Southern Weddings

One of our favorite sites, {Weddingbee} and one of our favorite invitation designers, {Minted} had a contest where designers were asked to create “modern, sophisticated Save-the-Date Cards” using a photo of a real couple. Here are just a small sampling of some of our favorites! To buy the winning designs and to see all of the winners, visit {Minted} and  {Weddingbee}‘s posts today. Congratulations to all of the winners–such fun designs!

Clockwise from top left: The Winning Design by {The Happy Envelope}, {Sweet Paper Studio},  {Helena Seo Design}, {Louella Press}, {Allison Wheeler for The Social Type}, {Helena Seo Design}

Eco-aware brides, you are going to love this!  Let me introduce you to the revolution of free, eco-chic online invitations and event management where you can invite online and in style: {Pingg}.  Created with the image conscious, eco-friendly, time-crunched hosts in mind, {Pingg} seamlessly allows you to create, send and manage chic invitations and event communications for personal and professional events.

Eco-conscious brides adore {Pingg} as it eliminates the printing of paper. I have always been an Emily Post “by the book” lady, however she was not around to experience the internet. Being selfless is an attribute Mrs. Post always portrayed as a huge component of proper etiquette, and I say that saving some paper is quite unselfish. Don’t you think?

Along with the ecological positives:

• Style: look & feel are of paramount importance; galleries of unique invitations designs provide image conscious hosts with unprecedented choices; you’ll never find any clip art on pingg. The site is clean and the images are all for style conscious hosts & their guests.
• Extraordinary Customization: Hosts can upload their own photo or logo then select a layout, font, background color; alternatively, hosts can upload a PDF, conduct a custom search in Pingg Plus+ from over 2,000,000 images (nominal fee) or use original art from the Designer Series (free).
• The SurroundSEND Option: Reach your guests anywhere and everywhere by sending invites and follow-up communications via email, sms, print (Pingg prints & sends for you), the web and Facebook!
• Customizable Event Web Page: Create a home for your event with fully customizable ad-free event web pages; add photos, videos, gift and charity registries, tools for collecting money, RSS feeds of event activity and more.
• Guest List Management: Add contacts from external sources to a pingg Address Book then drag and drop, tag and sort, and create groups; when done, sort and print.
• Detailed Reporting: Follow up every email sent, check who opened what and when, track RSVP status, page views and guest requests and sign up for an RSS feel of all event activity.
• Gift/Charity Registration: Keep guests from guessing by adding a registry so guest can purchase a gift or make a donation directly from the host event web page.
• Money Collection: Make it easy for friend to contribute or participate in a group gift by enabling hosts to collect money directly from their event web pages.
• Personal & Professional: Pingg meets social or business needs; build a professional look or create a personal touch Pingg.

Based in New York, {Pingg} is the brainchild of entrepreneurs and brothers Lorien Gabel and Matt Harrop. I am currently using the program for a bachelorette party I am planning and I absolutely LOVE it!  Enjoy, Leah–Features Editor, SWS