We met Madeline from mlc designs at the Turf Valley Bridal Show. We were struck by her great booth design, and knew we wanted to get to know her more! The more we talked, the more we realized we needed to do a feature of her on our blog – Invitation and Save the Date designing is so cool, and she does incredible designs. But, instead of me talking about it, I’ll let her do the talking. :)
1. As a designer, what got you into weddings?
Truthfully, it was my own wedding! I was in corporate marketing and graphic design and just wasn’t at all satisfied with anything I found in books (they didn’t have a zillion online places 9 years ago :) I wanted something different, something ME, and something really personalized. Plus, as a designer it was really important to me that I did them myself. I designed the invitations and then carried the design over to all of the day of details – programs, place cards, table numbers, thank you notes). I loved how everything came out and so did my guests – I kept getting compliments and friends kept urging me to help them with their weddings. Soon enough it became a very small business while I still had my full time career. I loved that I could apply my design and my marketing experience to the wedding process – I look at it as branding a wedding, we create a signature look and it’s theirs to carry throughout every detail.
2. Where do you get your inspiration?
My clients for sure!! I absolutely love what I do, because I get to live out my passion of designing every single day but my works is always so different. Every client has a different style, different colors they are all as unique as the individual. I bring ideas to the table and show my clients new things but ultimately I’m creating something that truly represents who they are and how they want to set the tone for their wedding day!
3. Any advice for brides thinking of hiring someone that does custom stationery?
I think just be yourself, let who you are shine through the process. As with any vendor that you work with – you need to really ‘click’. My work is so personal and I end up working really closely with all of my clients, so it has to be a fun and easy-going process. Also, they need to be sure that their vision is coming through – don’t be afraid to ask for changes or tweaks until it is exactly what you want. I always tell my clients that my feelings are never hurt if they don’t like something I do – these aren’t my invitations they are my clients’ so I want it to be absolutely perfect for them.
4. Why work with a custom designer?
Again, I think this is the most personal day of a couple’s life and the invitation truly sets the tone for the Wedding Day – not only the ceremony and reception but it’s an introduction to the couple and who they are together. I always try to capture my clients’ personalities in their invitations – yes, we tie in the wedding colors and pretty patterns but so often I have my clients tell me that their invitations so perfectly portray their personality. That is something that just doesn’t always happen when picking invitations out online or from a book. You also don’t always know what you are going to get – colors and papers don’t always translate from screen to print. Working with a designer like me, you will always get paper samples, printed proofs (all of my work is professionally printed) and extremely personal attention. Most designers will also coordinate the guest addresses and handle those details for you as well, so everything really coordinates. (mlc designs always includes, guest addressing/assembly/mailing with all of their invitation packages)
5. How long before a wedding should this process start?
Ideally I’d love at least 6 six months to work with a client on their invitations and at least 8 months if they are sending a save the date. I don’t like to rush the design process and I always like to build in lots of time for client review/feedback – let’s face it we are all busy and brides/grooms are even more so these days! We work on all different timelines though and can almost always accommodate different schedules.
6. What is your favorite part of the design process?
I’d have to say the end – and not because its over – in fact I always get so sad when I have to deliver reception items because I won’t be working with my clients anymore! I just LOVE seeing it all come together and how the design was carried out from the save the date all the way through to the placecards and thank you notes. Its just thrilling when a bride tells me how happy they were with everything and letting me know they couldn’t have done it without me. That’s the best part!
7. Do you design anything besides wedding invitations?
I sure do! I design lots of baby things – coordinating baby announcement & thank you sets and 1st birthday parties. I take the same approach and try to make all of these designs really personalized. I like to get the baby’s bedding designs or registry items so that everything coordinates with the look of the nursery. I also love doing typography-based designs that incorporate a fun quote or nursery rhyme – baby design doesn’t have to be about trains and teddy bears. I’ve done all sorts of design in the corporate/non-profit world, but nothing makes me happier than weddings, baby, and any special occasion. I’m just a different person when I do this type of design work.
7. Any wedding vendors you particularly want to give a shout out to?
Of course there are, thanks!! I love the team at Truffles Catering at The Belvedere – it’s a beautiful historic venue and Kat and Averil take such good care of their brides. Two amazing florists I love personally and think their flowers are always amazing are Kim from My Flower Box Events and Colleen from Divine Designs and Events. Diana from Eventi Planning is also fabulous to work with, we’ve done many weddings together. I am also absolutely thrilled I got to meet you both (Susie & Becky) at Turf Valley Bridal Show this year, you had one of the best photo displays I had seen (and I’ve done a lot of shows with a lot of photographers) – I loved your passion and your beautiful photography. So thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!!
