A common question around here is whether or not we offer wood table cards. Of course we do! We custom make all of our wood table cards to order. They can be engraved with a number or name, as well as a motif. As with any of our products, you can choose from the designs in our collection or request a full custom design.  Various styles and stands are available, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

By the way, we also offer table cards in paper that are letterpress printed with  a motif – leaving room for the numbers or names to be written by hand.  They’re a great way to show off some lovely calligraphy!

A few things to think about in regards to table cards:

• Be sure to place the cards so that they are easily spotted on the table.  If raised, make sure that they don’t block the view across the table.
• Table cards should be large enough to read from a distance.  Keep in mind that large numbers are more easily recognized from a distance, as opposed to small words.
• Using numbers is very common, though it is also popular to label tables using things such as song titles, names of significant locations, or movie titles.  As mentioned above, just make sure the words are large enough for your guests to read them from a distance.  If using long titles, you may want to consider giving the table a number as well.
• If you think that assigning individual seats is too time-consuming, you may want to consider assigning your guests to tables only. This will enable you to group together certain guests while still allowing them a little choice in the matter. It will also get everyone to their general location quickly so that when it is time to eat – everyone should already be seated.

Photo Credits – Clockwise from the top: small table number in walnut – real wedding photograph by Brandon Scott Photography / close-up of  a table number in cherry by me /  large table number in walnut – real wedding photograph by Cappy Hotchkiss

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Last summer, we had  a couple come to us and request that their invitations reflect the scenery of their wedding location by including a single large pine tree.  Always happy to take on the challenge of a custom job, I was eager to accommodate their wishes.  Honestly, I was a bit surprised that this was the first time a pine tree had been requested by a client (you know, given all that wood you see on our website!).

Before I began working on the new illustration, I searched around a little bit online in order to study photos of actual pine trees.  It wasn’t long before I realized I didn’t have to look very hard at all though.  Here in North Carolina, there never seems to be a lack of pine trees.  Just a quick glance out of a window around here will reveal quite a few nearby.  Really, they are everywhere and so are their needles; but it’s okay because their silhouettes against the setting sun are quite a lovely sight.

To further enhance the woodsy feel of the invitation set, the couple chose to use walnut wood for the invite.  A warm chocolate brown ink was used for the text and a pop of color was added by the use of olive ink.  To wrap it all up and create a cohesive feel,  ecru cotton paper was  selected for the paper elements.

Curious about our custom design process? Just send us an e-mail or visit our process page for more details.

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July marks our 2 year birthday here at Oslo Press!  That’s right, our doors (aka this website) have been officially open for business for 2 years!  The past couple of years have been a crazy hectic time full of learning and a whole lot of late nights; but every minute has been an awesome adventure that I can’t imagine not having been a part of.  To celebrate, we’re participating in a little giveaway over on Style Me Pretty.  Be sure to head on over there for a chance to win 100 engraved wood place cards, escort cards, or favor tags.  Best of luck!!

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Just thought I would share a peak at some custom invites that we recently finished and shipped off.  At the request of the bride, I created this illustration for her upcoming fall wedding.  This project actually began with save the dates – where a smaller but similar leaf illustration made an appearance.  I then developed the idea further once it was time to work on the invites.   A little later on I will be able to share more, but for now, here are some closeups:

Apparently, I have had my fill of the summer heat because this warm combination of colors is making me more than ready for fall.

What you see:  laser engraved walnut veneer,  letterpress on ecru paper

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Green is a favorite color around here and is a common request when it comes to ink selection.  While my personal favorites tend to be greens with more yellow in them, I fell in love when this color came off the press.  And what color might this new love be?  That would be Pantone 363.  The bride and groom selected this custom blended green ink along with bright white cotton paper and cherry wood invites.  A perfect combination, in my opinion.

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Occasionally we get the opportunity to work on very unique projects.  After receiving their invitations from us over the summer, Drew and Britton contacted us with a special request.  They were in need of a ketubah to be used at their wedding ceremony and were hoping to keep with the wood theme.  Now, at first we were a bit hesitant as none of us here at Oslo Press have any experience with Hebrew, but we were willing to give it a go.  Thus began a very collaborative project that eventually turned their vision into a reality.

They first worked with their rabbi to create the wording for the ketubah.  Then came the tricky part – sending the Hebrew to us in a format that we were able to work with.   I know they dealt with several people on their end, and there was a lot of communication back and forth, but eventually we had something that we could work with.  We worked on the layout for them, incorporating the special logo that had been previously created for them even before they came to us about their invitations.  Once ready, it was time to prepare the wood and start the engraving.

They chose to stick with cherry, but since it would be a plaque they would keep and possibly hang on a wall, we used a solid piece of wood as opposed to the veneer we use for invitations.  Apparently it was a hit at the wedding, for as you can see in the photo, the rabbi took it upon himself to walk the ketubah down the aisle so that every guest could get a better view.  Gotta love that!

For those of you not familiar with the term, a ketubah is a Jewish marriage contract used during the wedding ceremony and kept as a special keepsake afterwards.  For more information check out the ketubah article on Wikipedia.

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