california dreaming
I guess I really am a california girl at heart. can’t get last week’s trip out of my head and wanted to share more photos from the fallen eucalyptus tree i came across at one of my old haunts, hendry’s beach. the lines, textures and blue sky background are pretty fantastic!
more from california
I thought you might like to see a few more textures and shapes from california. 
Some details from Casa Covarrubius, where we were married, and what inspired this invitation. 
california
So excited to be here! I’m visiting family for a few days and just love and miss these amazing days, full of color and new sights… 
hendry’s beach
wilcox property
summerland, a little coastal town just south of santa barbara
Escort Card Collaboration, Day 5: Elizabeth Messina
Today is the final day of our collaboration and it is with great excitement that I release the photos from Elizabeth Messina. Many of you are probably aware of her work and have seen it in the pages of Martha Stewart, the Knot and Grace Ormonde. If you’re not familiar with her, now you know what everyone else does, that she takes the most intimate, personal, gorgeous photos for weddings, magazines and more. Enough said, as these photos speak for themselves.
calligraphy by Calligraphy of Oakbrook
Thank you, Elizabeth!
And thank you to all of you who tuned in this week. I would love to know what you would like to see here and am always open to your suggestions and comments! Next week, inspiration from California.
Posted on April 25th, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Escort Card Collaboration, Day 4: Larkspur
Spring has definitely sprung here in Chicago, and it’s most apparent by seeing what the midwesterners did with their escort cards for this project-taken them outside! Beth Barnett from Larkspur, a floral designer in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, was no exception. Beth has a completely natural, garden feel to her work. Even the more formal of flowers in her designs are softened with complementary ones, like the addition of a spray of wildflowers. Her shop embodies this feel with the addition of hand-picked antique ceramics, letterpress stationery and a well-edited selection of gifts. I think any Chicago bride would love to work with Beth, as she one of the most down to earth people around…thanks, Beth, for being part of this week’s posts and working with our Water escort card!
I love how the sunlight hits these…
some of Beth’s work for weddings and everyday…
Friday is our last post in this series, and I’m so excited to show you the photos from a very special photographer. Please tune in tomorrow morning for some amazing photos.
Escort Card Collaboration, Day 3: Agnes and Hoss
First of all, so sorry for the late post-the server is having issues today-hopefully the issue is resolved.
Today is all about pattern, creativity and simplicity. Stephanie Waddell, founder of Agnes and Hoss took our Forest escort card and created three directions to show her perspective. Stephanie is a true talent with pattern design, and renders original drawings from inspiration from the world around her. She has her patterns printed on silk charmeuse, then creates handbags, accessories and items for the home. I am definitely honored that such an amazing lifestyle designer has collaborated with me on this project. Thanks, Stephanie! You can purchase her amazing pillows, handbags, scarves, and more here.
Stephanie on pattern: I think it’s interesting to mix patterns and motifs, especially when they are in similar color families, to create an overall nature angle.
On Simplicity: A place setting can be really simple, elegant and modern, like this card and antler.
Calligraphy by Sara Elizabeth of Calligraphy of Oakbrook
On Creativity: you can get creative for an outdoor event by displaying the cards / envelopes in unusual ways like these nestled in some vines along a fence.
Calligraphy by Stacey Shapiro
Escort Card Collaboration, Day 2: Jessica Rust
For day two of the collaboration, I’m happy to introduce to you Jessica Rust. Jessica designs for dinnerware, then personalizes by firing ceramic decals into porcelain. Her company, Jessica Rust Designs, offers a pretty big range of items, with designs ranging from organic birch trees to custom silhouettes. Now that she’s offering a gift registry, you can sign up for a whole set of customized dinnerware with your names, initials or wedding date.
She set up her love birds plate outside; with the flight place card, birch bark napkin ring and weathered bench as a tabletop, this muted color palette has the beginnings of a gorgeous outdoor celebration.
I love this palette actually, combining the cool blue and silver from the card with the warm white, taupe and reddish color from the back of the birch bark. Along with the magnolia blossom, it’s just really elegant and simple.
Calligraphy by the lovely Sara Elizabeth of Calligraphy of Oakbrook. Tribeca font.
You could really take the love birds theme further if you wanted, by adding feathers in your bouquet or centerpieces, or adding a few well placed birds throughout the room.
Something like this design by Passion Flowers definitely would work!
These great nests are pretty perfect, too. Thanks, Jessica!
Purchase Flight escort cards here.
Escort Card Collaboration, Day One: Lisa Blake
It is with great excitement that I introduce the first of five collaborations with some of the design industry’s most talented wedding and lifestyle companies. My company, Sarah Drake Design, has five new escort cards available to purchase. I thought it would be fun to ask some of my friends in the wedding and design world to create a tablescape, scene or photo inspired by the card designs. They were given absolute creative control, I just provided the cards. I am thrilled with what they came up with. Not only do the photos showcase their individual style and perfectly reflect their creative vision, but offer some amazing color and design ideas for any chic reception. It was also an honor to work with some of the industry’s most talented designers.
The first collaboration is with Lisa Zanassi Blake, a San Francisco based event planner. Lisa had a stunning vision when she chose the Park Lane design. Her attention to detail, clean design and chic style are certainly reflected in these photos. So many shades of bright greens and white combine for such a fresh tablescape! Her company, Bellissima Vita, provides event planning and day of wedding coordination. Her inspiring blog is a great resource for wedding and reception ideas and she showcases tons of details. These photos were shot by Photography by Lisa + James, a Style Me Pretty little black book preferred vendor for Napa Valley. The lovely floral design is by Huckleberry Karen Designs.
Calligraphy by the talented Stacey Shapiro. See her styles here.
View and purchase Park Lane escort/place cards here.
Tomorrow’s design, Flight, will feature Jessica Rust, designer of Rabbit Toes ceramics. Check back at 10am CST Tuesday to see what she came up with. Hint: it’s a complete about-face from today’s design!
what is the difference between an escort card and a place card?
I get this question a lot. Before we post our escort/place cards, I’d like to clear up the difference between an escort card and a place card. Not to mention, a table card!
Escort Cards escort your guest to their table. Usually placed at the entrance to the reception on a table, hanging from a tree, floating in a fountain…These can be a card with their name and table number written on it, or an envelope with their name written on it. When the envelope is opened, the guest sees an enclosure with their table number written on it.
When they get to the table… the guest can either place their card at any place setting at that table if you don’t have a preference to where they sit, or they then see a Place Card at an individual setting, usually on the plate or stuck into a place card holder. Depending on your theme, this could be a flower, wine cork, small silver holder, etc.
A Table Card is a larger card which indicates the number or name of the table. It can coordinate with your existing artwork or theme and can be placed in the center of the table, identifying it. It can be placed in a frame, holder or nestled in one of the floral arrangements. Since each card is different, it makes sense to have your stationer print blanks that a calligrapher writes the name or number upon. Or just take blank colored paper coordinating with your reception and print large numbers right off your own inkjet printer. Paper Source has a great color palette, just order the cover, which is a thicker cardstock (80 lb).
Hope that clears things up and tune in Monday for the first shot in our series of collaborations featuring escort/place cards!
collaboration
I am greatly anticipating next week’s postings. I asked five wedding and lifestyle companies to create tablescapes or just be inspired by five new escort/place card designs we’re offering on our site. I cannot believe the images I’m getting back! So, starting Monday, with one post per day until Friday, you’ll be able to see into the creative minds of an event planner, ceramicist, florist, fabric and handbag designer and a very special photographer.
