I had the pleasure of meeting an incredible wedding vendor at a recent MWEP (Michigan Wedding and Event Professionals) networking event. Abbey Fowler is the owner of Syddesign, a custom stationary company based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She offers custom designs for everything paper and is extremely talented at what she does. Check out some of her amazing work below:
I recently met with Abbey for coffee and had the opportunity to learn about her fabulous business. Here, you can learn more about her as well:
LJP: I understand you support the local community. What do you support?
SD: I have always felt an importance in supporting local businesses, and I think the Grand Rapids community and local business associations have done an amazing job in sending that message. I wish to create a strong connection with other local wedding vendors, so that I can do my part to reference them and promote the idea of buying local. Unfortunately, my most used paper distributor isn't based local, but they are based in a small Wisconsin town, so they are not too far away.
SD: I have always felt an importance in supporting local businesses, and I think the Grand Rapids community and local business associations have done an amazing job in sending that message. I wish to create a strong connection with other local wedding vendors, so that I can do my part to reference them and promote the idea of buying local. Unfortunately, my most used paper distributor isn't based local, but they are based in a small Wisconsin town, so they are not too far away.
LJP: How did you get into designing wedding invitations?
SD: I have five years experience in Graphic Design for Magazine Publishing, and my last main publications had to do with party goods, gifts & stationery (which i had a long-lasting love for). During the same time, I had designed my own wedding invitations and everything just started to fall into place for me.
SD: I have five years experience in Graphic Design for Magazine Publishing, and my last main publications had to do with party goods, gifts & stationery (which i had a long-lasting love for). During the same time, I had designed my own wedding invitations and everything just started to fall into place for me.
LJP: Do you offer products/services other than invitations?
SD: I offer anything paper! I have done wedding programs, menu cards, place cards, table signs, favor tags, shower/bachelorette invitations, thank you cards and even cootie catchers. I also do other stationery like birthday or event invitations, baby announcements, calling cards, etc.
SD: I offer anything paper! I have done wedding programs, menu cards, place cards, table signs, favor tags, shower/bachelorette invitations, thank you cards and even cootie catchers. I also do other stationery like birthday or event invitations, baby announcements, calling cards, etc.
LJP: What is your favorite part about your job?
SD: I love it all! I especially love watching a bride go through her samples. I have yet to have an unhappy bride, so it's a grand sense of accomplishment and excitement when I can make a perfect set of designs for a bride & her big day!
SD: I love it all! I especially love watching a bride go through her samples. I have yet to have an unhappy bride, so it's a grand sense of accomplishment and excitement when I can make a perfect set of designs for a bride & her big day!
LJP: What is your least favorite part?
SD: Keeping track of finances and accounting is the only part I have a difficult time finding motivation for. Luckily, I have an amazing CPA (Kuipers & Associates) that has helped set me up and continues to help with taxes and all that confusing stuff!
LJP: How long does it take to design the initial samples from the time you and a client first discuss design styles?
SD: This step actually is the longest part of the process. If the bride and groom are in no particular rush, I give myself a 4-5 week deadline from the time I first meet them. I usually order certain paper for each bride's samples individually, so that along with my design time and amount of clients ends up to be about 4 weeks. After that, the process goes pretty quickly though.
SD: Keeping track of finances and accounting is the only part I have a difficult time finding motivation for. Luckily, I have an amazing CPA (Kuipers & Associates) that has helped set me up and continues to help with taxes and all that confusing stuff!
LJP: How long does it take to design the initial samples from the time you and a client first discuss design styles?
SD: This step actually is the longest part of the process. If the bride and groom are in no particular rush, I give myself a 4-5 week deadline from the time I first meet them. I usually order certain paper for each bride's samples individually, so that along with my design time and amount of clients ends up to be about 4 weeks. After that, the process goes pretty quickly though.
LJP: What do you like to do in your spare time?
SD: My husband and I enjoy outdoor sports like rock climbing, kayaking & hiking, and in the winter we try to spend a decent amount of time at the gym. I also do some photography and glass bead making, just as hobbies.
SD: My husband and I enjoy outdoor sports like rock climbing, kayaking & hiking, and in the winter we try to spend a decent amount of time at the gym. I also do some photography and glass bead making, just as hobbies.
LJP: What can I find in your refrigerator right now?
SD: You can always find many caffeine drinks. I openly admit to my caffeine addiction! I also always have Silk Soymilk, flour tortillas, grapefruit and sharp cheddar cheese.
LJP: What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?
SD: Oh, there was so many good ones back then! Muppet Babies would be my all time favorite, but other favorites include Duck Tails, Fraggle Rock, Inspector Gadget, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
SD: You can always find many caffeine drinks. I openly admit to my caffeine addiction! I also always have Silk Soymilk, flour tortillas, grapefruit and sharp cheddar cheese.
LJP: What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?
SD: Oh, there was so many good ones back then! Muppet Babies would be my all time favorite, but other favorites include Duck Tails, Fraggle Rock, Inspector Gadget, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
If you are interested in hiring Syddesign for your wedding, please note that Abbey is now completely booked for May 2009 and has limited availability left for June 2009. Because all of Abbey's designs are custom, the process takes several weeks. Contact her here for more information about her services.
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