Bi-coastal couple Arri and Richard live in New York but are getting married a whole continent away, in Los Angeles. Their wedding color is black-on-black. Richard, who is a graphic designer, made up these amazing save-the-date invitations and Studio Z Mendocino executed the printing. We started the conversation, as most often happens, with my sending them a little package of our printed samples, which show different papers, foil and ink colors, treatments. They called back all excited because our super-thick, yummy black Museum Mount paper was exactly what Richard had in mind. At almost an eighth of an inch thick, it’s the fattest paper that will go through a Heidelberg Windmill — practically illegal!
They wanted a swank look with a modern edge. Richard wanted it to be blind embossed at first but I talked him out of that because plain, no-color debossing into the paper, even when hit very hard and deeply, often appears flat and unreadable. To make the beautiful typography really pop I suggested using a gloss black foil for the smaller type and either silver or pewter foil for the big swooshy names.
On the press, Rhea and I knew on sight that it had to be the pewter. I called Arri and Richard from beside the press and said, OK, executive decision time: we are putting pewter foil on these. There is NO question it’s the best choice.
When light hits the foil, there is a bounce and liveliness to the (you would think) understated color scheme that’s as unexpected as it is intriguing. Holding the incredibly substantial card in one’s hand is a sensory experience you have to have in person. They are totally amazing objects.
Is this DRAMATIC enough for you? OMG. So fabulous. And the bride and groom to be were v. happy indeed.
