Illustrated Friday: Grateful Dead-inspired Wedding

This submission is from Marisa who wants to surprise her good friend Julie with a Grateful-Dead musically inspired wedding invitation suite idea.

Black-white-grey themed Invitation Suite-hand drawn style

The wedding will be themed around a music festival with food and music setting the tone, and the bridesmaids will be wearing black. They have been having some difficulty trying to figure out how to design their invitations and I just thought her trying to help her friend was so wonderful! Grateful Dead music posters are amazing, and it would be a shame not to draw inspiration from them. Although I like the music poster idea (see below), I thought I’d try a hand at something a little unconventional. 

This invitation suite comprises of a ‘record sleeve’ with illustrated front showing the wedding logo of Julie and Michael in Grateful Dead-esque fonts and a frenzy of drawings around the logo in which is embedded the general wedding announcement, location/map,  date and etc.  Because of the nature of the design, I think black, white and grey tones will suit it well and also make it cheaper to print.

The back of the ‘record sleeve’ is the schedule of events with any other additional details necessary. Here a pop of color in turquoise, orange, green, etc can be used, observe actual Grateful Dead posters for inspiration.

Inside the sleeve is the ‘vinyl record’ RSVP and a slightly smaller self-addressed envelope . The ‘vinyl record’ is actually recycled/scratched CDs from thrift store/flea market bins spray painted black and affixed with the wedding logo. White pen (from art stores) are used to write the yes/no/ queries.

The sleeve can be made by tearing apart a real record sleeve and observing how it is glued together and making a template for it. A little bit of work, but the result will be so cool, and something that can even be framed up and enjoyed as mini wall art.

I think the sleeves will look really neat printed on off-white papers that have a bit discolored look to it, like actual aged record sleeves!

Other musically-themed ideas

Of course, mini music poster-inspired invitations are great too, and can come mailed in a certificate tube , kraft ones, from stationery supply stores.  Actual vintage Grateful Dead concert tickets can also be used as inspiration for Save-The-Dates or even the main invitation itself! Thanks Marisa for the submission, and hope Julie and Michael will be able to make use of this.