Creating 14k Gold: What went in to Designing Vanessa Williams' Invitation

When global celebrity Vanessa Williams approached Adorn Wedding Invitations to design her Egyptian themed wedding invitations, the team was flattered and could not wait to start brainstorming creations that would surely mirror the grandeur of the luxurious ceremony. After an epic three-month journey of design and production work, the team crafted something Vanessa describes as “a beautiful piece of art”.

A Captivating Love Story
Looking out across the blanket blue river with her daughter, three continents from home, Vanessa was blissfully unaware that she was soon to fall in love with an American accountant, named Jim Skrip who was aboard the same cruise ship.  

Jim and Vanessa met in a moment of pure serendipity and quickly came to realize that they were both from the same place – New York State.

Amongst the gorgeous backdrop of the Egyptian landscape, Jim and Vanessa found love and each other. This sacred memory has stayed with Vanessa and Jim ever since, serving as inspiration behind their stunning wedding ceremony

The Invitations: Capturing the Magic

Vanessa and Jim needed a company that would be able to capture the unique essence of their design, and a company that would also mirror the luxury of their ceremony.

UK business, Adorn Invitations, were the perfect choice and although capturing the magic of this particular story was no easy feat, their design team was fuelled by the romance of Vanessa and Jim’s love.

Drawing on three key Inspirations; a gold theme, Vanessa’s gown and a shortlisted mood board – the team worked for months to create a fitting design. 

Using the intricate lace detailing on Vanessa’s gown, the team hand drew an exact replica of the outline and then developed a single shape which, when multiplied, created a seamless and uniform pattern.

This was then transferred onto a program which would allow the shape to be laser cut onto all of the pockets on the outside of the invitation.

The Colours of Romance and Egypt

The chosen colour that would grace the invitation and matching accessories was Pantone’s colour of the year – Marsala. With deep, earthy and exotic tones, the colour beautifully emulates passion and romance.

Golden, shimmering highlights were also chosen to contrast and glisten against the rich backdrop of Marsala. Beautifully mirroring the Egyptian environment of where the couple first met, the gold utilized in the foiled lettering and encasing.

The End Result

Perhaps the most extravagant element of the design, the 14-carat gold lotus flower acted as a signature of the invitation collection. The flower which delicately sealed the front of the invitations were all individually hand applied to symbolize new awakening and blossoming love in Vanessa and Jim’s relationship.

Sealed with a wax stamp and personalized logo, the luxurious invitations were finally complete, capturing the magic of Vanessa and Jim’s love beautifully. 

Vanessa and Jim married last year on the fourth of July, and described the invitations as “a huge hit with [their] guests”!

ROSE POPAY - THE WEDDING PAINTER

We're thrilled to welcome Rose Popay back to this year's fair.  Rose can not only capture your wedding day but involve your guests in creating a collaborative work of art for you to keep forever.

Rose will start the process by drawing the bride and groom, some of the main features of the setting and some of the guests. If you wish, Rose can then invite guests to join in by drawing memories of the day.  Continuing to draw alongside, Rose gives the canvas a strong structure and encourages others to join in. Your delighted guests will see the artwork take shape before their eyes and completed by the end of the evening!  

Rose can also draw solo if you wish or can work from photographs before or after the event - so guests could give the artwork as a gift before or after the big day!  The painting can be presented on a box canvas or on watercolour paper ready for framing.  Rose can also draw maps to your wedding venue.

Born in 1974 to a pair of artists who formed the Natural Theatre Company of Bath, Rose was probably destined to follow the Arts!  Having travelled the world extensively and worked for Damien Hirst's Science Studios for 5 years, Rose now works for herself on events, as a performance artist and on her Popayspectives creating future heirlooms 

We love Rose's style - her painting is just like her, fun, unique and inimitable!  Come and see her at the fair where she'll be doing a live drawing!

LE SOULIER - WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR HEELS!

Imagine your perfect pair of wedding shoes - a piece of art, unique to you and inspired by your vision and character.  Sonia Brown is an innovative shoe designer who specialises in creating just that!  Her company, Le Soulier, is dedicated to creating individual shoes for individual people, with love.

Each pair of shoes is unique to you, beautifully hand-painted with love and care and will remain a cherished memento of your wedding day to last you a lifetime. 

Sonia will fashion the shoes to match your vision.  Using Artists' brushes, high-quality paints and a very steady hand she crafts delicate detailing and fluid lines in pastel or vibrant colours for your very own pair of 'lust-have' shoes.  Every last detail is considered, matching pearls, ribbons & Swarovski crystals to the bride's dress, tiara and flowers.

As part of the design process Sonia will beautifully illustrate your bespoke design in full colour to provide an artist's impression of your shoe transformation.

Sonia makes her bespoke service fool proof with tips on what to look for in your wedding shoe and a step-by-step guide on how to go about creating your dream shoes from the highest heels to ballet flats and even Wellingtons!  She can also match your bridesmaids or children's shoes if you wish.  As Sonia says "Nothing is impossible from flowers, tartans and bows, through to your married name and more".

It's so simple - once you've gone through the easy steps of creating your design with her, sit back, let Sonia do her magic and wait for the WOW factor when you open your shoe box!

Sonia also paints wedding dresses, handbags, leather gloves, jackets and much more.  View her gallery or contact her for more information.  I'm already planing my own perfect pair for my 20th wedding anniversary … and wondering if I can have a dress made and painted too - I can barely contain myself!  

Sadly, Sonia is busy making these beautiful creations so can't be with us herself at the fair but we are absolutely thrilled to be able to  have some of her vintage style shoots and boots for you to feast your eyes on!

Moomie Swan

Bristol Vintage are delighted to present the artist behind our all new 2014 wedding fair poster… Moomie Swan.

Bristol Vintage's Ali Cook says: "I'd seen Moomie's artwork before and loved it and I just felt she had a great style.  I knew I wanted a romantic flowing feel for this year's poster and I was so thrilled when she sent me her first sketches as it was exactly the style I'd had in my head". 

Moomie was really excited when we asked her to create our poster: "I'm a big fan of vintage fashion and early 20th century illustration styles and I knew this would be the perfect project to incorporate both these influences."

Choosing to go with a 20's feel for the drawing and art deco inspired text, Moomie said, "as it's a wedding fair, I really wanted to capture a sense of joy and excitement." She experimented with some sketches of a couple dancing, but eventually settled on the groom lifting up the bride to throw her bouquet as it seemed the most iconic symbol of newly wed joy.

As well as designing posters and cards, Moomie makes beautiful origami decorations which she sells at craft fairs... 

…and illustrates books. She's currently preparing for Christmas, but you can find out more on her blog and don't forget to pop back here soon for the 2014 poster reveal!

Rose Popay

Bristol Vintage loves Rose Popay - The Wedding Painter

Invite Rose Popay to your wedding to entertain your guests whilst she draws and paints your event.

She will encourage (gently force) your guests to join in, resulting in a fabulous collaborative creation of your wedding by the end of the evening.

Rose also draws wedding maps...

...and can work from photographs after an event. She's just finished two that were sent to the USA and Dawn Porter just recommissioned Rose to celebrate the first year of her marriage to Chris O'Dowd from photographs of their adventures.

So get with those in the know and book Rose Popay for your wedding and have the most unique, original and wonderful reminder of your wedding day. (Oh and she'll be at our next fair in March 2014 so make sure you come and meet her - she'll be drawing live!)