Happy Wednesday! This past year has been amazing for our team but also extremely busy! Our studio has been absolutely filled to the brim with invites, programs, escort cards, signage, menus, etc for so many wonderful clients. We wanted a chance to capture all of these beautiful projects for our portfolio + share them with you all! As we discussed photographing some of our favorites from the past two years for our portfolio, we knew Amy Cronk would be the perfect fit! Not only is she a wonderful photographer with an incredible eye for capturing details, but also an absolute blast to be around! The day was filled with beautiful styling, laughter and of course, lots of coffee! Enjoy!
Jennifer + Matthew
This wedding is sure giving us all the #fridayfeels today! We absolutely adored working with Jennifer + Matthew from start to finish. From our initial consultation, it was so obvious how madly in love these two are! Creating their stationery was one of our favorite parts of the 2016 season. Their wedding was so dreamy and we couldn’t wait to share all the images! One of the most special aspects of their big day was how they commemorated Jennifer’s mother who had passed away earlier this year. Enjoy all the gorgeous details captured by Rene Tate Photography and coordinated by Claire Williams of We Tie the Knots at the Denver Botanical Gardens and Four Seasons Denver. Congrats you two and thanks for letting us be part of your big day!
#Featured on Chancey Charm
Happy Thursday Friends! Today we are taking some time to share about being featured by the creative + talented women of Chancey Charm. We are always honored to be featured, but this one was especially exciting for us as they are an incredible planning studio with wonderful planners from coast to coast. Lauren Groeper is Chancey Charm's Colorado Wedding Planner and we have loved getting the chance to get to know her and work with her!
Below is a little teaser to get you to head over to their blog and read the article. We promise it's full of good information and all the fun + quirkiness of our fearless leader Sophie.
"In today’s Chancey Charm Denver wedding vendor highlight, we’re chatting with Sophie Ulibarri of Sweet Zion Paperie! Known for creating custom invitations that are tailored to fit each client’s event vision, style and wedding budget, Sophie considerers it a blessing to bring out + support the creativity in others by crafting the perfect product for a couple’s wedding day. She’s sharing how she got her start in the wedding industry, the best moment of her career, wedding planning tips for brides + more."
–The Chancey Charm Team
Click here to head on over to their Blog to read the rest. Stay tuned for more news about what has been going on in the SZP studio. We have lots of beautiful + fun projects to share!
Escort Card Display Inspiration
Happy Summer!! We can’t believe it’s already July- this summer has been flying by for us! It’s probably due to the fact that this year has been crazy busy! Our studio has been abuzz with new clients & new projects! We can’t wait to share more of all we have been up to! Today we are taking some time to write about escort card displays and sharing some photos of our recent work as inspiration! We always get couples that are struggling to come up with ideas and are tired of spending hours searching on Pinterest. This is where we come in! Below are some of our favorite escort card displays to get those juices flowing!
Before you start scrolling, here are a few little hints to keep in mind when choosing your escort card display:
- Location, Location, Location- Where you are choosing to tie the knot is key! Mountain weddings are a great place for Aspen Leaves while Four Season Weddings call for something a little more sparkly- Cheers!
- Consider the Elements- If your wedding is outside, do your planner a favor and keep in mind gusts of wind ;)
- Guest Count- Take into account the number of guests attending. The larger the wedding, the more escort cards and space needed for your display.
- 2 for 1 Deal- If you are giving out favors at the wedding, it can be fun to include them in your escort cards display. Jars of honey and little bags of coffee beans are fun favors and can double as an escort card with the guest's name and table attached.
Though some of our work below was created as place cards, just add a table number and ta-da you have a beautiful escort card :) Enjoy!
Check out our Pinterest page for more creative ideas and inspiration! Happy Brainstorming!!
Be Our Guest: Natasha
We always love catching up with our past brides and hearing about what they are up to now! Catching up with Natasha was no different. Her and her husband Patrick are coming up on their 2nd Wedding Anniversary this June! We truly loved working with them and creating invitations and additional stationery for their Big Day! I still love sharing their stationery with other couples during consultations. It shows our couples that custom designing really allows them to create something that is unique and special to them. Natasha and Patrick wanted invites that were classic and modern, but with whimsical touches. We love how they all turned out!
Enjoy gorgeous photos from their Big Day as well as advice for future couples & an update on how they are doing now!
Q: Tell us your love story:
A: Patrick invited me to watch a movie with him at his house. It was a Friday the 13th and I had only met Patrick once before, so I was admittedly a bit apprehensive. We ended up watching Fight Club, which will always have a special place in my heart. Once the movie was over, we literally stayed up until the sun rose the next morning talking about anything and everything. That's how we both knew this was something special. Now, 7+ years later, we can still stay up chatting all night and enjoying one another... and Fight Club and Friday the 13th are now extra special to us.
Q: What was one of your favorite memories from your wedding day?
A: In our culture, the bride wears a white wedding sari. We didn't incorporate much "tradition" into the wedding, but I really wanted to wear a sari for the ceremony. Patrick didn't know, and I ended up wearing my mother's wedding sari, which is just beautiful. Patrick was SO surprised, and I loved seeing his reaction.
Q: What was your favorite part about working with Sweet Zion Paperie?
A: Sophie's work is like art... it's just gorgeous! So many of our guests commented on how beautiful our invites were. Loved them!
Q: How has your relationship with your now husband/wife changed from when you were dating?
A: It sounds silly, but I think Patrick is a little more "protective" of me. I'm now officially his responsibility, and I think he loves that. And, we talk about having babies now :)
Q: It’s the little things. Now that you’re married, what is one little thing that you love about your spouse that you didn’t notice before?
A: He loves me unconditionally and accepts me for who I am. He is an equal in this relationship (thank you for cleaning the floors today sweetie!), and is constantly seeking to better himself as a person and as a husband. I have learned so much from him in the last few years, and am constantly amazed by his passion, drive, and reflection. And, he's hilarious. I could not ask for a better partner in crime.
Q: Speaking from experience – Do you have any advice to future brides & grooms for planning their wedding?
Oh gosh, where do I even start? Get ring insurance immediately. Hire a wedding planner, or at least a day-of coordinator! And hire Sophie right away! Don't be afraid to pay the extra $1K (or even $5K) to get exactly what you want for your special day. Hire a good photographer and don't skip on the videographer to capture every moment. Do engagement photos (if not to simply have and enjoy, to get used to the camera!). Get a massage the morning of your wedding. If you can, wait to see your future spouse until the ceremony. Make sure to stay hydrated! Take time to pause during the wedding night and count your blessings - every single one of your guests is there to recognize your love and celebrate YOU (how cool is that?). Write all your thank yours on the flight to/from your honeymoon (you're still on cloud nine and it is soooo easy to be so grateful to everyone who helped you celebrate!).
Q: What is next for you? (babies, moves, jobs, etc.)
A: Patrick just started a new career, so we're going to let him get settled. And then babies!
Photography: Jason+Gina Photography / Planning: Bliss Elevated / Venue: Denver Art Museum
Real Weddings: Veena + Sahil
“Invitations truly set the tone for your wedding.” This is something we say to our clients all the time and we really mean it! Your stationery is the first thing people receive in regards to your Big Day. Not only is the stationery informative, but it gives your guests a sneak peek into the style, colors and feel of your wedding. This gorgeous Palm Springs wedding was no exception; it set the tone for an amazing Wedding Weekend and a beautiful celebration! This special couple and their gorgeous venue inspired each piece of their stationery suite. We loved incorporating the modernity of the Parker Palm Springs and their personal style and important cultural elements. Two of these intentional touches were a blind deboss and an illustration by the Bride's sister. The blind deboss inspiration came from the iconic architecture of the venue and we loved seeing it all come together on their Wedding Day. The second special touch was a custom Genesha illustrated by the Bride's sister for the envelope liner and wedding logo.
Now that you have seen their invites, check out the beautiful photos from their Wedding Day! We are so thankful that Jolene from Laurel and Rose sent this special couple our way! She did an incredible job along with the rest of this stellar vendor team. Enjoy and Congratulations to Veena & Sahil!
Photography by Heather Kincaid | Floral by Studio Kate Floral | Attire by BrideIan India
#hellofirstlook #hellomoss Launch Party
The Launch party for First Look Events and Moss Denver was an incredible night of creativity and beautiful inspiration! Each member of the First Look Events team created a vignette centered around an emotion- Wonder, Passion and Joy. We loved being part of the process and providing unique calligraphy and fun paper goods for each vignette. It was amazing to see each of their visions come to life and an honor to come alongside and support such talented people in their endeavors. Cheers to Brynn for her undying creativity, passion and drive. Cheers to Amber for her admirable zen, kindness and organization. And Cheers to Gabby for her outlasting wit, ease/flexibility and style. We can't wait to see what's in store for the future! Enjoy some amazing photos from this fun night full of creative energy and incredible design!
Wonder Vignette Contributors: Amber at First Look Events, Moss Denver, Ali & Garrett Wedding Photography, Statice Floral, Yonder Floral and Design, Elite Entertainment, Catering by Design
Passion Vignette Contributors: Brynn at First Look Events, Moss Denver, Elite Entertainment, Chair Covers and Linens, Ali & Garrett Wedding Photography, Orchid Princess Floral, Event Rents, Footers Catering
Joy Vignette Contributors: Gabby at First Look Events, Moss Denver, Ali & Garrett Wedding Photography, Plum Sage, Event Rents, Chair Covers and Linens, Intricate Icings, Three Tomatoes, Elite Entertainment, Emma & Grace
2015 Recap: What Did We Learn??
2015 was a BIG year for us- Our team grew by two and it has been an incredible time of learning and growth! We had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful clients between our weddings, bridal/ baby Showers, corporate events, non-profits, and Etsy. We are beyond grateful to have worked with such amazing people who made this year so special! Over the past month+, we have had a chance to catch our breath, gather our thoughts on 2015 and talk about our dreams for 2016! Now we want to share them with you- Enjoy! What have you learned about the stationery industry in 2015?
Sophie: I have noticed a few different trends in the past few years. The "belly band" has become ever more popular as a way of keeping the invitation in a nice, organized presentation without the bulk of a pouch. I have noticed that the opulence of invitations has shifted from pouches and crystals and ribbons, to foil stamping, blind debossing, dip dying, and ornate calligraphic design details. Another thing is the rise in "branding" your wedding. Instead of the traditional monogram option, which, I'm sure, has Emily Post rolling in her grave, couples are opting for a cohesive brand to carry throughout their wedding and beyond. We have done countless embossers, wax stamps, branded tags in the past two years.
Rachel: Since beginning to work with SZP, I have learned to think a bit farther outside of the box. Invitation design allows for more dynamic and intricate designs. The print options are endless! I have really been enjoying the ability to be a bit more hands on with the designs and get crafty.
Britt: I have really come to love paper! Sounds cheesy, but knowing all the work and details that go into creating a invitation suite, business card, etc has made me come to truly love it. In addition to my love of paper, I have learned a lot about the event/stationery industry through social media. I have learned that social media is a hilariously frustrating, yet powerful tool for companies! It can be an incredible way to get your name and work out there, yet it is so difficult to predict which posts will engage people and which will not.
What are some things you have taken from 2015 clients?
S: In 2015, I had my first two experiences of WHY setting up business policies is so crucial. After giving my all to a particularly abusive client's save the dates and invitations, I decided to void the remainder of their contract and forgo designing and producing their remaining stationery pieces. I was so glad that I was protected in doing this because of the language in my contracts. I realize that contracts are there to protect both you as a business owner, but also the client in the event that it's just not a good fit. I had a similar experience with a bride who opted for letterpress this past year and only noticed the misspelling of a name after it had been printed and delivered to her. The production release we have all clients sign before printing their order protected us from any liability and we were able to work out the re-printing for her on a very tight timeline. These procedures help establish boundaries and help hold both you and your client's accountable.
R: Working with couples, I have learned that questions are key. The more you ask the more you know and the better you understand them as individuals, their relationship, and their overall style. Bringing their vision to life, getting people excited for their day, I think that's my favorite part.
B: Similarly to Rachel, I learned that #couplestyles is a real thing. Our questionnaire is essential for getting to know our couples and finding out whom they are and what is most important to them. Each detail helps us to create stationery that will set the tone for their big day. Couples are not always on the same page with what they like (opposites truly do attract it seems!) and it is important to find a compromise and ways to express them both throughout their stationery.
What have you learned about running a small business?
S: It's ok if you aren't a good fit for every single client. And in fact, taking on clients who might not be a good fit just because you want their contract, might actually cause you more heartache. Recognize what you are strong in, what you do differently than others in your career field, and keep rocking in that area. It's also not as glamorous as one might think. It's a lot of hard work, many late nights, and a constantly messy house/office. Sure you can make your own hours and take vacations, but when you do those things, you aren't drawing cash from those hard-earned "vacation days". If no one is working, no money is coming in. You also have to put in many hours in order to succeed. By no means am I saying that "I've arrived", but I believe the elusive work/life balance can be possible if you put in hard work up front. If you are to the point in your business where you are experiencing growth beyond your capacity, then it's time to consider adding other members to your team. I was long overdue in making this step because it is so hard. As I am not a mother yet, I can only speculate that this feeling is something similar to sending your child to kindergarten for the first time. You have raised this "baby" and have done a good job...but now you are involving someone else in the responsibility of making it grow. It's so scary, but crucial to growth (which can be -and probably WILL be - painful). You must also be diligent about choosing the right people for taking on the responsibility. Although it is another investment in many senses of the word (time training, money to pay them, waste, turnover, etc.), it has been a huge lifesaver for me and I was so blessed to have found the girls that I now consider teammates.
R: I love working for a small business. One of my first jobs was working for a small jewelry design company and I have had a passion for it since. Each client becomes a part of the family and the dynamic allows for you to give them the attention they deserve. I love working with clients, building the relationships, learning about them and their style and bringing to life their design.
B: I have learned a lot about the behind the scenes of small businesses that people don’t typically see. People tend to see the ability to set your own schedule, but the items they don’t see (I didn’t see) are the crazy late night hours and lack of sleep. With a small business, all the responsibility falls in the owner lap and at the end of the day you are the only one responsible. As a small business employee, it is important to understand what all goes into that and knowing the importance of being willing to wear a lot of different hats. It’s essential to help in any way possible.
What were your guilty pleasures in 2015?
S: Always, always, always it's coffee. My favorite thing to do is head to a new coffee shop to work for the day. I love the smells, sounds, and obviously I'm a sucker for a good latte. If I'm honest, I sometimes exist on only coffee in a day's work (certainly not healthy, but convenient). A good bowl of popcorn at night is a must about 2 times a week. I also treat myself to a good smelling candle every once in a while with an Anthropologie or Athleta shopping spree sprinkled in for good measure. When I get the time, my husband and I binge watch shows like Criminal Minds or Person of Interest along with a dose of hilarious reality TV like the Bachelor.
R: About halfway through 2015, once I moved to Colorado, I developed a love for donuts. The amount of donut shops here is not fair to anyone who is trying to practice self control. Not just regular donuts either, heavenly donuts topped with delicious glazes and crushed candy and cookies. Also on this list would be car concerts of Justin Bieber, full on singing and dancing, alone. I have no shame in this.
B: My Target obsession reached new heights in 2015. Living within walking distance has been super dangerous for our budget. I am already obsessed with Starbuck’s chai lattes, so the fact I can have a warm one in hand while shopping for basically everything is pretty amazing! In addition, I enjoy watching the Real Housewives of O.C. and B.H.- I mean do people seriously live that way?!? Lastly, my obsession for fantasy football got a little out of control. I was in two leagues- one family and one with college friends and it tended to keep me up way too late at night. I did win both leagues though, so some would say it was worth it :)
What are some things you are looking forward to in 2016?
S: I am looking forward to a bit more freedom having the help of 2 girls and I look forward to traveling a bit with my husband and some friends later on this year. I'm also hoping to climb a few more Colorado 14ers. :)
R: I look forward to the new projects we will get to work on and the new clients we will get to know and welcome to the SZP family. I am excited about adding more designs to the Etsy shop, expanding our shop and online presence.
B: I am looking forward to more growth and learning, as well as working with new clients and industry professionals. Also, I am really looking forward to returning to California for a visit this spring!
Cheers to 2016!!!
Real Weddings: Mary + Graham
From the moment I met Mary and Graham, I knew I was going to like them. Maybe it was the fact that when I offered a beer, Graham took me up on it. That never happens, so I was pleasantly surprised. Getting to chat with them about their wedding vision and working through our consultation samples was a total blast. My goal in a consultation is always to make the client feel relaxed, comfortable, and empowered. Some how, Mary and Graham did that for me. When Mary mentioned she would like to have a bear included in their wedding suite, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I wanted each piece of their invitation suite to reflect this adventurous and fun loving couple's passion for the Rocky Mountains and the outdoors. The monogram was the central piece that gave them a brand that encompassed this passion. At the wedding, Mary’s father surprised the couple with an ice sculpture of a bear inspired by our invitation design.
Working with the two of them and the always amazing Gabby, definitely ranks as one of the top weddings in my 2015 yearbook. This couple's love and joy is so evident! It was such a honor to work with them and we are so grateful for the creative trust they put in us! Enjoy wonderful photos by the crazy talented June Cochran at the beautiful Planet Bluegrass venue. Cheers!
TOP SECRET: Ulibarri Christmas File
Christmas Cards are OUR thing.
Read moreBe Our Guest: Lindsay
Oh how we love December for many reasons but the greatest reason has to be the gathering of families who come together to celebrate. Here at SZP, we treasure our clients and consider them to be part of our family. We love to check-in with our couples and find out how they are doing and what they have been up to since their Big Day! We always want to hear their words of wisdom and what they loved/disliked about the wedding planning process. This month’s “Be Our Guest” blog post comes from one of our favorites, Lindsay Anderson. Enjoy!!
Q: Tell us your love story (how you met, got engaged, and why you chose the wedding date and venue you did).
A: We met at a local fast food restaurant called Runza. (If you are ever in Nebraska, you should check it out). We hung out a bit outside of work, but the day I put in my 2 weeks’ notice he told me that he had a crush. We started dating shortly after.
Q: What was one of your favorite memories from your wedding day?
A: Oh gosh, how can I pick just one?! My totally awesome wedding party agreed to do Thriller as our group dance. It was a crowd pleaser.
Q: What about your wedding celebration would you do differently?
A: Absolutely nothing! The day was perfect. I know a lot of brides don’t get the chance to say that, but I truly mean it. He showed up, the rest was just fluff!
Q: What was your favorite part of your wedding preparations? Conversely, the part you disliked the most?
A: I think my hubby would agree, the food tasting was really fun. You sit in a special room and you are served tons of food, it makes you feel really important. I also loved putting together our slideshow, I’m kind of computer nerd. After the wedding out marriage license was sent in the mail to the court house, along the way it got destroyed in a mail sorter. SO, we had to travel to get our best man’s signature again. Not really a part of the planning, something after that we had to get done.
Q: What was your favorite part about working with Sweet Zion Paperie?
A: Well #1, Sophie Rocks! But we all know that. I had sent her an idea I had about these crazy invites, it was a very rough draft and she magically turned them into something spectacular. I still get complements to this day on how creative and “out-of-the-box” they were. Kudos to you!
Q: Speaking from experience – Do you have any advice to future brides & grooms for planning their wedding?
A: Weddings can be expensive, make a budget, plan for those items that you really care about, and cut back on the ones that are not as important. Let your vendors lead you to other reputable vendors. I bet Sweet Zion Paperie has some good leads on venues, photographers, caterters, ect. Don’t sweat the small stuff, what matters at the end of the day is that you have each other.
Q: It’s the little things. Now that you’re married, what is one little thing that you love about your spouse that you didn’t notice before?
A: He has this constant willingness to see that I’m happy and that I’m taken care of. Not that he didn’t do that while we were dating, I think I just notice it more now. Plus, he puts up with my insane scheduled.
Q: How did you celebrate your 1 year anniversary?
A: We told ourselves that we would do/try something new each anniversary. We spent our first anniversary trying a new restaurant. We also traveled to Tahiti for our honeymoon and stayed in one of those super cool over the water bungalows. Last year we did a couple massages, which freaked him out. I, on the other hand, completely enjoyed it!
Q: What is next for you? (babies, moves, jobs, etc.)
A: Oh baby! We had our first beautiful baby girl last September, she’s a rock star. Life has completely changed, but for the better. If we are not spending time with her, we are traveling. We both work full-time and I have a part-time photography business. Travis loves to hunting and I teach Jazzercise. There isn’t much downtime at the Anderson house hold, but we are loving life.
Thanks for sharing Lindsay and thanks for stopping by everyone! Enjoy these adorable photos of their baby girl! Happy Friday!!!
TurkeyDay Giveaway!!!
With Thanksgiving comes family, food coma, and fantastic dinner disaster stories! Maybe you got locked out of your apartment and burned the turkey or maybe your flight home got cancelled and instead of spending time around a dinner table with family, you were stuck in the airport eating McDonalds with strangers. Whatever your story may be- We want to hear them! Send us your story and be entered in our Turkeyday Giveaway! Winner will receive 20 Free Recipe Cards in addition to favorite recipes from the entire Sweet Zion Paperie team, including Venti! You can leave us a comment, message, or email us at marketing@sweetzionpaperie.com and the winner will be announced on Friday, November 27th!
Good Luck and Happy Thanksgiving!
The SZP Team
Welcome Bags on #WeddingTipWednesday
With the craziness of our 2015 wedding season winding down, we are finally getting a chance to come up for some air and reflect on the incredible year. This season we assembled and delivered hundreds of welcome bags and boxes to wedding guests across Colorado. Though these are partially responsible for us being in dire need of a vacation, we sure do love helping our clients create unique and fun welcome bags. We believe they are such a wonderful way to welcome your guests and to say thank you for coming. In honor of it being #WeddingTipWednesday, here are 5 tips for creating welcome bags/boxes that your guests will love:
Tip #1: Set the tone and capture your vision Much like your stationery, welcome bags can be a great way to set the tone for your wedding weekend and capture your wedding vision.
- Incorporate your wedding colors, location, design elements, etc. Giving guests a glimpse of your wedding vision will allow them to see the thread that ties your whole event together.
- If you want your wedding to be a part-ayyyy, think about including a hangover helper. Ours include items to help your guests recover from an incredible night of celebrating with you! :)
- Add fun tags and stickers that can be attached to the different items so that your guests will know why you chose to include it.
Tip #2: Throw in some of your favorite items Make your gift bags unique to you as a couple by throwing in some of your favorite items.
- If you love sweets, but your groom is more of a salty fan, consider getting some fun chocolate bars and a bag of local popcorn.
- Maybe you are huge wine fans (let’s be real- who isn’t?!?), consider including your favorite Cab or Chardonnay.
- If you are super artsy and love photography, include postcards from your favorite places that you have traveled together
- If you want your guests to truly relax, consider including some calming bath salts or organic soaps.
Tip #3: Allow your guests to get a taste of local flavors Especially if you are doing a destination wedding or if a lot of your guests are from out of town, local foods can be a great way for your guests to enjoy more of the unique elements of your wedding location. Check out local shops and boutiques (we love supporting small business shopping!) for unique snacks and delicious treats.
- If you consider coffee to be a food group like we do- check out local coffee shops for bags of freshly grinded beans or flavorful tea bags.
- Local jams, jellies and honey can always be a fun gift that your guests can enjoy for weeks to come.
Tip #4: Think about including your itinerary, map and local things to do Guests come to the wedding looking to explore the location and for more information on the weekend events.
- Include an itinerary that will highlight the main events for the weekend so guests know where to be and when.
- Consider listing favorite restaurants, fun sites to see, delicious coffee shops, local museums, hiking or biking trails, etc.
- Though most people have smart phones these days, a map is a great way to give your guests a bird’s eye view of the city. Here you can mark the locations of the events for the weekend as well as some of your favorite spots.
Tip #5: Consider preparation and delivery When creating the bags or boxes, it is important to consider the preparation and delivery.
- Think about creating a thank you card to top off the bag as a reminder of how grateful you are to be celebrating with those who you both love.
- Compile a list of places of which guests are staying at which hotel. This will allow the front desk to add the bags to each guests’ reservation.
- Every hotel is different, some like to deliver the bags or boxes to the room, while others prefer to hand them out at the front desk upon arrival. Call ahead if you have a preference.
We hope all these tips and ideas got your wheels turning! Wedding preparation can be incredibly stressful with all of the decisions and planning, but allow this part to be a fun way to celebrate your guests and show off your #couplesstyle. We are always here to help with ideas, assembly, and delivery! Happy Wednesday!
Hello, My Name Is....RACHEL!
Welcome to our newest team member, Rachel Swiezynski! Rachel is the newest addition to our growing SZP team. Before making the decision to hire, I kept telling my husband Tim, "I need to find a clone!" because we needed someone who can do it all. Well, God certainly smiled on us and we found Rachel! Not only is she a multi talented graphic artist, adventuresome spirit, and eager learner, she is also a dog lover. Needless to say, we are all very fortunate to have her a part of our team (and our resident fuzzball, Venti most certainly agrees). Rachel will be assisting SZP with design assignments, consultations, and managing our online and wholesale presence. Without further adieu, please meet Rachel!
- Sophie
Our Growing SZP Family: Welcome Brittney!
I am delighted to introduce you to our newest Team member, Brittney Ostransky! Brittney is a total gem to have on our team - she's super sweet and amazingly helpful. I first met her when she was planning her very own big day with help from the fabulous Claire of We Tie the Knots. We met at a Starbucks, discussed her plans for her wedding stationery and the rest is kismet.
From the very get go, I loved working with her and her stationery suite was one of my favorite from 2015. Brittney will be whipping us into shape and administrating our day to day ins and outs of the office as well as assisting with assembly, social media, and client consultations. Enjoy a bit about Brittney and a sneak peak of her and hubby Will's stunning wedding day (with a full feature to come!). - Sophie
B: I was born and raised here in this majestic state of Colorado. I have always loved the changing aspen leaves, the glorious snow peaked mountains, 300 days of sunshine, Country music and the miraculous orange sunsets (proof that God truly is a Broncos Fan!) For college, I chose to head west to Santa Barbara California, where I studied Communication and further developed my fascination of people and the value of written language. I did have a little fun while I lived there as well - playing a lot of beach volleyball and going to Disneyland more times than I can count. Following graduating, I worked at a floral design and event planning company where my love for creating beautiful things for wonderful clients was born.
Outside of the Sweet Zion studio, I can be found spending time with my wonderful husband, hiking around some beautiful trails, drinking a Chai Tea Latte, watching football or spending time on my family's ranch.
Sweet Zion Paperie created all of the stationery and paper products for my own wedding and I had the most wonderful experience. We (my fiancé at the time and I) were so impressed by the custom and creative work as well as the personal attention and care; I knew I had to be part of this team! It has been so fun being on the other side and helping to create beautiful work for each and every client.
Texture is Better : featuring Jillian + Tommy's fall wedding
Oh fall - such a great time of year. We love the richness it brings - the colors of the leaves, the crispness in the air, excuses to stay inside and bake, watching football - the list goes on. Fall almost has a texture. On that note, this year we have played with texture more than ever before. Today we are showcasing Jillian + Tommy's invitations [FINALLY]! I have wanted to share these for some time and since their September 19 nuptials have made this lovely couple official, feast your eyes!
We used a lovely matte finish Navy pocket. Honestly, there's nothing like a matte navy. It's so luxe - you don't need any added sparkle. Add some navy velvet ribbon, walnut wood veneer, and cotton paper stock and you've got it made. Jillian + Tommy wanted a hint of rustic with their otherwise elegant, formal, and victorian style. The combination of floral liners and backers and the gold foil stamping set off the wood veneer accents perfectly, leaving guests with the wow factor that the couple was hoping for.
You all know about my love for a good monogram and luckily Jillian + Tommy felt the same way. We designed this beautiful crest for them and the couple included this foil stamped crest throughout the remainder of their printed pieces. This couple gets an A in my book for consistency (which is key to developing a cohesive look/feel for your big day).
Extra love to Ashley and Nicole from Ashley Nicole Events for their outstanding eye in planning and for bringing us such a lovely client.
Best wishes to Jillian + Tommy and a lifetime of only happiness!
Sweet Summertime
What a busy summer it has been for us! Between the custom wedding invitations and special birthday stationery, we've been featured in Style Me Pretty and 100 Layer Cake and even toured Porridge Paper Letterpress and Papermill in Lincoln, Nebraska. Through all the design craziness, it's been a great few months. Take a look at what we've been up to and stay tuned... the fall should be just as wonderful! :)
Event hosted by Wedding Paper Divas and StudioWed Denver.
Planning by Save the Date Events.
Loved working with Ashley Nicole Events for this super cute baby shower. Wooden block invites screen printed in mint and packed in shred and Kraft box with a wrap around label to match. Check out the 100 Layer Cake Feature: http://www.100layercakelet.com/2015/07/20/denver-garden-baby-shower-by-ashley-nicole-events/
We love the look and feel of this save the date for one of our 2015 couples. Gold foil with Navy velvet backer and a rich Cabernet liner. What a first impression!
Belly bands have been all the rage for us this year! Great way to keep individual pieces together inside an envelope instead of a pocket. This sleek white letterpress invite features one in the ever popular "sea salt" grey.
We told you it's been a busy summer... all hands on deck!
Rustic details are perfect for this Spruce Mountain Ranch wedding. Always a pleasure working with Brynn at Save the Date Events.
Bindery day. Working on some drilling at present on our drill press, Sergeant
Beautiful signage. Check out the Style Me Pretty Feature: http://www.stylemepretty.com/colorado-weddings/denver/2015/08/11/romantic-industrial-denver-wedding/
Hangover bags!
Tags for the #welcomebag swag!
Chop chop. Snip snip. Putting on the finishing touches on some lumberjack themed birthday invites for a special client. First birthdays are to be celebrated (by adults in flannels with beards and brew)
At Porridge Papers in Lincoln, NE. I love the work that Christopher is doing there in making handmade letterpress stock out of recycled content. It's just plain good craft.
Assembly time! Stuffing Tricia and Brian's invites for their BEST DAY EVER wedding. Loved working with Milk Glass Productions on this super custom, music enthused event.
Enjoyed the perks of having a sweet aunt with backstage access and loved seeing my girl Laura Cook because there really is #noplacelikehome
There's been lots of laughs, lots of fun and lots of work accomplished this summer and we've loved every minute of it!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest and greatest... we're sure to be a hoot!
Envelope Liners, Monograms, RSVP's and Letterpress... OH MY!
A couple weeks ago, we posted this to our social media sites (make sure you are following us!) and you all loved the combination of the liners, the monogram, the design of the RSVP and the look of the letterpress. After all of the likes and questions, we figured we would go into some greater detail about all of the different aspects!
Envelope Liners:
Why? Are they really worth it? YES. Liners add a simple, but impactful detail to wedding invitations. It creates a statement that is all your own and really pushes your stationery to the next level.
Monograms:
They are tony and classy and can be the perfect special touch on your wedding invitations. Monograms are classy and timeless... We vote yes!
RSVPs:
Check out our blog here about RSVP cards!
Letterpress:
It's beautiful! It will make your invitations stand out and when paying for letterpress, you are buying something that is worth your money!
Check out the photos of all of the aspects of the design:
Entrepreneurship - The guide to not taking yourself so seriously
I never thought I was a “play it safe” person, but I also didn’t consider myself a huge “risk taker”. As I pursue entrepreneurship, on a daily basis I realize I am much more risky than I’d thought. Here is a sneak peak into my brain, my daily struggles with business, and insecurities. Hopefully you’ll still like me….wait, I mean, hopefully you find this encouraging, inspirational, and maybe even a bit humorous! All my best,
Sophie
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A few things I was scared about when starting my business:
- Purchasing equipment - making the initial investment and being able to pay leases - Advertising - picking the right avenues so you get the right clients and making the investment - Doing it Alone - I’ve always enjoyed working on a team/group. Now if I fail, it’s all on my shoulders - Financial Independence - my decision to quit a job to pursue an unknown could effect my family - Aligning myself w/people in the industry - feeling like a “newbie” with no contacts/friends
Things I am still scared about in business BUT have newfound perspective:
- Purchasing equipment - making the initial investment and being able to pay leases So worst case scenario, no one wants my stuff anymore and I can’t afford to stay in business. I’ve learned that it’s not the end of the world. Some of the most successful business people in the world have had one or two failed businesses before they made it work. I have now adapted to this sort of “fear” but I don’t find myself up at night worrying about it. If it ever happened, I’d live it out and try to look at the best while doing it. If anything, entrepreneurship is a how to guide to not taking yourself so seriously. - Advertising - picking the right avenues so you get the right clients and making the investment I’ve learned that EVERY small business person struggles with this and it’s basically a crap shoot. If you’re diligent about doing a bit of research when choosing a prospective avenue of advertising, you have about as much control over the situation as you can. Additionally, I have learned to ask those who I have connected with and have used the form of advertising in question to see if they’ve had a positive experience. It also never hurts to ask what advertisers can do for you on pricing - as I’m sure you’ve heard, advertising is quite the investment. But all in all, it’s just money - it doesn’t define your happiness and if it doesn't work out for you, then [hair flip] “Oops”. - Doing it Alone - I’ve always enjoyed working on a team/group. now if I fail, it’s all on my shoulders For the first 3 years of Sweet Zion, I was too broke to afford to pay someone to help me. For the 4th year, I was too scared. Finally, we have a great staff who I have the pleasure of working alongside. But for the first 4 years, I did it on my own. It was terrifying, but it was rewarding - especially when you get the reactions when people call you a badass or when you hear “I want your job!”. It makes it all worth it to have worked so hard and now work with a very curated team of talented and smart people. Just a bit of affirmation that growth stretches you and makes you uncomfortable, but if you’re open to it, you may end up getting what you want if you work hard and dream big. - Financial Independence - my decision to quit a job to pursue an unknown could effect my family There’s no getting around that this is still a real fear, but I know and have seen that there’s grace in so many areas of life that, “It all works out”. I am blessed to be married to an incredibly capable man who has a fantastic job. Not only that, but I have this “you cant keep me down” stubborn German spirit thing going on…. - Aligning myself w/people in the industry - feeling like a “newbie” with no contacts/friends Being in this industry for about 5.5 years, I still feel like the “newbie”. But that’s also because people are entering this industry all the time, so there will always be someone you haven’t met or haven’t heard of. The networking events, social gatherings, and industry get togethers can be awkward, but I’ve learned to find a core friend or two who I can gang up with. It’s even better if this person is someone who you can help graft into the community. I try to look for opportunities to add value to not only my business, but also someone else’s by connecting them to others within the industry. I don't believe in being fiercely competitive when it comes to booking contracts - there is enough business to go around for all of us. With this mentality, it’s way easier to meet people and to be an includer.
Real Weddings: Amy + Mark
Vendors:
Planning: Rachel Austin Events
Photography: David Lynn Photography
Venue: Grand Lake Yacht Club