Q&A session with… Lilah Paper

Do you remember the fabulous feature we did on Lilah Paper a few weeks back? Well I asked Kalyn, the visionary behind this amazing invitation design company, to answer a few of our questions. She was so kind to respond to our questions about Lilah Paper and the process of creating couture wedding invitations. Before you read her interview, take a look at her fabulous holiday collection. I am so in love with the vintage style.

First off, I am so honored to be a guest on Jubilee Event’s blog, Connecticut Weddings! I have been following the blog since July and just love Candice’s beautiful and unique take on style, weddings and event decor. So needless to say when she asked if Lilah Paper would be a guest on her blog I jumped at the opportunity! So, here it goes…

How did you get started in the business of designing couture stationery and invitations?
I got started in the stationery business a couple of years ago while planning my own wedding. Ever since I graduated school I have been working in graphic design, however as time went on I was beginning to feel a bit of the corporate burnout. However, once engaged I found that our wedding was the perfect creative outlet to think beyond the standard page. As I began to design our save the dates, my mind was flooded with ideas and finally I felt the creative spark return! So given the rave reviews from my own wedding stationery and my absolute love for beautiful, boutique paper I decided that I couldn’t turn back and began to design my initial line of stationery. From there I moved from beautiful Colorado to Gorgeous Charleston, South Carolina, where lavish southern weddings are in full swing! While in Charleston, I designed for a custom invitation studio where I gained a lot of insight into the stationery and wedding industry. However, it wasn’t long after that my husband and I decided to put one more move under our belts… back to my home town, Kansas City. Given that there isn’t an abundance of letterpress and invitation studios in Kansas City, I decided to open the doors to Lilah Paper, and I must say that I am loving every second of it!! It isn’t every day that you get to be completely creative in your job and work with clients who are celebrating such joyous occasions. I feel truly lucky to have stumbled upon this wonderful business.

How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as vintage… with a twist of playful elegance. I LOVE sweeping flourishes, vintage wallpapers, soft colors and beautiful, creamy papers. Typography is also a small obsession of mine. Any chance I get to play around with old block lettering and unique type layouts I jump at the opportunity.

Where do you draw inspiration from when designing a couture invitation suite for a couple?
I really just listen. Like anyone that has or is planning a wedding knows, it is SO fun to talk about your big day! I draw inspiration from my bride’s descriptions and pictures, specifically of their dresses, flowers, table decor, and venue. You can tell a lot about a wedding based on where it is being held. But outside of the couple, I draw a lot of inspiration from vintage fabrics and beautiful calligraphy.

A lot of couples are not use to the idea of having their invitations designed by someone out of state. Often times they don’t even know that they can work with a couture paperie designer on a national level. How does Lilah Paper cater to this type of couple and provide that one-on-one service that they’re looking for?
Surprisingly the majority of my clients are out of state and the process really works quite similarly. I start with an initial phone consultation, which works just like if the couple were to meet here in the studio. I discuss the bride and groom, their style, their wedding colors, how they would want their invitations worded (traditional vs. non-traditional), and each of the pieces that they may need to be included within their invitation suite (ie. reception card, schedule of events, etc.). From this I gain a good vision of the couple and how their stationery fits into their big day.

For my more hands-on brides, I use a lot of email and good old snail mail. Often times my brides will email me with bits of inspiration, color swatches and themes. This is always helpful when working without of state brides, as the more insight I can gain into their overall vision for their wedding the better. If color or paper swatches are needed, I simply stick them in the mail so that my brides are able to touch and feel the products, just like if they would here in the studio.

After the initial consultation, the process is really quite the same. I provide pdf proofs via email and the editing process is done over the phone or via email. My goal is to make ordering your stationery easy, effortless and most importantly fun!

What are the hottest trends right now in wedding invitations?
Color is always an ever changing trend when it comes to invitations and the bridal industry! The wedding colors are probably the first thing that a bride considers. This year, I am seeing more “dusty tones,” including lavenders, taupes, peaches, grey-blues, greens, tans and pinks. Each of these colors makes a beautiful and stunning accent to classic color choices like chocolate brown, slate grey and creamy ivory tones.

Another trend that I am seeing is the use of custom envelope liners. I see more and more brides moving away from the inner/outer envelope tradition and instead using a single outer envelope, lined with a beautiful, coordinating paper.

What are a few ways that couples can save on invitations without compromising impact, design, or quality?
Invitations can be one of the most fun parts about planning a wedding (of course maybe I am a little bias). However, seeing the transition from thinking that the invitation is just another piece of paper that ends up in the trash to realizing that the invitation is the very piece that will jump-start the excitement within your guests and give them a glimpse into the look and feel of your big day is just amazing! BUT… as much as the wedding stationery is a huge part, you don’t want to break the bank either. So, not to worry! There are many ways that you can trim costs when it comes to your invitations without compromising the impact, design and quality, and the top two ways are:

1. number of ink colors
2. the printing process (offset/flat printing vs. thermography vs. letterpress)

For budget-conscious brides, I often suggest that they use thermography or offset printing. And for those who wish to add color, but keep within a 1-color price range, I suggest using backing layers and coordinating reply envelopes to add variety and dimension. However, keep in mind that if you do know your budget ahead of time it is helpful to let the designer know. Knowing your budget allows us to guide you in the right direction and make suggestions that will fit within your unique style and your unique budget!

Dec 12, 2008 | Categories: All Things Paper, Q&A Sessions | Tags: custom invitations, holiday, invitations, lilah paper, q&a, stationary | 1 Comment »