enclosure cards, return address printing, and shipping costs are added the total is much more. We understand you need a complete invitation suite, so our pricing includes everything you will need from beginning to end - concept, layout, design, revisions, a printed proof, specialty paper and/or pockets, invitation, enclosure cards with a hand-drawn map and accommodations, envelopes, and addressing.

Our most popular invitation element is the pocket enclosure. This style presents your invitation while securing your rsvp and enclosure cards within a pocket, keeping everything together. We always dress up the outside of the pocket with a tag, wrap, or tie featuring your monogram or your names and wedding date. Another unique way to personalize your invitation is a timeline of events from the cocktail hour and first dance, dinner and cake cutting, all the way through to the midnight snack bar and after-hours party. It can be a fun way to let your guests know what to expect and to get them excited about your day. Another idea that we love is a welcome card for out of town guests listing your favorite local restaurants and suggestions for local sight-seeing excursions to make the weekend unforgettable.

Custom options are wide open and may include ceremony programs, table numbers, place cards, menus, large seating charts, and reception signs, all to coordinate with the style of your day. We can even help you with thank you cards and holiday cards after you are married. Your guests will be impressed that not one detail was overlooked!

Guest post by Celeste Hutchinson

Zephyr Weddings

www.zephyrweddings.com

319.351.9360

Cassidy's Crochet Creations

This past winter, Cassidy from Cassidy's Crochet Creations was so kind to make these BEAUTIFUL, warm winter creations for my girls.  As soon as they saw them, my girls fell instantly in love.  In fact, it was hard for me to even get them to take them off to sleep!  They are super soft and warm.  The colors are gorgeous.  Seriously, it doesn't get any better.  To see more of Cassidy's Crochet Creations check them out on their Facebook page.

Our New & Improved Website!

As of late, I have been hard at work redesigning and updating the Geno Photography website.  Unfortunately, my blogging has not been getting done quite as often as I should, but I am so excited about how the new website is turning out.  After many, many hours of work designing it, I am getting so close to being able to launch it.  If you're a regular follower of our blog, you may notice a few changes here.  They are just a sneak peek of what is to come.  Check back soon to see all of the amazing updates!

Zephyr Weddings {Vendor Spotlight}

 If you haven't already checked out Zephyr Weddings' newly remodeled studio on the Coralville Strip you should!  Their studio is filled with amazing examples of wedding invitations, place cards, and any paper product you could dream of for your wedding.  There are also a ton of excellent wedding vendor displays for you to take a look at: photographers, DJ services, videographer, florists, wedding coordinators, and much more.  If you are planning a wedding, this is one stop you'll be so happy you made.  The Zephyr staff is amazing and will help all of your wedding dreams come true!

Cynthia Betts {Vendor Spotlight}

  If you are looking to have an amazing wedding, full of beautiful details and customized to fit your dreams, you should definitely check out the spectacular Cynthia Betts.  Cynthia runs Special Events planning service, UBetts Rentals, and the excellent Weddings In Iowa website.  Her designs are amazing.  I have photographed her tablescapes many times at bridal fairs, in Zephyr Weddings, and at weddings.  To see images from a recent wedding we worked together visit Adrian & Liz's blog post.  Everything was stunning. 

 

Zephyr Weddings {Vendor Spotlight}

If you get a chance, check out our wall display at Zephyr Weddings in Coralville.  Zephyr Weddings specializes in custom designed invitations and so much more for weddings, graduations, newborns, anything you can think of.  I had the pleasure of photographing many of their beautiful products over the past few years and working with the amazing women that work there.  If you are in the market for some invitations, announcements, or any custom designed graphics Zephyr is the place for you.