Winter Wonderland Wedding Cakes

When I spotted these beautiful winter-inspired cakes on Martha Stewart Weddings, it made me want to get married all over again, but this time with a beautiful and sparkling winter wedding! I just love the icy colors, elements of nature and sparkling snowflakes. Each one of these "really takes the cake" (pun intended)! And how cute is the groomsmen cake idea? Who doesn't love wedding cake?? And who wouldn't love to take some back with them for a late night snack with coffee?? Yum!

" Assembled in the shape of a three-tier layer cake, store-bought boxes hold individual slices of groom's cake, ready for guests to take home. Tucked between the white boxes are ranunculuses, sweet peas, hyacinths, and lilies of the valley." - marthastewartweddings.com 

Jessica and Brad's custom stationery pieces

I thought I would share some more pictures and details from Jessica and Brad's wedding, featured on Style Me Pretty today... so here goes...

SAVE THE DATES:

Jessica and Brad wanted a fun, vintage-inspired save the date that reflected their long-distance relationship. Jessica shared that many flights were taken back and forth from New York to Colorado, so they wanted something that would reflect this fun fact. The front of this offset printed, tea-length save the date, features the flight route of the couple using vintage illustrations and an old US map. The back side displays useful information for their guests, informing them of the weekend's events.

Lilah Paper featured on Style Me Pretty!

Being in the wedding industry, I have the fortunate opportunity of working beside some of the countries most amazing and talented wedding vendors! Check out Jessica's fabulous wedding, featured on Style Me Pretty right here!

I had the pleasure of working with Jessica on all her printed material, from the custom save the dates, to the laser-cut invitations, wedding day items and custom Ketubah!

I just love how everything came together :) Thanks to all the wonderful vendors and the creative bride... this wedding has soared to the top of my favorites. Simply stunning!!

More pictures of Jessica's wedding stationery to come...

Lilah Paper is giving back with 5% OFF!!

Who doesn't love Thanksgiving? And who doesn't love to a good deal??!!
Right now, Lilah Paper is offering a special Thanksgiving Deal.

All new client orders placed before Friday, November 27th, 2009 will receive 5% OFF!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lilah Paper and Cardstore.com (Holiday Cards)

We are pleased to announce that Lilah Paper is now carrying a line of social greetings (holiday cards, thank you cards, save the dates, birth announcements, etc.) with the fabulous online company, CardStore.com.

Head over there now to purchase your holiday greeting cards today. It is SO easy... simply upload your pictures, insert your text, check out and voilá! Your holiday greeting cards are on there way.

And for a limited time...

SAVE 15% ON ALL HOLIDAY INVITATIONS. JUST USE THE CODE "Party15" AT CHECKOUT!!!

Holiday Cards available in Dolce Baking Co!

Well it's that time again... with Halloween behind us and November off to a great start, the "Holiday Season" has officially begun! This means holiday music, fancy window displays and of course holiday greeting cards.

We just dropped off our adorable holiday greeting cards at Dolce Baking Co., where they will be available for the holiday season. So, run on down, grab a tasty treat (one for yourself and one for a friend), a Happy Holiday card and spread the joy!

Dolce Baking Co.
6974 mission rd.
prairie village, ks 66208
p. 913.236.4411

NOT IN KANSAS CITY TO STOP IN AND ENJOY DOLCE BAKING CO.?
Not a problem! You can find Lilah Paper's holiday cards, gift tags and other social stationery on our website, www.lilahpaper.com

Beautiful Cake

How much do you love this cake??!! This gorgeous cake, found on Martha Stewart Weddings is so different from a lot that I have seen out there. The twigs and wrapped branches add the perfect bit of wooded elegance, and perfectly complement the soft shades of blue and pink from the flowers and herbs adorning this delicious looking masterpiece!

Weinland

Hi all,
I was just recently introduced to a great new band (well new to me) Weinland, out of Portland, Oregon. My amazing long time friend and old college roommate just got engaged (woot! woot!) to one of the oh so talented band members and shared this great video with me. Karen and Aaron are getting married next year on a beautiful vineyard in Oregon and I can't wait to see how it all takes shape! Nothing beats the smell of wine and love in the air ;)

For now, check out Weinland's new video premiere here...
Interested in seeing them or booking them for your next event? They are touring right now so go check them out! Visit their website for more info.

Congrats Karen (and to Weinland on their new video!)

Laura and Matt's Wedding

I had the wonderful pleasure of working with Laura and Matt on their gorgeous Country Club wedding. The invitations were inspired by preppy colors (pink and navy blue), and incorporated a touch of vintage elegance, brought about with a beautiful, custom monogram, playful fonts and a preppy patterend belly band.

It isn't often that I get to see pictures of the bride and groom's big day, so when I do I love to share them. Nicole and her team, at Cosmopolitan Events, did a knock out job designing this wedding! Every touch is pure elegance! I love all of the playful details, including the scrumptious dessert and candy bar (yum)!

To see more beautiful pictures (taken by Jon Koch Photography) of Laura and Matt's wedding, including their invitation, visit their blog here.

Style Me Pretty - Style Circle and Lilah Paper

If you haven't seen Style Me Pretty's newest feature "Style Circle" you must check it out! In Abby's words:

"The Style Circle is a community of fabulous. It's a place where brides, grooms and wedding junkies can rub elbows with one another, inspiring perfect wedding details and forever chic ideas. It's a place where creativity thrives and chic reigns queen."

We were psyched to find out that some of our invitations have served as a bit of inspiration for brides planning their perfect wedding! Check out Sara's design board here, which features Lilah Paper's "Victorian Collection."

Bridal Bargains on a budget

These days finding cost effective ways to host a beautiful and stylish wedding has become a trend unto itself! The goal is to host a wedding that doesn't break the bank, without looking like a wedding that has cut all the corners. With so many great ideas out there it can get confusing as to where you saw what and which blog had that oh-so great DIY project or idea. However, it is smart to realize that you can save not only by taking on the responsibilities and projects yourself, but thru realizing common mistakes, how to work with vendors, how to make smart purchases, etc.

I came across this great book called "Bridal Bargains" boasting the secrets to throwing a fantastic wedding on a realistic budget. I have thumbed thru this book and found some very useful tips and think for the low cost it is offered for on Amazon.com it just might be an inexpensive purchase that can save you tons in the end! A link is below to learn more about this great book!

The skinny on ceremony programs

Check out Coordinately Yours today to get the 411 on ceremony programs and important information to gather when putting yours together. Featured are just a few of the program styles that we have designed here at Lilah Paper!

Easy Place Cards!

As a designer who was once a bride myself, I found that one of the most stressful items to deal with as the big day grew nearer, were the escort or place cards! Trying to figure out where everyone is going to sit is an absolute nightmare, especially when you have last minute guest replies or guests who unfortunately fall sick at the last moment and can no longer make it. Then the dilemma is that the table numbers have already been written out on the back of each persons names and you are running dangerously short on blank escort cards! Aahhh!

Well a simple fix that I love for many reasons, is the escort card with mini coin envelope. Not only are these great for last minute changes, because the guests names are on the envelope (not the card), but it is a great way to add extra color and pizazz to your table display!

The idea is simple. The escort cards still have the beautifully printed design, however each card has a table number or name on it, as opposed to a guest's name. Then if John and Jane Smith suddenly get moved at the last minute, you simply take their table card out of their envelopes and switch it with another... problem solved!

Quick, simple and beautifully stylish! For pricing on these great escort cards, drop us an email and we will be happy to help.

New designs are up!!

It is still a work in process, but tons of new designs have been added to the Lilah Paper (ready to order) Collection! We are still working on updating the "view the entire collection" buttons so bear with us, but the pictures and new product is up and ready for viewing/ordering.

Pricing to be posted soon as well... check back often!

Tons of new designs coming this week!!

Here's a sneak peek into one of the new designs. Check back at the Lilah Paper website (www.lilahpaper.com) later this week as our collection has expanded! Tons of new designs are being added as we speak and will be available for ordering. Oh we can't wait!

Lilah Paper featured in the Kansas City Star!

I am oh, so excited to announce that in today's Home and House section of the Kansas City Star, there was a lovely Q&A article about Lilah Paper! For those of you that don't get the KC Star, check it out right here.

Also, check back often, as tons of new designs are being launched on the Lilah Paper website this week!

Amazing offer from Coordinately Yours!

If you are from the Kansas City area and haven't yet seen the beautiful events created by Julie Blanner of Coordinately Yours, you are in for a treat! Julie specializes in full service event management and design, with the unique ability to derive on her clients ideas and turn them into a unique and creative event that is sure to leave people talking!

She is well-seasoned in the industry and now we are so excited to announce that Lilah Paper clients have the exclusive opportunity to work with Julie... lucky you!!! Here's the deal:

Coordinately Yours is offering Lilah Paper clients:

25% OFF Day of Coordination
or
40% OFF Full Wedding Coordination

Wow! For inquiries or more information regarding Coordinately Yours, contact Julie here.
Happy Planning!

DIY Birdseed Wedding Tossers

Now a days many churches will not allow the traditional throwing of rice, due to the "hard-to-clean" mess that it leaves. So here is a great Do-It-Yourself idea that I stumbled across over at www.eatdrinkchic.com that is oh so cute and irresistible!! Of course always check with your church or ceremony location first, but this idea uses bird seed, which in my opinion is a self-cleaning solution :)

Visit the link here to find out how to make these gorgeous airmail seed packets and to download the FREE designs!! Other cute ideas (if you are wanting to give a try at creating a new design) would be to incorporate the idea of love birds.

Stop by Dolce Today for FREE Consultations and cake!

Hope to see you there!

Lilah Paper to be featured in the Kansas City Star!

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Stacey Downs and partaking in a small photo shoot for the Kansas City Star. Stacey is doing a Q&A feature on Lilah Paper and I am oh, so excited! Make sure to pick up a copy of the Sunday paper, as it will hitting your local news stands August 2nd in the Home Section!


The short and sweet:

Lilah Paper Interview
Kansas City Star
Sunday, August 2nd
The Home Sections

Bridal Afternoon at Dolce Baking Co.

{click image to view larger}

Lilah Paper is teaming up with Julie of Coordinately Yours (event planning) and Dolce Baking Co. in Prairie Village for an afternoon bridal event! Drop by Saturday, July 25th with your wedding ideas and questions and start getting excited about seeing the vision for your big day come to life!

Oh yea, and if you have never been to Dolce it is a necessity that you drop by, because the pastries, scones and wedding cakes are to die for!

Hope to see you there :)

Puple, brown and gold invitations

Remember (a couple posts back) the wonderfully talented event planner, Candice Dowling, turned bride?? Well I had the fortunate opportunity of working one on one with her to design an exquisite wedding invitation suite for her big day (lucky me!). Well, she has finally revealed some sneak peak pictures into her suite and talks briefly about the inspiration behind it all, a beautifully, fun pair of purple shoes!

Check out her blog to see pictures and read how it turned out :)

Oh! and how great is this picture!! Robert & Kathleen Photographers are so incredibly talented!

Lilah Paper goes international!

I am very excited, to announce that Lilah Paper has just completed its first international order for a bride living in France and getting married in beautiful London, England! The world wide web is amazing! I will post pictures of their invitation soon. Stay tuned...

The Skinny on Postage

Ok, so most you know by now that on May 11, 2009 the postage stamp increased in price. BUT... what you may not have known is that they also released a new wedding stamp! That's right, so anyone who is sick of the same old purple hearts wedding stamp is in for a treat. Recently released was this charming new stamp, featuring a beautiful, white, tiered wedding cake! Make sure to ask for it next time you are at the post office.

Additionally, while at the post office, I did some asking around of my own and got the skinny on the new postal regulations... here is what I found out:

- Anything less than 1 oz. can be mailed with a Forever Stamp, which is currently $0.42.

- Anything 1 oz. to 2 oz. (which includes most wedding invitations) can be mailed with a special wedding stamp.

Here’s the important part:

- USPS Postage Stamp Rates increased on May 11, 2009.

- The First Class rate increased to $0.44.

- The new wedding stamp was issued at a rate of $0.61.

However, all this being said, it is always best to take a completed/stuffed invitation to at lease 2 post offices for weighing and rate purposes. Two you ask? Yes two! It sounds crazy, but often times different post offices will provide different rates! A bride was recently quoted anywhere from $0.85 to $1.15 to mail her invitation! That is a big difference and the last thing you want is to find that your beautiful invitations have made their way back to your mailbox!

Happy Mailing!

Event Coordinator turned bride!

It isn't often that a wedding planner finds themselves sitting in the opposite seat, planning their own wedding! Well, event planner, Candice Dowling of Jubilee Events, is doing just that (Congratulations, Candice!). So what better person to chat with about being an event coordinator turned bride and to ask what advice she can offer from both ends of the stick!

And if you have a chance, check out her beautiful engagement photos, shot by Robert & Kathleen, on her blog. Simply stunning! And while you're there, don't forget to take a peek at her "trash the dress" photos (one of which is pictured above) taken by Raw Photo Design.


1. What is the number one piece of advice you can give your brides from a wedding coordinator’s perspective?

Enjoy it! I think often times we allow ourselves to get dragged down into the invariable instances that pop up, family dramas that play out, or the stress of planning a wedding. I tell my brides when they reach that point where planning has become stressful, to put things in perspective. Give in to whatever is stressing you out and be committed to enjoying the process. It is really once in a lifetime. Laugh at the mistakes (when you can't fix them!) and remember the reason that brought you here.

2. What is the number one piece of advice you can give your brides from a bride’s perspective?

Be prepared for other's opinions. It is so interesting to me how many people have an invested opinion on our wedding! It means so much to so many, and they all have an opinion on how things should be done. Planning your own wedding is really a crash course in diplomacy. I'm so fortunate because it has really been minimal, but there were a few times where I was amazed at what my grandmother had a very staunch opinion on and what I needed to do to please her.

I'd also say that it is completely natural to fall out of love with your wedding gown after purchasing it. I had a very similar experience and have come to realize it is only natural to have a tinge (or a tidal wave) of buyer's remorse. You wonder -- did I make the decision too quickly? Did I cheat myself out of trying on more dresses? And then you unfortunately find about 12 OTHER dresses that you absolutely LOVE and MUST have. It goes away -- I promise you. There was a reason why you chose the dress you did and you WILL fall in love with it all over again. Hang in there!

3. As a wedding coordinator you are surrounded by creative and talented vendors everyday! However, as a bride the confinement of a budget doesn’t always allow you to utilize all of the tremendous talents made available to you. That being said, Do-It-Yourself projects are a great alternative! What is your favorite DIY project?

My favorite DIY project so far has been our place card table display. I can't give too much away but it includes vintage frames and fabric. DIY projects are great -- I think every bride and groom should have a physical hand in items made for their wedding. It is personal and intimate. But KNOW when to pay a professional to do something and when you are in over your head!

4. What trends are you seeing a lot of these days and how are you incorporating them into your own wedding?

There is no denying that vintage weddings have really made a comeback. I'm incorporating some vintage details into our wedding as the location was built around vintage elements.

I think the most popular trend in weddings is the depth of personalization. The days of the traditional white wedding are really gone -- and now couples do everything and anything. They really are reflections of the couple, their love story, their families and heritage. I love to see couples delve into the details, not being afraid to show off who they are and what they like.

5. As a coordinator planning your own wedding, you must be your most challenging client! How many times have you changed the vision for your big day? And what helps you to focus in and stay organized?

Oh gosh! Good question! A dozen? Maybe two dozen? So awful, I know. I'm exposed to so much eye candy. That, coupled with my Libra tendencies makes being indecisive so easy. Any designer knows that a look develops over time. Rarely do people, out of the gate, have a design and stick with it rigorously throughout the process. The trick is to allow yourself to explore different options, ideas, designs, and themes. It is OKAY to change your mind so be sure to give yourself permission. For me it is especially challenging because the expectation is obviously there and I am not one who doesn’t rise to the occasion. I am SO excited for our wedding (now that I have just recently focused my design choices) and can't wait to share it with everyone!

6. Where do you find inspiration not only for your own wedding, but for those weddings that you plan?

Another fabulous question! I find inspiration EVERYWHERE. I am a very visual person. I find inspiration everywhere, whether it be from a blog, magazine, or a business's brand / marketing material. It could be a shirt, skirt, or dress. A photograph, my lunch, a song lyric. All of those elements inspire me. But, for practicality purpose, I recommend that brides read some of the popular blogs, visit fashion magazines and home décor magazines over bridal. Draw your inspiration from everyday life and take it from there. It is important, too, to define what look your after and then search out where it resides. If you're into a vintage, romantic look than look to Anthropologie catalogs for inspiration. If you are planning an Old Hollywood style wedding, than draw inspiration from vintage movies and Hollywood starlets. Once you define the style, it is easy to figure out where the inspiration will be!

7. And lastly, in your opinion, what is one “must-have” detail that should be a part of every wedding if the budget allows?

Besides a wedding planner? :) This is a tough question, as I can see the benefit and need for almost every beautiful detail! I'll speak from a practicality standpoint on this, and say that the one detail I DON’T recommend you skimp on, compromise on, and if you have extra money you spend on: your photographer. Your wedding will be fabulous with our careful planning, but when the day is over, what will you have to look back with? A professional and amazing photographer is SO NECESSARY in capturing who you are in that very moment. There are no do-overs. Connecticut just happens to have some of the best in the country (we are so fortunate!).

Lilah Paper is giving away 50 letterpresed Save the Dates!!

Hi all you lovely brides and grooms! Guess what? Southern Weddings and Lilah Paper have teamed up and we are giving away 50 letterpressed Save the Dates with coordinating blank envelopes from one of the following collections: The Vintage Lace, The Garden Variety, The Flourish or a brand new collection that I just added The Vintage Floral Suite!

The contest was just posted today, so hurry on over to the contest on their website today and submit your entry! The contest ends March 24th at midnight. Best of luck, I can't wait to work with the lucky bride and groom!

Best,

Kalyn

Tropical Color Inspiration

I am ready for warm weather and spring! Whose with me?? For some warm inspiration, check out this beautiful tropical color palette, from The Bliss Blog. I am just loving the turquoise and gold, what a beautiful and elegant color combination!

Beautiful Design of Lollia Products

I am always on the look out for beautiful design and color palettes, be it in nature, a gorgeous piece of stationery or even amazing packaging. I came across this beautifully packaged bottle from Lollia and can't stop thinking about it! The soft, feminine colors and whimsical illustration make this a bottle that I would want to keep forever and ever. It reminds me of nostalgic spring delights: white cotton sheets hung to sun-dry on a breezy afternoon, the smell of sweet sea air in the morning and tulips blooming in an array of colors across a bright green grass.

Ok... so you get the picture! I just love this design, bottle, name and so on and so on! Also, don't you just adore these vintage perfume bottles??!! I love the green!

Vote for Lilah Paper on Minted!

Minted is one of my favorite sites and they regularly host a design challenge featuring several event-related scenarios to create invitations for. The challenge has since closed, but now it is time for the voting to begin!

I chose to design for the the first of three scenarios. This particular couple sought an Asian-inspired Rehearsal Dinner invitation to reflect the bride's family heritage, while infusing the invitation with a touch of modern elegance!

So ... while you are over there checking out the great site, head on over to the "rate the designs" portion of the Design Challenge and cast your vote for your favorites. The top few will be used and printed by Minted!

Click here to check out Lilah Papers' submissions and if you love them make sure to let me know with your vote!

Lilah Paper featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs!

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I found out the Lilah Paper had been featured on the gorgeous wedding blog, Elizabeth Anne Designs! Guest writer, Nole of Oh So Beautiful Paper, will be blogging on EAD every Thursday and sharing with you some of her favorite wedding invitations, stationery trends, gorgeous calligraphy, ideas for Save the Dates and escort cards - and really anything else paper-related that you think might be useful!

I am excited and honored that Lilah Paper made an appearance on her fabulous feature!

Lilah Paper is a new member of Kansas City's Bliss List!

Hi all!
So my New Years resolution was to be better about updating the blog. So far I haven't really upheld my resolution, as with so many items on the "to-do" list it often gets pushed to the back burner. However, with so many exciting things to share, I must push it up on the priority list!

I am pleased to announce that Lilah Paper has become a new member of the exclusive Kansas City Bliss List, created by talented wedding planner turned blogger, Jenny Steffens! You can visit the listing here and while you are there make sure to check out the rest of the wonderful talent featured on her blog!

Save the Date Give Away!

Hi all,
I don't have the exact date yet, but I wanted to give all the lovely brides and grooms a heads up that Southern Weddings and Lilah Paper are teaming up to give away 50 letterpressed Save the Dates with coordinating blank envelopes from one of the following collections:

The Vintage Lace, The Garden Variety, The Flourish or a brand new collection that I just added The Vintage Floral Suite!

So check back often to see when the give away will begin!

Stuck Labels

Here's a great resource for all you DIYers! These adorable labels from Stuck Labels are not only irresistibly cute, but easy to use. After purchasing your labels, just download the sticker templates from their website and print right on your own desktop printer.