Wedding Gifts for Mom and Dad

It is not unusual for us to have clients ask us to create portraits as gifts. When our bride-to-be, Shannon, requested  two movie poster parodies to give to her parents as wedding gifts, we were really excited. We have created "Father of the Bride" paintings before, but the "My Cousin Vinny" concept was a new challenge. Shannon and her mother shared a love for the movie for many years. Making the two of them into "Mona Lisa" and "Vinny" (and her older sister into the judge) was pretty amusing.

This is Summer at the Shore

Since summer is finally here this seemed like the perfect illustration for a new post. Jess and Jon will be married on Long Beach Island, New Jersey in September. This illustrated narrative served as the cover for an informational brochure that accompanied their invitation sets. Their story can be gleaned from the various details, but our favorite feature was their charming dog, Bailey.

Ireland-Themed Seating and Table Cards

Occasionally we are asked to revisit certain ideas. We always like to freshen them up. The Irish County road sign table cards concept appealed to our clients Lauren and Ryan, whose April wedding at The Stateroom, Long Beach Island, New Jersey was beautifully shot by Gerald Paguio Photography. We loved seeing the map of Ireland seating cards displayed and captured in such a original and alluring way.

Evolution of a Map

From top left to bottom right: First, a pencil sketch was submitted for approval.
The artwork was drawn onto watercolor paper. Next, masking fluid was applied to areas that
would remain white or later be colored differently than the background.
The aqua background color was painted, then the yellow of the sun.
Acrylic ink was applied on the lettering, allowing for lighter yellow paint
to be applied against the dark background. The sun was touched up with a coral to yellow gradient,
giving the feeling of a Caribbean sunset.

The final painting was used as the cover of a folding card wedding invitation.

RSVP postcard showcased photographs provided by the couple.

Melissa and Kyle are having a Caribbean-themed wedding, and really wanted the island feel to come through in their wedding invitations. Their enthusiasm for the upcoming wedding (and this project) was contagious. We thought it would be different to show the process of how this particular illustrated map came together in stages.

Navy & Nautical

Our community, while famous for its beaches, is also a well-loved boating destination. So it is not uncommon for us to receive requests for wedding invitation sets that are nautical either in theme, look, or both. Here are just a few of our favorite designs that featured classic navy and natural linen paper stocks, starfish, and iconic sailing references.

Rustic Angus Barn Wedding Invitations

Alison and Justin "got hitched" last September at the beautiful Pavilion at the Angus Barn. Given the historic and rustic location, we were 100% on board when the couple requested we accent those qualities in the invitation suite. From the hand-drawn monogram with a western feel to the burlap band and cotton paper to the rsvp language, we took full advantage of designing to fit their charming theme.

Vintage 1930s Aerial Photographs of the Jersey Shore

Downtown Manasquan, New Jersey, c. 1932. Our studio was rebuilt on this site in the late 1950s.

Looking toward Manasquan Inlet, c. 1932

Sea Girt, New Jersey, c. 1932. The large building in the lower center of the photograph is the Stockton Hotel.
It was destroyed by fire in 1965.

Spring Lake, New Jersey, c. 1932. More of the grand hotels that once graced the shoreline (north to south):
The Warren, The Essex and Sussex, and The Monmouth. Only the Essex and Sussex remains today, not as a hotel but as luxury oceanfront condominiums.

Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, c. 1932. The original Jenkinson's Pavilion on the Boardwalk.

Shore Airport 

Letterhead (top) and the Pilot with his plane.

These photographs are family heirlooms and magnificent examples of history at the Jersey Shore. Matt's grandfather was a pilot in the area in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He owned one of the first airports in central New Jersey. We salvaged and restored these and several other photographs from his collection. Given that the shore has been developed so much since this moment in time, seeing empty lots this close to the ocean is amazing.

Letterhead (top) and the Pilot with his plane.

New Year's Eve Art Deco Wedding Invitation

Here is the Save the Date and wedding invitation set for our clients Lucille & Sean. Their New Year's Eve wedding took place in an old oceanfront hotel in Asbury Park. We were asked to produce something in an Art Deco vein using multiple fonts and metallic paper stocks. To us, it was a very cool project!

Typography in Manasquan

We spend a lot of time walking around Manasquan, and have noticed over time many compelling examples of typography.  The sun finally stayed out over the weekend long enough for us to capture some of these diverse representations.

Katrina & Muggy's Wedding Map

We are always interested when clients request a map of a very small geographic region, in this case just a couple of towns. It makes for a more graphic piece, especially accented by their choice of primary colors. We loved the little dog so much we reused him for the front of their RSVP postcard. The two pieces made for a cheerful wedding invitation suite for a fun couple.

Mansion at Natirar Letterpress Invitation

The Mansion at Natirar is a gorgeous estate and wedding venue in Somerset County, New Jersey. Sandee and David commissioned illustrations of the mansion and this detailed iron gate on the Natirar grounds. We were delighted when they also opted for letterpress printing. Here are the beautiful results from Thomas Printers.

Our Clients Love Their Dogs

Over the years, we have been asked to include our clients dogs (and two cats) into their designs. Whether the canines were part of an illustrated map, a baby shower, or a wedding invitation, as animal lovers, we were happy to indulge them.

Manasquan Beach Recovery

This morning we walked up to the see the ocean and were thrilled to find that Hurricane Sandy beach recovery has finally begun. The giant debris-filled piles of sand are mostly gone and being sifted. We noticed buds on daffodils yesterday. It seems like the dark winter in our little town may finally be coming to an end!

Top Secret Birthday Bash

For his surprise 60th birthday, Brian's family booked "The Archive Room" in New York City. They requested that we play off of the archive theme and, of course, we jumped at the chance to do something creative. His wife and daughter gave us this old photograph and submitted personal facts, from which we drew his "dossier."  

The Endless Summer Save the Date

Amanda and John-Austin love old movies and they adore the ocean. He surfs and owns Caught Outside Photography and she spends her summers enjoying the beach. We combined their two passions into a movie poster parody of "The Endless Summer" (the colors from the original film and the concept from the sequel). Their dog Hobie was a must for inclusion into the poster. How much fun is this?!