Wedding Blog
We’re now about six months away from the wedding; I really want to (and need to) get serious about our invitation design soon, but I have just been so stuck. Perhaps I put too much pressure on myself, but I want to come up with something that is more than just a pretty design. I want it to tell a story.
The response to our save the dates has been wonderful, and I know that people are expecting something equally spectacular for our invitations, given my line of work. Actually, it’s not the other people I’m trying to please, so much as I don’t want to disappoint myself. I love what I do for a living and now I have the perfect opportunity to put my expertise to use to create something that truly represents Mr. Cupcake and me.
I love Miss Lovebug’s “Sweetest Type of Love” theme and Miss Penguins adorable birds that grace her invitations. I have been keeping my “vintage charm meets modern whimsy” vision in the back of my mind throughout the wedding planning process, and I think this will be evident in our cut glass candle holders, my dress, and the bridesmaid’s dresses.
But I haven’t been able to come up with an image or motif that will really tie everything together, one that could be used on our invitations, menus, favors, and all the other paper madness I plan to bury myself under. I toyed with the idea of using vintage buttons, which I might still incorporate somewhere, but there are only so many places I can use buttons, and I am not sure that the image of buttons translates well to an invitation design. And I don’t think I can afford hundreds and hundreds of real vintage buttons to place on everything imaginable.
But last week, I think I found what I’ve been looking for.
Thanks to fellow Philadelphian Joy of the Oh Joy! blog, I came across this:
Image from Oh Joy!
Vintage keys. Yes! They’re vintage (duh), they’re pretty, they have that whole “key to my heart” undertone. They are comprised of some interesting shapes that could lend themselves to some really beautiful design that wouldn’t get stale from piece to piece. And I think I can make them work without being cheesy or too “key to my heart.”
Thoughts? Opinions? (Kind) words of disdain? 
Let me hear it!
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Share this post: The Key To Our Invitation Design
I love anything vintage and those keys are stunning. So I say go for it. I completely understand you when you say you don’t want to disappoint yourself. It took me a real real real long time to be happy with my invitation design… and like you cupcake (who wants to tell a story) I wanted people to feel the 40s theme through the movement of the elements in the design.
I would be happy to help you out if you ever need a hand. I understand. Designer to designer… i feel your pain or should I say your stuck-ness
I think keys are a very pretty way to incorporate the vintage-y feel you are looking for. When I saw your post, I thought back to the very first wedding mag I bought myself (Brides Florida). They have an entire page with ideas for a “Gate & Key” motif. I scoured the internet to see if I could find any images from it, and wouldn’t you know it, I came up on the exact article from my magazine! It can be found at http://www.cecinewyork.com/press.php?item=bridesmaryland_fallwinter_2007
I wasn’t a huge fan of the color scheme, but the overall idea is nice & I liked the antique key bottle opener favor. Hope it all comes together for you!
ok, number 1…thank you for posting early in the morning! when i get into work on a monday morning, it is like a fun little surprise to see that there is a new post! yes, i am weddingbee obsessed.
number 2, i think that the key idea is great! you being from philly makes it even better bc there is key stuff around from ben franklin! so, if you think the ‘key to my heart’ thing is too cheesy, just say it is a philly thing! i think the keys really complement your vintage/whimsical theme, too! very cute! 
oh, also, i checked and it seems that if you wanted to buy actual vintage skeleton keys to use maybe with the placecards/favors or something… ebay has them for you!
I have been a little obsessed with old keys myself ever since I was a little girl and my favorite book was The Secret Garden… I love these framed keys: http://www.countrydoor.com/Home-Accents/framed-keys.pro?keyword=key&size=16&pageName=CD%3ASearch%3ASearch+Results
I really love the whole key thing… , The whole visual of a key letting someone in– sharing your wedding day — and yes the key to your heart also comes to mind.
I can see them tied into bows around vases– Hanging from branches…. Somehow When I think of old skelatin keys I also see those pretty glass door knobs…. maybe you could incorporate some type of crystal into all of this?
Endless possibilities– Gate fold invites??
I absolutely love it! I think it’s a really great idea and the multiple layers of metaphors built into it is great.
I love this idea! I saw a really great save the date once that used the key motif. The couple collected tons of vintage keys and attached a tag to each one that said: Your Presence is Key. Place save the date for our wedding on XYZ date.
Isn’t that so cute?
I own that set in the top left corner! I bought them on total impulse in Cambridge, MA and they sit on my dresser. Everyone asks what I’m going to do with them… I have no idea. But I had to have them!
I am planning an event and would love the thought of using a vintage key with a Save the Date tag attached. How would you mail these??
i have a TON of old skeleton keys (we converted our door handles to regular ones…so we don’t need the skeleton keys anymore). if you want them, they are all yours! let me know!
How many do you have? I think this idea is so “catchy” and I would appreciate any ideas you have as well? How much are you wanting for them? Thanks so much!
whoops holly! i didn’t see your post before i replied to miss cupcake! if she doesn’t want them, i’ll let you know!
Funny! We just came up with the same theme a few weeks ago and I’m very quickly falling in love with it! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Oh my! I thought I was the only one with the key theme, ..looks like I’m not alone. I love it!
miss cupcake! i’m so sorry! i got home from the gym and went to look for the shoebox…when i couldn’t find it, i called my FH and asked him. and he has given them away! apparently, his aunt is doing some big “key-centric” art installation. bizarre.
i guess i should have asked him before i brought it up. 
jess
Sorry for the delayed reply, everyone! Thanks for all the encouragement with this idea!
Miss Flamingo, I might definitely be taking you up on the offer for design assistance Isn’t designing for yourself the worst??
Dianna, thank you SO much for that link….. that helps so much!
Miss teaberry, totally didn’t think about the Philly relationship to the key/Ben Franklin. Duh Thanks!
Holly Weaver, I’m not planning on using real keys for my invitations, but I am guessing that this is something you’d have to mail in a box, since a bulky vintage key would be too much weight/mass for a regular envelope.
missuskatie and silverstar, I’d love to hear how you’re incorporating the vintage key idea into your wedding! Feel free to share cupcake@weddingbee.com
betting_im_not, no worries, thanks so much for the offer anyway! i’m sure your FH’s aunt will do something spectacular with them, teehee.
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I LOVE it! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Miss Cupcake, I just saw these cute vintage key bottle openers and thought of you! They would be a nice gift for groomsmen. http://www.elsewares.com/commerce/Key-Bottle-Opener_MPD146.html
I saw this same magazine page in Brides Atlanta and that inspired me. I have a marcasite key on a chain that I wear all the time. Just a symbol I love and one of our favorite memories from our trip to London was the wrought iron displays at the Victoria and Albert museum. So, it works for us.
Our invitations had the quote “Love is the master key that opens all gates” at the top. Not quite as cheesy as the key to my heart thing. (I can totally relate to wanting to minimize the cheese factor!) I found key charms on eBay for cheap and they were just the right size to include tied with a ribbon on our invitations. These aren’t the exact ones I found but similar. http://cgi.ebay.com/60pcs-Antique-silver-floral-heart-key-charms-FC816_W0QQitemZ370039921646QQihZ024QQcategoryZ134299QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I also finally found the same bottle openers that were in the magazine and the best price on them. There are lots out there with the heart top but we liked the more vintage, less cutsy look. http://www.epersonalized-gifts.com/key-shaped-bottle-openers.html
Also, if you’re daring with your jewelry, they have some great Barbara Bixby key enhancers on qvc.com. My fiancee is thrilled to have something to get me as a wedding gift with those.
Where I’m stuck now is on the cake. I really want to do something different but can’t think of a way to really incorporate the idea other than just black scrollwork to look like a gate. Have you found any key ideas you’d share? Our wedding is May 24 but I’m still up for some new things.
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Mrs. Cupcake, Philadelphia
Age and Occupation: 27, Graphic Designer
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Construction Project Manager
Engagement Date: February 10, 2007
Wedding Date: September, 2008
Blogging Since: December 7, 2007
Venue: The Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PA
About Me: Mr. Cupcake and I hit it off at a Halloween party and immediately began a long-distance relationship. After two years, he moved to my neck of the woods, and a year and a half after that, he proposed at the “place we fell in love.” I am a true perfectionist who enjoys designing and creating more work for myself, so wedding planning is my perfect outlet. Mr. Cupcake and I are both old souls, and we hope to weave that aspect of our personalities into our wedding day.
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