How I created Jennifer’s fashion inspired wedding illustration

Jennifer and Warren’s save the date cards and wedding invitation illustrations were whimsical, featuring the two of them dressed in wedding attire I had dreamed up!

However, for their wedding day artwork, I wanted their illustration to make a big entrance, and the couple agreed it would be lovely to depict them in their actual wedding clothing.

This was Jennifer’s amazing bridal gown:

gown: Ulla Maija, BIANCA couture collection

Just look at the stunning embroidery!

gown: Ulla Maija, BIANCA couture collection

It was quite daunting to illustrate this beautiful dress and do it justice. But I love a challenge!

I began with drafting the pose and arranging reference photos on my screen.
Then I zoomed in to start laying in details:

After applying the first dress details, I kept zooming in and out to make sure the overall design would be harmonious:

While constantly moving back and forth between reference photos, I kept adding further detail to the pattern, inspired by Jennifer’s gown. Since I didn’t have a photo in the exact pose of the illustration, I had to envision how the dress would fall and what the pattern looked like:

I kept refining all details of the illustration, and finally, I recolored the pattern in eggshell to soften it.

This was Jennifer and Warren’s wedding day illustration!

As soon as I can, I’ll share photos of their wedding so you can see how Jennifer and Warren accentuated their celebration with their unique wedding illustration.

Illustration inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton

Recently, aisledash.com honored me with a request to create a save the date card design concept with a tailor-made illustration inspired by His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton.

Scroll down to see what I’ve created, or go behind the scenes and see my work process below!

In order to personalize a design as much as I can, I usually get to know the couple and their story. Of course, a phone appointment with Prince William and Kate Middleton wasn’t in the cards, but thankfully I was able to get to know them a bit with some online research.

First of all, they are simply an adorable couple!

official engagement photo by Mario Testino

Prince William and Kate Middleton, at the announcement of their engagement

Both have a history of supporting good causes and charities and, despite their status, seem very goodhearted and down to earth:

They also share an appreciation for design. At the University of St. Andrew’s in Fife, Scotland, they met while studying Art History, and Miss Middleton has had a career in the fashion industry. Therefore, it’s no surprise that she’s known for her fashion sense (read more here):

Kate Middleton is known for her sense of style and contemporary, chic elegance. Photo (1) spotted on Glamour Magazine UK | images (2) and (4) seen on Whimsy Worldwide Blog | photo (3) via Dailymail UK |  (5) Kate Middleton’s casual style spotted here

On their eighteenth birthdays, the Princes of Wales receive a personal coat of arms, which is traditionally derived from armorial bearings of Her Majesty the Queen of England. Prince William’s also includes elements from the coat of arms of his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Coat of arms from Prince William of Wales

Royal wedding invitations are usually very formal and classical. For example, this was the invitation for Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales’s legendary wedding:

The formal wedding invitation for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana (found online here)

While designing my save the date concept inspired by Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement, I aimed on reflecting the following: their love for each other, warmhearted character, appreciation of art, Miss Middleton’s sense of fashion and elegant simplicity, royal tradition, the appropriate dignified elegance, and two subtle tributes to Prince Williams’ mother, Princess Diana.

Royal save the date design concept I submitted to aisledash:

Save the date card concept with couture illustration by Astrid Mueller, inspired by the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Illustration: all rights reserved © 2011 Astrid Mueller, please do not use without permission.

I chose to feature the couple in a fashion-inspired illustration on the cover of the save the date card, with a tailor-made modern take of Prince William’s royal coat of arms. In the illustration, Miss Middleton wears her actual engagement ring, originally owned by Princess Diana.

Close-up of all the gorgeous details in the artisan print (by Letterpress Light); it’s so lush I wish you could have touched it!

As a tribute to Prince William’s mother, the calligraphic font I chose is called “Diana.” The inside of the card holds the save the date information, but could be used for any other invitation purpose, since the details within are easily exchanged.

Save the date card concept inspired by the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, showing the inside of the card.

Though the royal couple will most likely follow royal wedding stationery traditions and work with one of their trusted stationery designers, I would be absolutely thrilled to create their tailor-made illustration for another use, such as a personal, privately owned, framed print to commemorate their wedding. One can always dream, right?

What are your thoughts on my design suggestion? I’m looking forward to your comments! See the full post and the save the date submissions from all designers here on aisledash.

What can you do with a wedding illustration?

The concept of a wedding illustration is so new, I often get asked, “What can you do with a wedding illustration?”

This is something I get really excited about!

I simply love to think of new ideas and consult with clients about how they could celebrate their love with their own personalized illustration.

After designing a couple’s wedding illustration, I can apply it to any element for their wedding day…and beyond.

Their wedding illustration can be applied to save the date cards, a cake topper, gifts for their guests, or even a dance floor design! After the honeymoon, their personal wedding illustration can be used on thank you notes and, best of all, as artwork and a keepsake for their home and new life together.

While pretty much anything is possible, I always only suggest ideas that complement the couple’s taste and celebration style.

For example, if they get married in a secluded mountain lodge, I may suggest designs incorporating wood for them. The couple’s illustration could be showcased on guest favor tags, or I could create wood engraved stationery for them.

If it is a more sophisticated metropolitan affair, I may suggest setting the tone with debossed stationery printed on lush cotton stock, like in this wedding invitation (see my previous post for the full making of story) (1):

If my clients prefer a cleaner, chic look, plexiglass as material and a flat printed production may complement their style best (2):

When my brother got married a few weeks ago, I illustrated for them.  I also designed several stationery and keepsake items, among them a plexiglass cake topper.  I’ll write more about their wedding in a later post, but here is a sneak peek of a fun little cupcake wrapper I had made for their low key celebration (3):

I constantly look for new, unique ideas, high-end products, and keepsakes and for ways to expand my network with highly skilled professionals to keep things fresh and original.

I’ve even got some ideas I’m dying to produce, like an aisle runner, couture chocolates, illustrated candles, an illustrated light projection, keepsake cocktail stirrers, and, yes, luxury jewelry with an illustrated custom seal.

On what items would you love to see a wedding illustration? I can’t wait to hear what you think!

CREDITS:

1. wedding stationery design and illustration by Astrid Mueller Exclusive, artisan printing by Letterpress Light
2. photography by Andrea & Marcus
3. wedding illustration by Astrid Mueller Exclusive, cupcake wrappers by Bella Cupcake Couture

What Made Audrey’s Wedding Invitations Unique

When Audrey contacted me, she had a very clear vision and budget in mind. She sent me photos of her and her fiancé, Nathan (1), asked me to create a wedding illustration kind of like this (2), but to make it look more like them. That’s right – specifically without their heads.

While normally I wouldn’t suggest illustrating a headless couple, I was looking forward to the design challenge!

As a first step, I called the couple to get to know them a bit better and learn more about the details of their wedding. Audrey was planning to carry a wedding bouquet made of green orchids, orange ranunculus, and ivory peonies (3), beautifully mirroring her outgoing and fun personality! She also had her eye on a ravishing Monique Lhuillier dress, “Scarlet” (4), with these gorgeous lace details.

Since I wasn’t able to personalize their illustration by conveying emotion or their love story through poses or facial expressions, I suggested to Audrey that I create an illustration pattern for her, inspired by her dazzling wedding gown and reflecting her actual wedding bouquet.

When she received and touched the invitations, Audrey put the biggest smile on my face by writing “Astrid Mueller, I love you. Will you marry me? :)”.

Oh, how I live for those moments!

Later, Audrey (thankfully) decided to let me add heads to them for a full illustration. Stay tuned to see the next designs, find out why Audrey and Nathan dreamed of a headless illustration, and learn how they used it at their celebration!

CREDITS:

(2) Wedding Stationery: Designer unknown (image supplied by the bride)

(5, 6): Artisan Printing: Letterpress Light

(5,6): Wedding Illustration and Stationery Design: Astrid Mueller Exclusive