When There's a Place You Wanna Go...

Is my toddler mommy-ness showing? Anyone else humming the Dora the Explorer song? Well, my map kicks Dora's map's ass! Mike's mom made maps for two other weddings. I was so excited for my map! Mike's mom is definitely the source of a lot of his artistic talent. I told her I wanted fairies and the Sunken Gardens sign. She came up with the idea of putting our childhood homes on the map since we grew up so close to each other and so close to our venue. So, sweet.

Isn't it beautiful? I love that she added us and our kids in the little pink get away car. So cute! She really nailed the sign. I love the fairies, but I especially love the mushrooms! She hand painted the parchment paper texture for the background. My mother-in-law is sooooo better than your mother-in-law. Hee, hee!

On the back we used the border and background texture, but scanned in hand written information. There are directions of course, RSVP website, dress code and information about bringing children. I think it looks great! I'm so excited to put the maps in the envelopes and send off these invitations. They really are the icing on the cake. Perfect.

Huge thanks to the artist who made them, Lara for getting it to us and Jasandra for printing them when our printer died!!!!

It's The Map!

Here's the inspiration Lara found for the custom map her mother (my soon to be mother-in-law) designed to go with her invitation. Cute idea, right? Here's Lara's map:

Front

Back

I have no idea where I put it since we moved, but I loved that map so much I still have it over 2yrs later. She made in 8x10ish so the bride and groom could make it whatever size they wanted. It also means they have a framed keepsake from the wedding. After my almost sister-in-law's wedding a mutual friend of ours got married and she asked for a map too.

I am so excited that it's my turn! I gave her an invitation so she could try to match the color scheme and feel in the map. I came in with a list of ideas I'd gleaned from internet research. Most of them were impractical or would have been confusing. It starts out 8x10, but has to be readable at 4x6 and a functional map. So, adding the Tardis as an Easter Egg for our fellow nerds was out. We may use some fictional places in it as long as they're not confusing to our guests. I also like just married banner on the car in Lara's map. I'd want ours to say Honeymoon or Bust. I saw it on some maps on Etsy and it's totally how I feel.

It's so exciting. One more piece of the puzzle is underway. I'm getting to the point where I wish the wedding would hurry up, but mostly I'm still overwhelmed by how much is left to do. Having the invitations and map makes it feel so official.