Invitation design help?

[fatafelice]

Okay, so I have been avoiding wedding stuff for the past few months or so, but now I have less than 6 months left and there are a few things that I have to deal with. Having the big anniversary/vow renewal/reception means sending invites out again, which means I need to order them at some point. I got back in contact with the woman I was using before and she is on board, but I could use some design advice from you lovely ladies.

I adored my original invites and response cards, so those are going to be the same, but we are adding a "welcome party" invite and I want the design to go with the rest of the pieces. The same designer will be doing the actual illustration, but I need some references to put them on the right track. Here are some facts about the wedding and the party that might help:

-Adjectives that (I think) describe the overall wedding are: fresh, woodland, relaxed (yet a little elegant)
-Colors are shades of blue and green and brown (invites are blues and white)
-Birds and trees/wood are the main motifs and I want to stay away from man-made objects (no bird cages, etc.) and stick to nature as much as possible
-The party is being held at a place called "River Bend Barn," which is actually neither a barn (it's a stable) nor on a river.
-The party will possibly be a barbeque, with beer and wine, and people can wear jeans

Now, I originally had the idea to have one of the birds pulling a worm out of the ground because I thought it would be funny, yet cute, and convey the casual atmosphere. Even though others seem to think this might be a little "gross," I still kind of like it.

Some other concepts thrown around have been a hanging bird feeder, a barn roof with a bird, or just the branch by itself. What would you do?



Here is what the rest of the pieces look like:

 

[pjean]

I get where you''re going with the worm, but I think it might be a little gross. What about having a group of birds pecking at seeds on the ground? Of course, your invitees might take that a little personally.

I know you don''t want man made objects, but what about a bird sitting on a picnic table? Maybe next to a wine glass?

Alternately, what about a bird drinking from a pool? Or several birds clustered around one?

Just throwing ideas out there...

 

[fatafelice]

Pjean, yeah, I guess other people are bound to see it that way.

I like some of your other ideas, though, like the bird drinking from a pool. That might be the closest to the worm, without the "ewww" factor.

 

[pjean]

It''s too bad you can''t work in a bird taking a bath, ''cause they''re so darn cute. Maybe you could have a levee?

 

[enbcfsobe]

i personally like the worm idea, but not everyone would get it.

what about birdies in their nest snuggling? i think that would be sweet for a vow renewal. it might be a little too cutesy, though.