Long before entering the wedding industry, I knew Ceci as the "go-to stationery girl" for the NYC fashion set. Soon-to-wed friends with Chanel handbags and Christian Louboutins aplenty immediately gravitated toward her couture designs... And it's clear why. Ceci's vision is fashion forward, trend-right, and forever in style. Her designs truly have a chic sensibility that speaks to the city girl.
Some might say Ceci does a great job in capturing all the pretty fonts, flourishes and texture that make for well-done wedding stationery, but as my below conversation contests, there's one smart cookie behind all the pretty paper. So settle in, cozy up to the beautiful photos {compliments of Belathée Photography}, and join us in our recent chat!
Ceci Johnson: Thank you! Downtown style meets classic elegance. {Is 5 words ok}?
Merci: How did Ceci New York begin?Ceci Johnson: It was 8 years ago when I was hired to design the bridal registry kit for Bloomingdale's, Macys and all the Federated department stores. I was working at my first design firm, straight out of school in San Diego where I'm from. It was the first time I started conceptualizing weddings and went “all out” in my design ideas and presentations. One of my coworkers, who was also a graphic designer and recently engaged, loved what I was doing for them and asked me to design her wedding invitations. Of course I was honored and I approached it completely differently than any invitation you've ever seen. I designed a multi-page book utilizing all the beautiful papers and printing techniques and pulled out all the stops for her.
Fast forward 6 months - I moved to NYC and was working in the corporate world designing websites for huge Fortune 500 companies and I missed paper so much that I went to the COO of my new job who was engaged, showed her the invite I had designed and she was floored. Immediately said - "name your price, you're designing MY invitations!" and that's how it began. Before I knew it, my name was getting passed around and around to friends of friends of friends and everyone kept telling me the same thing. "You should really start a business doing this. There is NOTHING like you out there. I've been looking everywhere for someone like you!" After hearing this over and over I thought, maybe I should check out this wedding world. After some research, I realized no one was offering the creative artistic couture experience that I loved doing so much. It was a world of templates and pick from a big book of blah designs. That was enough of a push to get me to start Ceci New York because I knew I had something different. Six months into launching Ceci, I won the trendsetter award by Modern Bride magazine and New York magazine's expert stationer award and haven't looked back since!
Ceci Johnson: I am just a girl who loves beautiful things and has gone through my life always creating the things I wanted since I could never find what I loved or envisioned inmy head. Whether it was designing my prom dress or my own wedding invitations or recently my new son's baby nursery, pillows and bed sheets (see it all here http://www.cecinewyork.com/cecistyle/issue/v64/), I have never bought off the shelf, I am a designer at heart that believes you should exude high style, class and creativity in all aspects of your life. I think there is nothing wrong with standing out in a crowd and believe if you're going to do something, you should do it right (the first time!). All the products and services we offer at Ceci New York stand behind those principles and beliefs. I am inspired to create solutions that make my clients lives a little better, prettier and happier. Whether it's your wedding invitations, business cards, website, personal stationery, home décor it's all part of your life's brand image. Live in design and color!
Ceci Johnson: It’s so fun! My creative process is so simple and enjoyable for my clients. Although my team and I spend countless hours designing, drawing, painting, creating each piece for our clients, all they have to do is turn themselves over to our talented capable hands and let us do the rest. It begins with a creative consultation where we discuss their likes, dislikes, things that they're drawn to, favorite things like music, style of dress, what their home is like -anything and everything that helps us better understand who they are. Then we take it from there. The "canvas" (size and shape) of the invitation is first defined and then we run with it creating all the exclusive artwork for our client's invitations. I also am very proud of our team. Every Ceci New York client gets a project schedule outline and sets all expectations up front so you can relax and truly enjoy the creative process. No need to stress about "when am I going to get my invitations?" you know exactly when and we always deliver what we promise and beyond. I believe you have enough to worry about in planning a wedding so let the experts you've hired do all the work!
Ceci Johnson: Your invitation plants the first seed for what's to come. Weddings today are all about creating your personal style and it all begins with the invitation design. Creating a personal theme or cohesive aesthetic is the best way to do that. We recommend to our clients to start by making a list of what excites you (and don't be shy - write everything that comes to your mind). Is it your chosen venue? The location of the city? Or is it just an element that you love about the two of you? How you met, the places you've traveled together? Anything can create a theme. Once you have your list, look at each one and think about how you can carry that through into all the details of your wedding day. For my own wedding, I loved the Spanish culture and my husband loved history, so we went with an old world Spanish theme. Very much an intimate feast of family and friends. I ran with creating a gorgeous wedding filled with Latin flair {even though we are not Spanish, by the way!}, filled with exotic jewel tones, candelabras, wonderful food, music and best of all our closest friends and family. It was a dream. See it all here.
Ceci Johnson: Be confident and go with what you love. If you love ikat prints, go with it and bring that into your wedding stationery. If you are a classic bride with a modern spin, try doing an all script clean invitation card but have fun with a colorful pattern in your envelope liner or try a laser cut bellyband to dress it up!
Your wedding day is your chance to create a special day that’s exclusively you – made up of all your loves! Stick true to what you love. Do not get overwhelmed by all the many choices out there. Once you find something that excites you – stay focused and on your own unique path. As much as you want to please everyone, it’s most important to please yourself!
Ceci Johnson: You only have one chance to make the right impression with your invitations and I love making my clients look amazing on paper. It's all about personalization, style and confidence. Three key components that make for great invitations!
Pair it with letterpress printing, calligraphy and great graphic design and you are going to have a jaw dropping invitation!
Merci: How has New York City inspired Ceci designs?
Ceci Johnson: I am constantly inspired by New York City! The energy, the people, the art, the culture, the drive that people have here to accomplish great things. I can go on and on. This city never ceases to amaze me in so many ways. Just walking down the street, my senses are always awakened with inspiring elements everywhere. Whether it's the people I meet or the details I see walking around the streets, from the architecture to the incredibly creative storefront windows. The art, the theatre, the fashion - inspiration is everywhere!
Ceci Johnson: I love art-inspired invitations where we create hand painted personalized murals in watercolor, also laser cut printing is incredible luxurious and intricate. Stunning!
Don’t hate me but I’m tired of the ribbon and rhinestone buckle invitations.
Merci: Let’s talk etiquette — our brides often wonder about the appropriate timeline for sending out invites... What are some key things to remember?
Ceci Johnson: Etiquette is very important. And something not to overlook when it comes
to your invitations. We recommend to order your wedding stationery 6-12 months before your wedding date. It's a common thing to overlook how long the process really does take. Remember, everything is being custom made for you and that takes time. Not to mention, you need to allocate time for the design, printing, calligraphy and mailing. It all adds up.
Ceci Johnson: Save the dates are not mandatory but incredibly helpful and now almost every bride is sending a save the date. When you look at it, you're spending so much time and money on your wedding day, you want to make sure you give your guests plenty of notice to make sure they mark their calendars and don't miss it. Save the dates are mailed out 6-8 months before your wedding and invitations are mailed 6-8 weeks before. Start early so you don't have to worry. Better to be ahead than stressed, I always say.
Merci: When should brides start thinking about their wedding stationery and paper goods?
Ceci Johnson: We recommend brides to order their wedding stationery 8-12 months before their wedding date. This allows for the 16 week lead time your designer requires to take care of all the creative, proofing, printing and the time it takes to do the calligraphy once your envelopes come in. Keep in mind save the dates are suggested to be mailed out 6-8 months before your wedding and invitations are typically 6-8 weeks before. For destination weddings, we recommend 3 months before your wedding date.
Ceci Johnson: Thanks! CeciStyle, a free weekly style letter I hope will be both inspirational and educational and fun. As a graphic designer and visual stylist, I am constantly excited by the people, places and products that cross my path.
CeciStyle is my way of celebrating life and sharing my pursuit of glamorous personal style in hopes that it will encourage you to do the same. Each week I will visit a mood or style I’m feeling and offer a shortcut on how to find it in the real world, called “Get the Look.” Included will be highlights from favorite events I have worked on—sneak peeks into some truly fabulous parties—as well as tips from the experts. I not only want this site to enrich your life with a dose of delightful luxury, but to make it easier with trusted recommendations and insights. It’s a source you can always turn to, whether you’re looking for style advice, wedding ideas, cool travel destinations, last-minute gift ideas or just a weekly helping of fun. If you're interested in subscribing, just click here.
A big thanks to Ceci for sharing her stationery and style expertise with Merci New York's readers, and to the lovely ladies of Belathée for their beautiful photographs!
xx,
All photos courtesy of Belathée Photography.
Love it! I've been following her work for years. So talented! Thanks for the post!
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