Oh my, do I have a treat for you guys today!  I literally sat transfixed for a good minute and a half when I first came across these invitations.  Designed by the über talented bride and groom and expertly letterpressed by the artisans at Studio on Fire, these pieces are a study in personalization.

With the bride’s hometown of Southport, NC selected as the wedding location, groom Cleve and bride Brooke set out to create an invitation that would celebrate the port town’s long established place in seafaring history while staying away from the traditional nautical imagery of anchors, sailor’s knots and seashells.  The two found their inspiration in antique nautical maps filled with intricate typefaces and elaborate woodcut frames.

Armed with this imagery (and some incredible graphic design skills), Cleve created a custom basket weave pattern to frame the invitation and response cards.  A perfectly balanced collection of typefaces and flourishes complimented the design, while the adorable birds and their “chirp” messages added a touch of personality and whimsy.  The result – a decidedly modern interpretation of an incredibly old-world look.

As if I wasn’t already swooning over these, Cleve then pointed out that he had customized the basket weave pattern with a Latin phrase and their wedding date:

Um…ok…almost too much awesomeness for one invitation set.

{Photo credit:  Studio on Fire}

I don’t really know what to say about these invitations other than they are INCREDIBLE.  I am a total lettepress groupie but I can’t remember the last time I saw a design that made such perfect use of the letterpress printing medium.  Huge props to Studio on Fire for expertly printing such an intricate design. The ink coverage and tight registration (told you I was a groupie!) had to have made this challenging, but the result is just exquisite.  Be sure to check out their blog for more letterpress goodness.

I love the idea that Cleve and Brooke collaborated on what I know will be a memento in their family for many years.  For more from this talented duo, take a look at Brooke’s portfolio and Cleve’s portfolio.

So now aren’t you a teensy bit curios what the event that followed these phenomenal invitations looked like?  I know I sure was.  Yay!  We get to see! I’m featuring Cleve and Brooke’s lovely wedding tomorrow.  See you then!