Story-telling with Stationery

My initial consultations with wedding coordinators and clients often include a conversation about my love of story-telling. I usually share about how I like to get to know my clients, understand their stories, and help them express them. I love subtle details and wacky romances. I want to hear about the proposal, how my couples met, and what they are most excited about for their marriage. Some might think I’m sappy but I find connecting with people to be the most meaningful part of my work. Expressing these personal details in bold and understated ways is why I do what I do.

When I met with Gloria McCune of Grand Engagements about our upcoming photo shoot, I was delighted to get to know her story a little better. As we talked about her inspiration for the stylized tablescape and decor, I began to connect the dots. She described an urban vibe with an eye for fashion and something a little unexpected. Her vision included a striking palate of black and silver with accents of purple. It wasn’t just an arbitrary concept however. Gloria wanted to infuse part of herself in this shoot.

When I discovered that she is Hungarian, grew up in Germany and the US, speaks multiple languages, and has a rich Eastern European heritage, I knew we were getting somewhere. The crown in her logo isn’t there just so she can connect with brides who want to feel like a princess; she has a very regal sensibility about her. As she shared about her childhood and the aesthetic & cultural influences that have made her who she is today, I knew we needed to tell this part of her story.

Gloria’s love of chess, languages, romance, and fashion came together at this fabulous photo shoot at The London West Hollywood.

To top it all off, the fabulous girls over at The Wedding Chicks featured the photos on their blog.

The incredible professionals involved in this shoot included:
Event Design: Gloria McCune - Grand Engagements
Venue: The London Hotel West Hollywood
Photography: Jasmine Star
Floral Design: Carissa Jones - JL Designs
Cakes: Melody Brandon - Sweet and Saucy Shop
Chairs + Settings: Classic Party Rentals
Hair + Makeup: Janelle Contreras for Nirvana Salon
Bridal Veil: Linda Ly - Whimsical Designs
Linen: Wildflower Linen
Stationery: Allison Howell - The Innovation Companies

Call for Graphic Design Intern

Hear ye! Hear ye! We’re looking for a stellar Fall Graphic Design Intern.

Internship Objectives
• provide intern with exposure to the world of web design, printing, and invitation arts
• help intern understand the potential, limitations, and guidelines for creating stellar invitations and other printed pieces
• expose intern to elements of business ownership, help them determine their strengths and weaknesses
• create new unique designs for the innovation companies and our clients

Structure
• intern will work at the innovation companies for 10 hours per week for the length of their semester/quarter
• weekly meetings will be held to explain new projects, discuss completed projects, and evaluate skill set

Requirements
• must have killer design skills and a unique sense of style
• must have excellent knowledge and execution of indesign, illustrator, and photoshop for mac
• must be dependable, reliable, and on-time. late or incomplete work is unacceptable.
• graphic design and/or illustration major preferred
• illustration skills highly recommended
• experience with typography a plus
• must provide three references from employers and/or professors
• internship is unpaid

Application
Interested parties should send samples, their resume and references to jon@theinnovationcompanies.com no later than september 23, 2009

Homespun Chic Tablescape in The Bride & Bloom Fall Issue

We’re so honored to be featured in one of our favorite publications: The Bride & Bloom. “Thrilled” is the only way to describe how we felt when the ever-fabulous Carissa of JL Designs asked us to be part of her Homespun Chic tablescape. Collaborating with wonderful professionals like Carissa, Gabriel Ryan Photography, Wildflower Linen, Classic Party Rentals and Sweet & Saucy Shop is one of the best parts of our work. Another is creating interesting pieces like these menus made from ratan.



This design was full of details. Lush white blooms, sweet crystal cups, a peony cake, and a gorgeous wooden table made for a stylish rustic look. The hemstitched napkins and the beautiful runner pulled the palette together. Carissa even used fresh mint in the arrangements that looked (and smelled) delicious. These chocolate and green touches (including custom dupioni pillows) were the perfect combination for the “grandma’s attic” homespun design.








And in case you missed it, check out our mod baroque collaboration with these same talented professionals.

Where to Find Us

Just wanted to share where we’re at these days. In the fast-paced world of social media, it can be hard to keep it all straight. Check us out all over the interwebs.

Jonathan Mayer, owner & principal designer
Email: jon [at] theinnovationcompanies [dot] com
Twitter: @jmTIC
LinkedIn: Jonathan Mayer
Plain Old Telephone: 949.640.5244

Allison Howell, director of business development
Email: allison [at] theinnovationcompanies [dot] com
Twitter: @AllisonHowel
LinkedIn: Allison Howell
Direct Line: 714.888.4566

Our Website

Our Facebook Page

Our Studio is located at 3900 Birch Street, Suite 110 • Newport Beach, California 92660

Subscribe to our amazing mailing list

Also, just so you have some insight into how we operate, we use Constant Contact for email newsletters (we can use it for you too), Highrise for Contact Management, and Basecamp for Project Management (if you aren’t using products from 37 Signals, you should be). We are beginning to use ShowIt Sites for killer web design with an easy-to-use back-end interface. We use Macs because they are pretty and iPhones because that’s what all the cool kids are doing.

What business tools are must-haves in your office?

Blog Love

The wedding world is bursting at the seams with wonderful inspiring blogs. We’re so excited to be featured on two of the best around. Thanks Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake, & Coco + Kelley for your shout out to the shoot we did with the uber fabulous JL Designs.

Ta-Da! We’re so excited to be in The Bride & Bloom

Isn’t The Bride & Bloom the best? We love the mag and are so glad to be featured in the latest issue with Carissa from JL Designs. When she brought us in on the project, we couldn’t wait to get our creative juices flowing. She said “mod, white, navy, Viceroy, coral, baroque, burnt yellow”. We said “ohh” and “ahh.”

Check out the metallic white menus with navy ink, a graphic fabric band and silk-wrapped backer. Tell us what you think!

Carissa created a tablescape that was not only beautiful but interesting. Don’t you just love the porcelain horses? She is all about telling the story… capturing details that make a table a conversation piece, an expression of personality, and more than just pretty flowers (but aren’t the flowers pretty?)

We were featured in this shoot with these fabulous professionals:
Carissa from JL Designs • Gabriel and Carlie from Gabriel Ryan Photographers
Melody from Sweet and Saucy Shop • Megan from Classic Party Rentals, Orange County
Desiree from Wildflower Linens

Special thanks to Leila at Be Inspired PR

For more images, check out Carissa’s blog.

Sensational Bridal Luncheon

We were so glad to be a part of Linda Howard’s Sensational Bridal Luncheon on Sunday. What fun to join other Southern California professionals and brides for a lovely afternoon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Check out the photos from Next Exit Photography.

See the full slideshow here.

We participated with these fabulous professionals:
Linda Howard’s Sensational Celebrations • The Beverly Hills Hotel • Hidden Garden
Bloomingdale’s Bridal Registry • Chameleon Chairs • Classic Party Rentals
Green Bliss Eco Spa • Inside Weddings Magazine • Joseph Martin Hair Salon
Kirstie Kelly Collection • La Tavola Linens
NancyKay’s Confections • Protravel International

What Junebug Loves

We’re so excited that Junebug Weddings loves us. Check out this feature of our work. We’re honored to be included in such a fabulous blog!

This just in…

Junebug Weddings has launched their southern California site. Now you can find the best SoCal Wedding professionals all in one place. We are honored to be among the chosen.

Sensational Bridal Luncheon & Workshop

We’re delighted to be included in the upcoming Sensational Bridal Luncheon and Workshop at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunday, June 7th.

You are invited too! Join a panel of wedding professionals as they share their knowledge, tips, and secrets for planning your wedding day. Be inspired, find your wedding style & have your questions answered.

Sponsored by The Beverly Hills Hotel & Linda Howard’s Sensational Celebrations

June 7, 2009 from 1 to 4 in the afternoon

The Beverly Hills Hotel 9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California

Featured Sponsors include:

Bloomingdale’s Bridal Registry • Chameleon Chairs • Classic Party Rentals

Green Bliss Eco Spa • Hidden Garden • Inside Weddings Magazine

Joseph Martin Hair Salon • Kirstie Kelly Collection • La Tavola Linens

NancyKay’s Confections • Protravel International

Sensational Celebrations • The Innovation Companies

Cost: $110 per person To reserve your seat, please send a check asap to: Sensational Celebrations 320 Homewood Road • Los Angeles, California 90049