Rosecliff Wedding | Marea + John

Weddings

Marea + John’s Rosecliff Newport Manor wedding in Newport, Rhode Island called for stationery that fit the opulence of the venue without losing the lightness of an end-of-summer celebration. As their wedding stationery designer, I started with the two things they wanted the paper to capture: Rosecliff itself and their navy, periwinkle blue + soft yellow palette.

The soft sorbet yellow was such a great addition to the color palette. It gave us a little sunshine alongside the more formal navy + gold.

watercolor illustration invitation with rings

Rosecliff Wedding Invitations Inspired by the Venue

Marea + John wanted their venue to be a focal point of their wedding paper story. Rosecliff is an iconic Gilded Age mansion that was designed loosely based on the Grand Trianon of Versailles. It has beautifully manicured grounds with rose gardens, and breathtaking views of the ocean. So I began with a watercolor illustration of Rosecliff, then researched its gilded details while developing their custom monogram. Those elements inspired the crest-shaped frame around their initials, along with some leaves to give it a slightly organic, floral feel.

With those elements in place, it was time to design the invitation suite! We used gold foil and flat printing for the watercolor illustration. If you’re wondering why we used two print methods, watercolor has subtle changes in shade that foil can’t reproduce and must be digitally printed. Printing the card twice lets us keep all that color and give the invitation the luxe gold finish!

The details card had a die-cut shape that picked up on Rosecliff’s decorative features. We wrapped the suite in a soft yellow gatefold wrap sealed with their die-cut wedding crest, and placed it all inside a navy envelope. I loved how that hit of yellow changed the experience of opening an otherwise strictly formal suite!

Wondering if you should have guests RSVP online? Check out this blog post with my pros + cons list!

St. Joseph’s Church Ceremony

Marea + John had a blue-sky day for their wedding, which began at St. Joseph’s Church in Newport. The bridesmaids highlighted that soft yellow with their floor-length silk gowns, and the florals included those signature New England blue hydrangea blooms.

bride and father walking down church aisle

Rosecliff Wedding Reception Stationery

The stationery for their reception at Rosecliff Newport celebrated that color palette and all the shapes we introduced in their custom wedding invitation suite!

To start, a linen-draped seating chart greeted guests, finished with silk ribbon in that periwinkle blue. Marea also had her heart set on a fabric bar sign with lace trim. I hadn’t made one quite like it before, so I found a production partner I trusted to help bring it to life. This is one of my favorite parts of custom work: figuring out how to make a couple’s specific idea happen!

I loved the oval wedding menus that also served as place cards, crest-shaped table numbers, and cocktail napkins featuring that gorgeous custom watercolor illustration.

Seeing Their Newport Wedding Reception for the First Time

I love seeing a couple’s reaction when they walk into their reception space for the first time! So much thought goes into every detail, both by the couple + their vendors. It’s why I ask to see floral mock-ups and tablescape rentals before I start designing day-of stationery. From the wedding menus to table numbers and place cards, I want each piece to complement the flowers, linens and all the other elements on the table.

newport mansion wedding reception with bride and groom

Their Custom Monogram Beyond the Paper

The monogram was incorporated into their wedding beyond the paper goods. Marea + John projected it onto the walls by the dance floor and used it as the focal design element on their cake. I love seeing a custom monogram take on a life beyond the invitation!

Looking for an invitation designer for your Newport, Rhode Island wedding?

I’m Sandy, the designer behind Roseville Designs. I work with couples to create custom wedding invitations and day-of details that feel personal and work beautifully together. Planning a Newport wedding? Let’s talk about what we can create for you!