Example of one of my Wedding Invitation Books with a "Cruise Ship" Theme. CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

See this invitation in book form

A Peacock-inspired Wedding Invitation Suite designed exclusively for Devon & Nicole. 

Birds of a Feather flock together. Nicole and Devon are so much alike, yet not always the same. Their Invitation Suite uses peacock color spots to splatter guests with glimpses of their life. 

The book starts off with a page about Devon and Nicole's childhoods, and quickly moves onto colorful spreads about the things they have in common, or slightly "not" in common. B&W images of their time spent dating, invites guests to learn a little about the couple, before enjoying their wedding day. 

Their larger than life 2-sided polka-dot program feature the lyrics of a favorite song, while the opposite side tells everyone about their wedding party. 

It was fun to create custom round white notepads, that with a little touch of calligraphy and a handmade-by-the-bride peacock pen, turned into functional escort cards/favors. 

This Invitation Suite includes: Modern electric purple envelope, 8-page invitation book with printed invitation, custom peacock logo, response card, polka-dot table numbers, giant polka-dot programs, polka-dot notepad escort cards/favors with fancy peacock pens, custom calligraphy.

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

This invitation suite won a PHILLYGOLD 2005
Art Directors Club of Philadelphia

It also won a GOLD ADDY 2005
Advertising Club of Philadelphia

A Family Tree Wedding Invitation Suite designed especially for Peter & Kelly. 

J Logo & Concept: The custom "J" logo, as well as the entire invitation, was inspired by Peter's profession as an arborist. See corporate work Kim designed for Peter A. Jerrom Landscapes. 

Invitation Book Cover Quote: "Life without Love is like a Tree without blossoms or fruit."

A custom-illustrated tree grows inside this hand crafted, twig-bound invitation book showcasing all the stages of life and marriage in Kelly & Peter's family. When the tree begins it's branches sprout only the couples grandparents. As it grows, the couple's parents are added to both sides of the tree, until finally you see Kelly and Peter's names only, but no dates. The last page of the book tells guests the "date" of the wedding.

This Invitation Suite includes: Fern pattern outer envelope, 8-page invitation book wrapped with handmade paper embellished with a twig and bound with raffia, custom logo. escort cards, response cards & envelopes, custom program card, custom logo-stamped copper foil envelope labels.

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

See this invitation in book form

Intertwined Invitation Suite designed especially for Cory & Marissa. 

The sunflower story is really this couple's story, illustrated. Through custom poetry and illustration, this story of two single sunflowers unfolds until they discover their real desire is to find what matters, the "true beauty" beneath. Bold yellow mixed with deep browns brand the event to come.  

This Invitation Suite includes: Deep brown envelope, 8-page invitation book with slide-out invitation and spine entangled paper sunflower,  saddle stitch binding. custom logo, custom illustrations, response card and envelope, escort cards.

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

This invitation suite won Two PHILLYGOLDS 2006,
Art Directors Club of Philadelphia

It also won a SILVER ADDY 2006,
Advertising Club of Philadelphia

A Cooks Creek Farm Wedding Invitation Suite entitled "Our Story"  designed especially for Stephen & Morgan. 

First I designed the a save-the-date hand-drawn map of the United States, with airplane icons indicating the journeys of all invited. The map has several panels to accommodate the airport, hotel and rehearsal dinner information. Each folded neatly into a #10 envelope. 

Next, guests travel on a journey through Stephen & Morgan's personal journal. Read about how they met, how they dated and how he proposed as you turn the pages of their hand stitched, logo adorned book invitation made of handmade paper.

Our Story Journal - The inspiration for Morgan and Stephen’s “Journal” invitation package came from a personal journal kept by the bride. A logo was created and used throughout this 16-page letterpress book. The first page tells the story of their dinner party blind date, arranged by the bride's mother. The last page illustrates the grooms interesting proposal. And the slide-out invitation tucked into a pocket, creatively invites guests to their wedding at the beautiful Cooks Creek Farm.

Rehearsal Dinner - A small white card entitled “Practice” was sent along with a postcard from Bethlehem, PA. (host town for the rehearsal dinner)
The postcard served as the rsvp.

Escort Cards - Small square cards featuring an assortment of animals used on large rustic weather vanes, serving as centerpieces, were printed in metallic copper. Tiny compasses attached with twine to each card, helping guests navigate to their assigned “weather vane”, or table.

Menus - A tiny icon of a cow, a fish and a bunch of vegetables graced a small square card intended for guests to choose their meal. One was placed on each dinner plate. 

Love Letter Programs® - Love notes written by both the bride and the groom were printed secretly (by me) on monogrammed stationary and then inserted into an envelope with a program card entitled “Love notes”. These more sentimental "love notes" take the place of a traditional program and really set the tone. 

Thank You Card - Morgan and Stephen's thank you card simply read, “To be continued...” at the top, allowing the couple to write a personal note underneath. This further illustrates the couples desire to continue "their story" together, and with their guests. It also set the stage for a custom birth announcement depicting a stork, upon the birth of their first daughter.

This Invitation Suite includes: White box (envelope). 16-page invitation book with slide-out invitation, custom letterpress cover, handmade paper, hand-stitched binding. custom logo, response card, rehearsal dinner invitation, menu card, love letter programs®, compass escort cards, tri-fold save-the-date.

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

This invitation suite won a GOLD ADDY 2009
Advertising Club of Philadelphia
See this invitation in book form

"Kim designed an award winning wedding invitation for us. The invitation was stunning and creative! All of our guests loved it. I would recommend Kim to anyone who wants a unique invitation. Her work is exceptional!" 
Erin Gruver -Bride

A Metamorphosis Invitation Suite designed especially for Tom & Erin.

Guests are invited to witness a Metamorphosis. This couple met as infants because their mothers were best friends and roommates in college.  

Their story begins with a save-the-date egg postcard. Next guests received the navy and white invitation book which walked them through each STAGE of the butterfly, telling this couple's unique life story. 

Stage one: the egg (birth)

Stage two: the caterpillar (childhood)

Stage three: the "J" (dating)

Stage four: the chrysalis (engagement)

Stage five: the butterfly (wedding)

This Invitation Suite includes: Navy blue metallic envelope, 8-page invitation book with printed invitation, creative scientific butterfly diagram programs, response card and envelope, thank you cards.

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

"Art of Marriage" Wedding Invitation Suite designed especially for Clayton & Stephanie. 

"Kim, Thank you so  much for all of the beautiful design work you did for our wedding invitations and programs. We also appreciate you introducing us to other local vendors that helped us achieve the wedding of our dreams. We look forward to working with you in the future." 
Stephanie - Bride

The Art of Marriage Invitation Book shows guests the correlation between tilemaking and this couple's relationship. The wedding venue was Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, PA. Fonthill served as a showplace for owner Henry Mercer's famed Moravian tiles that were produced during the American Arts & Crafts Movement.

A custom designed clay tile illustration adorns the front of this invitation book. It showcases the couple's travel highlights. The pages go on to talk about how the couple met, what they have in common, what they've accomplished and why they are getting married through phrases like: 

"Choosing a good clay."

"Firing solidifies and strengthens."

Bright chartreuse and fuchsia create the design base. 

This Invitation Suite includes: Fuchsia outer envelope, Invitation book cover with custom fonthill tile illustration and thermography for texture, response cards, slide-out invitations, double-sided giant round programs with dangling family note, unique guest sign-in clay slab which was later made into a table, clay pendant favors which were painted and glazed by the couple, rubber-stamped escort cards to match the clay pendants on each table. 

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

The Great Escape Shower Invitation Suite created exclusively for Ken and Nicole.

Ken secretly arranged a flight out of the country for Nicole. He whisked her away to a tropical island where he planned dinner on the beach and a "message in a bottle" proposal. This invitation book creatively told the full story to guest's invited to Nicole's shower. 

This Shower/Wedding Invitation Suite includes: 12-page invitation book with full story of the proposal escape, Love Letter Programs® scrolled for the wedding. 

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design. 

“Tour of Winterthur” Invitation.

Ashley and Jason requested dramatic scenes from Winterthur Museum and quotes to announce their wedding and set the stage.

“ I saw and loved.” Edward Gibbon

“I could not tell fact from fiction or if my dream was true. The only sure perfection in this world was you.” Maya Angelou

“Every now and then when the world that we’re living in is crazy, you gladly hold me and carry me through. No one in the world has ever done what you do for me. And I’d be sad and lonely if there were no you.” Lyric from our first dance.

This Invitation Suite includes: Outer envelope, zinnia-infused vellum sheet, 4-card wedding invitation (not bound into a book), response card & envelope, program card.

CUSTOM INVITATIONS by Kim Bensing Design.