Shower The People With Love

Recently one of my best buds decided to say "yes" to marrying the perfect man for her.  We couldn't be happier for them and I couldn't be more excited about the idea of throwing her a fantastic shower.  I have weddings back on the brain after a four year hiatus and I can't get enough!  I forgot how exciting and fun it is to plan.  There are so many beautiful and unique things people incorporate into their special of day, and all of them are so inspiring. For the time being, I'm totally letting myself get carried away by love, romance, and stationary.  Yup.  Stationary.  

This shower is not good for me.  It only feeds my addiction.  I love paper so much I can't even tell you.  I have more cards than I will ever send, more paper and ribbons than I could use, and I want more. all. the. time.  As my addiction grows, all internet searches have been to find inspiration for the best damn bridal shower invitation you've ever seen.

I am not the type to just buy something at Target or online, even though they may be fantastic.  Nope.  I must design it myself.  And if my dreams come true, have it letter press printed.  A good invitation let's you know who, where, and when.  But a great invitation tells you about the tone and level of formality of the party.  It gives you expectations of what is to come.  The best show you the character of the guest{s} of honor.  This is why no ordinary invitation will due because not many people in our lives are ordinary.

     VS

I have the tendency to get a little fancy.  I'm like petit fours, too fussy for the tiniest tasty bite.  But my friend is like milk and warm chocolate chip cookies.  Cozy, comforting, down to earth, a classic all American treat.  She's not pink, she's blue.  Sure she likes to be girly, but loves her North Face fleece and sneakers more than anyone I've ever known.  She likes things simple, elegant, and modern.  I want this shower to be all about her, as it should be.  I want her to feel surrounded by love.  I want her {and all the guests} to feel completely comfortable and at home.  The invitation, decorations, food, and location all play into this.  This is one an invitation {and party} design challenge I'm totally up for.

The lady of honor is an architect and yoga instructor.  Like all American women, she loves anything French.  I love the idea of taking a form, like the quatrefoil, that is all at once architectural, Eastern, Western, ancient, and modern, and incorporating it into the invites.

This has the quatrefoil, but it's too fancy.  Still . . . I'm a sucker for envelope liners.

The Bride and Groom were engaged at the lovely Lied Lodge.  Maybe a faux bois theme on the Sunset Terrace overlooking the hazelnut fields?

I could give little trees as favors from the Arbor Day Foundation!

These people totally get it.  This is perhaps the best invitation I've ever seen.  They made a video!    

Frendzies Kev & Carrie get it too.  This is another wedding I can't wait to go to! :)  

I love the organization of space and text in this example.  You can tell, this party is going to rock. :P

Love, love, love the graphic style of the date.

This would be a great invitation to an A,B,C shower where each guest is assigned a letter of the alphabet that their gift must start with.

Have great ideas of your own to share?  Leave them in the comments :)