With 1,500 photos from this special weekend, we have many good moments to share. We loved the special details of this wedding -- the venue itself has so many (from the weathervane to the rustic lanterns to the porch swings), and then we added little touches of our own as well. Perhaps the most noticeable one was our LOVE letters which were displayed over the fireplace in the center of the Barn, the reception venue. We also loved making and hanging our custom bunting and setting up the display for our Little Love Letters guestbook. The guestbook was customized for the bride and groom, but similar versions will be available in our store that is set to open next week! Take a look and see which details you love the best....There are still more to come! [gallery type="square" ids="1000,1001,1002,1003,1004,1005,1006,1007,1008,1009,1010,1011,1012,1013,1014,1015,1016,1017,1018,1019,1020,1021,1022,1023,1024,1025,1026,1027,992"]
Branding: Gerald & Joan
If you've read this post, then you already know the story behind the Gerald & Joan logo. When considering options for Gerald & Joan's branding, we knew we wanted to do something nostalgic and fun, but we also wanted to keep our costs down. Using vintage index cards and postcards as our inspiration, we designed our business cards and correspondence postcards and had them printed locally for a nominal fee. The business card design will likely stay the same, but the postcard is the first in a series that we'll distribute as a way to thank our clients and vendors. It features one of our favorite places in the world -- Palos Verdes, California. You might also recognize Jonathan on the card. This first postcard is a little tribute to him because there wouldn't be a Gerald & Joan without his love and support!
To complete our look, we brought in some of our favorite things. The brown "grocery sack" tags and bags add to the nostalgia, and they are customized with a Gerald & Joan bird stamp. Custom stamps are an affordable way to personalize standard paper and fabric, and they are so fun to collect! We are now taking custom stamp orders, so if you need a stamp for a wedding or event, please feel free to contact us for sizes and pricing!
Yellow bakers twine, vintage yellow ribbon, yellow washi tape, traditional twine and vintage linens in our yellow/cream/brown color palette complete our vintage-inspired look. We think the branding marries the Gerald & Joan concept of "timeless with a hint of nostalgia" perfectly, and we are so pleased with the way each piece turned out!
[gallery type="square" columns="2" ids="750,748,749,751"]
Spring Collection Sneak Peek #2
This week's sneak peek comes as a result of a successful thrifting trip. All of these items will be available for rental this spring. If you are looking for a particular vintage piece to rent/purchase, let us know, and we'll be sure to add it to our "hunt list!" To inquire about rentals, please click here.[gallery type="square" ids="705,699,706,696,707,704,702,698"]
Details
What exactly do you do?
At Gerald & Joan, we create products and experiences that preserve the past while honoring the present and future. Our style is timeless with a hint of nostalgia. Everything we make tells stories and has one-of-a-kind details, just like the vintage objects that serve as our inspiration.
Currently, we offer the following services:
Graphic Design: We design and print invitations, postcards, posters, business cards, logos and all other types of paper goods.
Event Planning: We plan parties, showers and other special events.
Event, Home & Personal Styling: We bring our style to your event, home or closet and create a look that inspires you.
Vintage Goods: We plan to offer our first vintage housewares and paper goods collection this spring.
What is your design process?
Once we have created a proposal and established your budget (and both are approved!), we like to meet, Skype or email with you to talk about the things that inspire you. Then we might create a mood board, sketch out some ideas or jump right in. From this point on, every project is unique!
It sounds lovely but expensive. What does it cost?
This is our full-time job, so unfortunately we can't work for free! However, we understand everyone has a budget, and we will do our best to find one that allows us to work together. This is what our grandparents' generation did, and it's an important part of the Gerald & Joan experience.
Tell me about your design experience.
Gerald & Joan founder Crystel Hardin has always loved design. She started creating at a very young age (lots of painting, drawing and storytelling), before falling in love with print design as the editor of her high school yearbook. She originally thought she wanted to be a magazine editor, but changed her mind after enrolling in a public relations class during her junior year at the University of Mississippi. An internship at a local non-profit provided further proof that PR was the career for her as she was able to write and design to her heart's content. The next year, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism and public relations and set out to find her dream job. After a year and a half stint at a Memphis advertising agency, she found that dream job as the communications and events coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis. During her four years at Habitat, she was given the incredible opportunity to manage all communications and design projects and serve as the event lead on two of the organization's largest fundraisers. She had the idea for Gerald & Joan as early as 2010 but made it a reality in January 2013, thanks to the encouragement of her husband, Jonathan.
How can I get in touch with you?
Click here to fill out our interest form, and we'll be in touch very soon!