kristen adcock . owner + senior designer

where did you grow up & what is your favorite thing about growing up there?

Houston & Chicago. I grew up in Spring playing basketball with my dad as coach, and when I wasn’t on the basketball court one of my favorite things was spending the weekend on Lake Conroe at my Grandparent’s lake house. We moved to the suburbs of Chicago when I was in 8th grade and nothing is better than a Lou Malnati’s pizza! http://www.loumalnatis.com – check them out, they’ll ship a pizza to your door!

alma mater: UH, it may not be Alabama (see Kathryn’s post) but they have a great graphic communications program that has served me well.

where do you draw inspiration from?

My mom.

why did you choose the wedding industry?

After spending time as a graphic designer then art director at a Houston based graphic design firm specializing in corporate branding and web design, I was looking for a fresh start. I quickly found this great little niche in custom wedding invitations which has grown over the last 8 years. Invitation Solutions now includes Laurie and Kathryn, two of my favorite people who are the heart and sole of our wonderful customer service, as well as, Megan who is so wonderful and who’s design work helps us exceed the wishes of our clients.

what is your favorite thing about working in stationery?

My favorite part about working in wedding stationery is seeing the reaction of our elated clients when they come in and see their wedding invitations.

do you have any pets?

“The boys,” Bentley & Tucker, are best friends, super spoiled and run the house. They are Italian Greyhounds and more affectionate than you could ever imagine. Bentley is our ball player. He loves to play and always has a ball in tow just incase you want to play too. Tucker is our buddy and always at our side.

if you had to choose one “block” font and one “script” font to write in for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Today I would choose, Bellucia (love the hand written feel!) and Helvetica (there are so many fonts in the family!) It always seems to change so I’ll have to update this post again soon.

non-wedding related guilty pleasure?

Laying out at the pool and Oreo Pizookie!

www.madiganmade.com

These are a few tips and ideas on how to use Pinterest for planning your wedding:

• Try starting out with what you do know – whether it is the color palette or the style. If you know your colors are purple, vintage rose, and platinum then try searching for those colors only. Seeing different style weddings in your colors will help you decide if you like the more modern style wedding or traditional. Same rule applies if you know the style but not the colors. When scrolling through the search results for “traditional wedding” you will be attracted to certain pins, most likely because of the colors. Nude, champagne and ivory may not first come to mind for a contemporary wedding style but once you see the whole picture, you can easily rule out colors.
• Instead of pinning cute little details that you have no idea where to incorporate them, try thinking of the big picture and make a list of areas that could use something “extra”: getting ready (bridesmaid gifts), ceremony (guest book, guest book table decor, programs, floral ideas), reception (escort card holders, table decor, wedding favors, menus, floral ideas, exiting the venue), etc.
• If you are planning on taking engagement photos and want to use them on your save the dates, I would recommend doing some research before the photo shoot on Pinterest. You can see what poses you like and don’t like, unique ideas and props, clothing inspiration, etc.

I hope some of my suggestions help you plan your wedding with the least amount of stress possible! For wedding pins organized by color, style, photos, details and more check out Invitation Solutions on Pinterest. If you are looking for a random mix of my favorite stationery ideas, follow my invitation + stationery board!

 laurie ranz . design consultant + marketing

where did you grow up & what is your favorite thing about growing up there?

Belton, Texas; it is a small town, so it is quiet, peaceful and there’s no traffic! I still love going to visit my parents there because it’s nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of Houston now and then! My parents live on a lot of land, so it’s nice and relaxing to go there and get a breath of fresh air.

alma mater: Texas A&M University

where do you draw inspiration from?

I love reading wedding blogs, photography blogs and wedding magazines. I could look at wedding photos for days!

why did you choose the wedding industry?

I’ve always loved the event industry and particularly weddings – helping couples make their big day unique to them and that much more special is what I love! And of course, the lovely Haley Hughes with En Vogue Events introduced me to Kristen.

what is your favorite thing about working in stationery?

I love seeing new trends and patterns. Because I don’t have a design degree, I also love seeing how fonts alone can change the overall look and feel of stationery!

do you have any pets?

Yes! I got my cat Molly 4 years ago - I adopted her from an animal shelter in Austin. She is a Maine Coon/Tabby mix and is such a diva!

if had to choose one “block” font and one “script” font to write in for the rest of your life, what would they be?

That’s a tough one… I love Trajan (boring!) and Feel but probably not together; but then my new favorite script font is Always – it looks so pretty and hand-written!

non-wedding related guilty pleasure?

I love scrap-booking, traveling, and eating anything sweet… especially chocolate! I enjoy watching chick flicks with my fabulous co-worker Kathryn and Glee!

kathryn hill . design consultant + marketing

where did you grow up & what is your favorite thing about growing up there?

I was born and raised here in Houston. Besides having a great feeling of community, I think my favorite thing about Houston is that there is always something new and different to do!

alma mater: University of Alabama (roll tide!)

where do you draw inspiration from?

Because my degree is in apparel and textile design, I feel most inspired when looking at fashion, prints and patterns. I think fabric can spark a great design idea! I also am inspired by décor, unique floral arrangements, vintage pieces, etc. Pinterest.com is making me sleep deprived!

why did you choose the wedding industry?

Because of my background, both in design and customer service, I thought the wedding industry would be a perfect fit. I love that the industry is constantly reinventing itself, so the more creative you are the better! I love meeting new people and being apart of creating the wedding of their dreams.

what is your favorite thing about working in stationery?

I love how stationery can truly capture a person or couple by the design details and packaging. There are always new trends or styles in stationery, and that motivates me to be as creative as possible. Whether it is a unique color palette, specific theme, or elements that reflect the bride and groom – I find it all inspiring!

do you have any pets?

Even though they are not my own, I consider my parent’s boxer dog Hank, my sister and brother-in-law’s pocket beagle Tuff, and their labrador retriever Maggie to be my own! Hank is super-sweet – a little too sweet for a “guard dog” if you ask me! At just 12 inches, Tuff might have a bigger personality than two people combined – he always keeps me happy. Maggie loves going hunting and fishing with my brother-in-law but enjoys “being one of the girls” just as much!

if you had to choose one “block” font and one “script” font to write in for the rest of your life, what would they be?

I do LOVE a small cap letter, so I would have to choose either “Garamond Small Cap” or “Trajan” for my block font; both are just so classic. I have to admit that I am a little obsessed with the swashes in the script font “Feel” (the capital “K” and lowercase “y” are too pretty!) but have recently fallen head over heals for “Lavanderia” – I just can’t get over how delicate and beautiful it is!

non-wedding related guilty pleasure?

anything “mini”

sandra + dustin . font always

laura + stephen . font belluccia

The variety of available fonts seem unlimited, offering you great options that appear handwritten and give your invitation suite that beautiful, hand done look. Even better – many fonts have a variety of styles for each letter, so the look for your invitation can still be unique to your wedding! I’d love to show you the beautiful options available! Give us a call at 713.864.5573 or email me today to schedule your appointment!

Check back this month – we’ll be featuring a beautiful hand-written calligraphy invitation that is to die for!

brittany + tyler . photographer akil bennett

Artistic photography is amazing and so popular. These photos tell a story and uniquely show each couple’s true personality, love and devotion!

kristin + john . photographer khloe madison

melissa + chris . photographer taylor lord

How to achieve the style you’re looking for:
1. research photographs to find the perfect style you’re looking for.
2. meet with the photographers you’ve selected to see who has the personality to complement yours!
3. prepare in advance: think about how to make your photo shoot unique and personal to you and your fiancé!
4. once you’ve selected that “one in a million” shot, give Invitation Solutions a call to discuss creating your unique, personalized save the dates! Call 713.864.5573 or email us today to schedule your appointment!

*The coupon above must be presented at the time of initial purchase. Valid on NEW in-store purchases only. Not valid with any other offer. Offer excludes shipping/handling and proof charges. Past and existing orders do not qualify. Offer only valid if order is placed during first initial visit. Some exclusions apply, see store for details.

 megan james . graphic designer

where did you grow up & what is your favorite thing about growing up there?

College Station. I liked the small town feel and I loved my high school.

alma mater: Texas State University- San Marcos, TX

where do you draw inspiration from?

I find inspiration in everything. I love anything and everything vintage. I also danced through college and it’s a big part of my life, which definitely inspires my art and style.

why did you choose the wedding industry?

Growing up, I helped a lot with my mother’s floral design business and I definitely enjoy everything about the industry.

what is your favorite thing about working in stationery?

I love clean, simple design, which is perfect for stationery. It also gives me a chance to do feminine, pretty stuff.

do you have any pets?

Joli is my adorable dog! She’s a tiny Yorkie and she’ll be 7 in October. She’s super playful and a little neurotic.

if had to choose one “block” font and one “script” font to write in for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Script font MeaCulpa or Feel. Block font Clarendon. (I wouldn’t use them together though!)

non-wedding related guilty pleasure?

I have a huge sweet tooth and I eat WAY too much chocolate. I love Reese’s and peanut butter M&Ms! Oh, and ice cream in general!

kelley + david

Besides it being a beautiful conversation starter, it also provides the perfect opportunity to bring your wedding color palette into your invitation. What better way to announce that you are “tying the knot” than a subtle, monochromatic satin knot tie!

amy + andrew

Want to carry the “tying the knot” theme throughout your wedding stationery? Use it with your save the date wording, have a satin knot tie binding to your ceremony program, or tie a unique knot onto your favor boxes. The possibilities are endless! “Knot” feeling creative on your own? Give us a call 713.864.5573 or email us info@invitationsolutions.com today; we would love to help you create a playful save the date, timeless invitation, and any other accessory!

alicia + john

The idea of exploring the world together is oh so romantic!  It’s easy to see how a love of travel and vacation can bring two people so close together.

ashley + brandon

Looking for other fun ideas to spread the word for your big day? Try a Boarding Pass or Vintage Travel Postcard to complement your travel theme wedding! To get you thinking of some creative ideas, check out our Pinterest page – we have an entire board dedicated to destination weddings. Call 713.864.5573 or email us info@invitationsolutions.com to set up your complimentary consultation.