Invitations Galore!

"Moving on up...."

2009-07-23T16:52:00.002-04:00

For those of you who follow us and haven't figured it out yet, we have moved our blog. We think it looks way better and we hope you agree! I feel terrible that I forgot to post this before now. Our friend Kate just said she went to our blog (this one) and couldn't believe we hadn't updated in almost a month...and it hit me then that we never announced the move.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR NEW LAYOUT AND WEB ADDRESS

Just a reminder...

2009-07-02T16:44:00.002-04:00

Paper Persuasions will be closed Saturday July 4th.

We have had several phone calls today asking if we will be open tomorrow (Friday) - and in case you too are wondering, the answer is YES! We will be open 10-4 which is our standard Friday schedule.

We hope you have a happy and safe holiday with family and friends.

May's Custom Invitation Recap

2009-06-30T14:23:00.000-04:00

No, It's not a mistake. I somehow overlooked updating the blog for most of May and June. Somehow meaning this: wedding season kicked our butts and we had a family vacation (closing the studio for a week) smack dab in the middle. Things are finally getting back on track and we are happy to share some of our favorite summer projects with you below.

Here's a lovely pocketfold we created for an October wedding. A rich chocolate brown pocket topped with the white and champagne regalia pattern.....and finished with wasabi and ecru papers. A perfect combination for a warm fall evening!

This pocketfold was designed for a bride that lives in the Akron/Canton area but is getting married around Lake Tahoe. Although the wedding is on the small side - it's going to be packed with fun. With so much to do in the area, (not to mention a stunning invitation) I'd bet that she ends up with more guests than expected!

This invitation was actually designed by the bride (Katie) and printed and assembled by us. Katie lives in the Columbus area and works as a fashion designer for Abercrombie. When it came to the invitation design, she already knew what she wanted....she just needed an avenue to get there. With 4 great minds working together (her awesome mom included!) a gorgeous final product was achieved.

We designed this invitation for a bride who calls herself "The pickiest bride God ever made". While it did take several visits and mock ups to achieve the final design, I have to say that this is one of the most beautiful invitation ensembles we have ever made. I am a big fan of monochromatic design so I loved the subtle colors and simple paisley design.

These accessories were for Amy and Jeremy's June 13th wedding held at the Tudor House. Amy helped make her own invitations (we designed and printed them - she assembled them) and we are still waiting for her to send pictures of the final product! The programs, table cards and place cards are shown - but we also made a ton of various signage used throughout the reception which can be seen throughout the Ceremony Recap on Heidzilla's blog. I think we'll be seeing a lot more of Heidi in the coming months as she seems to be the most talked about coordinator in years!

These Table Cards, Favor Tags and Thank You cards were all made to coordinate with the first invitation listed in this weekly recap.

These Table Cards (along with matching placecards which are not shown) were made to coordinate with an invitation shown here weekly recap.

Wine Cork Place Cards for Chuck and Brookes wedding in California. These turned out SO awesome! The bride and groom ordered wine corks online and used a bread knife to cut one side flat and then slit the top. A perfect addition to the tone they set when they sent their plantable invitations.

Studio Closed June 13th - 22nd

2009-06-13T09:30:00.001-04:00

Paper Persuasions is a locally owned, family owned business. As such, we will be closed June 13th thru 22nd for family vacation. We will have access to email and voicemail and will be responding to messages when possible.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope that you too will be able to spend time with your loved ones in the upcoming summer months!

Outer Banks....here we come!!!

Steph & Stacy

Real Brides: Ashley and James take on DIY Invitations

2009-05-28T20:38:00.013-04:00

We first met James and Ashley on a CRAZY BUSY Saturday. They are one of those couples who are just...well...infectious. They are both so nice, smiley and awesome that you can't help but be in a great mood after talking to them! They knew they wanted to make their own invitations - already having purchased a DIY kit - but just weren't satisfied with the results. James' mom encouraged them to take the 1 hour+ drive down to our studio after hearing about us on Fox 8 News.

Not wanting the hassle of printing the invitations, they knew they wanted us to provide the printing but handle the rest of the project on their own. Their initial visit lasted about 1.5 hours and we were able to work with them to finalize their design, wording, typestyle and layout. They weren't sure of their final counts - so a quick email and phone call later in the week was all we needed to get the proper amount of product ordered. About two weeks later, their product was here, printed and ready for pickup. The rest is history.....and the couple has shared photographs and a few tips from their DIY journey......

Product arrives - time to dig in!

To conserve paper, we printed multiple pieces on a single 8.5 x 11 sheets. We were able to get 20 tags per sheet, 4 invites per sheet, 5 rsvps per sheet and 6 reception cards per sheet.

James was the designated cutter....

Everything is *perfectly* cut and ready for assembly

Ashley did the spray gluing for the thinner pieces...

And tape gluing for the cardstocks....(this is our tape gun - they are available for rental with any DIY purchase)

Ashley and her mom Laurie working on assembly

James' mom Becky did ALL the addressing of the outer envelopes by hand...and even used the back of the pocketfold as an inner envelope by writing the guests names directly on the pocket.

The finished product - hot pink, orange and white pocketfolds.

We ask all of our DIY clients to complete a brief survey to share with other prospective DIY'ers. Here are the results of theirs:

Did you initially plan on making your own invitations? Yes

Approximately how ling did your project take to complete: 20 hours

Was was the difficulty level of your project compared to what you expected?: About what I expected

Please describe your project in as much detail as you'd like. Feel free to include funny stories, hassles and mishaps, your over all experience, etc. : Advice would be to have a paper cutter! Split the project up over days, I (James) did all the cutting while watching the basketball playoffs and Ashley did the gluing of the invitations while watching movies in the background. With the cutting, be sure to "Math Out" how many sheets of cardstock you will need for each card before cutting and place them in separate piles. When gluing, the gun saves so much time and is easy to use. Make sure to have old newspaper down for the spray adhesive as it travels everywhere no matter how careful you are. Save all left over pieces - you never know when they might come in handy again. Be sure to get your invitations weighed. Our finished invite mailed at $.61 even though it was a standard sized envelope. Again, spread the project over a week as taking your time will give you amazing results! We had a great time making our invitations and now have even more special memories as we did them together.

Do you feel Paper Persuasions was a valuable partner in helping you throughout your project?: Yes. Stephanie was very helpful and spent so much time explaining and helping us pick out and individualize our invitations.

James and Ashley - thanks for taking that long drive down to the studio! You both were a pleasure to work with. Your project turned out amazing and we are happy to have provided the paper products and printing services for your DIY Invitations. Best of luck as you continue to plan the wedding...and Ashley - we hope have a blast at your Bridal Shower this weekend!!

We Won!

2009-05-27T11:21:00.004-04:00

Thanks to all of you who took the time to vote in the Akron/Canton Hotlist competition. We were a little late in sending out the email (like 24 hours before the competition ended) so to be able to take home the title with such a small percentage of our clients being able to vote - it really means the world to us! Many of your comments actually brought tears to our eyes (click the banner below to read them yourself!) We appreciate you more than you will ever know! Thanks again for your support.

Stephanie and Stacy

Paper Persuasions - an Invitation Studio

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-05-20T16:18:00.004-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Silver and White Shimmer Flat Panel

Catalog: Bride and Groom by McPhersons
Price Points
75 Ensembles: $4.43
100 Ensembles: $3.51
150 Ensembles: $3.11
200 Ensembles: $2.92
Approximate price per ensemble including proofing, shipping, and tax. Ensembles include invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, and return address printed on mailing envelope.

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-05-14T15:29:00.005-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: 4x9 Seal and Send on White Shimmer Stock

We received an updated version of the Something Different Catalog by Carlson Craft, and were delighted to find something different for a seal n' send option! This seal n' send has a finished size of 4x9, so it's presentation is a little more substantial that the typical seal n' send finished size of 4x5. It is made of a trendy black and white pattern printed on white shimmer card stock and accented with your choice of ink colors for the copy content. Just fold it up, seal it, and mail it - no envelopes used! Your guests tear off the perforated response postcard and send that back to you, saving you postage and saving the environment some paper waste!

Catalog: Something Different by Carlson Craft
Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $3.45
100 Ensembles: $2.91
150 Ensembles: $2.77
200 Ensembles: $2.70
(Approximate price point per ensemble including proofing, tax and shipping. Ensembles include entire ensemble with return address and response postcard address printed)

Bi-Weekly Recap 4/19-5/8/09

2009-05-07T19:53:00.007-04:00

Okay - so its more like a tri-weekly recap. I suppose that I will always push these things one week past the due date until I am doing a Yearly Recap!

Well, I made it through Stacy's first ever vacation from this place...and now it's her turn to make it through mine. I leave for LA on Tuesday and will be gone through the 19th. So....from May 12th - 19th, we will be open regular hours but with walk-ins only. (We schedule appointments so that our brides can have one-on-one attention and when only one of us is on staff, we have to be able to handle everything that comes our way - phones, walk-ins, etc.) I guess now also seems like a good time to remind you that we will be closed June 13th - June 22nd for family vacation. Now I know it must seem like we travel ALOT - but I swear - this is the first time we have taken time off in YEARS. It just so happened that each of us had an out-of-state obligation during peak wedding season PLUS we are taking our FIRST family vacation in 14 years! Since we are sisters and all, it wasn't fair for one of us to miss out on that - so we will be closing for the week.

Here are a few things we have been working on over the past three weeks:
Catalog Wedding Invitation: Love Birds

This ensemble is one of my catalog favorites. The cool thing about working with it this time, is that the bride was able to work in the rich purple she was using. Although it is not shown in the photo above, we were able to add a purple layer behind the teal layer using custom cut Envelopments products.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Red Roses

These were for a Red, Black and White wedding. I love the detail brought to the ensemble by the red deckled edges on the invite, response and reception card and all the envelopes!

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Shimmer Pocketfold

Here is a color scheme we have shown before, but in a totally different layout. The Paper Duvet Catalog allows you to mix and match from several different layouts - and several different paper colors to create your own one-of-a-kind pocketfold ensemble.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Seal and Send

I love the combination of this Ecru Seal and Send with Navy Blue Lettering - it's quite simple and elegant and at a great price!

Custom Baby Shower Invitation

This baby shower invite was custom made for a former bride who is expecting her first child (a girl!) in three short months! This design features Envelopments original artwork.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Black Pocketfold

This is another mix and match style of pocket and this color combo was perfect for the brides Hawaiian wedding / Ohio reception. This came from the Carlson Craft Pockets album...and we just got our newest edition with 12 new layouts!

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Black and White Recycled Invite

This invitation comes from the Naturally Ever After Album and features 30% recycled papers. The rich texture of the paper with the simple black and white photograph combine to form a unique, simple, elegant ensemble.

Custom Photo Thank You Cards

These thank you cards are for April's Featured Bride.

Custom Wedding Invitation: Gold and Navy Pocketfold

This custom pocketfold was made for a bride using the Claddagh theme throughout. Although it is not pictured here, the front of the invitation includes a tab with the symbol on it and will be the first thing the guests see when opening the envelopes.

Catalog Invitation: 50th Wedding Anniversary

We don't get to see too many clients who are celebrating their 50th anniversary...but to meet one who is more in love today than 50 years ago is an amazing feeling! We can't wait to work on matching photo bookmarks which will be given to all guests.

Custom Wedding Invitation: Lime Green and Persimmon

We loved how these turned out! The floral pattern on the invite and small bird detail on the insert tied everything together to create the natural feel this bride and groom was looking for.

Custom Wedding Invitations: Black, Ecru and Red Flourish
These were made for someone extremely dear to our hearts....and maybe I am biased, but I LOVE them. I especially love the artwork on the design and how it is split between the inserts.

Custom Thank You Note: Polka Dots - Black, Pink and Lime

These are from our custom thank you card line - and were made to match an invitation featured a couple of weeks ago. We are also doing some favor tags and table numbers with the same theme and those should be featured on the blog in the next few weeks.

2009-05-06T14:33:00.002-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: 100% Recycled Flat Panel Black & Teal

This invitation is part of the "Go Green" selection so it is made from 100% recycled papers and includes a single mailing envelope. The simple design is dressed up with a little bit of teal color in the flourish and the bride & groom's names. A lot of style at a very affordable price! Colors and design are available only as shown, but fonts can be changed.

Catalog: Wedding Collection by Carlson Craft
Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $4.12
100 Ensembles: $3.41
150 Ensembles: $3.12
200 Ensembles: $2.98
Approximate price per ensemble includes proofing, shipping, and tax. Ensemble includes invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, and mailing envelope with return address printed.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog order!

Real Brides: Nicole and Rich - Valentines Day 2009

2009-05-02T14:24:00.007-04:00

Although Nicole and Rich have been 'a couple' for years...they decided to tie the knot on Valentine's Day 2009 with a Brunch Reception to follow at Chenoweth Country Club. Until Nicole, I had never met a bride whose attention to detail was parallel to my own....so her and I worked together fabulously. Since she was a DIY bride in many areas (floral and other decor) we were honored that she and Rich selected us for their Stationery needs. The color scheme of the invitation was hard to nail down at first...but once we found the right combo - we carried it through everything paper!

Here are shots of the Invitations, Table Cards, Place Cards and Seating Chart (not pictured - photo thank you cards and favor tags for the little bag of chocolates they gave to their guests).

Nicole made all of her own centerpieces and florals - and when she brought in a sample to see how her table cards looked next to them, I was blown away. She is so talented! I would give anything to have seen the reception hall. Below are a few shots of the bride and groom courtesy of Tom Forrest Photography.

A letter from Nicole to us:

To my Friends at Paper Persuasions,

I wanted to say "thank you" for everything you did to help me have the perfect day! Our wedding was awesome and all the details & frills of each beautiful piece of Paper and Cardstock Art were Unbelievable!! You both were so careful and helped me truly create the exact look I wanted for my invitations, place cards, seating charts, favor tags, table tent cards and even my Thank You cards! You never rushed me - you always took the time to listen carefully, and you always followed through with FLAWLESS EXECUTION of EVERYTHING! You both are wonderful people and I will make sure to stay in touch and utilize your services for any special invitation or paper product where PERFECTION is needed!

With Sincere Thanks,

Nicole

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-04-21T22:53:00.007-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Vellum Overlay Invitation w/ Monogram in Jacket Slide

This ensemble is just darling! The bright white outer jacket is embossed with a flirty floral design. The invitation, featuring a monogram, slides out of the jacket by pulling on the ribbon. Change the feel by choosing from a selection of ribbon colors and 27 ink colors! Make it more classic with black , or more autumn-inspired with brown!

Catalog: Wedding Invitations by Stylart
Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $4.24
100 Ensembles: $3.42
150 Ensembles: $3.06
200 Ensembles: $2.70
(Approximate price per ensemble including proofing, shipping, and tax) Ensembles include invitation, slide, ribbon, response card with printed envelope, reception card, and return address printed on back flap of mailing envelope.
Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, inc. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needed items and receive an additional 5% discount off your invitation order!

New Wedding Stamps

2009-04-20T14:42:00.004-04:00

So we were at the post office today and *finally* got to see the offical catalog of new stamps reflective of the May 11, 2009 increase. I have to say, I am slightly disappointed with the 'gold rings' wedding stamp - but I guess it beats a big ole Liberty Bell. My personal favorites are the Simpson's stamps....and the King and Queen of hearts stamps. Oh - and as per the usual - they are relasing a nice $.44 flag stamp (not pictured).

Seriously! I'm in love with these stamps.

But more in love with these!! This image is of poor quality - but these totally rock. The king and queen are each their own $.44 stamp. I think these will work great for people with 'in between' postage quotes of $.79 - $.84. How cute would it be to use one of each to total $.84 rather than using the $.79 mountain stamp?

These are the new wedding combination stamps. Use the $.44 for your reply envelopes (the rings) and the $.61 for the ensemble (the cake) if it weighs in at over 1 oz.

Etiquette Question of the Week 4/20/09

2009-04-20T14:23:00.002-04:00

Q:I am working on my guest list and I have 120 addresses total. How many extra invitations should I order?

A: Well, that depends. How firm is your list? And are you ordering Custom invitations or Catalog invitations?

If you are ordering Catalog invitations, you can only order them in quantities of 25. Since you have 120 addresses already, only ordering 125 invitations may be cutting it too close...so I would suggest ordering 150. That should give you plenty of extras. If you are worried about making mistakes on the envelopes - do not order extra ensembles - just request 25 extra envelopes. The cost is MINIMAL compared to ordering 25 extra sets.

If you are ordering Custom invitations, you can order them in any quantity you need. If your list is firm at 120, then 135 should take care of any last minute guest additions and keepsakes. Same rules apply for extra envelopes - if you are worried about making mistakes when addressing them, simply order additional envelopes.

Submit your very own etiquette question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter!

Bi-Weekly Recap 4/5-4/18/09

2009-04-17T15:00:00.012-04:00

Hi there! These last two weeks have been insane around here. Now that the weather is breaking, we seem to be meeting an increase of brides who are in panic mode as their invitations have not yet been ordered for June/July weddings. We experienced the busiest days EVER on Easter Weekend. Thanks to everyone who came in and who were patient as Stacy and I worked the crowds! And please be patient if you are planning to stop in between the 23rd and 28th. Stacy will be on vacation and those days are treated as 'walk-in' only days. I won't be taking appointments because there is no guarantee that I won't be pulled in three other directions at any given moment.... and we like to give our appointments our undivided attention!

Here are some pictures of things we have been working on:

Catalog Invitation: Save the Date
This Save the Date card was actually meant to be used as an invitation but the bride got creative! Instead of the B&G names being printed within the 'window' they had their wedding date. The card slides out via ribbon to reveal the preliminary information about their wedding day. Great idea!

Catalog Invitation: Black and White Pocketfold
We've had this one on the blog before. It's a pocket from the Blue Album and it comes in at a GREAT price. You can drastically change the look of this invite by simply changing the ink color.

Catalog Invitation: Cala Lily Seal-n-Send
One of the downfalls of a Seal-n-Send invitation is having to write the address on the backside of the invitation. If you are having an adult only reception, or want to be very specific with who is invited, it can be difficult to do with just one writing surface. Many Seal-n-Sends fit perfectly into Envelopments envelopes (available in over 70 colors)...and this one was printed in ginger ink and placed in a sunstone envelope. Since the return address was no longer needed on the back flap of the Seal-n-Send, the bride replaced it with a quote from their first dance song.

Catalog Invitation: Save the Date - Fall leaves

Catalog Invitation: Peacock Blue Pocketfold
This was another catalog invitation that we added custom touches to. The bride was looking for a specific shade of blue...but rather than facing the expense of custom design, she wanted to stick with a catalog option. We searched high and low and couldn't find the right shade of blue so we ordered the catalog invitation without the middle layer (Carlson Craft gave us a nice discount) then we ordered in cardstock from Envelopments and cut it to the right size. Although it ended up being a slightly higher cost than straight catalog, it was well worth it to get the right color!

Custom Invitation: Chocolate Brown, Blue and Red Pocketfold
This is a pocketfold that we designed for a bride - and even made matching envelope seals which have their return address printed on them! This is actually for a DIY project - we did the printing and they will be doing all the cutting and assembly. We loved the design so much, we wanted to make one for ourselves...and of course we wanted to show off the custom seal...we are excited to be offering these now!

Custom Wedding Invitation: Pink, Silver and White Pocketfold
This bride and groom and her mom have been absolutely wonderful to work with. I am so happy that we are doing all of their accessories too so that we don't have to say goodbye just yet. We have been working on finalizing their invitation order...and we finally got their custom postage stamps in from Zazzle so I was able to take a shot of the ensemble. The custom monogram (actually designed by the groom!!!) was used on the front flap of their pocketfold, on the envelope seal and on the custom postage stamps. This order is a true piece of art!

Custom Wedding Invitation: Pyrite, Persimmon, White Shimmer
Again - another bride that I'll be sad to say goodbye to! We are also doing custom accessories for this order...and Contessa Polina has made cookies to match the front tag of the invite. You will definitely be seeing more of this design on the blog soon!

Custom Accessories: Ecru Shimmer, Pyrite and Starfish theme

As I type this the bride and groom are probably sitting in the airport waiting for their flight to Jamaica! We made custom invitations for them a few months back and these accessories carried the starfish theme through to the reception. From top to bottom: Menus, Table Cards (with island names), Escort Cards (with envelopes!), Stick-on tags for the favor boxes & Welcome tags for the guests gift bags, and finally Ceremony Programs. Can't wait to see the photos...and to work on their custom thank you cards! Congrats you two!

Here We Grow Again!

2009-04-15T11:15:00.001-04:00

Usually on Wednesdays, I share a catalog invitation pick of the week with you. This week I'd like to introduce 3 new catalogs we added to our selection last week! We are always looking to increase our selection of low to moderate budget invitations, and these three do just that!

Bride & Groom by McPhersons
Offering a broad range of styles from Cinderella romantic to contemporary patterns. Here's a peek:

Flower by Carlson Craft
Yes, there a some invitations featured with a floral theme, but this catalog also includes some nice non-floral selections. Here's a peek:

Save the Date by Carlson Craft
An entire catalog of Save the Date choices! From photo magnets to scratch off tickets to detailed itineraries, this book has it all! It's an updated catalog offering extensive color choices and more themes. Here's a peek:

We are proud to be adding these three catalogs to our collection, bringing the total to 31! Stop by soon and we'll help you find the best invitation for you and your event.

Etiquette Question of the Week 4/13/2009

2009-04-14T13:15:00.003-04:00

Q: I didn't order my invitations through you (wished I would have, long story) but I am wondering if you could tell me if I should be ordering invitation tissues to go with my invitations? The place I did order them from said that they aren't used any more and they can't get them for me but my mom is pretty upset that they were not included in the order. I'm just wondering if it is proper etiquette to include them? Thanks, Anne (from Cleveland)

A: Hi Anne! All of the catalog companies that we represent have discontinued including tissues in their orders - however, they are available by request. Tissues were used to help keep the printed portion of the invitations from smearing - but due to modern printing methods, the tissue is no longer needed for this purpose so most people were not using them. It is not considered improper etiquette to not include them but if you still want to use them for your invitations, let me know the finished size of your invitation panel and I'll be happy to get some for you.

Submit your very own etiquette question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter!

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-04-08T12:21:00.003-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Chocolate Brown Folded Card with Flourish Pattern and Ivory Inserts

This invitation is a new addition to one of my most favorite catalogs - Candlelight by Carlson Craft. It is a rich chocolate brown folded card with the invitation and reception details printed inside on an Ivory insert - all tied together with a chocolate brown satin ribbon. The beautiful flourish/damask design embossed in the card is carried through to the response insert and the custom printed inner envelope. This ensemble is perfect for a fall wedding!

Catalog: Candlelight Collection by Carlson Craft
Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $5.47
100 Ensembles: $4.47
150 Ensembles: $4.05
200 Ensembles: $3.85
(Approximate price per ensemble including tax, shipping and proofing)
Ensembles include: Invitation, ribbon, response card with printed envelope, inner envelope with pattern printed, all copy and pattern printed in brown ink, and mailing envelope with return address printed in black ink.

We need your votes!

2009-04-06T16:14:00.002-04:00

So anyways...the Akron/Canton Hot list is back...and we need your votes! Please take a minute to vote for us with as many valid email addresses as you have. We promise - they don't spam you if you do not request to receive email. I've voted in a few of these! If you have an extra minute or two, we'd love if you took the time to rate us and write a brief review about us.

Thanks for your support!

Steph
CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Etiquette Question of the Week 4/6/09

2009-04-06T15:56:00.005-04:00

Q: How do I address an invitation to a married couple where the woman kept her married name and is a doctor and the man is not a doctor. Do their names go on separate lines?

A: This is a great question. For the example, let's say that the name of the woman is Jane Jones and the name of the man is Dan Smith. The degreed individual is listed first and yes - their names are listed on separate lines:
Dr. Jane Jones
Mr. Dan Smith

Let's say that the woman was a doctor who took her husbands name it would be:
Dr. Jane and Mr. Dan Smith

Or both were doctors:
Drs. Jane and Dan Smith

Submit your very own etiquette question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter!

Weekly Recap 3/22 - 4/4/09

2009-04-04T11:05:00.008-04:00

I am officially changing the Weekly Recap blog to a Bi-Weekly Recap blog. I just can't seem to make enough time to photograph, upload, and blog about it on a weekly basis. Since our three appearances on Fox 8 news, we have been incredibly busy with new walk-in traffic. I can't believe that next weekend is Easter weekend already and I only noticed because we have multiple appointments each day next week. Brides are coming into town and they want to cross stuff off the wedding to-do list.

Custom Design: Purple and Silver Wedding Invitation
I think this one has been on the blog before but this week we put the finishing touches on the order. The bride is wrapping all pieces in a satin ribbon to 'tie' everything together!

Custom Design: Navy and Pink Pocketfold Invitation
Again - I'm pretty sure we put this up last month, but this month we finished it up and I was able to get some better shots showing the design we worked in to the interior cards.

Catalog Invitation: Slate and White Wedding Invitation
One of my absolute favorites - and I am so excited that someone ordered it. I love the details in the cards and the slate and white alternating fonts and papers.

Catalog Invitation: Gerber Daisy Wedding Invite
I love love love the petite nature of this invitation. The Invitation tucks into the daisy wrap and is folded like a z card. When taken out of the pocket, it unfolds to reveal plenty of space for all the wording an invitation requires. Even the RSVP card is adorable!

Catalog Invitation: Sep-n-Send Ecru/Sage/Purple Wedding Invitation
Proving that sep-n-sends don't have to look cheap, this invitation delivers! It is absolutely gorgeous and the pricing cannot be beat. If you are a bride on a budget...but still want style(and who doesn't?)...be sure to check out all the sep-n-sends we offer.

Catalog Invitation: Chocolate brown pocketfold with cocoa and latte shimmer inserts - Cherry Blossom Design
This is one of the new layouts available in the Paper Duvet Catalog. We were excited to see this one in print since they don't show a 'real life' sample in the album.

Catalog: Save the Date - Magnet with Backer Card
The best of both worlds - a magnet for the fridge PLUS a formal-ish card to contain additional wedding information.

Catalog Invitation: White flat panel with hot pink polka dot border
I love this simple, classy design! It's a great way to incorporate polka dots without being too 'playful'. The dotted border accents the top of the invitation and the bottom of the insert cards and thank yous.

Catalog Invitation: White Metallic Stock with embossed border design
We use alot of these metallic papers in our custom design, so it's nice to see some of the catalogs incorporating them into the mix.

Catalog Invitation: White Z-fold with Silver Hearts
Z-folds are great! Because of the extra space, you can incorporate your favorite quote, lyrics or even the reception information into the invitation itself....which can cut down on the number of inserts you need to include with the ensemble.

Custom Design: Save the Date Cards
This save the date was for an August wedding in Jamaica and it perfectly matches the invitation ensemble the bride has chosen. I can't wait to get pictures of her invites and accessories up on the blog!

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-03-31T18:34:00.004-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Black & White Floral Patterned Pocket with Tiffany Blue Accents

Exquisite! This invitation combines so many trendy touches - striking raised floral pattern printed on white shimmer pocketfold, bright tiffany blue ribbon and paper accents, vertical pocket, and multiple layers on all pieces. Every now and then, I'll pull this catalog out and flip to this invitation because I think it can't possibly be as beautiful as I remember it being the last time I looked. And every time, I fall in love all over again!

This invitation is offered through Encore Studios, a premier invitation company with a fabulous selection of high-quality invitation ensembles. The level of quality is realized immediately just looking through the catalogs, and even more so when touching the invitations sampled. The paper stock is thick, colors are vibrant, and the printing is the best in the industry. Colors shown for each ensemble can be interchanged, choosing from their entire paper and ink color inventories (upcharges apply for certain paper and ink choices). For the bride who values quality and style, you wont find a better selection than through Encore Studios.

Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $16.11
100 Ensembles: $14.14
150 Ensembles: $13.69
200 Ensembles: $13.49
Approximate price per ensemble including proofing, shipping, and tax)
Ensembles include pocketfold invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, and return address printed on mailing envelope.

Etiquette Question of the Week 3/30/09

2009-03-30T15:42:00.003-04:00

Q: How much time do I have after the wedding to send Thank You cards? My fiance says 1 year, my mom says 1 month...

A: You will find etiquette sources that say 1 year is acceptable however 3 months is the most agreed upon time-line. Be sure to steer clear of pre-printed thank you notes. A personalized handwritten note should be sent to acknowledge all gifts and acts of kindness (such as hosting out of town guests).

Submit your very own etiquette question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter!

Briefly Famous!

2009-03-26T23:20:00.002-04:00

My husbands cell phone has been ringing off the hook tonight...."Hey...I just saw your wife and her business on the news". I never give him enough credit because apparently he talks about the invitation business to his co-workers and friends quite a bit.

So yeah - this is how it all went down. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and decided I was not only going to skip my morning workout....but wear my sloppy-yet-super-comfy 'paper persuasions' sweatshirt to work today. Didn't do my hair. Didn't do my makeup. Mentioned to Stacy at least three times "I wish I could just go home and go back to bed". At noon Fox 8 calls: "We'd like to feature your business on the news tonight, can we send a reporter to interview you around two o'clock". Well, it was a less than perfect day for it...but we made the best of it.

It was a cute little spot on both the 6:00 and 10:00 news. They basically introduced our business as last years Hot List winner - showed a short video of our custom invitation wall and a partial clip of my *much* longer answer to a basic question about the studio.

So anyways...the Akron/Canton Hot list is back...and we need your votes! Please take a minute to vote for us with as many valid email addresses as you have. We promise - they don't spam you if you do not request to receive email. I've voted in a few of these! If you have an extra minute or two, we'd love if you took the time to rate us and write a brief review about us.

Thanks for your support!

Steph
Click here to vote for us!

Paper Persuasions - an Invitation Studio

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-03-26T10:32:00.004-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Black and Champagne Flat Panel

I love this combination of soft, shimmery champagne papers with rich black accents. The design is simple and classy, but the dots and encircled initial bring a contemporary feel to it.

Create your own look by choosing from:
28 Ink Colors
42 Lettering Styles
11 Envelope Liner Colors

Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $4.76
100 Ensembles: $3.91
150 Ensembles: $3.56
200 Ensembles: $3.42
(Approximate price per ensemble including proofing, shipping, and tax)
Ensembles include invitation panel, response card with printed envelope, reception card, and return address printed on back flap of mailing envelope.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog order!

Etiquette Question of the Week 3/23/2009

2009-03-23T14:56:00.000-04:00

Q: When should I make the RSVP deadline on my response card? I need to make sure I have enough time to do the seating chart so I was thinking of 6 weeks before the wedding. Is that too early?

A: We suggest giving a deadline of between 3-4 weeks before the event. Most caterers need the food count 1-2 weeks before so our suggested deadline leaves plenty of time for following up with the procrastinators and for finalizing the seating arrangements. There is no rule that says you can't set the deadline at 6 weeks...though statistics show that you will have less cancellations or no-shows the closer the RSVP deadline is to the event.

Ask the experts! Submit your very own question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter.

Weekly Recap x 2...again! 3/6-3/20/2009

2009-03-21T09:33:00.006-04:00

Once again, I wasn't able to post a recap for the week of the 6th, so I'm covering the last two weeks. Although studio traffic has slowed a little lately, we have been keeping busy. We are trying to get a head start on April's production to account for Stacy's vacation to Florida near the end of April, my vacation to Los Angeles in May and our family vacation to the Outer Banks in June. Since these are common times for custom accessories, we are trying to save some room in production for a few new orders and to account for our time away from the studio.

We also are very excited about a referral program that we have taken part in with Bebe Suite, FML Photo Design, Dine-in-Diva, Thinker Toys, The Budding Tree, The Goddard School and Nola's Salon. We were asked to be a part of this program which focuses mostly on incentives for expectant mothers or mothers with young children. Our contribution to the program is a 30% discount on catalog birth announcements, shower invitations or mommy cards....or 10% off custom birth announcements or shower invitations. We are thrilled to be pairing up with these fantastic vendors and cannot wait to start recommending them to our clients! Once we receive our incentive packets, I will blog a little more about each business and what they are offering.

Well...I am sure you have done enough reading...on to the pictures....

Custom Wedding Invitation: Pink, Black, Green with Polka dots and stripes
You've probably seen invitations similar to this on our blog or website before! It's a custom design from 2 years ago that brides just love! With each order, we are always sure to change it just enough to be different from the last. For this order, I especially love the coordinating map which included parking information...and polka dots galore!

Custom Wedding Invitation: Navy Blue and Pink Pocketfold with Champagne Paisley Accents
I can't say enough about this order. I LOVE this Navy Blue and Pink color combination for a wedding...and I love the clients we designed this for! They were great to work with...and I hope they will allow us to feature them for a "Real Brides" post in the future. The coordinating navy blue and pink table cards, place cards, and programs are going to tie everything together...and I just know I'll want to share it with the world!

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Ecru and Fuchsia Pocketfold with three inserts
This bride went with somewhat of a monochromatic look with the invitations...adding just a touch of Fuchsia to a base and top layer of off-white. The order turned out GREAT and I absolutely love the invitation layout. Representing a bold color while keeping an extremely formal feel can be tricky - but we succeeded on this one!

Custom Wedding Invitation: Lime Green and Gold with Kaleidoscope Pattern
Another fun design for another great bride! Her reception is at the Mocha Maiden in downtown Akron - and these funky, cool, fun accents to the print layout really captured the tone she wanted to set for her big day.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Pocketfold Ensemble
A great invitation at a great price...especially for a bride who only needs two inserts. I love the design that is incorporated into the border of the cards. This particular bride used black ink but this invite can be printed in any ink color available.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Silver and White with flourish design
Stacy worked mostly with this bride....so all I remember is her 8.8.09 chant. She was really thrilled with this invitation because of the way the date was positioned within the copy. The layout is contemporary so it was much easier to let traditional etiquette rules go to really play up the date.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: White with Peralized dot border, Brown Satin Ribbon
This was one of my favorite catalog invites lately. Chocolate brown looks so rich with crisp white....and I love the elegance that the pre-tied, stick-on satin bow added. This invitation was not designed to include the ribbon, but the bride wanted to add some (offered by a different catalog company) so we had the order printed with a big gap under the monogram so the ribbon would fit.

Catalog Wedding Invitation: Naturally Ever After!
I love this invitation from our new-ish album "Naturally Ever After" by McPhersons. The paper has such a warm, subtle texture to it. My favorite part though is the envelope. I love that it is opens vertically and that you can include a design with your return address.

Custom Wedding Invitation: Black, Teal, Baby Blue, Aqua Marine Flat Panel
These three samples were all for the same bride and all incorporate various shades from her color scheme. She purchased one of our custom sample packages which includes 3 different invitation samples in the color scheme you submit. Isn't it amazing how different each one feels?

Custom Wedding Invitation: Pink Silver and White Pocketfold
This order was for a bride we won't get to meet! She was referred to us by her wedding planner in New York City and we worked with her via phone and email to pinpoint the design she had in mind. Although we do quite a few silver, pink and white invitations we have never done quite this combo...and I loved it!

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-03-17T14:17:00.006-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week I'm straying off course a little bit by sharing with you not just one catalog invitation, but an entire catalog we've recently received! Lots of people ask us about incorporating a photograph into their wedding invitation. We have always been able to do this on the custom design side of the business, but up until now, the catalogs have not offered a very good selection of photo invitations. So I am pleased to introduce the newest member of our invitation catalog collection - Elegant Reflections by Stylart.

This catalog offers more than 50 styles of Photo Invitations! Plus, choose from a large selection of Photo Save the Dates, Photo Magnets, Photo Envelope Seals, Photo Envelope Liners, and Photo Thank You Cards! Here's a sampling of options:

Invitations:

Save the Dates with matching Envelope Seals:

Envelope Liners:

Pricing for invitations from this catalog range from approximately $2.00 to $4.50 per ensemble (for 100 ensembles).

Our Plantable Invitation Project

2009-03-17T12:26:00.005-04:00

At the urging of Brooke we decided to put our seed impregnated papers to the test. For those of you who have't heard, seed impregnated papers are made with wildflower seeds so that when you are through with the notecard, invitation, favor box etc., you simply plant the paper in shallow soil and wildflowers will grow. With so many brides 'going green' plantable invitations are a great alternative or addition to other recycled papers. We also offer plantable favor boxes, notecards, gift bags and inkjet printable paper. Coordinating guestbooks made out of 100% recycled material and pressed to match the plantable papers (minus the seeds) are also available.

Two weeks ago Stacy and I planted some pieces of each of the items we carry. We tore the Paper, notecard and bag into smaller pieces before planting. The favor box instructed us to plant the entire thing.

We planted everything in this lovely window box that we bought at Lowes. We really wanted a plant stand to go in front of the big window, but their selection of garden stuff was just being unloaded and sorted so we couldn't access the goods.

Our first sprouts came after about 5 days and they came from the Notecard. A few days later we got a similar sprout from the printable paper and a HUGE different sprout from the gift bag. We still haven't seen anything from the favor box yet - but I suspect we will soon! ( I have been poking around in the dirt and the paper is just about broken down so the seeds are freeing up. ) At the two week mark we have a total of 22 sprouts in all!

So there you have it....invitations that grow when planted! They really work! We'll blog in a couple more weeks with updates on the growths.

Etiquette Question of the Week

2009-03-17T12:03:00.005-04:00

Q: If my cousin is in college but still lives at home, do I need to send him a separate invitation to my wedding or can I just include his name with my Aunt's name?

A: Adult children should receive their own invitation whether or not they still live at home.

Ask the experts! Submit your very own question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter.

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-03-10T17:56:00.009-04:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Beach Themed Ensemble

If you are getting married this July or August, now is the time to be picking out your invitations. If you're getting married in June...stop procrastinating! You need to send your invitations out in April - which is less than a month away! Lots of people getting married in June are having their ceremony on the beach, or are incorporating that great summer feel into the theme, so I decided to highlight one of my favorite beach-themed ensembles this week. Plus, the gloomy Ohio weather has really got me wishing it was summer...

This casual invitation is made of 3 panels shaped like a starfish, a seashell and a sanddollar, then strung on 1/8" satin ribbon. It's perfect for shorter invitation verses and when the reception is immediately following. It would also be great for the couple planning a reception in their hometown following their return from their destination wedding! The traditional 3.5x5 response cards with envelopes are included in the ensemble.

Catalog: By Request - Fall, Winter, and Destination Invitations by NuArt
Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $3.15
100 Ensembles: $2.57
150 Ensembles: $2.25
200 Ensembles: $2.10
(Approximate price points per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, tax and shipping)
Ensembles include 3 panels for invitation and reception wording, response card with printed envelope, and return address printed on back flap of mailing envelope.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc of Stark County. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog invitation order!

Etiquette Question of the Week 3/9/09

2009-03-09T15:19:00.003-04:00

Q: My mom and dad are divorced. My mom is remarried and she wants both hers and my step-dads name on the invitation. I don't necessarily want his name on there, but since she (i.e. they) are paying for more than half of everything, I don't want to upset her. At the same time, my real dad is giving us money too and I know he will be upset if my step-dads name is on the invitation. How should I word this? Thanks for your help! - Carrie

A: Hi Carrie. I wish I could offer a solution that will keep all parties happy, but if your mom is dead-set on including your step-dads name, she probably expects the invitation to read something like this:

Mr. and Mrs. Brides mom and Step-dad
and
Mr. Brides Dad
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Bride
to
Groom

Notice we did not use the phrase "at the marriage of their daughter". No matter how close you are to your step-dad, you are the daughter of two people: your mom and your dad. It's okay to list every ones names...you should just steer clear of using "daughter" to describe yourself.

Now, if your mom is willing to reconsider the wording in order to spare your real dad's feelings, then the appropriate way to word the invitation would be:

Mrs. Brides moms name and
Mr. Brides dads name
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Bride
and
Groom

Your mom could even consider meeting in the middle and wording the invitation something like this:

The Smith family and the Jones family
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of
Bride
and
Groom
(Smith family being your step-dads last name & Jones being your dad's last name)
This would include your step dad (assuming your mom took his name) and your dad without specifically naming each man. It helps soften the blow...a little!

Hope that helps!

Stephanie

Ask the experts! Submit your very own question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter.

Weekly Recap times two! 2/22 - 3/6/2009

2009-03-06T13:48:00.009-05:00

I couldn't squeeze the weekly recap blog in last week...so you get a double dose today. This week has been great! We finally had an opportunity to catch our breath from January's bridal show...and Stacy even took the day off today! We have a feeling this is the calm before the storm with spring break quickly approaching. Based on appointment activity the week of the 16th, I'm guessing that we will be swamped. If you are thinking of coming in to finalize your order or start browsing for invites, just know that we expect to be busier than normal that week. As always, appointments are suggested but not necessary.

Here are some photos of what we have been working on these last two weeks:

Custom Wedding Invitation: 4x5 Pyrite Pocketfold with Taos and Reef Accents
This pocket was designed for a bride trying to match & blend Alfred Angelo Shrimp, Spice and Raisin dress colors.

Custom Baby Shower Invitation: Sage and Pink with Onesie on hanger
This baby shower invite was for a delightful bride who purchased her DIY invitation materials through us when she was planning her 2008 wedding. We were excited to work with her again to create these custom baby shower invites (in the color of baby's room) - and of course to see her adorable belly!

Custom Bridal Shower Invitations: Black and White Kitch Pattern
We enjoyed working with the maid of honor and her mother to design invitations for an upcoming wedding shower. The two initially thought of making the invites themselves but decided it to be too much of an undertaking..so they turned to us to customize 'something fun'.

Catalog Wedding Invitations: White tri-fold with Burgundy

Custom Wedding Invitations: Sage and Pink pocketfold

Catalog Invitations - with embossed floral pattern on paper

A gorgeous invitation with a subtle floral design! This came from the Tru (by Carlson Craft) Flowers album.

Catalog Invitations: Calla Lily Seal-n-Send

An 'all-in-one' invitation from the Affordably Inviting Catalog by McPhersons.

Catalog Invitations: Colorful Daisy Seal-n-Send

Another 'all-in-one' selection from the Affordably Inviting catalog. The pink and green daisies are super cute for a summer wedding!

Custom Wedding Invitations: Brown and Copper Plume / Fall Leaves Pocketfold

We designed these two invitations for a bride who is having a lovely fall wedding. The only problem she's having is deciding when invitation she likes better!

Custom Wedding Invitation: Navy Blue and Powder Blue with Starfish

We designed this invitation for a bride who is having a huge local wedding with a beach theme. We incorporated the starfish into the invitation copy and added a layer of Ababca printed cardstock to tie in the theme.

Mommy Cards!
Becoming quite the rage...mommy cards are like business cards for busy moms. The cards usually contain the names of the kid(s) and contact information for the parent(s) and make it easy to network with other parents!

Custom Baby Announcement: Photo Announcement in Pink and White with Polka Dot border
We had fun creating this photo baby announcement for a local new mom! She really wanted to work in polka dots....but still keep a formal feel to the announcement....so we used three different photos and cropped them into 'dots' then printed the announcement and layered it on fun pink polka dot stock.

Custom Wedding Invitation: 6x6 Pocketfold in Coral and Willow
This invitation was Stacy's creation and was started back in October for a bride we met at our open house. We put the finishing touches on the order this week and WOW do I just love this color combination!

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-03-04T12:18:00.000-05:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Mix n' Match 5x7 Pocketfold Invitation

I know we've been talking a lot about pocketfolds lately, but when something's hot it's HOT! The choices keep getting updated and the deals keep getting better, so we have to keep sharing it with you.

This pocketfold ensemble has just been updated with lots of new colors, including shimmer stocks. You get to mix n' match every piece of the ensemble - so I'm gonna go step-by-step through the process and at the end of this blog, you'll see the finished product!

STEP 1: Choose your pocket color from 4 choices. For the finished sample I used Brown.

STEP 2: Choose your color layer for invitation panel and front tab panel from 15 choices. For the finished sample I used Olive.

STEP 3: Choose your printed layer color from White or Ecru. For the finished sample I used White.

STEP 4: Choose your layout/design for the invitation panel and inserts from 8 choices. For the finished sample I used Layout 4.

STEP 5: Choose your ink color(s) from 15 choices. For the finished sample I used Chocolate and Kiwi.

STEP 6: Choose your font(s) from 22 choices. For the finished sample I used PAR and CZR.

Here's the finished product:

Isn't that a great looking pocketfold invitation? We have a kit in the studio of all the colors available, so come in and see us!

Catalog: Pockets by Carlson Craft
Price Points:
75 Ensembles: $6.36
100 Ensembles: $5.19
150 Ensembles: $4.75
200 Ensembles: $4.59
(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)
Ensembles include invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, tag on front with guest names printed, color ink, and return address printed on mailing envelope.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc of Stark County. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog invitation order!

Etiquette Question of the Week

2009-03-02T16:18:00.002-05:00

Q: My Grandma told me that I should list the time on my invitation as the actual ceremony time. My dad says that everyone on his side of the family will be late and that I should list the time as the time the music begins. I've asked all my friends and half agree with my dad and half with my Grandma. Which is it?

A: Your Grandmother is correct. The time listed on your invitation should be the time the Ceremony begins. Your guests should know to arrive 15-30 minutes early. If you were to list the time the music begins (usually 30 minutes prior) the guests who behave appropriately and arrive 30 minuets early will not only wonder what happened to cause the wedding to start late...they will be a little mad that they had to wait an hour for the Ceremony to begin. If your dad is concerned with particular family members being late, perhaps he should contact them personally to offer directions to the Ceremony. At that time, he could stress how important their presence is to you and that late guests will not be permitted to enter the after the ceremony begins.

Ask the experts! Submit your very own question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter.

Real Brides: Brooke and Chuck are 'Going Green' with Plantable Invitations

2009-02-27T14:46:00.013-05:00

We are mixing things up a bit and featuring a couple who isn't married....yet! I am simply too excited to get some of our seed impregnated designs up on the blog! We have been offering and displaying plantable products since early last year - but we haven't had a chance to design this many coordinating pieces for a single event until now, which is why I wanted to feature their wedding.

The bride and groom met in 2001 while both working at Magic Mountain. When Chuck transferred back to Ohio, Brooke soon followed and has been enjoying Ohio ever since! While Chuck and Brooke currently reside in Stow, they are planning an outdoor wedding and reception in Aqua Dulce, California (near LA) on Brooke's family's estate. The ceremony will be at sunset on grounds overlooking the canyon on May 16th. In keeping with the outdoor theme, Chuck and Brooke have made many 'green' decisions - including sending out handmade plantable invitations made by us! We are delighted to be a part of this event...an event fit for celebrities (literally)!

Seed Impregnated, Plantable Wedding Invitations

This photo shows the plantable booklet invitation both closed and open with the insert cards AND the mailing envelope. Notice the cute little pressed daisy envelope sticker seal. Thats a real daisy in there and it was the prefect finishing touch to this ensemble!

Seed Impregnated Plantable Favor Box

Chuck and Brooke incorporated a mongoram on the front page of the invitation insert (shown in a photo below). We carried that monogram through to the tag on this favor box which was tied with a 3/8" satin buttercream ribbon wrap. The bottom of each box has planting information so that the guests know that they are plantable.

Seed Impregnated Plantable Gift Bags

Perfect for your OOT (out of town) Guests! We again incorporated the monogram into the design on the front of the gift bag. The couple also included a short greeting to their guests and a list of the items in this bag. They went all "Ohio" themed on this one!

Handmade Guest Book to match Invitation Booklet

Made from 100% recycled handmade papers (but not seed impregnated) this guestbook perfectly matches the invitations.

Isn't it all so beautiful?!?! We had so much fun working on this order! Chuck and Brooke - we can't wait to hear what your guests think about the invitations...by the time you read this - they should be postmarked and on their way! You two have taken major consideration for the environment into your wedding planning and we just can't wait to hear how it all turned out. Best of luck to you guys! And Brooke - just for you - we are planting one of everything in the studio. Keep your eyes on the blog as we follow the growth of the stationery!

Here are a few more pics of the invites:

We printed a little blurb on the back of the invite that says "These handmade invitations use plantable stationery. Plant the booklet in shallow soil, keep it moist and tend it with love - wildflowers will grow."

This shows a stack of the invites closed, the invite opened, the response card and envelope, and the reception card.

More of the same...except this shot also shows the monogram used on the very front page of the invitation insert.

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-02-25T14:22:00.004-05:00

(Each week I pick one of my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Letterpress Ensemble Metallic

This invitation defines elegance, and is quite possibly my most favorite invitation we offer. It's crafted from the finest quality paper products and presents itself as both regal and romantic. The ensemble is shown with a base of off-white metallic stock featuring a rich floral letterpress design carried through to all pieces. Pictures simply cannot capture the beauty of this invitation!

Catalog: ES by Encore Studios

Price Points:
75 ensembles: $8.72
100 ensembles: $7.09
150 ensembles: $6.58
200 ensembles: $6.35
(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)
Ensembles include invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, and return address printed on mailing envelope.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc of Stark County. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog invitation order!

Eitquette Question of the Week

2009-02-21T13:03:00.006-05:00

Question: I am most likely ordering a petite pocket (4x5) invitation ensemble from you but I am worried that my wording won't fit. What words can I abbreviate? Can we use our middle initials to save on space? Anon - Akron, Ohio

Answer:There are only two words that are considered acceptable to abbreviate on a formal invitation and those are: Mount (Mt.) and Saint (St.). As far as using your middle initials, traditional etiquette suggests that you either use the full middle name or leave it out. Initials are not considered acceptable.

Side Note to "Anon": Drop us an email or give us a call to discuss the wording you'd like to use. We can often get creative with the layout which helps with spacing. We would also be happy to offer suggestions on how to condense the wording to better fit. - Steph

Ask the experts! Submit your very own question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter.

Weekly Recap 2/15 - 2/21/09

2009-02-21T10:23:00.007-05:00

I'm working by myself today because Stacy is in a wedding. Saturdays have been crazy around here and I have been dreading being by myself. Luckily we had not one single bride request an appointment for today - as opposed to every other Saturday in January and February being COMPLETELY booked. It seems crazy to be thankful for that, but I very much am! I'll just have to juggle the walk-ins (and hopefully finish this blog) which should be manageable.

We had a super busy week - again! I think we are starting to see where the economy is impacting weddings - guest count. Couples seem to be cutting their guest lists to include only closest family and friends and we aren't seeing as large of orders. Last years average order was around 130 pieces and this years is more like 100. A difference in 30 invitations translates to around 60 guests...so that is a big difference! Our number of booked weddings continues to increase as we are still meeting a record number of brides and we are thankful.

Here's a photo review for this week:

Custom Monogram Sticker Labels

We can customize these labels any way you'd like : add a photo, custom monogram, return address, your favorite quote...you name it, we can do it! These come 20 to a sheet: each sheet is $8.00.

Catalog Invite - classic elegance with a subtle border design

Catalog Accessories: Personalized napkins and thank you cards

Catalog Invite - Purple and Silver Hearts

Custom Invite: Hot Pink and Black Pocketfold

Custom Invitation: Chartreuse / Lime Green and Gold Flat Panel

Catalog and Custom Invitations: Grape / Purple/ Ivory and Gold. These invitations were for a client who was not sure if she wanted to go catalog or custom. We ordered a sample of the invitation she liked from Carlson Craft's Exclusive II Album (customizeable in any two ink colors they offer!!!) and also made a custom pocketfold sample in her color scheme.

Catalog Invitation: Red and Ecru with envelope liner

Calligraphy: This photo shows a basic calligraphy that is offered for $1.25 / envelope

Custom Invitation: Purple / Grape and Silver Flat Panel

Custom Invitation: Polka Dots and Stripes - Hot Pink, Chartreuse/Lime Green and White

Custom Invitation: Hot Pink/Fuchsia Pocketfold with Orange Accents

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-02-19T11:29:00.006-05:00

(Each week I choose a catalog invitation from my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Pink and Green Flat Panel

With Pink and Green being such a hot color combo for summer weddings, I thought I better showcase one of my favorites before it's too late! This invitation comes from a catalog we just recently added to our ever-growing collection, and it immediately stood out as something we haven't seen represented in the other catalogs. The hot pink and bright green design printed on rich white linen stock is fun and flirtatious, and I think sets the perfect tone for a semi-casual outdoor summer wedding. The addition of the green envelope liner really pulls it all together!

Catalog: Wedding Invitation by Stylart
Price Point:
75 ensembles: $4.16
100 ensembles: $3.35
150 ensembles: $2.97
200 ensembles: $2.83
(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)
Ensembles include invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, return address printed on mailing envelope, envelope liner.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc of Stark County. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog invitation order!

Invitation Etiquette: Question of the Week

2009-02-16T10:45:00.000-05:00

Q: How do I word the time on my invitations? I am getting married at 4:30 (on the upswing because my mom said it is good luck) and want to use something like "in the afternoon". -Maggie - Zanesville, OH

A: The time of your ceremony should always be spelled out and you should never use abbreviations like a.m. or p.m. You may instead use descriptive phrases such as "in the afternoon" or "in the evening". A ceremony that begins at or before five o'clock is considered an afternoon ceremony.

For your specific time of 4:30, you could use any of the following options (listed most to least formal):

half past four o'clock
half past four o'clock in the afternoon
half past four
four thirty in the afternoon
four thirty

If you were not getting married on the half hour, your could use

four o'clock
four o'clock in the afternoon

Ask the experts! Submit your very own question on our website - you will receive an email response with the answer within 48 hours - plus your question could be featured in an upcoming blog or newsletter.

Weekly Recap

2009-02-15T17:29:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am really enjoying being able to navigate our parking lot and driveway without dodging mounds of plowed snow! I have always been a winter person, but somthing about these last few weeks leaves me anticipating spring more than ever. It's been another busy week around the studio and I'm officially dubbing it "the week of the baby". We had two former wedding clients stop by and visit us throughout the week - each of them now mothers with new babies in tow! We also spent some time designing a baby shower invite for a former bride who is pregnant with her first. Plus we met with Marty from Bebe Suite (a trendy baby store in Fairlawn) who is interested in pairing up with us for a referral program they are starting. It was quite nice to catch up with these brides, play with new babies and take a small break from wedding-related stuff. Speaking of weddings....here's a few pics of things we worked on last week....

Catalog: Z fold invitation shown open and closed with inserts

Custom: Red and Gold Table numbers and Food Station Talkers with black satin ribbon

Custom: Red and Gold Seating Chart (top) and Place Card Tents

These custom accessories were for Nicole and Rich's Valentines Day wedding. We are hoping their pictures come back in time to be our Featured Bride for the month of February. Their Reception was at Chenoweth and Nicole did most everything herself. When we were trying to decide what colors and patterns to use for the table accessories, Nicole brought in one of the centerpieces she had created...we were blown away! Can't wait to share more of their story....

Custom Wedding Thank You Card with Photo

We were able to finish up Lee and Mark's Thank You cards this week. They coordinate with the rest of their wedding stationery and include a photo from the big day. (Lee and Mark's wedding was featured in this blog)

Catalog: Sep n Send Invitation in Teal Ink

Custom: Sage and Blush Pink (floral Pattern) Pocketfold

Custom: Chocolate Brown and Lime Green Wedding Announcments - Pockets

I think I touched on these in an earlier blog. The bride who ordered these announcments also orderd a small number of invitations to her private ceremony. These announcments used the exact same color scheme but the pocket was being used to hold a wedding photo rather than an rsvp card.

Catalog: Red and Black Z-Fold Invitation with response card

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-02-10T16:04:00.011-05:00

(Each week I pick a catalog invitation from my favorites and share it with you!)

This week's pick: Black and White Flat Panel

You can't go wrong with black and white! This invitation ensemble has classic elegance with a touch of contemporary style. The subtle damask pattern on the invitation panel is carried through to the enclosures and note card as well. Using the classic black, white, and red color scheme? Bring in the red through colored ink, or add a ribbon to the finished product!

This ensemble is part of a "green" line of invitations by Carlson Craft - it's made of 100% recycled products and uses only one mailing envelope instead of the traditional inner and outer envelopes. So it's pleasing to the eye and the environment!

Choose from the following customizations:
28 colors of ink
52 lettering styles

Catalog: Blue Book by Carlson Craft
SPECIAL DEAL: Order 150 or more of any invitation from this catalog and receive 100 personalized napkins FREE! (Not valid for online orders)

Price Point:
75 ensembles: $4.05
100 ensembles: $3.35
150 ensembles: $3.05
200 ensembles: $2.93

(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)
Ensembles include invitation, response card with printed envelope, reception card, return address printed on mailing envelope, all printing in black ink.

Paper Persuasions is proud to support Domestic Violence Project, Inc of Stark County. Help us help them! Donate 5 different items from their list of needs and receive an additional 5% off your catalog invitation order!

Etiquette Question of the Week

2009-02-09T16:51:00.002-05:00

Q: I don't have time to finalize my guest list, but I need to send my Save the Dates....do I need to send Save the Dates to everyone that I plan to invite to the wedding or can I send them to a select few? Kim - Silver Lake, OH

A: You should finalize your guest list and send the Save the Dates to every person you plan to invite to the wedding. Guests talk. If one of your guests hears that you sent Save the Dates but he/she did not receive one, they may feel like they were invited only as an afterthought when they receive the actual invitation.

It may seem like a pain, but finalizing your guest list early has the following advantages:

You'll already have the addresses of all your guests gathered when your invitations arrive.

Think of the Save the Dates as a trial run. Any incorrect addresses will be discovered when the save the dates come back to you in the mail.....and then you'll have plenty of time to obtain the correct address and keep the more expensive invitations from being returned

You will have a more accurate guest count to give all your vendors....and that can help save you money in the long run

Guests that will definitely not be able to attend might let you know early. This is an advantage when planning for the "b" list.

One other thing to be sure of: Send an invitation to everyone who received a save the date. Even if you've had a family fallout or fight with your closest pal.....you have already asked them to 'save the date' and even if you know they won't come, you should still present the option.

Weekly Recap x 2

2009-02-06T10:29:00.007-05:00

We've Arrived! Last Saturday (a crazy day in which we met with 13 brides) Stacy and I actually shared a tearful moment at the realization that we've made it...and then celebrated with Perfect Margaritas at Applebee's along with my husband Dave. It was a great day!

We came to that realization because throughout the last two weeks, we have met with 43 brides! The number alone is shocking to us...but we are most blown away that 4 of those brides are getting married in Fall 2010. When it comes to budget, invitations often get the shaft...and these 2010 brides all came in so that they could budget appropriately for the expense of custom invitations. We've haven't signed contracts for weddings this far in advance before now - and we are so excited!

Needless to say, we've been so busy meeting with brides this week that we haven't had the chance to work on too many orders. I did manage to snap a few photos though - here ya go!

Catalog: Invite on shimmer stock with custom touches added

Catalog: Gold pocket with three inserts and violet print

Custom design: Navy pocket with silver and white accents - starfish motif

Custom: Sage pocket with blush pink accents, ribbon wrap and custom monogram

Custom: Hot pink pocketfold with lime green layer - gorgeous typestyle!!

Catalog invitation with a custom 'information card' (in center) designed and made by us to coordinate with the invitation.

Custom: This photo shows a loose pocket with three inserts. It was tied with a sheer ribbon to the invitation panel.

Constantly amazed. I hate to be redundant in our posts, but those are the only words that I can use to describe how we feel every day. In a world where jobs are slashed in a heartbeat and the economy is beyond slumping, our business is flourishing and we owe it all to you! Thanks...and have a great week!

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-02-05T11:34:00.008-05:00

(Each week I choose a catalog invitation that is on my list of favorites and share it with you!)

My Pick of the Week: Tealength Flat Panel featuring a Peacock design

So...I was planning on blogging about a different invitation when the UPS driver unexpectedly delivered a package from Carlson Craft (one of our fine catalog vendors). I immediately opened up the package, and discovered six new incredible designs for the Exclusive II Catalog! When I got to this particular invitation, I literally jumped up and down. Stephanie was out running errands, but I HAD to call her and let her know. And I immediately knew this is what I would be blogging about. Here it is...

Isn't it gorgeous?!? The peacock is a symbol of beauty and sophistication, and we've been seeing it more and more in the wedding themes lately. I love this peacock theme because it is simple, not overdone, and it's incorporated into each piece of the ensemble in different ways.

Now I can't just leave it at that. This catalog works very differently than most catalogs, so I feel the need to share with you ALL the wonderful things it has to offer. First, each piece is printed using a newer method of printing that allows you to change all the colors you see above. Each piece begins with either a white or ecru base, then you choose any two ink colors you want for the design. So if you like the peacocks, but your colors are orange and green, you can change everything you see above to orange and green, with a white or an ecru base. Second, each design offers the following coordinating accessories: Save the Dates, Envelope Liners, Envelope Icing with Guest Addressing available, Ceremony Programs, Table Numbers, Personalized Place Cards, Menus, Favor Tags, and Personalized Seals! Third, with the new designs came updated pricing - with LOWER prices! Here is a sampling of the different designs and colors available...

Choose from the following customizations:
27 colors of ink
14 colors of envelopes
28 lettering styles
27 Designs

Catalog: Exclusive II by Carlson Craft
Price Point:
75 ensembles: $4.32 standard / $4.46 tealength
100 ensembles: $3.52 standard / $3.64 tealength
150 ensembles: $3.22 standard / $3.32 tealength
200 ensembles: $3.09 standard / $3.19 tealength
(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)

Etiquette Question of the Week

2009-02-02T17:16:00.000-05:00

Question: How do I let my guests know that my ceremony or reception is adult only?

Answer: The only truly proper way to handle this is through addressing the envelopes - clearly state who is invited by listing their names on the envelope. If I had to throw a number out there, I'd say that about 75% of our clients have adult only receptions and about 95% of them pay no mind to this rule. So...I know you are going to break the rules and instead of being a stickler for etiquette, I'm just going to offer a few of the least tacky options out there.

DON'T use stand alone phrases such as: 'adults only', 'no children', or 'leave the kids at home'. Adding the word 'please' to any of these phrases will not soften the blow!

DO incorporate your request within the wording of the ensemble (choose just one or two...don't go over board and use them all!):

On the reception card use phrases such as "Please join us for an adult reception at six o'clock" or "Adult reception immediately following".
On the response card use the selection "___number of adults attending" paired with "___unable to attend"
Have your response card printed with the phrase "We have reserved ___ seats in your honor"...and then as you stuff your envelopes, fill in the number you are inviting from that particular household.
Instead of using the traditional single name line "M__________________", have two lines printed each with the meal choice below or next to it so that your guests realize they should only put one name per meal choice....and if there are only two lines, then only two people can respond.

Ultimately this is your day, the day you have dreamed of. If that means no children, it means no children. No matter how you word it though, be prepared to handle objections from your guests. Just stand your ground and be consistent...it will keep the family drama to a minimum!

Real Brides: Lee and Mark - December 13, 2009

2009-01-28T19:25:00.015-05:00

images courtesy of Z Media - www.zphotocouture.com

Lee and Mark were referred to us by the fabulous Janet Capocci at the Sheraton in Cuyahoga Falls. We met with them when it was still 80 degrees outside - but with Lee's amazing communication and organization, it didn't take long for me to 'get on board' with the elegant winter wedding they were planning. Working with a color pallet of warm rich red, soft silver, and crisp black, we designed a 6x6 pocketfold invitation with a customized front square that we carried through to the ceremony programs as well. When Mark's mother came to town to visit, we met with her and Lee to design a rehearsal dinner invitation to coordinate. All three are shown below.

programs, wedding invite, rehersal dinner invite
images courtesy of Z Media - www.zphotocouture.com

Though I loved the invitations and programs, my favorite part of their order was the accessories. Lee and Mark wanted to name each table at the reception after a place that they had traveled together and also include a photo and description specific to the location. As I worked on the individualized layouts and got to know more about them, I just knew these table cards would be a big hit for their guests! Lee even got creative with the place cards using fun phrases such as "Join us for a drink at...", or "Your destination is...". We also provided the adorable snowflake place card holders which could double as table favors for their guests to place a photo or note in after the wedding.

images courtesy of Z Media - www.zphotocouture.com

Lee and Mark - you are the type of clients that we dream of working with! I especially loved that Mark was so involved in the process from start to finish. Mark - I will remember our goofy 10 minute discussion about inserting invitations into envelopes every single time I present a sample to a client! It is true that I actually cried a little when viewing your photos (a few of my favorites are below) and we already miss seeing you on a regular basis. You are such a sweet, loving couple and we wish you two the very best that life has to offer!

images courtesy of Z Media - www.zphotocouture.com

Vendor Recap - Who did Lee and Mark choose for their big day?

Ceremony: St. Bernard Catholic Church - Downtown Akron
Reception: Sheraton Suites - Cuyahoga Falls
Bride Apparel: Doreen Leaf - from Lee - "I loved working with Doreen Leaf - very personal, friendly service - they make you feel like a princess"
Groom Apparel: Men's Warehouse Tux
Cake: Creme de la Creme
Floral: Neil Leeson
Photography: Z-Media - from Lee before the wedding - "Z-Media has been awesome so far. We have only had our engagement pictures done so far but they turned out great!! They were very professional but also very friendly and easy to work with. We love them so far!" and later this " [You and Stacy and] Chris and Julie (Z Media) were our favorite people to work with. You were all so sweet and helpful, not to mention talented and creative. We could not have been happier with everything you all did!"
Invitations/Stationery: Paper Persuasions (that's us!) - from Lee - We have received so many compliments about our invitations. We love them and so does everyone else :) You both have been absolutely amazing to work with. Your creativity and professionalisim is fabulous! Your attention to detail is outstanding. Not only do you do amazing work, you both are so sweet and friendly. We always looked forward to our consultations with you. You made a very daunting task managable and fun. We loved working with you and of course, absolutely love everything you created. Thanks so much for everything, xxx Lee and Mark

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-01-28T10:41:00.006-05:00

(Each week I choose a catalog invitation that is on my list of favorites and share it with you!)

My Pick of the Week: Tri-Fold Invitation with Respond Postcard by Diamond

These cute little invitations are a great mix between casual seal n' sends and elegant flat panels. The invitation is presented folded and tied with a ribbon. When opened, it reveals a beautiful scroll pattern carried throughout the invitation panel, the reception panel, and the attached respond postcard. This invitation has great style and won't break the bank! And since it uses a respond postcard instead of the traditional card and envelope, it requires less postage and uses less paper!

Choose from the following customizations:
11 colors of ribbon
18 colors of ink
20 lettering styles

Catalog: Diamond Collection by NuArt
Price Point:
75 ensembles: $2.50
100 ensembles: $1.95
150 ensembles: $1.80
200 ensembles: $1.71
(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)

Etiquette Question of the Week

2009-01-26T15:35:00.002-05:00

Question: “What does the 'M' on the response card stand for?”

This is the most frequently asked question we get. Clients always seem embarrassed or feel stupid asking this question and we think its because they are afraid of the answer. They've all faced the 'm' when responding to weddings in the past - but did they guess correctly?!?! We're here to spare you the embarrassment (and hopefully confirm what you kinda already know).

Answer: “M” is the first letter of every salutation - Mr., Mrs., Miss, and so on. The guest is to complete their salutation followed by their name. For instance: Mr. and Mrs. Dave Knirk. Don't want your own guests wondering what to do with that pesky 'M'? A modern alternative to the pre-printed 'M' is the word 'Name'. Although about 50% of our brides select the more stratightfoward option, we're sure the traditional 'M' will stand the test of time.

Weekly Recap

2009-01-24T17:27:00.005-05:00

WOW! That's all I can say. We are still swamped with traffic from the bridal show. It's been such a challenge going from 'appointment only' to accepting walk-ins...but I think we are doing a great job juggling things...like say two brides at once!

We've had more catalog activity than custom activity this week..and let me tell you, all shades of blue seem to be the theme. Pool, Cobalt, Cornflower, Navy, Aquamarine, Powder Blue, Hydrangea, Serene....How many more shades can there possibly be???

Despite all the craziness, we managed to take a few photos of custom invites we have worked on this week. All are samples clients have ordered or designed during their consultations.

Tealness/Pool Blue/Aquamarine Pocketfold Invitation
Super cute invite for a bride we have met with a couple of times and had a chance to chat with at the bridal show. She brought in swatches of Pool Blue and Tealness - both Alfred Angelo.

Chocolate Brown and Lime Green Pocketfold
This invite was for a client who found us online. She is having a private ceremony and sending out matching announcements afterwards but instead of the response and reception cards in the pockets, she is going to include a wedding picture in the pocket.

Persimmon and Champagne Pocketfold
This invite was for another online bride. She hasn't even seen it yet - we just dropped it in the mail today! Great color scheme - its nice to see this shade with something other than chocolate brown.

Sage and Pink Pocketfold Wedding Invite
This invite is actually for a bride we met with several months ago. We are finalizing her order in the next couple of days and had to put together the proof packet. We love this color combo! We've been doing alot of Hot Pink and Lime and so the warmth of these softer shades is a nice break!

Music themed Wedding Invitation
We recently designed this invitation for the sweetest couple! They met through music and really wanted to incorporate music notes into the invitation. Would you believe that out of all the catalogs we have, not a single one has a music themed invitation? Needless to say, this one turned out great. The couple is working with shades of blue and silver and really liked the idea of using the silver mailing envelopes. Their wedding isn't until 2010, but I am sure we will see them soon - they are super planners!

So - not a bad week at all! We are hopeful, that despite the economy, we keep having weeks like this. Thanks for visiting!

Steph

Catalog Invitation Pick of the Week

2009-01-21T15:13:00.008-05:00

(Each week Stacy chooses a catalog invitation that is on her list of favorites and shares it with you!)

Stacy's Pick of the Week: Square Pocketfold Invitation from Paper Duvet

I love, love, LOVE these pockets! You can mix and match colors, themes and layouts to achieve a truly personal look - at a fabulous price for pocketfolds! You also have the option to "step" the insert cards so that you can see the headings on each card when they are in the pocket.

Mix and Match the following:
17 colors of pockets (4 of them are metallic shimmer!)
26 colors in insert cards (4 of these are metallic too!)
12 design options - from elegant to funky
42 motifs
10 monograms - 4 of which can use any lettering style you want
27 lettering styles
20 ink colors

Did I mention these include coordinating personalized seals?!? Those generally run about $50 in most catalogs!

The Paper Duvet catalog also features a great new way to spice up your mailing envelope - envelope icing:
Envelope icing is actually a decorative label that is applied directly to the mailing envelope, wrapping around one side. Your return address is preprinted on the back and you handwrite your guests address on the front. It's a great new option that makes it easier to use dark envelopes (like black or navy blue) or to simply add design to any envelope!

If you're interested in pocketfolds, you simply must see these in person!

Invitation: Square Pocketfold with 2 solid colored inserts, mailing envelope with return address printed, response envelope with address printed, and personalized seals!
Catalog: Paper Duvet by McPhersons
Price Point:
75 ensembles: $5.75
100 ensembles: $4.50
150 ensembles: $4.40
200 ensembles: $4.25
(Approximate price per ensemble INCLUDING proofing, shipping, and tax)

A glimpse of whats new!

2009-01-15T17:46:00.003-05:00

Here are a few shots of things we have been working on lately. If they look a little familiar, its because we had most of them on display at the bridal show this past weekend. We love creating and cannot wait to start doing more stuff as wedding season progresses....

Yellow, Black and White Kitch

Wedding Invitations - with two enclosures

Coral Pocket - Gerbera Daisy Theme

Wedding Invitation Pocket fold

Grape, Lavender and Black Wedding Invitation

Purple Crystals

Butterfly Themed Wedding Invitation

Pink, Sage, Ecru

Front of Butterfly Wedding Invitation

"Love takes flight"

Peacock Themed Invitation

Gold, Purple and ecru

Booklet Wedding Invitation w/ custom monogram

White, Teal, Regalia Pattern

Lime, Green and White Wedding Invitation

with contemporary design

Beach Themed Gatefold Invitation - Wedding

Starfish, Coral and Tropical Fish are sprinkled throughout the invitation in Natural Kraft Cardstock and Teal Adornments

2009 looks to be promising!

2009-01-15T15:57:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came by our booth at the bridal show this past Sunday. We've done 4 shows over the past 3 years and this was BY FAR our most successful show. We met hundreds of wonderful brides and have been absolutely flooded with inquiries and positive feedback this week. We are beyond grateful.

As I look back on 2008, I just cannot believe how much we have grown and how far we have come. Of course, we wouldn't be where we are without our past brides. Many whom we still keep in touch with - and many whom we miss seeing on a regular basis. Here's a glimpse into what 2008 was like for us (the big stuff anyways):

We saw a 259% increase in sales from 2007
We were voted "#1 invitations" in Akron/Canton in the Fox8 Hotlist Competition
We decided to focus more on catalog invitations - increasing the number of albums brides can order from. Started out the year with 7 catalogs, ended the year with 39
We changed our name from Simple Persuasions to Paper Persuasions to better describe our core business (not to mention we liked the alliteration)
We moved from a 1,000 sf office building on Front Street to a nearly 2,000 sf storefront on Graham Road - proudly joining a shopping plaza containing 3 other leaders in the wedding industry
With the move we went from being 'open by appointment only' to being just 'open' 5 days a week with evening and weekend hours available to encourage walk-in traffic
We restructured our business to be a joint Limited Liability Company rather than a Sole Proprietorship

We eagerly await the blessings and challenges that 2009 has in store for us and we thank each and every one of you for your continued business, support, and referrals.

Stephanie and Stacy

Studio to be Closed for Bridal Show Prep

2009-01-06T18:26:00.004-05:00

Just a quick post to let you know that we will be CLOSED on Saturday, January 10th. We will both be setting up for this fabulous bridal show:

New display system for our invitations: $786
New product to debut at show: $342
Clips to hang display boards: $65
Having an *awesome* booth at the show : Priceless

You better come check us out - Booth 522 - right across from West Side Bakery. Who doesn't love free cake samples?!? Don't forget to stop by the studio before Saturday to pick up your free tickets....

Steph

Holiday Schedule

2008-12-22T21:07:00.002-05:00

Studio traffic has always been notoriously slow during the holidays. We had planned to be closed from Christmas Eve thru New Years Day as we had in the past. However, we seem to be booking a record number of weddings for next year and we have had a few people want to come in while they are home from school on break.

We'd like to accommodate as many people as possible - without sitting around the studio bored out of our minds in between visitors - so we are going to see how it goes to be open by appointment only. So - here is the revised holiday schedule as posted on our website.

December 24 - Closed
December 25 - Closed
December 26 - By appointment 10-4
December 27 - By appointment 10-6 (will probably be in most of the day)
December 28 - Closed
December 29 - By appointment 10-4
December 30 - By appointment 10-8
December 31 - Closed
January 1 - Closed
January 2 - Resume normal schedule

Please do not hesitate to contact us for an appointment. We will be checking email and voicemail messages regularly so please leave us a message.

Happy Holidays - and enjoy the time you are able to spend with your loved ones!

Steph and Stacy

Adding custom touches to a catalog invitation...

2008-12-17T12:51:00.002-05:00

Are you worried that you will end up in the following situation? - Settling for an invitation that falls just short of perfect? Don't be. At Paper Persuasions, even if you prefer catalog invitations because of budget or tradition, we can help add elements of design from our custom side of the business. We would never spend money on something we 'kinda like' and we don't think you should either! The following is a story about a real bride who worked with us to blend a basic catalog invitation with a touch of customization.

Anna and Chad are having a beach side ceremony and beautiful reception in North Carolina in April. By the time we met them, they had already carefully planned most of the details and seemed most excited about booking an extremely awesome photographer local to their ceremony. When Anna first came in to look at invitations, she knew that she wanted to incorporate various shades of green. Nothing was even close to perfect - but one style did stick with her enough to come back a few days later with her mom and take another look. She wasn't 'in love' with the invitation, but it was the best option she had found so she ordered it.

Since she wasn't 100% sold on the ensemble, Anna planned to search out paper for us to make custom envelope liners for her and after several sample orders from several different paper companies - she did. When she settled on the paper to use - we didn't settle for just envelope liners. We also added a small panel of paper with satin ribbon to the invitation. The end result was breathtaking!

BEFORE - The entire invitation ensemble in alternating shades of green - as ordered.

AFTER - just the invitation and mailing envelope shown after adding custom touches.

These photos show how adding just a few simple touches can help achieve a unique custom look while sticking closer to the catalog pricepoint...and who doesn't love that?!

Custom Table Cards - with Pictures of Bride and Groom!

2008-12-13T14:40:00.004-05:00

As I type this post - Lee and Mark are probably standing at the alter. And in a couple of hours, their guests are going to discover just how much time and detail was put into the reception accessories.

For the tables, Lee wanted to incorporate a photo of her and Mark. They have traveled extensivly and definitely have the photos to prove it! She decided that instead of the traditional "Table 1", "Table 2" , "Table 3" , etc. - she wanted to name each table after a place they had traveled or a tradition that they share and include a photo specific to the subject. Although it was alot of work on our end to lay out every single card, photo, title and description - Lee was super organized and sent us everything in a manner that made it as easy as possible. When we start our "Real Brides" monthly blog next month, you will be hearing more about them and just how much we enjoyed working with them. For now, here are a couple of pictures of how the table cards and place cards turned out.

To tie everything into the place cards, Lee and Mark carefully selected a unique phrase suitable to the location or event to indicate which table each guest was seated at. For example, guests seated at the Central Park table found their names on a place card which said "Your destination is Central Park" while cards for guests seated at The Hong Kong Bar table said "join us for a drink at The Hong Kong".

Lee and Mark - Congrats! The sun is shining and it is far warmer than the 20 degree blustery winter day you expected. We can't wait to hear how everything turned out!

Custom Envelope Addressing

2008-12-03T14:22:00.001-05:00

Reasons you might use to justify an expensive invitation purchase go something like this: "The invitation sets the tone for your event....", "The invitation is the first thing your guests see regarding your wedding..." blah blah blah. You get it. We get it.

But here's the thing - the invitation isn't your guests first glimpse into the wedding - the envelope is! So - it is important that you address your envelopes with care and style. Here are a couple of pictures from a recent holiday card mailing. By using the same motif and typestyle used on the holiday card, the envelope looks stunning. Yeah, these are my Christmas Cards - but we do this all the time for real clients too!

Gorgeous envelopes are just another reason to go with custom design! Let us design and print your envelopes for you:

Address printed on back flap of invitation envelope - $.30
Address printed on RSVP envelope - $.30
Individual guest addresses printed on each invitation envelope - $1.00

Introducing...an even bigger selection.

2008-11-28T13:35:00.002-05:00

With all the options that our custom designs offer alongside our decent catalog collection, we are often told that our invitation selection is great. But we don't want to be great - we want to be the best! And so in an effort to achieve the best invitation selection in town, Stacy and I have carefully selected additional invitation catalogs showcasing new vendors, new styles and new price points! In addition to the extensive line of Carlson Craft and McPhereson invitations we have always carried, we are happy to bring you 7 new catalogs - 4 of which are extremely budget and enviromentally friendly. This list highlights some of our wedding catalogs and the price point for each.

Affordably Inviting - $, $$ - A variety of economical layout options including Seal 'n Sends, Sep 'n Sends, and Z-Cards. Choose from a great selection of layouts and designs. Coordinating accessories help create a beautiful wedding at an affordable price.
Blue Book by Carlson Craft - $, $$ - Large selection of moderately-priced ensembles with a wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary.
Bridal Collection - $, $$ - Large selection of moderately-priced ensembles with a wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary.
By Request - $$, $$$ - Seasonal and Destination themes with coordinating Save the Dates for each ensemble!
Candlelight - $$, $$$ - Classic Wedding ensembles with a variety of invitation wording layouts and monogram designs for endless customization.
Diamond Collection - $, $$ - Large selection of moderately-priced ensembles with a wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary.
ES Wedding Collection - $$$$, $$$$$ - A timeless collection of classy, elegant, and modern styles. Now includes a selection of letterpress invitations.
Exclusive Collection II - $$$, $$$$ - The Exclusive Collection II™ Wedding features an array of incredible designs. This album presents 21 ensembles, each with 15 coordinating pieces. Customize any design by changing the colors!
Expressions of Love - $$$$, $$$$$ - A multitude of exquisite domestic and imported papers and fabrics are meticulously arranged with original embossing, translucent overlays, tasteful appliqués and unique type formats. Includes a selection of eye-catching designs with a pocket for the enclosures.
Naturally Ever After - $$, $$$ - Where Weddings and Nature Meet! This collection combines stunning, nature inspired artistry with richly textured, colorful papers.
Paper Duvet - $$, $$$ - This versatile album allows you to mix-and-match paper colors and styles to create unique invitations for any event. Includes a selection of wraps and pockets.
Pockets (Carlson Craft) - $$$, $$$$ - Large selection of Pocketfold Invitations in a variety of colors and styles. Mix and match colors and layouts to create a pocketfold unique to you!
Something Different - $$, $$$ - Truly unique invitations and accessories. Bold colors and styles, with a few traditional designs mixed in.
Timeless Love Collection - $$$, $$$$ - Large selection of moderately-priced ensembles with a wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary. Now includes customizable pocketfolds!
TRU Expressions - $$$, $$$$ - Modern and contemporary colors and styles.
TRU Flowers - $$$, $$$$ - Collections featuring, roses, calla lilies, daisies, and more!
TRU Seasons & Destinations - $$$, $$$$ - Featuring Fall and Winter seasonal themes, and destinations such as beach/tropics and Las Vegas.
TRU Sophistication - $$$, $$$$ - A bit of color and a touch of fun - perfect for the elegant contemporary couple!

Budget Points*:
$ = Less than $1.00
$$ = $1.00 to $3.00
$$$ = $3.00-$5.00
$$$$ = $5.00-$7.00
$$$$$ = More than $7.00
* Based on 100 quantity invitations with black ink.

That's gonna cost how much to mail?!?!?!?

2008-11-25T12:17:00.001-05:00

Before you mail your invitations, prepare yourself for a little bit of 'sticker shock'. The cost of postage can be pretty darn expensive! I'm sure you’ve heard "Stay away from square"...but these days, postage is not figured so much on the size of the envelope as it is the weight and thickness. Even if you rule out square invitations (in which you'd be ruling out some of the cutest options out there...) you might find that by the time you stuff your envelopes and have them weighed, they will cost the same as – if not more than – mailing a square envelope.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to postage:

Take a fully assembled invitation and all components of the ensemble (including a stamped RSVP envelope) to the post office and have it weighed and measured. This extra step is less of an inconvenience than having to re-address and re-postage all new outer envelopes if they get returned due to insufficient postage. Don’t assume you are within guidelines just because you weighed it at work! The size and thickness of the envelope matter too.
Get Creative with Stamps. Your local post office may not have a huge selection of stamps – especially in the higher postage range. Don’t settle – be sure to check out www.usps.com for a full selection of stamps available. Stamps are shipped right to your door for just $1.00. There are also other places such as www.zazzle.com where you can customize stamps with your pictures or themes for an extra charge.
Keep it simple. If the postage rate for your ensemble costs more than the first class rate, carefully choose the combination of stamps that you use. You have already spent time and money to properly address your envelopes…. 4 different stamps totaling $.81 isn’t going to look stunning next to calligraphy or even your best handwriting. In the picture above, this bride paid the extra $.03 to be able to place two coordinating $.42 stamps on her outer envelopes which kept her envelope from looking ‘junky’. Nobody likes to throw money away, but in the scheme of things, 100 invitations with $.03 extra postage totals only $3.00.
Stamp your RSVP Envelopes for your guests. Accurate guest counts are important. The RSVP envelope should always be stamped and addressed to you or whomever is tracking your responses.

Is all this postage killing your invitation budget? Here are a few suggestions for keeping on track.

Substitute formal RSVP sets with RSVP postcards.
Elect flat response cards and reception cards when possible. Folded note style cards are not necessary in these instances and will just add bulk and weight to your ensemble. If the invitation you select only comes with folded cards, consider cutting them in half just below the fold. The side removed can easily be used for place cards later on down the road.
Send ‘seal-n-send’or ‘sep-n-send’ invitations. Not only do these mail at regular postage and have postcard response options – they save trees!

Fa la la la la....

2008-11-19T10:31:00.004-05:00

Stacy said that if I write a blog today, we can put the Christmas tree up. So here's the blog - enjoy!

If your wedding is in March, April, May or June...

2008-11-04T17:49:00.008-05:00

...and you are thinking about custom design, hurry in to meet with us! We can officially say that the move to Graham Road has paid off! We have experienced a record number of deposits for 2009 and are getting close to filling up for Spring and early Summer weddings.

Remember, all of our custom designs are made in our studio - by hand - by Stacy and I. We only have a certain number of hours per week to dedicate to production. Inevitably, there are periods of time that book up quickly each year which prevents us from accepting additional orders. Again, this year we have toyed with the idea of hiring someone - but again, we have decided that what makes us 'us' and what sets us apart from our competition, is the comfortable atmosphere of our studio and the fact that we are just two sisters - involved in each order we accept every step of the way. Every email, every phone call, every print run, every part of the assembly. Add another person to the mix, and we lose that. We don't want to risk losing that just yet!

If you want to check on your date, feel free to call us! We'd be happy to meet with you at any time during our scheduled studio hours to discuss your options. Please note that appointments are suggested. Evening and weekend hours tend to be pretty busy and we'd hate to be occupied with other clients if you stop in without an appointment. Schedule a consultation by calling us at 330-945-6914 or fill out our contact form here.

Steph

To Handwrite or Not to Handwrite....

2008-10-22T17:39:00.001-04:00

With traditional stationery etiquette quickly becoming a ‘thing of the past’, it is no surprise that ‘properly addressing an envelope’ is a hot topic during our consultations. We value short-cuts just as much as you do…but this is not an area you should skimp on time. Though it may seem silly to you, guests will scoff at a tacky envelope!

Professional Calligraphy
According to traditional etiquette, handwritten professional calligraphy is the only acceptable method of addressing an envelope. Hand Calligraphy is quickly becoming a lost art, making it difficult to track down a professional calligrapher at a reasonable cost. You shouldn’t be at all surprised if the cost for calligraphy services exceeds the cost of the invitation ensemble itself!

At one of last years bridal shows, we met a woman who has such a passion for the art that she does it as a hobby and charges a very reasonable price. Though she only offers non-script hand calligraphy, her style is beautiful and her attention to detail precise! Guest addresses are $1.25 each and Return addresses & Response envelope addresses are $.85 each. The turnaround time is 1-2 weeks, depending on the size of the order. Here is a sample of her work:

Handwritten
Most of our clients approach the invitation process with the assumption that they will handwrite the addresses – and most don’t approach that idea with much enthusiasm! Addressing your own envelopes is the next best thing to professional calligraphy. Make sure you set aside plenty of time, and order extra envelopes for the inevitable writing errors!

Most of the envelopes we use in our designs are metallic, thus, they have a smooth and shiny texture to them. Surprisingly, ballpoint pens work best on the metallic envelopes. Any standard calligraphy pen or water-based pen takes extra time to dry and may smudge easily. This will be a very tedious process so be sure to test out several different options to find a pen or marker that you feel comfortable working with.

Computer Calligraphy
Computer printed calligraphy is quickly replacing hand calligraphy. Though a computer addressed envelope lacks the charm of a hand written envelope, it can coordinate with the typestyle of your invitation bringing an element of design to the ensemble. We offer computer calligraphy on all of our custom designs. The catalogs that we carry have even started offering computer calligraphy which just goes to show you how high the demand is. If I had to guess, I would say that approximately 80% of our clients choose computer addressing. Not only does coordinating the font of your invitation with your envelope looks polished and professional ….it will save you time. If we print your addresses and you pay for response envelope stamps, we will actually stamp and stuff your entire invitation ensemble! Now that’s what we call ‘taking care of our clients’!

Labels
Applying pre-printed address labels is the only absolute no-no under both traditional and modern etiquette. Your guests will think it’s tacky…and we do too! There is a reason why catalog companies include address printing in the cost of the response card and charge a very nominal fee to print the back flap of the invitation envelope – they don’t want you to use labels either! Still, if you find yourself in a situation where you must do the unthinkable, we suggest using clear matte or gloss labels and only do so only for repetitive addresses.

Menu Cards

2008-10-15T12:13:00.003-04:00

"Menus...should I use them"? We seem to be getting this question quite a bit lately!

Considering that the majority of your wedding budget goes toward food and drink, it's no wonder you are thinking about just how to let your guests know the delicious choices they have. Not only will you spend a lot of time deciding what types of food to serve...you have to choose how to serve it! Whether you choose Family Style, Buffet, Plated or the increasingly popular Food Stations, a properly placed menu will add to the anticipation of your event. Below is a list of each and our suggestion for how and when to include them.

Family Style - We suggest placing 1 or 2 menus at each table for guests to pass around and share - just like the food! You could also send a menu card with the invitation ensemble, or place one at each place. Keep in mind, the table will get rather crowded once the food is served so the less you add to the tables beforehand, the better!

Buffet - For Buffet style dinners, we favor menus at each place setting. What a great way to incorporate beautiful papers with shine and texture to your table scape! You could also have a small card with a food description placed near each item on the buffet line. We strongly suggest doing so if you are serving ethnic cuisine. You could still send a menu with the invitation ensemble, but with the many choices buffets offer, the card could get pretty lengthy.

Plated - Or some might say: "a response card nightmare"! Relax, we have this one under control! Most couples serving plated dinners at their reception offer meal choices on the reply card as this helps their caterers prepare the correct number of each offering. Unfortunately, response cards are often crammed for space and your exquisite "Center Cut Filet Mignon", "Pan Seared Wild Salmon", and "Chicken Francaise" get represented as: "Beef", Fish", and "Chicken". Our solution? Include a menu with the invitation. You can either double side your response card and put the menu on the back, or include the menu as a piece of the ensemble. This will help your guests make their choices and leave them excited to see the other fine details you have incorporated into the reception. You could also leave a menu at each table or even each place setting to better describe the food they will be served.

Food Stations - Food stations are a great way to incorporate themed food or break up the traditional "table-dismissal-buffet-monotony". I will never forget the wedding I attended a few years back where six entirely different cultures were represented at six different food stations. It was a great way to learn about and try new foods but I am a picky eater and thankfully a menu was on display at each station. You could also include a menu card at each place setting or at each table describing the different stations and perhaps why you chose them. And as with any other type of reception, it would be just fine to include a menu card within your invitation ensemble.

All this talk about food and now my stomach is growling! Time for lunch! No need for a menu...its a boring Lean Cusine....

Steph

This Just In - Holiday Cards!!

2008-10-01T14:05:00.001-04:00

We decided to give something a try this year - and we could not be more excited to share it with you. We have added 8 catalogs of holiday cards!! These are not your average holiday cards either! From formal corporate cards to family photo cards to funky personal greetings, these catalogs are guaranteed to get you excited to send out cards this year! I have picked my (15) favorites - so I am sure you will find at least one!

We are trying it out to see how it goes - so tell your friends, family, co-workers and bosses! We are offering 30% off all holiday card purchases through November 15th!! This is a huge savings off the book price. If you get your order in early enough, you may just get free return addressing on your envelopes!

Steph

Friends and Family Grand Opening

2008-09-24T11:22:00.000-04:00

So we figured it would be easiest to invite our closest family members and friends to see the studio all at once instead of just letting them pop in from time to time. Don't get me wrong, we love visitors - but as much as I love to talk, I do actually get tired of telling the same story over and over.

What could be better than Food, Wine, Family and Friends? The turnout was bigger than we expected - thankfully I always 'overbuy' for parties so we did not run out of anything. I want to give a special thanks to Alyssa and Pete for helping us with everything. With moving on the 6th it was alot of work to get everything ready for the party. Those two ran errands, helped make food and really just made sure everything came together at the last minute. I know she hates when I mention this - but their friendship is a special blessing to me! Alyssa and Pete were clients of ours for their October 2007 wedding. After our first meeting, I just knew that Alyssa is the long lost friend I never got to have in high-school and I am so happy that we met! Happier yet that they are about to have a baby around Christmas time!

Here are a few pics of how the evening turned out.....

The signs were done just in the knick of time!

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Some of the food - and the cutest cookies in the world. These cookies came from SugarHouse Cakes and Cookies and they have our logo on them!

Alyssa and Baby Currie putting the finishing touches on something food related, Stephanie and her husband Dave, Stephanie and Stacy in front of delicious cookies , and finally an early toast with Debbie and her mom from Crains Creative Occassions (they sublet from within our studio)and our friend Katie.

My dad took a ton of pictures after the party actually started - hopefully he will get those to me soon and I can post more!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support us. You have no idea how much it means to have such encouraging and supportive friends and family!

Stephanie

Grand Opening - Open House

2008-09-15T14:53:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are having our

Grand Opening Open House
Saturday, October 11th from 10-8
AND
Sunday, October 12th from 10-6

**We will be handing out coupons good for discounts on both catalog order AND custom design!!!**

As you may know, the Today's Bride Bridal Show is at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls that same Sunday from 10-4. We will have free tickets to the show at our open house so swing by Saturday (or Sunday before you head to the show) and pick them up. The latest TB magazine which comes out the beginning of October will be yours for the taking as well!!

We hope that you will use the casual setting of that weekend to stop in and check out all that we have to offer. Our custom work will be on display (as always) and catalog pages ready for turning! We will also be scheduling appointments for brides who wish to return at a 'quieter' time to further discuss their invitation needs.

Don't be shy! Come and meet us. We are sure you will find our studio to be a one-stop-shop for all of your invitation needs!!

Steph

Paper Persuasions Remodel

2008-09-13T09:59:00.001-04:00

Well....better late than never, right? As promised, here are a few before and after shots of the new studio. We were still in the process of finishing a few things when these were taken - but it was late enough in the process that you should be able to get a feel for the amount of work we put in to this place! All in all, we kept with the same feel as our studio on Front Street - same color scheme, stainless steel display boards and lime green as an accent.

Steph

Bigger News!

2008-09-06T14:37:00.000-04:00

Two posts in one week. Scary!

Can you believe we have more big news?!?

After much deliberation, we have decided to change our business name from Simple Persuasions to Paper Persuasions, LLC. There is a big long-winded story behind it (isn't there always with me?) and if you ever want to know, you'll have to ask us in person.

We have been toying with the idea for quite some time and have finally made it official with the State of Ohio...so now we can make it official with you too!

There are many reasons why we like this name better - but above all, it indicates that we are affiliated with paper. We also have designed a logo this time around (it's about time!) and are excited to start using it.

Steph

Road Kill

2008-09-01T14:10:00.001-04:00

So...we haven't been so good at keeping up with the blogging. Since we signed the new lease back in July, our time has been divided between remodeling the Graham Rd. studio and keeping up with client orders at the Front St. studio. There is no point to this blog other than to share one of the funniest moments in our last few months.

We have put so much labor into getting our new space the way we imagine it....which of course includes trips to IKEA. If you have ever been in our studio, you know that we display our custom work on stainless steel magnetic boards. The six boards that we have at Front St. are no match for the huge increase in display area at Graham Rd....so we need to increase our display boards by ALOT.

So...we head up to IKEA. We planned to take my husbands truck, but something was wrong with the brakes and I didn't feel safe driving it. (It turns out that the ABS sensors had some rust on them which was tricking the truck into thinking that the ABS needed to kick in - which caused a sensation much like ...um...the brakes were going out?! Pretty scary feeling.) So...we take Stacy's super gas-efficient Yaris. Huge difference in cargo room....but we figure 'it's IKEA, we can fit alot'.

First thing on the agenda - pick up the magnetic boards so we know how much room is left. We bickered as to how many we needed - I said 50 , she said 30. We find the magnetic boards and determine that IKEA has 41 of them in stock. The bickering was over - #41 is my favorite DMB song, so 41 it is! We proceed to purchase the boards and load up Stacy's trunk. We managed to squeeze all 41 of them into the truck which leaves the entire back seat for more stuff! Yay! Time to shop some more.

We pick up a few other odds and ends which comfortably fit in the back seat and we head home. All in all we were in IKEA for a mere 3.5 hours - pretty remarkable for us! We are on our way back and hear a shuffling in the trunk. All of a sudden Stacy calmly says "Um, my trunk just flew open and boards are flying out the back". I (not-so-calmly) exclaim "Pull over!Pull over". She does. We get out and see the highway behind us scattered with magnetic boards. Can we save them? I think so....so I begin running down the side of the highway and dodging oncoming traffic to try to pick them up. All in all, we only lost 4 of them...and only one actually got run over. I managed to pick them all up but they were too badly scratched to be salvaged.

Most people would be angry I suppose, but Stacy and I laughed. Hard. In fact, we laughed harder at this mishap than we have laughed in a long long time. Perhaps the stress of our 'moving' situation in general made this seem like a joke...but I have a feeling it was more the image of me running down the highway collecting boards.

***Before and After Pics Coming Soon!***

Big News!

2008-07-13T14:00:00.000-04:00

So....today is Stacy's 28th birthday and although that is news, it's not the BIG news we want to share with you. We've decided to pick this day to announce that we are going to be moving to a larger location!!!!! We are quite excited to share with you that we will be moving from our 1000 SF Front St. studio to a 2000 SF studio on Graham Road. And even more excited to announce that we will be sharing a shopping plaza with Wishes & Whims Bridal Shop, Riverfront Photography, Just Perfect Video and other area businesses. This plaza is quickly becoming a 'one-stop-shop' for local brides. We signed our lease a couple of weeks ago but will not be making the move until Sept/Oct. We will be spending the next few months remodeling the new place to our liking. Keep your eyes open for some before and after shots once the work begins!

Steph

Spring Recap

2008-06-29T22:25:00.003-04:00

We have been so busy. Busy is good...but it keeps me putting things on the back burner - like blogging. Since we have been so slow to update our website with new pictures, I figured I would post some pictures of a few of the orders that have been keeping us busy all spring and early summer.

This was one of our favorite custom designs. The bride emailed me from out of state and was having a hard time finding the perfect invitation. Her colors were pink and black and she wanted to work with stripes and polka dots. She wanted to blend classic with contemporary and was absolutely about to give up. She was on a budget...and we were able to incorporate all elements she wanted and still come in about 30% under budget. She absolutely loved the invitations and so did her guests! We did too...we actually used some of the images in our spring mailing.

Pink and Black Wedding Invitation - Dots and Stripes order sample here

This order was for a Akron/Canton area client. When we first met, she wasn't sure about what type of invitation she wanted. She did know that her wedding colors were Silver and Purple and that she was going for somewhat of a "Fairy-Tale" theme. She loved the pocketfolds and wanted to incorporate a simple monogram. Her guest count was huge so this order spent plenty of time in our production schedule!

Silver Pocketfold with Purple and White accents - Wedding Invitations

This was one of our spring favorites! The bride was an Art Major and wanted something that reflected her unique style. Her colors were pink and green. We especially loved that she went with a light green text panel and mailing envelopes. This order was adorable and perfectly reflected her style.

Hot Pink Pocketfold with Lime Green/Paisley accents - Wedding Invitations

order a sample of this invitation here.

These pictures are of a sample invitation that we made for a wedding planner that we work with in the Miami, Florida area - B'Dazzled Creations by Rosiet. The bride was not sure what color scheme or style she wanted to settle on but she was dead set on the monogram.

Brown 4x9 Pocket with Lime accents / Brown Pocketfold with Champagne accents

After all the hype at January's Bridal Show, we were expecting Yellow and Orange to make a bigger presence this year. This was our only Orange/Yellow combo so far this season but it turned out amazingly beautiful. The bride was a high-school classmate of mine. She was looking for something totally unique but classy. I sent her several different samples in many different colors and she kept going back to this one. We say "Good choice Elizabeth"!

Yellow/Orange Pocketfold Invitation with Paisley Pattern - Wedding Invitation

Here are a couple of fall themed invitations we did for two different brides. Upon their initial consultations, both knew that they wanted to carry the fall theme (leaves) through their invitations and both wanted square pocketfolds. These pictures really illustrate how we can take two very similar requests and turn them into something unique for each of our clients.
Chocolate Brown and Gold / Copper Pocketfold Invitations with leaves - Fall Wedding Invitations order sample here

Chocolate Brown and Red Pocketfold Invitations - Wedding Fall Theme

And last - but certainly not least - Accessories. Enjoy these last few pictures of accessories that coordinated perfectly with the clients' custom made invitations.

Tiffany Blue/Chocolate Brown Programs. Tiffany Blue Table Cards and Place Cards

Black and White Table Cards, Place Cards, Programs.

So there you have it. A small sampling of what we have been working on lately. I assure you, this is just a small piece of the production schedule. We have a ton more pictures of jobs and we hope that we can update a little more frequently.

THANK YOU!

2008-05-05T13:43:00.000-04:00

A heartfelt "thank you" to each and every one of our fabulous clients - and their friends and families - who took the time to vote for us! We are ever so honored to be voted the #1 Invitationists in the Akron/Canton area. Yay!

Vote for us!

2008-03-26T10:16:00.001-04:00

Hello! I cannot believe it has been over 1 month since my last blog! I find myself thinking of topics to blog about frequently so I guess it seems to me like I blog more often than I do. Truth be told, we have been so busy this year that I just have not had the time to sit down and write! Worse things could happen, right?!?

We are honored to have been nominated in the "Best of Invitations" category for the Akron/Canton Hotlist. If you are impressed with the service and or products you received from us PLEASE click here to vote for us!! Be sure to leave a comment after you vote! We appreciate your support and are amazed everyday at where this journey is taking us!

Stephanie

Are you Custom or are you Catalog?

2008-02-23T12:08:00.001-05:00

If you find yourself asking "What exactly are the differences between Custom Invitations and Catalog Invitations", you better read this blog!

A Catalog Invitation comes from just that....a catalog. When shopping Catalog Invitations you get to lug around heavy over-sized books containing mass produced invitations. When you find an invitation that you like - you better like it pretty much how it is, because most of the time you can't change a thing about it - other than the ink color and envelope liner. Now, I don't know about you, but I have received quite a few invitations in my time. Can I recall which invitation belonged to which wedding? Nope. Not even the tacky ones. Why? Because more or less - they all looked the same. In the last few years some catalog lines have added more 'unique' styles and a few semi-custom options but overall the selections are still pretty limited. Oh, and now you can shop Catalog Invitations on-line. This luxury eliminates the heavy over-sized books but the above mentioned limitations on design are ever present.

A Custom Invitation comes from your imagination. If your imagination isn't so great, we can loan you ours free of charge. When you meet with us to discuss Custom Design, we're gonna ask you a few questions about your event. It's not that we are nosey or anything - its that we are using your answers, your personalities, and the details that you speak of , to start formulating a design. We have plenty of samples on display in our Studio and those might help you narrow down a specific style that you adore. And you know what? We can take that style and we can make it truly unique to your event by allowing you to work with over 200 different colors and textures. Sound a bit complicated to you? Don't worry - it's not! We've gotten pretty good at this and we will steer you in the right direction. Oh, and you'll be quite pleased when your guests leave little comments on the reply cards about how awesome your invitations are. Just think - if they are jazzed up about the invitations, imagine how excited they will be to see the rest of your day unfold.

I guess the bottom line is this: We've got the best of both worlds. If you are on the fence about going Catalog or going Custom, schedule a free one hour consultation with us. You can view our catalog lines and you can see our custom work- side by side. We will work with you and your budget to determine the right fit for you. We are not pushy salespeople, I promise. We just want you to find the perfect invitation for your event.

Check your Mailboxes

2008-02-22T13:08:00.001-05:00

Our latest batch of promos went out on Wednesday. We hit over 200 brides with wedding dates between mid-July and August. We typically receive an overwhelming response since they are what one bride said- "the most beautiful piece of marketing mail I have ever received". We've been sending these out for the last year and a half or so.

In case you are wondering how we get your information, I will tell you. When you attend a Bridal Show, your information is shared with the vendors at that show. We do a few bridal shows a year so we obtain brides from all different walks of life. If you do not want your information to be shared with the vendors, then you need to indicate that when you register for the show. If you do not wish to receive further correspondence from us, then you need to let us know. It costs money to market - and believe me, we don't want to waste that money on you if you don't wish to be marketed to!

On Thursday, I had an upset bride-to-be leave me the nastiest voice mail I have ever received. In the 57 second message, she screamed and she cussed and it was all because she got one of our promos in the mail. It's quite hard for me to imagine that a piece of such beautiful mail inspired such rage - but it did. Her number came over on caller-id, so I did call her back. I just wanted to let her know that we don't buy her information (as she claimed ) and that really , we are the two nicest girls in the world and it was going to bother me the rest of the night that we upset her so badly.

I guess the point is this: If you got one of our promotional pieces and you are upset - I am sorry! I can't help but think there might be other brides out there who feel the same way this one did but that don't have the guts to speak out. Stacy and I can't stand the thought of bothering anybody. We are just two girls who are trying to find a balance with successful marketing. We don't buy your information, we don't sell your information, we just want to try to get the word out about the great services that we offer because every bride needs invitations in some form or another!

To Better Serve You...

2008-02-11T13:31:00.000-05:00

If you've ever met us and heard about how our business was started, then you probably know that we never in a million years expected it to get this big. We have been incredibly blessed as we have met many interesting people and made several great friends. We never set out to enter the wedding industry but now that we are in it, we can't get enough of it. Still, we feel a little 'under-educated' compared to some of the wedding vendors that have been in the industry for years.

We have decided to become certified wedding planners. The University of Akron is offering an 11 week course in conjunction with the Wedding Planning Institute in Chicago. We are super excited to be able to learn more about weddings in general.

Do we plan to go into the planning side of the business? That remains to be seen. We don't expect to - but we never expected to be doing what we are doing now either! For now, we are going into this just hoping that we can be a better source of knowledge for our brides and hoping that we absorb as much about weddings as possible. Wish us luck. Me especially - I am not the college type!

Stephanie

Why choose Simple Persuasions for your Custom Invitations?

2008-01-18T12:53:00.000-05:00

* No color is too funky...no style is too strange. With us, you simply get what you want.
* We enjoy what we do and we're passionate about each and every invitation we make.
* We communicate well and we will exceed your expectations (our clients throughout the United States and Canada repeatedly tell us so).
* Many of our custom designs are priced comparatively to catalog invitations of similar styles.
* We work with you, one-on-one, to achieve a final product that introduces your event perfectly
* Pockets...Pockets...Pockets!!! You want 'em, we've got 'em. We have over 200 colors and 18 Pocket Sizes to mix and match!

You might remember seeing a big display board with this same information at our booth at the Today's Bride Bridal Show. Funny story about that. We were supposed to have a 10ft booth and so we prepared for a 10ft booth with this years theme that 'less is more". When we showed up at JSK for our 2 hour set up period, we learned that we were actually upgraded to a corner booth. This is when "less is more" started looking like "less is not enough to make a display". We were thrilled at the upgrade but Stacy had the flu and so I had less than 16 hours to figure out what we were going to fill the booth with, make the stuff to fill the booth with, get a good nights sleep and eat. Needless to say, this big cheesy foam board took up a good chunk of the corner. Little did I know when I emailed the file to Kinko's and told them what I wanted that the darn thing would end up costing more than $100.00. We planned to throw it away - but at that cost, we will hang on to it again...just in case.

Thank you!

2008-01-14T12:14:00.000-05:00

Never in my life did I imagine the amount of success we have achieved by showing our products at the Today's Bride Bridal Shows. I cannot put into words how wonderful it feels to wake up and come to work on a Monday after the show. Today was no exception.

We had many wonderful encounters at our booth yesterday. The sheer number of brides who stopped by to introduce themselves and schedule consultations blew us away. We had no idea that so many of you visit our website frequently to use it as a resource when planning for invitations. We were especially amazed at the number of brides and moms who came by to see our work in person or to tell us that they received one of our invitations in the mail and that it was the most beautiful they had ever seen. We are humbled. We truly are.

I feel as if this years show marks the beginning of a new chapter for us. It's only been a couple of years since we converted from a home-based business to a studio/storefront....and I am continually amazed at the demand for our product.

So thank you...to each and every one of you who took the time to visit us yesterday. I'd especially like to thank Alyssa for all of her help. Alyssa has become a great friend - but before she was a friend she was a client who married in October (her invitation was the chocolate and moss pocketfold). She actually volunteered to stand on her feet for 8 hours to help us out. There is no greater compliment than a client who believes in what we do and wants to help us share that with other brides.

I look forward to getting to know many of you better and helping you create the invitation of your dreams!

Stephanie (and Stacy too!)

The Schoolhouse

2007-12-10T22:53:00.003-05:00

When my husband and I selected a Bed-n-Breakfast - The National Trail Schoolhouse Inn (also known as the Brownsville Schoolhouse) as our wedding location, I did not expect it to change our lives in more than just a "this is where we started our life together" way.

Shocking - I know - but I made my own invitations, programs and just about everything else used in our wedding. The bridal coordinator at the Schoolhouse was so impressed with my work that she asked me to put together a few samples of things that she could share with her brides. I had spent so much time researching invitations at that point, that this "connection" she was forging was just the boost that I needed to start this business.

Stacy and I dedicated hours upon hours upon hours on developing samples, pricing and order forms for her. We put together books of wording and typestyle options. We drove two hours down to Brownsville, OH to deliver them in person. I had never been so proud of anything I had done in my life. My product was out there and she was going to sell it! Driving away from the Schoolhouse that day felt like a new beginning. Little did I know that it was really the end.

I never heard from that coordinator again. Every phone call and email I sent went unanswered. Everyone who knew of the situation urged me to drive down and pick up my portfolio. They all seemed to think that she was probably using my work as a model for her own benefit...but I refused to deal with the situation. It was easier for me to not know what happened than to ruin my memory of the Schoolhouse.

Fast Forward a couple of years to just a few months ago when I wanted to surprise my husband with a trip to the schoolhouse for our anniversary. Our business had grown so much that I didn't much care about that initial portfolio. When I tried to set up the reservation, I found out that the Schoolhouse was no longer accepting reservations because it was "for sale". I was shocked. I toyed with the idea of moving down there to run the schoolhouse and then I remembered that money does not grow on trees. I cried. For two days I cried. It was over....The very place that inspired the start of my marriage and my business no longer existed.

Today I got an email. It was titled " Invitations" :

Hi there. My name is Tanya and I am taking over the National Trail Schoolhouse Inn in Brownsville, OH. I ran across your scrapbook and box of samples the previous owner had. I would like to know if it is current pricing or old. I would love to update these and use them as part of our event coordination service if possible. If you could send a price list to me, I can compare it to what we have. There were no dates on anything, so I am unsure if they are new or old.

Looking forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,
Tanya (last name omitted for blog)
Event Coordinator/Innkeeper

I feel as if everything has come full circle! Tanya and I talked tonight and I think she is going to be the best thing that has happened to that place to date (and not just because she wants to show our products)! Needless to say, Dave and I are finally able to go back down to spend the night and reminisce on Tuesday! I am so excited!!

I wish I had the ability to "make a long story short",

Stephanie

10 things we have learned over Thanksgiving Weekend

2007-12-05T21:57:00.000-05:00

We do not like people who wallpaper directly onto drywall
Sanding said wallpaper off of the wall adds days onto your project
Mineral Spirits help with getting spilled paint out of the carpet
It's a major buzzkill when 91.3 The Summit changes formatting
It would have been much easier just to paint around the thermostat
It takes 8 minutes to get from the Studio to Home Depot
Stacy never remembers to plug the fridge back in
More purple would have been okay!
The cute little pictures on the IKEA Boxes and in the directions do not in any way make up for the fact that hardware is NOT included
"Well, we're going running!"

Pardon the dust!

2007-11-15T21:06:00.000-05:00

Its been nearly two years since we have expanded beyond the comfort of working from home. I had toyed with the idea of expanding for a while and when we started looking at available space in the Falls, every place we found was all wrong. The spaces were too small, too large, too expensive, short on parking, up three flights of stairs .....and the list goes on. Finally we discovered what would become our current location on Craig's List. Everything about it was perfect....except the decor. Our intent was to remodel right away....but business happened - lots of it.....and we could never find enough time to allow for the disruption. For almost two years, our clients have been welcomed by textured wall paper and paisley border in jewel tones. (thank you for not holding that against us!)

The time has finally come! We have carefully planned our production schedule to allow us to remodel the studio over Thanksgiving weekend. We are so excited!! We hope to have everything back in order by Sunday....but you never know what we might run into! If you are in the area and still see the lights on at 3 am, please feel free to stop by and bring us caffeinated beverages!

Fun Facts - Installment 1

2007-11-10T22:40:00.000-05:00

We found these wedding statistics to be pretty interesting and we think you will too! I would have expected more people to get hitched in Vegas though. We seem to work with quite a few Vegas weddings, so this number was shockingly less that I imagined. I would love to see an overall"destination wedding" statistic. Anyone?

There are somewhere around 2.5 million weddings every year in the United States.
June is the most popular month for weddings, then August, followed by September and October.
The average budget for a wedding is estimated to be $20,000.
So... about $40 BILLION is spent on weddings every year in the U.S.
There are a few people around who believe this number is as high as $70 BILLION a year.
A couple will spend an average of $3,800 for their honeymoon.
99% of newly married couples will plan and take a honeymoon.
Couples are waiting longer to get married.
The average age of the first time bride is 26, the first time groom 28.
The average household income of a newly married couple is $55,000/annually.
More than 115,000 weddings are performed in Las Vegas every year!
More than 20,000 weddings are performed in Hawaii every year.
The average wedding has 175 guests (invited).
A recent study indicates 1/2 of all brides will use a wedding consultant or wedding day coordinator.

One more item on the to do list!

2007-11-02T22:05:00.001-04:00

Okay, so we are jumping into the land of the blog! It may be a few weeks before we begin updating and decorating this new adventure, but we promise that once our new website is up and running, the blog will get alot of attention!

In the meantime, feel free to send us suggestions of topics you would like to see covered in our blog! What do our brides really want? Is it etiquette information, photos of stuff we are working on, current trends in color and style? Please let us know!

Stephanie and Stacy