Put down the Damask and Back Away Slowly....

Enough already with the damask, my bridal DIY'ers! If there is another wedding where black and white, teal and brown or some other worn out color combo of damask is used on stationery or reception decoration, I think the damask itself will scream.

Yes, its pretty; its supposed to be pretty. However, quite frankly, its getting pretty worn out. Designers are not letting this pretty, patterned graphic get breathing air to re-create other patterns and stationery in the world of the wedding industry. Especially for the DIY bride, what is easier than finding a ready-made damask background in Photoshop and creating your save the dates from that?

Actually it is quite simple, but its so simple that's been done over, and over and over again. So what can you use as elements in your stationery and decoration? Explore your relationship, I say. Look at all the places you have been or even better take a look at some photos of you and your lover together and grab some colors from those events. Shoo, if you really like grab the photo itself, make it opaque as your background, place your legible typography on it and you have yourself a personalized save the date, invitation or whatever else you may want to use it for. Does it have to be a color photo? No, use shapes or lines of color behind the black & white photo to add your splash of wedding colors!

So you don't want to use your photos? Okay, no problem. What about nature, when is your wedding date? Spring, summer, winter, fall? What elements can you use like color, texture, graphics (flowers, ocean, sand, snow, leaves) into your stationery?

Okay.. as you can see I could go on for a long time about inspirational places to get your design from for your wedding stationery which not only would have more of a personal touch from you as a couple, but also appeal to your guest in understand you more as a couple.

So, Please Please Please.. put down the damask slowly and explore your relationship and see what designs you can come with.

KISS: Keep it Simple, Sweetie!

As with any design, the primary key is to KISS; keep it simple, sweetie! (not stupid in this case just because we aren't stupid!) Too much of anything can detract from the overall message of your monogram or logo design. What is worse in a wedding when the bridesmaids dresses or some other details take away from the bride and groom themselves! Uggh.

Here is my mantra; less is better and more economical too. If you have the money to go all out, that's on you; have a ball. But if you are like me and other people who counts pennies (especially in this economy), then I say try to do some of the wedding details yourself,or have a wedding invitation put-together get-together! Nothing beats having food, some bubbly and some hands to help.

Next time: The simple wedding monogram.. DIY approved!