After we've decided to have our reception at The Blue Leaf, I went back to the magazine article I read from Metro Weddings (Jan-Jun'08 issue with Amanda Griffin as the cover girl). It's their "daring" spread which was set-up at "the new leaf". I was filled with delight re-reading and flipping through the pages, for it's overflowing with my favorite color, PINK! (I know, I know, it may seem too juvenile for my age already, but I SO LOOOVE pink). The whole theme revolved around Asian-Chic in pink, white and charcoal, from the table set-up designed by Tony Padilla, to the invites, the favors etc.
After staring at the spread for hours and writing-down the "what-to-get's", "what-to-do's" and "must-haves", I started searching the web for "inspir-asians". Here are some of which that I've found from various resources:
cherry blossom chopsticks
pink and white brocade favor box
double happiness favor box
cherry blossom fan
chinese take-out box with a pink bow
Here are a few of my attempts to "DIY" our wedding details. I tried making a DIY Save the Date, Favor box and Invites. I guess they're the only ones I could work onto for now.
Favor "Take-out" Box
Favor "Take-out" Box
Here is my attempt to copy the favor "take-out box" found above. The ribbon is thinner, I guess only half of what's supposed to be and paler. I used this type as it is the only one I have available. Although I also think it's ok to use it. At least it won't seem to be a "copy-overkill". What do you think? Should I stick to the thicker ribbon?
I have another dilemma; Which looks more like a take-out box the fatter one on the left or the leaner one on the right? Both are 7cm in height only one is fatter. : )
The round thing on top of the ribbon is supposed to be a sticker. But for this prototype I only used a matte and flat-looking bond paper, and printed it "fast-draft" (so the colors are paler than supposed to be). We will be using glossy one and a half inch diameter round stickers for these and the colors will be more vibrant when we print in high-def next time. The font color is another thing I'm not quite sure of. The white seems to dissolve in the background. I'm thinking of using something darker, like black perhaps?
I used 220gsm glossy white A4 boards for the "take-out box". We're supposed to print our Save the Dates on those paper, but turns-out it makes ink blot too much, so we shelved them. I looked for "chinese take-out box" patterns online but I wasn't able to get something that would fit on A4 so I devised my own. I could send you a copy if you need one. :)
Our Save the Dates
This is what welcomes you when you enter our wedblog! We tried to make it look like we're in "Sakura Land", although it's just us at the garden of our condo, taken by Sis Candy on our ROM.
This is what welcomes you when you enter our wedblog! We tried to make it look like we're in "Sakura Land", although it's just us at the garden of our condo, taken by Sis Candy on our ROM.
Photoshop made it look like what it is now, something like a postcard of lovers from Japan : )
We have the cards printed on glossy 5R photo paper in a printshop here for only 15cents (that's only around PhP4.50 a piece), which is dirt-cheap. Well it serves the purpose (to remind), and the people we gave them to can just decide for themselves if they'll pin it on their corkboard, place it neatly with a magnet on their fridge door, or perhaps insert it on the gaps between their mirrors... It's all up to them, as long as they remember. :)
Invites
Our invites will also be entirely "DIY". I've always wanted a pocket-fold square invite, but with the certain twist that goes with the theme. Although it is asian inspired, it should still have a contemporary feel. I've found alot of resources online and have somehow mixed and matched several concepts into one. We're still working on the contents of the invite, like the main sections (entourage list etc.) and the RSVP and reception cards. When we're finished doing them, Francis' brother and sister-in-law would help us with the finishing touches and printing. :D Here's a prototype of how the invite would look like from the outside.
Our invites will also be entirely "DIY". I've always wanted a pocket-fold square invite, but with the certain twist that goes with the theme. Although it is asian inspired, it should still have a contemporary feel. I've found alot of resources online and have somehow mixed and matched several concepts into one. We're still working on the contents of the invite, like the main sections (entourage list etc.) and the RSVP and reception cards. When we're finished doing them, Francis' brother and sister-in-law would help us with the finishing touches and printing. :D Here's a prototype of how the invite would look like from the outside.
I only have glossy pink board with rose patterns all-over when I made this prototype, but we will be using plain ones for our invites. The invites fold into three, with the main compartment at the center holding the main details, and the right compartment holding other details (such as the RSVP cards). I have taken a photo of how it would look like when opened. I just haven't uploaded it yet.
There would be an "obi-like sash" on top of the board which would serve as a closure for the invite too. The sash would be made of Chiyogami/Yuzen (Japanese paper whose designs are silk screened on Kozo paper) with intricate details printed in color and gold on it. It doesnt show much on this one for I just printed this from my usual printer. Chiyogamis are quite expensive here. They cost $16 a sheet, which only measure 93cm x 64cm. I hope they're not as expensive back home in Philly. Or maybe I could still find a place where I could get it at a cheaper price. Any suggestions?
There would also be matte gold-trimmings (the one I used here are just trimmings from magazines which explains why it's so dull) at the edge of the "obi-sash" and it'll be bound by a strip of paper of same texture and material as the board for main invite (only that it's paper and not board, guess only the grammage will be different). There will also be a matte gold ribbon to finish the detail.
So far, these are the DIY's that I've finished and have made prototypes of. I'll be showing the actual ones, once I've completed my materials from here and back home. We'll be in Manila third week of July and hopefully we could get as much materials as needed. :) -D-
