Vera Wang Letterpress Wedding Invitations

With William Arthur’s lavish introduction of Vera Wang On Weddings invitation album at this year’s National Stationery Show, I was anxious to see how Vera’s inspired fabric creations were so faithfully recreated on paper. I was fortunate to have an extended discussion with talented designer Meghan Carey, Lead Vera Wang Designer for William Arthur, and Lisa Blinn, William Arthur’s Vice President of Design. The fruits of that enlightening discussion are summarized below.

I think it is fair to say that Vera’s new wedding invitation designs have matured since they were first introduced at the 2005 National Stationery Show. The original designs were unmistakably Vera’s: the stylish oyster-colored paper, the geometric rigor applied to paper sizes and envelopes and Vera’s ever-present wedding motifs that permeated the invitation and envelope lining samples. The new designs reflect an unwavering confidence in translating Vera’s inspirational patterns to paper. As Lisa remarks, “we understand Vera’s aesthetic and tactile sensibility.”

It is hard to believe that the new wedding invitations album went from design to approval by Vera in just over 3 months. A new wedding invitations line often can take between 12 and 18 months to design. Meghan and Lisa immersed themselves in Vera’s world by attending Fashion Shows and fabric conferences to discover the design elements that make Vera’s creations so unmistakably Vera. The secret was to translate these tactile designs to paper using the cutting-edge printing capabilities of William Arthur.

One new design element that features prominently in this new album is the kalogram: a term that refers to a monogram using a person’s full name. Note: This is a great word for Scrabble enthusiasts when you have an “a” rather than an “i”.  Their beauty is unmistakable and adds a level of sophistication not often encountered in fine invitations. New type styles and exaggerated motifs add a level of stylish playfulness that was not generally available in Vera’s initial wedding album.

Grosgrain is a textured pattern ribbon often found in Vera’s clothing designs. William Arthur’s skilled craftsmen have engraved the grosgrain pattern on several sample invitations. I actually had to run my finger across the ridges of the engraved design to convince myself it wasn’t ribbon. Paper is tactile and it is wise to schedule an appointment with a Guild member store in your neighborhood that carries Vera’s On Weddings.

I could go on and describe how the ruched tulle or damask patterns in Vera’s ready-to-wear line have been incorporated into these new invitations, but it is best to see her new album in person. While William Arthur does sell Vera’s wedding invitations at their online store, I encourage you to visit an experienced station to assist you with the many customization options that are simply not available online. Schedule an appointment with a Guild Member store to see the new Vera Wang On Weddings invitation album.

 

Tags: wedding invitation, wedding stationery, national stationery show, lettepress wedding invitation, letterpress, vera wang on weddings, wedding invitations, wedding invitation designs