Quilled Quaker Marriage Certificate
This past summer I had the pleasure of creating a marriage certificate for a September wedding. The organized bride had contacted me months earlier which was ideal... it can be surprising just how much planning goes into a certificate - there's the overall design, calligraphy style, wording, and colors to consider. It's all handled easily via email though, and causes me to marvel at what a slow process it would be without the internet. Come to think of it, the bride wouldn't have even found me without this website!
She loved the style and colors of the chandelier certificate and wanted something similar, but not identical. The couple's vineyard wedding had a green, gray, and red color palette which might sound a bit like Christmas, but trust me... having seen their amazing photos, the end result didn't make one think of December in the least.
For the quilling, the bride requested muted, natural greens - I used forest and moss - along with shades of gray and touches of silver. Once again calligrapher Riva Brown of Living Letters Studio did the lettering and mounting of the certificate. She placed rich red ribbons at the corners which worked well to tie the certificate in with the wedding colors.
Instead of a chandelier, the bride expressed interest in a swirled design as the top motif... she said she would leave it up to me to make something pretty and wanted to be surprised when it arrived in the mail - a dream client for sure!
One major difference with this certificate is that the guest signatures were placed on a separate sheet along with the couple's favorite quote. This way the quilling is completely out of harm's way during the signing. Also, framing can be less expensive if the signature sheet is placed back to back in the frame with the certificate, and of course it can be framed or stored separately.
If you enjoy reading about wedding details, the bride is Mrs. Pony on the popular site, weddingbee.com, where she blogged (delightfully, I might add!) throughout the entire planning process. Mrs. Pony even included posts about marriage certificates in general, and their decision to commission one.
She loved the style and colors of the chandelier certificate and wanted something similar, but not identical. The couple's vineyard wedding had a green, gray, and red color palette which might sound a bit like Christmas, but trust me... having seen their amazing photos, the end result didn't make one think of December in the least.
For the quilling, the bride requested muted, natural greens - I used forest and moss - along with shades of gray and touches of silver. Once again calligrapher Riva Brown of Living Letters Studio did the lettering and mounting of the certificate. She placed rich red ribbons at the corners which worked well to tie the certificate in with the wedding colors.
Instead of a chandelier, the bride expressed interest in a swirled design as the top motif... she said she would leave it up to me to make something pretty and wanted to be surprised when it arrived in the mail - a dream client for sure!
One major difference with this certificate is that the guest signatures were placed on a separate sheet along with the couple's favorite quote. This way the quilling is completely out of harm's way during the signing. Also, framing can be less expensive if the signature sheet is placed back to back in the frame with the certificate, and of course it can be framed or stored separately.
If you enjoy reading about wedding details, the bride is Mrs. Pony on the popular site, weddingbee.com, where she blogged (delightfully, I might add!) throughout the entire planning process. Mrs. Pony even included posts about marriage certificates in general, and their decision to commission one.
dear Ann,
ReplyDeletethis is so very elegant, the swirled design & color!
xoxo
steph
ELEGANT quilling Ann,And so symmetrical on both sides ,the top motif is so very gorgeous.Your neatness is something I dream of achieving some day
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful and elegant, it must be a memory for the married couble.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! I love your quilling!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a marriage certificate designed quite like this! Recently quilling has really caught my eye, and I plan on experimenting with it in the near future. Something about the swirly three dimensional aspect of it makes it truly interesting.
ReplyDeleteHow do you apply glue or adhesive to the delicate pieces without ruining their delicate aesthetic?
Every time I see one of your gorgeous marriage certificates I kick myself for not having one for my wedding. Of course, before my wedding I had never really looked at blogs and had no idea what quilling is! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous work, as always (though my favorite of yours is still the woodland theme with the birds, flowers and mushrooms!!)
Wow that is really gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeletePaula
Thank everyone. Steve, my best advice to keep glue from showing is to work with a very light touch and have a damp cloth nearby to wipe fingers. When applying a large S scroll like these, I first spread a thin coating of clear, acid-free glue on a non-stick surface. I hold the scroll with tweezers and touch its underside to the glue, then place it exactly where I want it... no sliding around allowed. :)
ReplyDeletewhat a gorgeous certificate that is.
ReplyDeletevery unique and gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAnn, each time I see your work I'm more astounded. You are truly a master at what you do. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteKarren
Stunning! The quilling and and the colors you used are just perfect. And really? That's HAND lettered?? It looks like a font. Wow.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Sophisticated, and Elegant!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips Ann! I WIll definitely have to try this now!
ReplyDeleteyou make beautiful creations I love it!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Baukje
How many ways can I say exquisite? You put the AWE in awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! Do you have books or instructions for these elaborate designs on these? I am a very, very new quiller and would love to have instructions to play by. I would really love classes if there were any close by.
ReplyDeleteIf I were planning my wedding all over again, I would definitely commission a quilled wedding certificate from you. Something about them is so touching. Maybe it's the detail and the care put into every nuance. Or maybe it's the thoughtfulness of the whole piece. I'm so sentimental right now over my own wedding--I'm such a softy!
ReplyDeleteGreat work, as always.
Thanks everyone - you all are so nice!
ReplyDeleteLenoria, I haven't written patterns for the marriage certificate designs, but the thing about quilling is that once you're practiced at it, you really won't need a pattern. Since you're just starting out, perhaps try some of my project tutorials (tab at top of page) or purchase a kit from any of the online suppliers. I learned initially via a gift tag kit. It's best to start with small projects so you don't get too frustrated.
This is absolutely beautiful, Ann - exquisite work.
ReplyDeletebeautiful and elegant!
ReplyDeleteNati from Brazil
Ann, congrats on another beautiful wedding certificate!!The colours worked out well with the wedding colours that the couple used, and the subtle use of the red in the corners to match the bridesmaids and the bride's flowers....and a dream customer!
ReplyDeleteYour filigree shapes have a lovely flow and I especially love the larger circular area at the bottom of each side, which also work well with the top filigree piece.
Licia
Exquisite as always.Words are not enough to express admiration.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and a +10!
aureliaeugenia
Lovely quilling...Thanks for ur tip for getting a glue free neat quilling..Hope to follow that.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented Ann. This certificate is gorgeous and so elegant. You should be very proud of your beautiful work
ReplyDeleteLee:)
I adore you quilling certificates and it's so obvious why your clients have so much confidence in your work. This is so great, I can only imagine how beautiful it is in person. Your silver paper looks like pearls; I had to zoom the picture to see it correctly!
ReplyDeleteI just love to see your work, hope there will be more of it.
Suzana