Happy New Year! I wonder what this new year will bring us? Can’t wait to find out! XOXO, Tyler
Press Release: Augusta Tyler FitzHugh awarded CWS
10 Dec
December 1, 2011
For Immediate Release:
Augusta Tyler FitzHugh has been awarded the title of Certified Wedding Specialist by Weddings Beautiful Worldwide, a prestigious professional organization comprised of over 2,000 wedding consultants and members worldwide. Through persistence and dedication of Augusta Tyler FitzHugh, all eighteen assignments were completed with the grade of A or A+.
Weddings Beautiful Worldwide has been training wedding consultants to perform with professionalism and authority since 1968. We will continue serving brides around the world through the successes of our professionally trained Certified Wedding Specialists.
Interview: Tina Tabibi of Tabibi Design
24 NovBonjour All,
Hope you are having a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday weekend! Today we have Tina Tabibi with us to talk about her custom design invitations and papers.
So, Tina, how long have you been doing this and how did you get your start?
I pursued graphic design after graduating from the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. Since 2000, I’ve worked as a designer for studios and in-house creative departments. Over the years, I’ve been asked by family members and friends to assist with their design needs but my departure into the world of invitation and stationery began with my own wedding in 2008.
Photo Credit: Kate Triano Photography
As a designer, I love having the capabilities of providing the client with a visual solution. Whether its creating a style to fit the bride and groom’s personality or developing a brand or redesign for a business.
What is one tip you would give to brides looking for invitations?
Custom design is a great way to express yourself on paper. Don’t shy away from custom because you may think its too expensive. We can design for your budget.
What are the different types of letterhead/printing?
The most common types of printing techniques are digital, offset and letterpress.
Digital printing is a very popular method as it is effective in reducing the time to complete a print. No use of films or plates. The digital file is transferred to the printing press with the help of a computer. It has a quick turnaround time and is the most cost-effective.
Offset printing is a common method where most printers use offset lithography to make a print. The printers usually offsets the ink from metal plates to a rubber cylinder, which is transferred to the paper stock. The price is usually determined by how many colors used for your job.
Letterpress is a centuries-old relief printing process. All type and images are raised up on the plate and form the printed image area, while the recessed areas surrounding the design do not print. The ink from the printing press is applied to these raised areas of the plate, which is then pressed into the paper. Letterpress printing imparts an unmistakable impression in the paper, giving a vivid, three-dimensional appearance.
The majority of my designs are produced by the digital press. Great quality, beautiful results and very affordable.
What steps happen during the process of making my invitation?
1. Let’s Talk: We set-up a consultation. The client does not have to be local. I’d be more than happy to chat over the phone. During this step, I want to determine the couple’s style. Classic, modern, rustic, traditional? The more feedback, the better. It’s time to factor in all elements that you may want to incorporate into your big day like color palettes, font types, structure and style.
On the hunt for inspiration! Whether its the cake design, your gown, the centerpieces or paper lanterns at the venue, this will help determine the overall feel and aesthetic that will be your custom design.
2. Get a Quote: Once you established the direction of your design project, it’s time to determine the cost. Each custom design is unique and therefore, pricing will vary.
3. Design and Proofs: After the quote has been approved, we will create your event invitation, stationery and paper goods. The client will have the opportunity to review the proofs and provide feedback for us to incorporate into the final draft. Changes will then be incorporated into a revised pdf and sent to you for approval.
4. Approval: The client will receive a digital proof including all the specifications of your order. When approved, your order will be sent to production and print. Depending upon the order and printing method, the print time could take between between 5-10 days.
What is your price point?
Prices vary. Custom design pricing is determined by the number of pieces required, complexity of your design and printing options.
How long does this take? How much in advance should brides contact you?
I recommend consulting a designer about your wedding invitations 4-6 months before the wedding. If you want to incorporate a save-the-date card in the wedding suite, ideally I would contact the designer earlier so an overall, cohesive look can be created to include this piece.
Typically, save the dates go out 4-6 months before the wedding and invites go out 4-6 weeks beforehand, do you agree?
I tell my brides, invitations are usually mailed 6 to 8 weeks prior to the event. 4-6 months for save-the-dates, but I would strive for 6 months if its a destination wedding.
What’s your favorite thing about what you do? Favorite project to date?
I love creating that personal touch to such an important event. A wedding invitation is the first thing the guests will receive and provides them with a glimpse of the event as they wait in anticipation of the celebration. For most couples, it’s an announcement to the most important party you will ever host! I had so much fun working with John and Lauren in creating their wedding invitation and paper goods. The bride requested the use of mason jars and fireflies for the visual elements of their stationery. I developed the concept, “we are glowing about their big day” and evolved from this tag line with the use of glowing fireflies, whimsical movement of dotted lines, mason jars and type treatment.
How can we reach you if we want to use your services?
email: tina@tabibidesign.com
visit: www.tabibidesign.com
Thanks for joining us today, Tina!
Thanksgiving: An American Tradition to Celebrate!
23 Nov
You know what I love about Thanksgiving?
Give up? I love how AMERICAN it is. Throughout our history, even from before our country was official, we’ve been celebrating Thanksgiving. When we celebrate THANKS-GIVING, we are GIVING THANKS to God, who has blessed us abundantly. We do indeed have much to be thankful for. We worked a little harder this year, BUT, God gives us the ability to work. We suffered through daily commutes and traffic, BUT we had a car or some form of transportation to us to get us there. We experienced some tough times, BUT we experienced them with family and friends who join us now in thanks. We had a little less money to spend this year, BUT we appreciated what we could afford a little more…in fact, Americans still have it better than any other country. I know. I’ve been to Africa. Let me tell you, we are VERY blessed in this wonderful, amazing, bountiful country, and we have nothing to complain about. Our forefathers worked and fought and died for us to be able to enjoy the country we have, and although things these last few years have been rather tough, it is our heritage to carry on and keep striving for better. We are not lazy; it is our heritage to work hard and pull together in these tough times. It is our heritage to spend Thanksgiving with family, to take one day out of the year to be thankful, for all of the blessings we have been given. The opportunities, abilities, talents, family, friends, life, health, freedoms, knowledge, comforts, (can we say hot showers?) that we so very often take for granted.
All of that being said, our country has suffered some serious economic, moral and political blows these past few years and we do need to improve upon these items by voting, continuing to work hard and turning back to God. It is my hope and prayer that this next election will bring us someone who can turn the country into a positive, proud and productive country again, just like we have always been and just like we need to remember to be now.
I am proud to be an American, I am proud of our heritage, and I proud to celebrate the traditional American holiday of Thanksgiving. I take comfort, and I hope you do too, this Thanksgiving, knowing that this is one tradition that our country will continue to celebrate no matter how tough times get. Because, let’s face it, we have much to thankful for, this and every year.
God bless you, God bless America and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Love, Tyler
Heidi & Joey
7 NovBonjour lovelies!
Today I am sharing Heidi & Joey’s wedding! Heidi & Joey were engaged on the Eiffel Tower in Paris, so of course they hired Voilà! Event Studio to help them plan and coordinate their wedding day:)
I loved her bracelet. Actually all of her jewelry was amazing!
Heidi looked amazing and glamourous. Here she is at the National Postal Museum.
Heidi and Joey sit during part of their ceremony at St. Aloysius Church in DC.
It was great being able to work with my sister, Currie, of Currie FitzHugh Photography! Here she took some excellent shots of Growing Wild’s floral arrangements.
And this is her lovely cake from Cake Express! Loved the florals that went so well with her theme.
Their first dance was so cute and romantic!
Everyone had a fantastic night celebrating the marriage of Heidi and Joey!
And here I am with my signature Voilà! pose! ha ha, thanks Currie!
Love, Tyler
Heidi and Joey’s Wedding
31 OctBonjour! Today is just a little tease of my first DC wedding that happened over the weekend - Heidi and Joey!
Don’t you adore Heidi’s dress?!? Thanks for this photo Currie FitzHugh Photography!
Check back for more photos soon!
Love, Tyler
Heidi and Joey
Harry Potter Style Shoot
23 OctBonjour!
I know I have been slacking – again! – on blogging, but today I have a special treat for everyone! Several months ago, Abby from Abby Grace Photography and Bree Ryback of Capitol Romance Blog approached me to help them coordinate a Harry Potter Style Shoot. They really were the driving force behind the whole operation, as they are both HUGE HP fans, they had a vision for what they wanted and really went after it. I helped out by finding some great vendors, coming up with some ideas, giving input when necessary and assisting on the day of the shoot. It was so much fun to work with them, I know that all of our hard work paid off. How, you ask? Well after months of emails, meetings, shopping trips, and more, I had the pleasure of seeing the work of Abby Grace Photography, Capitol Romance Blog, WesWen Design, J. Lindsay Hair Designs, Donna K Makeup Artistry, MelleFleur, myself and others recently featured on Green Wedding Shoes blog!
It was so much fun working with them to create this fun Harry Potter inspired shoot! I hope you enjoyed it and if you missed it, here’s the link that was originally posted on October 19, 2011: Green Wedding Shoes Blog
The pumpkin juice was actually mango that I bought earlier in the day.
Here I am strategically placing feathers into the floral bouquets.
My sister Leta did the decorative lettering for these fantastic placecards by hand.
For more about the making of this shoot, visit Abby’s fabulous blog post here.
The Top 40 Restaurants by Bisnow
10 OctBonjour!
Thought I would share this quick list with you – The top 40 Washington DC area restaurants, according to Dining Bisnow. Many of these restaurants would make great venues for intimate gatherings, rehearsal dinners, and corporate meetings. If you’d like to stay on top of the latest restaurant news, you can subscribe to Dining Bisnow newsletters here.
The Top 40 Restaurants by Bisnow
#40: The Oceanaire
#39: Ray’s Hell Burger
#38: Bibiana
#37: Carmine’s
#36: The Caucus Room
#35: The Monocle
#34: The Tower Club
#33: Morton’s DC
#32: Adour
#31: Chef Geoff’s Downtown
#30: Ristorante Tosca
#29: Bistro Bis
#28: Silver Diner in Tysons Corner
#27: Ben’s Chili Bowl
#26: Plume at the Jefferson
#25: J&G Steakhouse
#24: Good Stuff Eatery
#23: DC Coast
#22: Market Street Bar & Grill
#21: Oval Room
#20: Ris
#19: 701 Restaurant
#18: Old Ebbitt Grill
#17: Teatro Goldoni
#16: Occidental Grill & Seafood
#15: Black’s Bar & Kitchen
#14: Lafayette Room at the Hay-Adams
#13: Bombay Club
#12: Georgia Brown’s
#11: Blue Duck Tavern
#10: Central
#9: The Capital Grille
#8: BLT Steak
#7: Bourbon Steak
#6: Charlie Palmer Steak House
#5: The Palm
#4: Equinox
#3: Seasons at The Four Seasons
#2: Cafe Milano
#1: The Source
