Choosing wedding invitations puts many brides in a tizzy since there are just so many options. So, I'm excited to share map inspiration on the wedding front as part of the map series. I talked to Trish of Dauphine Press, a favorite source of custom letterpress stationery, to break down creating a map for a wedding announcement. Our Maine wedding was a destination for most of our guests, so we included a map with the invitation to get everyone pumped for a trip to coastal Maine.
Do you have a database of maps that you can work with?
We have a large image base of existing maps for popular destinations like Long Island, Nantucket, Mexico, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Turks & Caicos. If we don't have a map in our library, then we can create a new design.
What are some ways to play with geography in an announcement?
A map is a great way to get your guests
excited about packing their bags and getting away for a celebration
weekend. We sometimes use the map as the
background image printed in a light colored ink. If it’s an island
destination, we will sometimes work in images of a compass rose, waves,
a sailboat, or a vintage cut of the sun. Sometimes a client will choose
a more traditional invitation design but will incorporate a map on the
response card or their directions card. We can get
as broad or granular as is appropriate, it all depends on if the map is
there for inspiration or detailed reference.
Can you order just the maps through you?
We only design maps for our clients who are ordering custom letterpress
invitations from Dauphine Press. [Jen's Note: that's pretty standard for many stationery brands.] We work with them to determine what
level of detail they want to use (all of Mexico or just Los Cabos?) and
which geographic features the map should incorporate. For a world map,
we are working on a design that calls out Sydney (where the couple
lives), Germany (the groom’s home) and New York (the bride’s home and
wedding location).
*Jen's Note: Some Etsy sellers offer custom map design work . A couple sellers to check out: Feathered Nest Press and Beyond Design.
What are some ways you can get the map look for less?
To save costs, we recommend staying with a broad overview inspiration
style map because going in and adding in details like streets, resorts
and airports is time consuming and adds cost to a design. Ask if we
have your destination map in our collection – there’s no additional fee
for using any of our existing imagery. We also feel that when it comes
to maps, the simpler and more straightforward, the better. Keeping map
designs elegant, refined and understated is key. The design has to flow
with the rest of the invitation suite in terms of scale, color, type
style and imagery. If you're going to use a map, err on the side of subtlety.
[thanks, Trish! And thanks to Dauphine Press for the lovely inspiration]
