Jill and Todd were my first wedding clients.  Although I have handled print media for years, I really needed to to see if I could work with a bride.  When you are a bride it often feels as if you have many pieces to a puzzle that must fit to gether within a certain time frame.  I wasn't sure about designing artwork for someone under such pressure.  So, Jill was my test case!   She is the Certified Marketing Director for a very large successful company.  I knew she had a lot of experience with printed advertising, plus she is very creative.  I figured that was a good place to start.  (And best of all, after all, we are still friends!)  Jill wanted the works...here we go!

There are no comments to Jill and Todd here, because they live in town only a few minutes away!  We usually met in person for coffee or lunch.  Below are some of the sketches we used to work out the concept and design.

Jill & Todd's Concept and Design

Jill and Todd needed several items for their wedding.  They had already sent out a "Save the Date" card.  They needed an invitation, RSVP cards, envelopes, "Within the Ribbon" cards, a "Keepsake" piece, a wedding program and a thank you card. 

Jill knew some of the elements she was using in the wedding, so we utilized them in the concept.  They were going to use some herbs in her flowers and she loved what the various herbs symbolize.  She decided on Heather, Rosemary and Lavender...symbolizing Adoration, Fidelity and Devotion.  She even knew she wanted orchids on the reception tables!

The menu at the reception was going to include some of their very favorite foods - shrimp and grits was mandatory!  She wanted to try and work that into the design to set the tone.

This was one idea we discussed.  A vertical invitation, similar to a children's storybook with small illustrations scattered through the text. We did end up with a vertical design, but not this layout.  However, the idea is starting to take place...my notes say "bagpipes?", "herbs, ivy", and artwork border.

The notes above discuss the herbs Jill wanted to use and their symbolism:

1. Heather - adoration
2. Rosemary - fidelity and remembrance, faithful, loyal
3. Lavender - devotion
4. Oregano - happiness

Jill was going to have a large wedding.  Although most of her family lived out of town, Todd is from the area and his family is well established.  In talking with Jill we began to compare her background to Todd's.  She was from Michigan, enjoyed music and the arts, has an Irish heritage, loves dogs and so on.  Todd is from Myrtle Beach (they aren't many that can truly say that), he grew up boating, loves golf and the beach.   We decided to design a family coat of arms for the cover of the invitation.  Once we came to that decision all the puzzle pieces fell into place! 

We outlined our four panels, one representing the Groom, one for the Bride, one for the Christen wedding and finally - the celebration!  We
worked in the ivy, Jill's piano, the states in which each was born, the orchids and even the cake.  Jill made a rough drawing of the layout of the cake, then described it to me (on right).

I proceeded to work up a more complete sketch. Even her cake topper was a special Cross that she described to me.

Well, all these sketches were the map to the final art and the printed invitation. Jill picked ink colors, paper and drafted the words...the final art.