Cape Cod Style Wedding Invitations | Chatham Men's Stripe

The process of design is two sided. I need the input from the client on the finished product. I want what we do for them to be better than the best thing that they could ask for. You saw last week that I worked on a wedding stationery suite for a client of mine. In it I introduced the Chatham Stripe pattern which is filled with pink and had touches of sea blue to compliment. When I spoke to my client she seemed kind of afraid to tell me that it was just too much pink. Not to worry. She wanted more green, more sea, less pink. I thought about it for a day or two and then finally sitting down last night at my computer I was able to draw out this pretty compliment to the Chatham Collection, The Chatham Men's Stripe. I could see this as a men's dress shirt, or lining to a summer suit of linen. Very English, very Cape Cod, very my bride and groom.

We were able to produce this suite on budget for the bride and will also compliment it with custom postage for both the outer envelope and the return envelope with the response card. So cute with the little botanical scallop and quahog shells. We did recommend an additional card for information on travel and a separate invitation to the reception given that it is a couple of hours after the ceremony. If you did not include this, I can assure you that your guests would be lingering, waiting for the bar to open and the food to be served. This way there is time between the wedding and reception for them to relax and to enjoy the beauty that is seaside in Chatham.

Cape Cod Style Wedding Stationery | Chatham Stripes and Shells

It is tough to come up with new ideas for a sea side wedding. I hate cliche, it is not what I do. I want something to be new and modern, yet always in some way there is a nod to the past. I have always adored French botanical prints from the 17th century. These I guess, are the first real capture of what plants and animals looked like. Drawing them was the only way three hundred years ago. I used the antique botanicals along with a custom designed stripe to incorporate a sophisticated sea side flair. The bride loves just a touch of pink in her wedding. Through the use of one of my favorite flowers, stargazer Lillies (I like all white ones!!), there will be a lovely addition of color to the palette of nature and the sea which is right outside of the windows at Wequasett Inn and resort in Chatham, Massachusetts. I have used the variant of color that exists within the flowers petals, mixed in some seaside color, and voila, Chatham Stripe is born.

I think that this collection is whimsical, classic and fun all at the same time. It certainly says seaside, but like fashion, it does it in a new, fresh and most importantly, pretty way. (Thank you Michael Kors for that line.....I live by it every day)

I do love to get the details right down to the last bit. In this case the postage is a bit of an issue as many of the guests live over seas. There are quite a few printed cards that will go into this suite so it is impossible to tell what the postage will be until we have all of the components in hand. Custom postage will be too late by then. So what I suggest is to ask at the local post office for a selection of stamps that the U.S. postal service sells. These are decorative stamps for items just like this. For the love of god, please do not choose the two rings or the doves. I know my bride won't, but you might think that it is cool. I would suggest anything natural inspired, of course I would, that is what I always suggest.

Ok with the proof and production ready on the printed suite it is time to get to work on the flowers for this wedding. We have talked about it, now I have to hit the drawing board to put together the final look of this New York City meets London wedding.

Branding your company | CMP Digital Public Relations

I am known for a lot of things I guess. I am not one thing, never have been, probably never will be. Many of you do not know that I work on many different levels of digital media. I have long used these methods in the production of my events, weddings and even interior design. While I spend a lot of my time with individual clients, I do work with a lot of companies on their business planning and corporate image.

Pulling together the idea of a company's public image is more difficult today than it ever has been. The reality is that it probably will get more difficult before it becomes any easier. Not only do you need to think about your physical business presence, but you also have to pay attention to your digital business presence. What does your web site look like, do you have facebook? Do you know how to use it along with twitter to engage your fan base to follow your business story.Today more than ever a fresh digital business face is the key to success. I can almost bet that before a customer hires you, they are going to look at your web site. What do they see when they get there, a project from 1983? OR the freshest and hottest content from your business. People want to learn what it is that you do, how do you do it and what services and products you offer. Through the use of blogs you are able to not only tell the ongoing story to your business but you also provide a wonderful perspective of your business to your potential customers and clients.

As a company I am proud to have developed and distributed my brand to a broad audience. I am even more pleased that as we continue to evolve as a company, we can offer these digital public relation services, not only to individuals but companies as well.

I have long worked with my friends at Kitchen and Bath Details. They too know that they key to any business, especially a design oriented business, needs a digital showroom to compete and enhance any physical presence that the business may maintain. Of course, they have an incredible showroom located in Mattapoisett, you should visit it, amazingly good taste. But we are talking digital here. With the latest launch of their web site, I have included not only a fresh take on their logo and color, but have also added more social media outlets and better exposure through out the site of the blog stories that they write on kitchen and bath design. Behind the scenes we have further maximized brand exposure through an e:mail marketing campaign, search engine optimization and further coordination of social media outlets. A freshen up would not be complete without some new stationery to send out thanks to clients and colleuges but also some fun branded products to add just a bit of brand enhancement to their business.

Of course when it comes to public relations, a business can not forget physical advertising. We will be sure to coordinate a physical mailing to clients that ties in with the new and updated look of this fantastic company.

Of course the work never seems to stop. Owning a digital house can be like owning a physical one. There is always a list of things that need to be updated, deleted and distributed through the wonderful world of the web. Off to change the main landing page of their site. THEN on to the addition of static HTML code. Don't ask, but it will look pretty.Thank you Kitchen and Bath Details for working with me over the years to bring your on:line presense to life. It has been a joy, just like our friendship.

Put the power of CMP Digital Public Relations to work for you.

What does YOUR business look like?