We Likey: Bella Figura
We have always been huge fans of Bella Figura . It is something about their heavy papers, defined cuts and opulent fonts that just scream luxury!
The trendsetting company introduced 75 new dazzling invitation designs that are sure to be all the rage for the wedding season. Their forecast: Metallic pastels, die-cut shapes and custom calligraphy accents are essential for 2013 weddings.
So what’s new?
— Die-cuts arrive. Die-cuts are an exciting new embellishment for 2013 –these sophisticated shapes instantly up the elegance factor on any invitation by adding soft curves or bold lines. Bella Figura can also create a distinctive, custom die-cut shape for any occasion for a truly one-of-a-kind piece.
— New foil colors (including pastels!) Metallics were extremely popular in 2012, and with classic, glamorous weddings making a strong comeback, foil is a style that’s definitely here to stay. 7 new foil colors have been added to Bella Figura’s offerings, including sophisticated neutrals (like pearl, a soft white foil, and tawny, a beautiful taupe foil) as well as lovely pastels (mint! lilac! pink!). For couples looking to make
a statement, foil stamping looks breathtaking when paired with letterpress. And for those who aren’t ready to commit to a lot of shine, adding a foil edge to an invitation is a great way to embellish without going overboard.
— 10 custom calligraphy styles, including Callaway (a rich, formal hand by Sarah Hanna), as well as 6 whimsical styles from Bella Figura’s newest calligrapher, Elizabeth Hardin, are new for 2013. Bella Figura offers over 30 hand calligraphy styles from 7 of the nation’s top calligraphers.
— Incorporate local touches with new maps and cityscapes. Turn a cityscape or vintage map of a wedding location (or any location!) into a custom envelope liner. Bella Figura’s designers can also create custom maps that coordinate with an invitation design.
— Create colorful envelope liners with your favorite hues. Introduce more colors to an invitation suite with Bella Figura’s new patterned envelope liners. Choose a combination of colors from Bella Figura’s 60+ inks, then choose from over 40 patterns to create a vibrant envelope liner. Patterned envelope liners from Bella Figura are 100% post-consumer waste recycled and FSC-certified. The line also carries a variety of FSC-certified metallic envelope liners and eco colored envelopes.
See more of these gorgeous designs and concepts at the Bella Figura site and be sure to follow them on Twitter at @BellaFigura
Have your bar go vintage! Stage a few prohibition style boxes or crates on or behind the bar full of dark bottles and jugs. Pair them with custom vintage labeled bottles and mix and match jars for an authentic feel.
Getting married at the Empire State Building alone is bragworthy, but what would the New York landmark be without its partner in crime, King Kong? Known for his large floral arrangements of animals and other natural elements, this particular beauty was there to greet guests as they entered the wedding. Not to be outdone by one of his fabulous creations, when it was time to come down the aisle, Preston emerged from what appeared to be a 12 foot bride drenched in orchids and a 
. The Paris Wedding, which will be released this coming April, is a full-color, idea-packed, “go-to guide” for globally minded trendsetters who are in love with the style and romance of Paris. Half of the book focuses on the logistical “nitty-gritty” behind planning a wedding in Paris (but also includes plenty of gorgeous Real Parisian Wedding eye-candy). The other half is geared towards brides who want to plan a Parisian-INSPIRED wedding in their own hometown, and includes stylized photo shoots (shot on location, naturally!) as well as chapters on things like lingerie, wedding gown and shoe shopping in Paris, and resources for finding French touches like macarons and croquembouche in cities all over the world. 
