Christine Traulich and Dori McDonald founded RedBliss Invitation Design with the sole focus of designing creative, custom invitations that simply awe recipients, personify their clients and ultimately, make bold statements. They are known as invitation architects for seeking out alternative design techniques and their unique use of materials. The create invitations with materials such as luxury fabrics, polished metals, vintage mirrors, foil stamping, laser cutting, and embossing.

Celebrating over 10 years of innovative invitation design, Christine and Dori understand the importance of smart creative expression and how to deliver invitations with distinct personal style. They pioneered the silk invitation box trend and were the first stationer to receive the Top 25 Trendsetter Award by Modern Bride magazine. But you can tell how fabulous their designs are just by the list of notables who has commissioned them, such as The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas, Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Victoria’s Secret, the NFL, Oprah, Chef Todd English, Moët Hennessy, Swarovski, Clio, The Paley Center for Media and the Gilt Groupe.

We’re thrilled to have them in The Bridal Circle and thought you’d enjoy learning a little bit more about these lovely ladies:

{THE BRIDAL CIRCLE}:  TELL US ABOUT REDBLISS INVITATION DESIGN, WHAT DO YOU DO?

{REDBLISS}:  We get the party started!  We listen, we laugh, we design and we collaborate to create invitations that are artful expressions of our client’s style.

WHEN DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH PAPER, CALLIGRAPHY, INVITATIONS AND STATIONERY?

Christine: When I was in second grade, I made a love letter for a boy.  But it wasn’t made out of paper. I decorated a Styrofoam ball with beads, ribbon and glitter. Thus, my love affair with “invitation art” began.

Dori: It all started the day Ranger Rick arrived in the mailbox. To this day, the anticipation of what might be in the mail is something I still get excited about. And an invitation is the perfect surprise!

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU CATCH YOUR BREAK IN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?

When veteran NY event planner Elizabeth Allen took a meeting with us (complete unknowns) so we could show her our new silk invitation box collection. We ended up booking a bride on the spot who was getting married at Mar-A-Lago in Florida.  It was a gold invitation box filled with rose petals.  And suddenly “boxes” became a worldwide trend in invitations and put RedBliss on the map. Shortly afterward, we were honored with a Trendsetter Award by Modern Bride magazine.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MATERIALS TO WORK WITH?

Anything shiny.  Anything with dimension.  Anything unexpected.

FROM WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATION?

It starts with the couple. We draw on their favorite things, style and personality. We also hoard “clips” of our favorite things that inspire us in magazines, online and in nature! Combining the two is what brings us the greatest joy, ultimately giving new form to our client’s personal style.

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL CLIENT.

Loves the journey. Wants to create joy and excitement. And someone who’s nice!

ARE YOUR BRIDES LOCAL OR FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY/WORLD?

We happily work with couples from all over world.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE WHEN WORKING WITH AN OUT OF TOWN OR OVERSEAS CLIENT?

We never have enough swatch books!

WEDDING INVITATIONS OFTEN SET THE TONE FOR THE BIG DAY. HOW DOES RED BLISS WORK WITH A COUPLE TO CREATE THEIR INVITATION DESIGN?  HOW DO YOU DETERMINE AN AESTHETIC?

We listen.  From pets to playlists, nothing is off limits.  And we always ask; “How do you want guests to feel when they receive the invitation?”  Understanding the desired reaction helps define the aesthetic.

HOW DOES THE WEDDING STATIONERY IMPACT THE DESIGN AESTHETIC FOR THE EVENT ITSELF? DO THE ELEMENTS OF THE INVITATION SUITE INSPIRE THE EVENT, OR VICE VERSA?

Every celebration begins in the mailbox.  It’s the first touch, the first look, and the first reaction to your party. But it’s rarely the last. Design elements from your invitation will naturally transcend into day-of inspiration ranging from cake decoration to gobo lighting.

WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS TO KNOW OR HAVE WITH THEM BEFORE A DESIGN CONSULTATION?

As much as we want to know what a couple truly loves style-wise, we also want to know what they honestly dislike. By eliminating least favorite colors, typefaces, materials, etc., we can stay focused on exploring favored vs. forbidden design elements.

HOW SOON DO BRIDES AND GROOMS NEED TO START PLANNING AND WORKING ON THEIR WEDDING INVITATIONS, SAVE THE DATES, AND DAY OF WEDDING COLLATERAL?

We really recommend a minimum of six months but don’t lose hope if you only have three and can make decisions very quickly.

WHERE DO YOU STAND WHEN IT COMES TO ETIQUETTE: FORMAL AND TRADITIONAL? OR IS IT NOT AS IMPORTANT ANYMORE?

Etiquette will always have a place in invitation design. But etiquette should not prevent meaningful and artful expression.

TELL US ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO BRIDES AND GROOMS WHO ARE FEELING STRESSED AND OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE STATIONERY OPTIONS.

Follow your gut and forget trends. You will have an immediate sensory reaction to designs. Use this to guide your decision-making.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING, WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?

Christine: Reading on Bean Pond.

Dori: Engaged in a sports game with my six-year-old.

THANK YOU SO MUCH LADIES FOR SHARING BOTH YOUR STORY AS WELL AS YOUR TIPS FOR WEDDING INVITATIONS. 

We invite you to visit their website to learn more about RedBliss Invitation Design.