Did you know you can customize your wedding stationary with a Coat of Arms? How cool would it be to create your very own family crest! Here’s the deal…during the medieval times, the coat of arms originated as a means for knights to distinguish themselves from their friends and foes during battle. Over time it became a way to “distinguish families of stature from one another. It was like a family’s own personal seal – a representation to the world of their occupation, style and status.”
Ceci Johnson is the founder of Ceci New York, the internationally renowned luxury invitation and corporate ID design house. Taken from a previous clients invitation design, she explains the four elements of a custom coat of arms and creating a crest of your own.
- Mantling: The scrolls, or mantling, were inspired by the intricate architecture of the couple’s wedding venue – a majestic French estate that was originally constructed in the 1100s as a monastery. We took it up a notch with extra embellishments and leaf patterning.
- Shield elements: This is where families had the most creative license to display an important aspect of their heritage. In this case, we created a royal-inspired monogram with the bride and groom’s initials.
- Family motto: This statement of purpose is found in almost every coat of arms. We love the symbolism of weaving the bride and groom’s names and wedding date into the motto spot, representing a new family being forged.
- Supporters: In royal society, animals and birds were often displayed supporting the shield. Lions represented valor, courage and royalty. For this wedding, we thought they fit perfectly into the regal theme.
What do you think? Would you consider having a custom coat of arms designed for your wedding day, to be the symbol of your new family?
To view more of the fabulous stationary by Ceci Johnson, you may visit her website at www.cecinewyork.com. If you would like to view the gorgeous photos and video from Linus and Stephanie’s Paris wedding, click here.
