2u Creative — Amy Morelli — Illustration — Branding — Graphic Design

Color Inspiration - The Glory of Gold... on Gold

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Luxurious and Bold Gold is a sure fire way to add a little Swank to your wedding!  Both romantic and sophisticated... this color adds elegance and tradition.  It's one of those colors that can make a bold statement, acting as your complete design base, or can add a dash of class as just the accent color. Using Gold in your event will envelope your guests with warmth and luxury!


Inspiration Series - Ronnie Renaud @ RW Chocolate Fountains

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am often asked how I fight through creative block and what inspires me. So, here is an installment of my Inspiration Series. 

I've found that sometimes to break out of a NON-creative funk, it's best I go look at some work of other artists I admire. Being a traditional artist as well, It's fun for me to see what other artists use as their outlet, although I paint, and sketch my primary outlet for my art is through graphics, type and paper.  Sometimes to see how other creative minds put out their ideas, and the creations they create will jostle my own creative juices. All photography images courtesy of RW Chocolate Fountain Rentals.


Featured in this installment is the oh-so-sweetly talented Ronnie Renaud of RW Chocolate.

At The 2u Collection we have been fortunate enough to indulge (inspiration enough) in the simply fantastic creations of this master confectioner & chocolatier extraordinaire. We like to consider ourselves "official" taste-testers, and let me tell you there is nothing to complain about! The only challenge? Putting these delectable dessert treats down! Solution?... We simply refrain from having scales in our creative space..... *wink*

Ronnie sets RW Chocolate apart from other industry professionals with her strong consideration for not only taste but the overall event aesthetic as well. It's not just chocolate flowing down a fountain, it's an adorned focal piece that fits. Truffles and cakes  are carefully arranged to compliment and enhance. You just haven't experienced sinful indulgence, until your lips are glitzed with glitter from her infamous Disco Balls. I'd have to say it's the fun and whimsy of it all that inspires me most. She also does amazing chocolate molds. You can see in the picture below! I had her make these for my best friends baby shower and they were a huge hit!!

I hope that you are lucky enough to enjoy not only these images, but her edible artistry as well.  May her work inspire you to 
break free!


















Paper Trends for 2012-2013

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Don't make the mistake of confusing a fabulous trend for a fleeting Fad!  Here at The 2u Collection we are thrilled when we discover trending design touches that remain timeless even in their popularity.... Take a look at some of our recent favorites!

Delighted with Doilies!

We love this concept because it is classic yet versatile.  Use a traditional doily for a quaint finish to stationery bundles, invitation boxes and favors or translate the inspiration into lace cut envelopes, scalloped edging and accents.

Image Courtesy Of Etsy.com

Image Courtesy Of TheSweetestOccasion.com

Image Courtesy Of OnToBaby.com

Image Courtesy Of TheLane.com


Glimmering with Glitter!

A little sparkle will catch the light and dazzle the eye.... we are starting to wonder what it is we can't cover in glitz!  From confetti, to lettering and even glassware this touch is sure to twinkle.

Image Courtesy Of Etsy.com


Image Courtesy Of 2Bsquared.com

Image Courtesy of Wedding101.net



Embossed Embellishments & Monogram Madness!

It's your day and everyone should know it!!  Be bold with monograms that make a spotlight statement!  Keep them clean or add some flare with embossed embellishments.

Image Courtesy of Etsy.com

Image Courtesy of Etsy.com

Image Courtesy of AdvantageBridal.com

Image Courtesy of Jacqueline Events & Design


Paper to Petals

Watch paper transform into the unexpected..... Globes, bouquets, table settings and garland galore!

Image Courtesy of Etsy.com

Image Courtesy of Outstanding-Occasions.com

Image Courtesy of Outstanding-Occasions.com

Image Courtesy of Ellinee.com


A good trend... fabulous!  We get even more excited when we can combine a few into a complete look!  Remember, that just because something is trending, that doesn't mean we can't refine and restyle it into a unique and custom piece!  

Keep and eye out to see what we at The 2u Collection have created with a bit of trend worthy inspiration...

Color Inspiration - A little dust, A little rose.... Enter: DUSTY ROSE!

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Although delicate & demure, Dusty Rose begs to inspire!  Perfectly romantic... this color melts hearts with it's allusion to Victorian Vintage.  Such elegance, such tradition.  It's one of those colors that is subtle enough to act as your complete design base, yet also carries enough feeling to suggest a simple accent here and there.  If you haven't already been swept off your feet... a little Dusty Rose is sure to set the tone.   

Color Inspiration...Chevron!!

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I shouldn't have to explain that Chevron is the HOT HOT HOT summer pattern in weddings and events this year! If you don't know this, you must have been under a rock the past few months!! :) Chevron is absolutely everywhere this season, and we aren't complaining. I love a good simple graphic pattern! And the unique and different ways it is being used is just inspirational. It's so the HOT thing, that I had to make two inspiration boards this time, and still I left out some pretty amazing stuff! These are my faves!  Enjoy!


Images courtesy of: cloud9bliss.com, detailsevents.wordpress.com, emmalinebride.com, gourmet-galley.com, heathersglen.com, honeyholden.blogspot.com, my-wedding-concierge.com, spokanebrideblog.com, stylehive.com, theweddingpost.net, weddingchicks.com, www.baconhandmadeneckwear.com, venuesafari.com, 

As Babies Spring... We Are Delighted To Announce!

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Spring! Normally a season full of wedding celebrations this year contradicted the norm, instead the blessings of new babies filled the air. Here at The 2u Collection we are honored to pay tribute to these new bundles of joy! Often we are approached by those closest to us, family and friends, as they introduce their new additions into our universe. When my cousin presented me with the opportunity to announce baby Willett to our loved ones, I was more than willing... I was ecstatic!

Inspiration came easily, expressed was the desire for an Elephant Theme. I so wanted to give them something clean and unique with a strong impact. Playing with colors, shapes and love we came to finalize a design that would do great justice to this glorious event.


The announcement of Liam Joseph Willett was mounted on a base of Black Linen Paper where the Sky Blue, Ivory and Teal color pallet would naturally POP! The colors acted as a modern extension of traditional baby boy options, to create a customary yet distinct feel.


The double sided announcement featured an original design, with 3D Mama (Ivory) and Baby (Sky Blue) Elephant finished with a carefully hand-tied bow done in Teal Satin Ribbon. 


On the flip-side was a printed declaration and precious photo presented on Ivy Watercolor Paper. Delivered in a hand-written Sky Blue Envelope, these beautifully pure announcements were received with sincere delight and adoration.  

Here at The 2u Collection it is our pleasure to create special touches not only for those closest too us, but for all who have an occasion to commemorate. The effort put forth in such designs extends to all who we serve and it is with great satisfaction that we  do so.

Why is social stationary so important?

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In a day and age where everything has gone viral it is more important than ever to keep a sense of personal communication with friends and clients alike. I was inspired just yesterday to write this blog when I received a thoughtful thank you note from a dear friend of mine. As all of us can attest, the mail is constantly full of bills and reminders and when a personal hand written card is received it is really stands out. 


Where have all the old traditions and the days of the Vanderbilt's gone? The internet has many benefits but with those benefits also comes the overall downfall of personal communication. We have become enabled to communicate with people on such an impersonal level.  That is why personal stationary is so important can be such a unique surprise in someone's mailbox. 


Notes are never necessary, but from a business standpoint there are occasions where a note will truly set you apart. If a former client refers a new client to you, an email would be good but a personal thank you note would be better. If two recent college graduates interview for the same job and one sends the interviewee an email thank you and one sends a handwritten note in the mail, who do you think is going to get the job? The answer is simple, the candidate that sent something postmarked. Why? Because people today are so internet reliant that when a physical piece is receievd it shows that someone is truly going above and beyond. 




See the above picture for a note I send as a thank you note to colleagues of mine. Using something unique and eye catching is a great way to stand out. I've received lots of positive praise on this piece, it's simplicity and message speaks for itself without being anything other the top. I could have easily saved time and money sending such thank you messages via email but sending this instead really puts me in a category all my own. And you should be doing the same, both personally and in business. The next time you sit down at your desk to email, tweet or Facebook an important message to a loved one, friend, colleague or client, think again and do something they'll remember. 


Everyone associates us with doing large scale weddings and events but often times we are called upon to do personal stationary, letterhead, thank you notes and other similar stationary items. The next time you want to stand out among your clients, colleagues or friends let us work on something for you. Letterhead is no longer just a piece of paper with your name and address it has evolved to a personality driven representation of who you are. Let us design something for you!





Inspiration Series-Photographer Shira Weinberger

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am often asked how I fight through creative block and what inspires me. So, here is an installment of my Inspiration Series. 

I've found that sometimes to break out of a NON-creative funk, it's best I go look at some work of other artists I admire. Being a traditional artist as well, It's fun for me to see what other artists use as their outlet, although I paint, and sketch my primary outlet for my art is through graphics, type and paper.  Sometimes to see how other creative minds put out their ideas, and the creations they create will jostle my own creative juices. All photography images courtesy of Shira Weinberger
Today's installment is about NYC Expressive Contemporary Photographer Shira WeinbergerI had the pleasure of working with Shira in October of last year on our Gotham Hall wedding in New York City. In a city full of photo opportunities Shira definitely makes the best of them. It takes a special person to be able to capture a couple's most intimate moments and she is able to do that and more. She is able to capture images that really convey the raw emotion of the moment and that is truly a creative gift. 

Enjoy the photos and may you be inspired as well. 



All photography images courtesy of Shira Weinberger

Rustic Bridal Shower... Yes Please!!

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We always love a challenge, and being someone who loves the outdoors, I always love it when I get to create something earthy and organic with an elegant flair. Our client, Jennifer, came to us because she said our designs were the most creative she found out there!! We love to hear that, and love her for the wonderful compliment! (and she was just amazing to work with) Jennifer is also the best friend of Mother of the Bride. She has know the bride her whole life, and wants to host the shower of the bride's dreams. She explained to me, that the theme was rustic, natural and organic and she wanted something unique and earthy that would WOW the guests and still have an elegant flair!

My inspiration started with materials. What could i use that was earthy and different, and would still be elegant enough for a bridal shower. I started brainstorming and decided mixing metallic and linen paper with some rough texture would do the trick.. Enter... Muslin!! 

The invitation came in hand stamped Muslin Bag, and mailed in a Brown Kraft Envelope. We had a custom rubber stamp made, with the graphic and then hand stamped the muslin bags with brown ink.  Client loved the Muslin Bags so much, she purchased extras to use them as favor bags during the event!

 Project was printed on Ivory Linen, and is closed with a chocolate brown satin ribbon belly band with a champagne metallic accent piece. The contrast of Muslin, Metallic and Linen papers, and satin ribbon really created a unique rustic and stylish feeling. 

Love this pattern detail on this linen paper. The texture, just makes you want to touch it!  Anyone who follows me, or knows me, will tell you. "I have a paper problem!" I love a nice tactile piece of paper or texture!


Table for Ten - New, Intimate, Niche Networking!

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Eblast invitation by The 2u Collection
(all photography is courtesy of Liga Photography)

As many of you know, I not only work a lot with Lisa Stoner and Abby Liga, but they are both also very close friends of mine. The three of us have spent many a lunch, happy hour and dinner, discussing and brainstorming small morsel ideas, and we nurture them into BIG GIANT IDEAS!  Table for Ten is one of those ideas! So before I give you all the fun insight into our fun event. Let me first give you a little background of how it was born!


Quote from Lisa Stoner:


"A few months ago, I decided I'd had enough.  It was a week that had three local wedding industry networking events scheduled, and as much as I love my industry peers, it was getting to be too much.  I mean, I have a family…! ;)"

On the drive home with Jeffrey (Stoner), I commented that what I really enjoyed at those events was finally getting to spend a few minutes in conversation and getting to know someone I'd been wanting to meet, but with hundreds of people in attendance, those moments rarely presented themselves.  In that moment, inspiration struck.

I spent the next few days putting together an idea that seemed radical in its simplicity – I presented the idea to my friends Abby Liga and Amy Morelli – two like-minded industry friends who shared my sense of style – and asked if they thought it was a viable idea.

Table for Ten is born! (watch this charming video by Jeffrey Stoner Video)


We created a comfortable, intimate niche networking evening to get to know our fellow wedding professionals. What makes them tick? What inspires them? 

A crazy, rainy first attempt, but our first "Table for Ten" was incredible!  We've gotten such favorable feedback from our guests, and we plan to continue!  Check it out!

The three of us Hostess' acting silly and trying to take our own photo!
Lisa Stoner, Amy Morelli, Abby Liga

Our beautiful tablescape...before the rain!
Amy Morelli opening some wine so the festivities can begin!
Details of the Evening. Wonderful Appetizers by Abby Liga. Amazing Disco Balls and Chocolate Covered strawberries by Ronnie Renaud of RW Chocolate Fountain Rentals, and of course some Paper Accents (place cards) by yours truly here at The 2u Collection!
Jeffrey Stoner screams WHY.... as the sprinkles start!
The sprinkles turn to DOWNPOUR...
All of our guests are gracious and wonderful.. Thank goodness we had color caps on hand! (Thanks Marjorie!) They made for a fun photo op!
back row, l to r: Lisa Stoner, Gina Ricci Ward and Tali Gallo of Solutions Bridal, Lee Forrest of Lee Forrest Design, Marjorie Robinson
front row, l to r: Amy Morelli, Ronnie Renaud of RW Chocolate Fountain Rentals, and Kristin Hubbard Wilson of DJ Rocks!
Plan B: indian style slumber party vibe in the office of E-Events and Liga Photography!
Kristin and Lisa sporting "glitter glaze" from the Amazing Disco Balls provided by Ronnie!

Hope you enjoyed this recap! Stay Tuned, our next one will be toward end of summer, and we'll have a new group of fun guests to get to know!

This weekend we look forward to the Kramer Bar Mitzvah!

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There is a misconception that we only provide stationary for weddings but we also do a wide range of other social events. Any social event over twenty-five people is in need of invitations, place cards, menu cards and so on.  Today, I want to share with you one of my recent projects. I've been working on developing the Bar-mitzvah invitations you see above since February. The Bar Mitzvah will take place this Saturday!


We did something very unique for this event by developing e-blasts invitation accompaniments. The client opted to send both Save the Date's and Menu Preference Card's via email to their guests. This was a great way to save both time and money. Guests were able to get the Save the Date almost immediately after the planning of the event was underway and by having an electronic Menu Preference Card the client did not have to rush to have their menu tasting by a certain day. 


For this type of event I think it was a great way to make use of email while still making the email accompaniments something that correlated with the rest of the printed invitations. 


As you can see there were several elements that went into the formal invitation. We used natural white linen paper, navy matte finish envelopes, a pewter grey mailing label to complement and navy blue grosgrain ribbon to finish the look. The response card was actually part of the original invitation and guests were asked to fill it out, tear at the perferated edges and return. By having a built in response card we were able to save the client money by printing just one piece verses a separate card. In addition to the invitation, there was a separate brunch invitation that was only given to certain guests that were family of the hosts. This is an additional service we are able to do for you when you select to have us mail your invites for you. 

More pieces to come as I continue to work on this project and develop the escort cards and table numbers. 

Samira & Jesse’s Gotham Hall Wedding published in the The Knot Magazine

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I am super excited to be published in the Summer 2012 Issue of The Knot Magazine- SPECIAL NEW YORK EDITION! They featured Samira and Jesse’s gorgeous wedding at Gotham Hall planned by amazing and talented Christine Godsey of Engaging Affairs.


Vendor List: Events Consultant: Engaging Affairs Venue: Gotham Hall Dress: Vera Wang Draping: Dazian Fabric Videography: I Do Films Catering & Cake: Thomas Preti A/V: ESP New York Musicians: Vali Entertainment Invitations & Stationery Elements: The 2u Collection Lighting: Jeff Ledford, Bentley Meeker Florist: Golf Srithamrong, Tantawan Bloom Hair & Makeup: Maria Licari Limo: NYC Royal Limo Bridal Hotel Room: Trump SoHo Groom’s Hotel Room: Radisson Martinique Photography: Shira Weinberger 

I am extremely proud of this! Stationery Images made it on 3 of the 5 pages!! Congratulations again to the Bride and Groom, and to all of the vendors who worked so tirelessly to create this amazing wedding, it really is one for the book of "All time best weddings!" (if there even is such a thing. LOL)

If you are interested in others posts related to this wedding, be sure to check them out!
You can read previous posts I've done on this wedding here (part 1) and here (part 2). You can check out THE KNOT LIVE show here, Samira was a guest and discussed her wedding, we even got a mention! Her interview starts at the 21:00 minute mark. Our invitations for this event were also featured in Central Florida Bride Magazine, you can read that blog here.






Clients from here, there and everywhere!

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We get asked all the time if we are open to working with out of state or out of country clients. And my answer of course is YES! 
Luckily, with today's technologies we are more than able to do so. In fact, even with the busy schedules of my in town Bride's sometimes I will only meet with them one time face to face and the rest of our correspondence is done via phone and email. I only end up meeting about 25% of my clients. So majority of my in town clients work with me {and technology} the same way an out of town Bride would do so. So you ask, how exactly does working together without meeting face to face actually work...allow me to break it down for you. 


Conception
The first and most important step before designing a couples wedding invitations is getting a clear idea of their expectations. What design have they envisioned, what colors are they working with and are they traditional or contemporary are just a few questions I like answered before designing. For an in town Bride I would gather this information in person at a sit down meeting. However, with an out of town Bride-to-be we will often schedule a phone or Skype call. Instead of sorting through several images via email I ask Bride's to use Pinterest or The Fancy as a tool. The site can be particularly helpful in the conception stage because with just a few clicks I can get a very clear understanding of the Bride's style and preferences. I can also see what other wedding elements she is planning because after all the invitation is the first piece the guest will receive and a first impression is everything. It should help the guest anticipate and visualize what to expect on the wedding day and I can only design that if I can visualize it myself. 

Design
Once I know what direction to go in, I begin design process. Once I get a few invitation concepts together I will send them to the Bride in a PDF format to review. Clients often want to get back to me right away and I encourage them instead to intentionally not answer me right away. Everyone has lots of thoughts and ideas running through their minds and by not letting concepts sit with you for a few days we might end up doing more revisions than necessary. Everyone has different thoughts the more or longer they look at something. This is why it's good to let the concepts "marinate". After they have let the concepts settle in we start the feedback and revision process. Sometimes Bride's will love one concept in its entirety while other Bride's will want to combine a few elements from all the concepts into one invitation. From there we chat and re-design until we've created the perfect invite. Once the perfect invite is decided on it's time to choose paper, I can overnight samples right to the Bride's doorstep and once she's decided on her paper her invitation is ready to order!


Time to Send
Many of my clients opt to have my team send their invites out for them. This can be a huge stress reliever for the Bride and all those around her. Even the budget conscious Bride should consider allowing her stationary vendor to do this task. Not only does is save time, but it ensures it is done correctly. My team uses digital calligraphy (pictured above) to ensure the envelope looks as stunning and the invite and even takes care of proofing the guest list, stuffing the invites, postage and mailing. Selecting this option really allows the Bride to enjoy the planning process. As her guests are receiving and opening her wedding invitation with excitement, she too has one waiting in her mailbox! Keep in mind we also offer Hand Calligraphy, if you want it. But a lot of our brides opt for the Digital Calligraphy option as it is a little more affordable.

See the below pictured invitation from a client of mine that resided and was wed in the Big Apple! We designed her invitations without ever meeting face to face and the process could not have gone more smoothly. 


As you can see from the steps above, meeting in person is no longer necessary to create the perfect wedding stationary. All the above steps also apply to designing your save the dates, place cards, menu cards, table numbers, thank you cards and endless other stationary needs. With the technologies provided to us today communicating has not only become much easier but even more fun with the use of design sites such as Pinterest and The Fancy


However, If you are one of those Bride's that wants to meet face to face please know we always encourage studio appointments because nothing tells us more about your style than actually meeting you. In the occurrence however that we don't have the luxury to meet a Bride that are other endless ways we can still work with her and design exactly what she'd envisioned. 







Managing your Wedding Invitation List..... +1's? Kids? Co-workers?

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Planning a wedding is both a stressful and exciting time in a couples life together. Especially for couples with careers completely separate of the wedding industry planning a wedding can be an extremely daunting task. Bride's {and Groom's occasionally} have to become educated on etiquette, traditions, budgets, timelines and so on. One of the most difficult wedding tasks couples face is who to invite and how. Hundreds of questions can become factors. After all, you can't have everyone, only a few Bride's have the budget capabilities to have a 'Skys the Limit' approach. 


The Puzzling Questions
Do I have to invite all my co-workers? Do all my friends expect to get a +1? How do I tell my guests I want no children? These are just a few of the questions we get asked on a weekly basis. So here you have it---my inside scoop on the guest list!


Divide and Conquer
First and foremost, you and your fiancé must sit down and establish your wants and expectations from you wedding day. Do you want a huge dance party or an intimate dinner affair? Once you know what you want out of your wedding day, decide with your budget in mind how many guests you ultimately can afford to host. Let's say you decided on the number, 150. From there if you have similarly sized families it might be best to give each set of parents a limit of 50 guests they can invite and then you and your fiancé invite another 50 together. This brings you to 150 guests invited. On average you have to assume every guest will not be able to make it, bringing your number down a bit. This approach can be much easier than calling your future in-laws and hashing out with them who of their friends can come and not. Just give them a limit, and let them solve it. 


A and B Lists
Let's say your families are HUGE, you were both Greek in college and your guest list is enormous in comparison to your budget. In that case, we suggest couples make an A and B list. Must have guests on List A and then a seperate List B of possible guests. You can select to invite from List B once you get a better gage from List A who has responded yes or no. The big NO, NO in this case is to let anyone know that two lists exist. Also you must only limit your Save the Dates to List A. Nothing would be more de-classy than receiving a Save the Date to a wedding your not invited to. OUCH! 


Co-workers at the Wedding
As far as co-workers are concerned, that's a tough one. Several factors play into that, is it a small firm you plan on being with for the next ten years or is it a huge office you've only been employed with 6 months?  Once you answer those questions you can be more decisive about whether or not your co-workers should come. In the case you have a huge office and can't invite them all it might be best to invite a couple key co-workers you're close with and your direct boss. The rest of the office will understand you have budget concerns and limitations and will still send congratulations your way. 


Friends and their +1's
+1??? As far as your close friends go, especially if your guests are in their 20's and 30's a lot of your friends might still be single. The question is, do you have to let each of them bring a date? And if not, how do you say who gets a +1 and who doesn't. Obviously, you want your friends to enjoy themselves but at the same time if you have a dozen single friends and they each bring some arm candy, that's another 12 people on your list--and it adds up quickly! If your reception size is limited the best way is to simply omit +1's from single dates {if and only if} there are other single friends from the same social circles going to the wedding. Etiquette says if a couple has been dating for a year or longer or is living together that significant other should be invited. If your friends do have girlfriends or boyfriends you're allowing them to bring, don't just put 'and guest' on their envelope. Take the personalized step and make the date feel special by having his or her name addressed on the invitation and place card as well. This is an extra touch they will always remember. And say you're best friend went on to marry that person, you putting 'and guest' on their place card may not be the best way to start your relationship with them as a new friend.


No little ones at the party
Now on to the trickiest question in invitation history.....how do we politely say 'no children'? Well, first let me start by saying only you knows your guest list. The average wedding guest will read your invitation and follow the guidelines you've suggested, i.e. no children, dress code, etc. but there is always the one off, so be prepared to handle any situation with hospitality and grace. I normally suggest to Bride's we put a phrase on the bottom of the response card "Adult only reception" and for a more unmanageable crowd it might even be necessary to say "Due to space limitations, please no children". Sometimes for out of town weddings you can suggest local babysitting services to try and hint to your guests their little ones are not invited. I've even known some Bride's with larger budgets to even host a private children's reception in another room with babysitters to ensure their party stays kid free. 


As far as ordering your invitations goes, we always suggest Bride's order 20% more than what they plan on sending. From the time you order invitations to the time you actually mail them, you could have acquired a few new friendships, moved into a new house and really hit it off with your neighbors and so on. Once they're ordered, you can't go back and ask for 10 more without it costing you a fortune. Having some extras for 'swing guests' and also as a keepsake is always best!


These situations are sometimes difficult to navigate but wedding industry professionals will know best and help guide you to the best of their ability. Happy planning and remember when dealing with the stresses of wedding planning what the day is ultimately about celebrating your love. Don't get caught up in the details!

Inspiration Series-Golf of Tantawan Bloom

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am often asked how I fight through creative block and what inspires me. So, here is an installment of my Inspiration Series. 

I've found that sometimes to break out of a NON-creative funk, it's best I go look at some work of other artists I admire. Being a traditional artist as well, It's fun for me to see what other artists use as their outlet, although I paint, and sketch my primary outlet for my art is through graphics, type and paper.  Sometimes to see how other creative minds put out their ideas, and the creations they create will jostle my own creative juices.



For this installment I chose Golf Srithamrong of Tantawan Bloom out of NYC! I recently worked with Golf on wedding we did in October together at Gotham Hall and his and his teams designs truly took my breath away. As you can see in the photos pictured below Golf is not afraid to do much of anything with flowers and he definitely takes the art of floral design to the next level. His versatility continues to amaze me. He can do a traditional centerpiece design for a Martha Stewart-esk Bride and then completely shift focus and do something so imaginative and modern for the cutting edge Bride. His reputation preceeds him and he was even named "The Orchid King of New York" by New York Magazine. To say his talent inspires me would be an understatement. His use of color, texture, and unusual floral variety pairings really expresses his love for what he does and it shows. Enjoy the images and may his work inspire you in the future! (to see some of his amazing creations from the wedding we did together in October. Click here for part 1. Click here for part 2.)




Color Inspiration in the form of stripes!

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Every once and a while I like to do a color series blog where I share some of my favorite pictures and ideas from a certain color palette. Today I wanted to shift your attention to a pattern verses a color. Stripes are one of my personal favorite inspiration patterns, they are bold and such a statement piece when incorporated into any design. First introduced as a fashion trend, they slowly became popular for decades  in home design and have now recently taken a major role as the focal point at many weddings and events. 

Behind the Scenes-International Prostate Cancer Foundation Gala

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Well as most of you know my blogging regarding my work with the International Prostate Cancer Foundation's Gala has been focused on the stationary I produced for the event. Today I would like to let you in on the behind the scenes work that went in to producing this event. There were obviously some key contributors that made Dr. Patel's dream and vision for the Gala come to life. 


Like with any event the day started with formulating a game plan. Once I got some direction from Lisa Stoner of E Events on when things needed to be staged on tables my assistant Jules and I got to working! The tree seedling favors shown below all had to be individually placed in glass vases for presentation at the dessert reveal and as I worked on getting those ready Jules (pictured below) was hard at work sorting all the place cards. For any of you that have done this before it is no easy feat. Place cards have to coincide with the guest list and then be strategically placed at each place setting so they are both functional and a contributor to the overall table design. 



Jessy Rivers of E Events Design (pictured below) was busy doing A/V testing with Ben Lawless of Kaleidoscope Event Group. All the video, sound and lighting elements were coming together once piece at a time. It was great being in the room because as more lighting is introduced you really begin to see the room transform. 


And as you know, what would an event be without stunning floral and decor. Jesus from Raining Roses was able to design life size trees as focal points of the stage. Being that we built the whole marketing campaign for the IPCF around a tree you can imagine why these pieces were so key. 


Crates of chargers were stacked waiting to be placed at tables as pipe and drape was being installed. Just behind Lisa and I you can see how Kaleidoscope is doing pin-spot and perimeter light testing. PS. I love this shot below as it shows us as the super-heros in the shadows, which is what we must be to pull off something this amazing and grand with so many moving parts and pieces.


Planning sessions went on throughout the day with Lisa Stoner and Jessy Rivers from E Events and Jane McLean from The Waldorf Astoria Bonnet Creek, our host venue. Topics of conversation according to Lisa; when the choir should begin singing, when dinner service should begin and most importantly for any dessert lover like myself when the dessert reveal should be scheduled. 


Dr. Patel was able to pop his head in during the afternoon and see the set of the room in full swing. With him there Ben Lawless was able to test and get final approval for all videos, voice commands, slides and music cues that were happening during the evening. 




The IPCF Gala was a complete success and went off flawlessly thanks to the key players I mentioned above. Special thanks to Jeffrey Stoner of Stoner Video who took all the amazing above images and Over-the-top Linens that provided all the table linens. Patel and his team were overjoyed by the attendance and overall success of the event. I was honored to be part of such a dedicated and talented team and look forward to the next one! 

It's a Mad Hatter Thing... Baby Shower!

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Parents to be... Robyn and Andrew Dixon having fun with hats!

Robyn and Andrew Dixon are not new topics to my blog. Not only are they close friends of mine, they have trusted me to graphically handle lots of milestones in their life! I was there when it all began, and I've designed their wedding, holidays, and now... their baby! 

Robyn came to us girls (pictured below) and said she wanted to have a Boy themed Mad Hatter baby shower! Of course we jumped right on it. We decided we since she is having a boy and will soon be outnumbered by boys in her house, we would give her one last girly, elegant party! With China tea pots and cups, fresh floral and many antique glass cruets-- the decor started to come together, as you can see above!

Of course we started with Invitations to set the tone, pictured above. To read the full blog post on the invitations, click here.

Hostess' and Mom to be getting in the Mad Hatter fun with our unique head pieces!! (L to R)  Amy Morelli, Robyn Dixon, Cara Sturla and Amy Baumgarten.  Never fear all, the Mommy-to-be is drinking NON-alcoholic wine!
As you can see, we went all out with the decor. In keeping with the Alice and Wonderland Theme, we created die cut metallic "Eat Me" and "Drink Me" tags. We had Rabbit's, Clocks, and Keys sprinkled throughout the event (a thanks to PLAYGROUND Magazine for their contribution of these things, they were designed by Ayla, you can find them in her Etsy Store!). In addition, pictured above, we created custom candy wrappers for the favors to commemorate the event, as well as Signage, for the menu, gift table, and fun photo station!
We also created a Wishing Tree, where guest could write their wishes for the baby's future, and hang them on the tree.  We also did something fun, when guests arrived, we had a "Mad Hat table", pictured below, We here at The 2u Collection had a blast creating these unique headband hats for the guests to wear throughout the day!


A few guests having fun with the wishing tree!

Much thanks to RW Chocolate Fountain Rentals for these AMAZING and delicious Mad Hatter themed Cake Pops! Be sure to visit them on Facebook, and see some of the amazing things they create with Chocolate!

  We also created this fun photo station with these great cutouts with the Mad Hatter/Alice and Wonderland theme! Thanks to PLAYGROUND Magazine for their contribution of these things, they were designed by Ayla, you can find them in her Etsy StoreThe guests loved them, and they made for some great fun pics! And one last mention, pictured below is Robyn and Andrew's first baby... Charlie! She is a wonderfully, gentle, loving Westie! We couldn't pass up getting her involved in the fun as well!

International Prostate Cancer Foundation Gala

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If you are a frequent reader of my blog you are well aware that a good portion of this month's efforts have been dedicated to the success of the International Prostate Cancer Foundation's Gala. I was first approached by the foundation to do all their marketing and our 2u Creative division had the pleasure of not only developing their foundation branding and website but I was able to hand over the next portion of the responsibilities to our stationary division, The 2u Collection. Having a stationary division is particularly beneficial for projects such as these where a client needs a vast array of marketing services including print materials, website design and brand conception and also stationary needs for a social event. Being able to work within my two divisions allowed for a seamless execution for all print materials, website and marketing materials to be unanimous with the stationary for their Gala.


The average person does not know that prostate cancer is actually a genetic familial disease. That is why from the very beginning of the design process the tree was such a focal point. With the design of the Gala materials we wanted to keep the tree as a focal point, but obviously with any social gathering, items should look more formal and have a different aesthetic value than that of marketing collateral.




The first design decision was choosing a color palette. The monotone array of greys, silvers and charcoals really made for an elegant statement. I was able to incorporate the tree in a more formal way by using silver and white foil stamping on a Neenah classic linen charcoal paper for the programs, place cards and menu cards. The tree was used on the cover of the IPCF program as well as inside the program, that paired with a stripe corner border were the two design focal points of all the stationery pieces. All the items were classic and timeless and although appealing to the women's eye were designed with a masculine look in mind. We really wanted to keep it masculine so the materials suited the overall goals of the foundation in who they are reaching.







 The design collaboration with Lisa Stoner of E Events really brought out the beauty of what we had created. The tables were dressed in green table linens, each had a lush floral centerpiece and clear glass gold beaded chargers. When menu cards, place cards and table numbers were placed on the tables, paired with the individual table pin-spotting the details of the pieces really came alive.




The grand finale of this event, like any were the favors. The foundation selected to hand out individual tree seedlings that each had a tag designed by The 2u Collection describing the meaning behind the seedling. Each guest was invited to take this seedling home and plant it in their own yard in honor of someone who has or is currently battling prostate cancer. This touch really put a memorable emphasis on why the tree was the focal point for the event and the foundation itself.




The event was one of the most rewarding I have ever had the opportunity to work on. Not only were both of my divisions contributors to the overall design and success of the event and the IPCF brand itself but I personally am continually touched by the efforts of Dr. Patel. I am honored to be part of the journey IPCF has begun and look forward to all the projects we work on together in the future!  


Of course there are so many people involved in helping execute this, but I want to give so much thanks to Lawton Printers. Not only are they amazing at what they do, they treat their customers like family and will move heaven and earth (if needed) to turn my designs and ideas into beautifully printed finished pieces! Another big thanks to Jeffrey Stoner of Stoner Video for supplying all these beautiful images!

Samira and Jesse’s Wedding at Gotham Hall Featured on The Knot Live

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I’m super excited that my invitations from Samira & Jesse’s wedding were shown on The Knot Live – Season 5 Episode 5! They interviewed my BEAUTIFUL former-bride Samira, who talked about her gorgeous wedding at Gotham Hall, she even gave us a shout out (at the 21:38 mark)! You can read previous posts I've done on this wedding here (part 1) and here (part 2). You can check out the show here, Samira’s interview starts at the 21:00 minute mark.
The Knot is a great resource for planning your wedding. You can also have a look at The Knot: Wedding Ideas BlogThe Knot Wedding Blog, and The Knot’s Real Weddings.
Thank you to all vendors below for doing such an amazing job on this gorgeous wedding!
All Venue and Wedding photography is by Shira Weinberger - NYC Wedding Photography
AMAZING floral by: Tantawan Bloom