Daniel Island Club wedding invitation suite | Inspiration and Design

With a setting as beautiful as the Daniel Island Club for your lowcountry wedding, setting the tone with your wedding invitations is a must!

This wedding suite features handmade paper for both the invitation and the details card as well as gold foil printing for the return address and rsvp envelope addressing. Gold thread wrapped the suite and was finished with a custom wax seal with the couple’s initials which we could also use for their day-of paper goods.

The envelope liners were inspired by the lowcountry tide flats - a beautiful vintage image that brought in the location of the wedding.

What theme and wedding design are you hoping for your wedding? Are you getting married in South Carolina? Let us help you set the tone for your wedding day by inquiring here!

French's Point wedding | Emily and Gregory

I am finally getting around to blogging about a wonderful couple, Emily and Gregory…I had the pleasure of not only working with Emily closely but also with her mother!

Emily wanted something classic, beautiful and featuring her wedding colors, creams, dusty blues and greens. She quickly fell in love with our Jubilee semi-custom suite but wanted to amp up the personalization to truly make it fit her wedding.

With out semi-custom wedding invitation collection, we offer free edits to the text and color but Emily chose to also upgrade to letterpress printing, double thick paper and include a liner. We also included some adorable illustrations on her rsvp card for meal choices, including a little mushroom!

The suite was printed on double thick 100% cotton paper - gave a super luxurious feel and paired perfectly with the letterpress impressions.

We also created day-of items for the French’s Point, Maine couple - including a fabric wedding seating chart and custom cocktail napkins that included their monogram.

Their seating chart, printed on fabric which included the floral illustrations from the Jubilee semi-custom suite

It was a gorgeous affair and we are so glad we could be part of Emily and Gregory’s Maine wedding. See more beautiful photos below!

Our move to Charleston and Projects lately

Well, we have finally settled and bought a house in Charleston, South Carolina, so we should be here a while! My family and I (and this business!) have moved all over the country and we’re glad to finally be somewhere long term. Just a little back-story, my husband had been in school so we moved to Oregon for his coursework, then outside of Chicago for his internship and now we chose to move here to Charleston! Which is wonderful because there are so many inspiring creatives here and an amazing wedding scene.

Lately, a lot of projects have been centered around launching stationery cards, setting up for more luxury wedding invitations (think gold foil, embossing, and handmade paper!) as well as working on a lot of lovely first wedding anniversary gifts.

We absolutely love hand writing wedding vows in calligraphy for wedding gifts and had the pleasure of creating so many new sets this year. While wedding invitation design and creation typically falls in the winter and spring, summer tends to bring more of the day-of design for weddings as well as anniversary gifts.

A special anniversary gift we offer is wedding vows written in calligraphy on handmade paper. We source from a german company that has a wide range of color options. From white to cream to blue or even pink, we can have the anniversary gift fit your home decor perfectly or even go with the colors from your wedding day. Sizes up to 19x25” help us be able to incorporate up to 350 words, which helps your wedding vows be legible - especially if you had a lot to say on your wedding day. If you are interested or want to see more photos you can visit the listing here.

calligraphy vows | custom calligraphy | wedding vow art | first anniversary gift

from $100.00

We work with each person (usually one person reaches out and it’s a surprise to their spouse!) to find the perfect color scheme and sizing.

Here are some photos of our most recent first anniversary gift pieces:

Handmade paper & Wedding Invitations | the guide

Handmade paper wedding invitations have become very popular over the last few years and we are a big fan of the trend! The fluffy paper, raw edges, and various color options really make your wedding invitations stand out. Choosing handmade paper for your invitations also adds an element of texture for your guests.

At Golden Hour Paper we have scoured the paper industry for the best handmade papers for your wedding invitations to add to our designs and offerings. You can view our portfolio here to see some of the suites that feature handmade paper in their design.

If you want to inquire for wedding invitations that include handmade paper you can do so below. We have years of experience working with it and can’t wait to create a beautiful invitation suite for you.

Below you can find a guide to our favorite handmade papers and how they can be incorporated into your wedding invitations!

FABULOUS FANCY PANTS

Fabulous Fancy Pants handmade paper is absolutely lovely and comes in 2 weights of paper: 150 gsm and 250 gsm (250 is basically double-thick compared to your standard cardstock). It’s one of the first papers we used in our business and can work with digital printing though it can be finicky!

Their paper is 100% cotton rag and each piece is handmade. Currently, FFP only offers an off-white paper and does not create custom dyed papers. They even offer “seconds” - blemished handmade paper - in their shop if you just want to get your hands on it to feel it and play around with it for a project.

We highly recommend their paper for letterpress or foil printing though at times it can work for digital invitations.

SHARE STUDIOS

Share Studios is based in Philadelphia, PA, where I lived when I first started Golden Hour! Stephanie is a true artisan and she is one of my favorite accounts to follow on Instagram. She created gorgeous blues and green papers (among other colors of course!) and uses unique fibers like kozo and abaca for her papers.

She offers custom orders of specific sizes and colors of paper to be used for wedding invitations and also offers envelopes and business card sizes! One of our favorite products of hers are her larger sheets, which we have used time and time again for our calligraphy vow sheets.

The papers would work best to be either letterpress printed or foil-printed.

SILK & WILLOW

Silk & Willow's handmade papers are made from recycled t-shirt cuttings and are each handcrafted. Silk and Willow offer handmade paper envelopes to bring together all pieces of an invitation suite. They also offer a beautiful array of handmade silk ribbons, some with flower impressions and other unique characteristics.

ARPA

Arpa's papers come in a variety of colors (ivory, grey, pale blue, pale pink, lavender, sage, and salmon) and only have a slight texture and deckle on their edges, making them the best paper for digital printing.

We love that Arpa offers a variety of colors and that they also carry handmade paper envelopes. One thing that can make things a little difficult with their handmade papers is that they only offer European sizing which is different than the standard card sizes for wedding invitations here in the US.

Well, that is all for today! If you have any handmade paper favorites out there, we would love to hear about them. If you have any questions about handmade paper or wedding invitations please drop a comment below or reach out to us here.

Best,
Maddy Kelly

Summer dusty rose romance | Styled shoot at Tyler Gardens

For this styled shoot, we partnered with a team of incredible wedding vendors in Pennsylvania (our old home!) to create a romantic french-inspired shoot with pops of corals and pinks. For the stationery goods we created handmade paper wedding invitations featuring organic calligraphy and serif fonts to tie in the french design and paired them with calligraphed envelopes and vintage postage with florals in the color scheme.

Tyler Gardens, a wedding venue in Bucks County, PA and it’s elegant charm created a gorgeous setting for this shoot. The historic mansion and 4-tiered gardens drip with old world charm, surrounded by wrought iron gates, elegant statues, stunning fountains, and romantic landscaping. A fairytale venue to say the least – especially when it is covered with florals by Faye & Renee Floral Design!

It was also really fun working with Olivia Caridi, (you might recognize her from the Bachelor a few seasons ago!). I loved how perfectly Olivia’s soft blush Erin Cole Bridal wedding gown and the groom’s coral toned tux matched the rich warm hues of the garden’s stone walls and staircases! Every last detail of this styled wedding shoot flowed together and perfectly fit our warm summer color palette.

Visiting this historic garden is like taking a step back in time to an era of elegance. Our sweetheart table looked just right nestled into the multi-tiered landscaping at Tyler Gardens in the golden evening light! I loved the hand dyed table runner by Hello, Bird. and the wild climbing florals by Faye & Renee Floral Design perfectly and organically styled by Arielle Fera Events!

We were simply overwhelmed with the beauty and variety of locations to shoot, and despite the 90 degree heat, we spent hours running around capturing it all and loving every minute of it. It was such a joy working with an incredible group of wedding vendors! See more from this lovely shoot on Style Me Pretty!

What's the process for ordering semi-custom wedding invitations?

Want to still have stunning wedding invitations that stand out to your guests but not spend the $$ that custom design requires? Semi-custom wedding invitations might be a great choice for you! Similar to the “big-box” brands of wedding invitations, we have pre-designed wedding invitations that we can change the elements of to go with your theme/color palette for your big day.

In this blog post I am breaking down the need-to-know details about our semi-custom wedding invites, so if you're thinking about utilizing this option, you don't have to be confused and left in the dark.

PROCESS

1. First, you choose your semi-custom suite (see them here!) and customize your details by choosing your quantity and print method, then filling out our information form which will pop up after you check out so that we know what to include on the pieces.

   if you have any questions about them or want to request a custom quantity, please reach out to us via email (hello@goldenhourpaper.com) or through our inquiry form :)

2. Add any additional adornments, including guest addressing with calligraphy, vintage postage, envelope liners, venue illustrations, etc. prior to checking out.

3. You will receive the first proof of your invitation suite within 5 business days after we receive your order. Please review all of the information carefully on that proof! Three revisions are included in your order.

4. Once you have approved the final proof, your files will be sent to the printer. Printing usually takes 1 week for digital printing and about 2-3 weeks for letterpress or foil printing. Any additional adornements will also be purchased at this time and your paper goods will start to come together for the perfect wedding invitations!

5. After that, we will receive your goods, package them with love and care and ship them your way! Please allow 1-2 additional weeks for processing and shipment.

 

TIMEFRAME

Your semi-custom wedding invitations will arrive to you around four to eight weeks after you place your order. This is partially dependent on your communication with the proof approvals and updates, so please let us know if you need any help with your wedding invitations wording or invitation etiquette and we would be more than happy to answer your questions! We have some helpful blog posts on wedding invitation wording and etiquette if you want to get some tips.

If you choose letterpress or foil printing, please allow an additional two weeks. If you are ordering internationally, also plan on an additional week for shipping.

If you require a shorter turnaround, please contact us for a custom quote to rush your order.

 

QUANTITY

We have a minimum order of 50 required for semi custom invitations. Remember to order the number of households you are inviting, not total number of guests!

We recommend ordering 5-10 extra invitation suites for last-minute guests, keepsakes, and photographs on the wedding day.

If you would like to provide your photographer’s information, we would be happy to ship them a suite free of charge - one less thing for you to think about on your wedding day!

 

PAPER OPTIONS

We’ve scoured the paper world to find the loveliest papers for your wedding invitations. To keep it simple, we've narrowed it down to two paper options for you: 

Ivory and Pure White Crane’s Lettra paper which is 100% cotton and feels super soft and fluffy compared to your typical cardstock…This paper comes in both 110 lb stock or 220 lb which is double thick and super luxurious!

Want something a little different? Let us know in your form when you check out and we can work together to find something you love!

PRINTING METHOD

With three printing methods, we're able to offer greater customization and elevated looks for couples with varying budgets. We've outlined the three methods below.

Flat printing ($) consists of a high-quality laser printer transferring the design onto paper. The finished invitation will look crisp, clean, and smooth. 

Letterpress printing ($$) is a technique of relief printing using a printing press. Custom dies are positioned into the bed of the press and inked, then paper is pressed against it to transfer the ink, creating an impression. This method creates an elegant, tactile effect.
*available only in quantities of 50 or greater

Foil printing ($$$) is the application of metallic foil, to paper where a heated die is stamped onto the foil, making it adhere to the surface leaving the design of the die on the paper. If you choose this option, every piece in your suite will be of the same foil color. Color options include gold, silver, and rose gold. 
*available only in quantities of 50 or greater

AVAILABLE ADD-ONS

To further customize your paper goods, we've included adornment options in our shop for a selection of additional stationery pieces, like a details card, wax seals, calligraphy addressing, venue illustrations and more.

We hope this has been helpful in your journey to find the perfect wedding stationery. And if you do choose to be a Golden Hour Paper couple, we'll make sure you're well taken care of!

Please let us know if you have any additional questions!

Best,
Maddy Kelly

Winter wedding invitation design and inspiration!

Winter weddings can be so classic and beautiful! If you have chosen a winter wedding date it is likely that you have special memories in the season and that you want to add to that by hosting your wedding during that time of year.

One thing that can be difficult when it comes to winter weddings is wedding stationery, as seasonal details can sometimes be a little too much and you most likely don’t want your guests thinking of Christmas when they think of your wedding date!

For winter weddings, custom stationery can make a nod to the season without overdoing it by using a creative color that speaks to the change in weather, silver foil to nod to the frozen snow and ice we tend to see more often during this season, or florals that are unique to the season. Palm trees would not make sense during winter (unless of course you are getting married somewhere tropical!) but pinecones or spruce branches would.

Below, please find some photos of a letterpress and gold foil invitation suite that I think would be absolutely beautiful for a winter wedding. This pulls in the wintry color of blue which I think would be stunning for custom wedding invitations for a winter wedding.

Photos by @hannah.m.photo

Styling by Peachy Keen Coordination

The Johnston's | Oregon City wedding

Leka and Mark were such a fun Portland couple to work with to create custom wedding invitations! While I love working with couples all over the United States, it is especially fun when you can meet with people in person, get to know them, go over wedding invitation samples face-to-face, and talk wedding details over coffee!

Leka had a beautiful vision for her wedding invitations which included a custom watercolor illustration of her and Mark’s wedding venue, Abernethy Center in Oregon city, a printed vellum jacket with vintage peony illustrations, wax seals, envelope addressing in gold calligraphy on plum envelopes, and vintage postage!

One of the reasons I love creating custom invitations is because invitations that are so personal and connected to your love story can truly set the tone for your big day. The thrill couples have when they see everything come together just perfectly is the best feeling as a designer. Leka said at one point after I sent over some preliminary photos as I was assembling the wedding invitations, “Omg they look amazing!!! Can’t wait to have them in my hands!”

Enjoy the photos of their Oregon City wedding from Sweetlife Photography

Here are some photos from my desk in the process of creating and assembling these custom wedding invitations…

A gorgeous combination of gold ink on burgundy/wine colored envelopes

vintage peony illustrations printed on a vellum jacket

Cheers to you Leka and Mark and all the best to you as you head into this journey called marriage!