We wanted our wedding invitation to be anything but ordinary. The goal was to create something playful, personal, and full of character—something that captured the spirit of our laid-back picnic-in-the-park celebration. So I designed an invitation that mailed flat but popped up into a three-dimensional picnic basket, complete with custom die-cut, picnic-themed details.
Vision
A Picnic, Not a Gala
Our wedding was all about gathering friends and family in the park for a laid-back summer picnic—no ballroom, no black tie, just good food and great company under the trees. We wanted the invitation to reflect that spirit and set the tone right from the mailbox.
Process
Starting with the Basket
I photographed our picnic basket from every side—a staple from our Shakespeare in the Park dates. Those photos guided the surface design, from the woven texture to the placement of straps, while the red gingham lining inside was scaled to match the real thing.
To create a dieline that could mail flat and pop up easily, I looked to letterhead boxes for inspiration—borrowing their folding logic and adapting it into a custom form. Every element was crafted to be both functional and personal, making the final piece unmistakably ours.
What’s Inside Counts
Each detail inside the basket helped set the tone for our playful picnic celebration:
- RSVP “plate” under the lid, secured with a faux leather strap
- Pig label with “BBQ Buffet”—a playful nod to the on-site pig roast
- Snack chips, pop can, and water balloon—for fun and flavor
- Napkin invitation—a twist on the formal invite, complete with a hand-drawn map to the shelter
From Prototype to Production
To make the concept practical for production and affordable to mail, I navigated several key constraints:
- It had to fit on a 12″×18″ press sheet—for easy home cutting on a Cricut
- It had to fold flat into a standard 6″×9″ envelope—the largest commercially available size eligible for first-class letter postage
- It had to include a 4-bar RSVP envelope—the smallest mailable size allowed by USPS
- It had to stay within USPS weight and thickness limits
I experimented with different paper stocks, but the layered construction pushed it beyond the standard first-class stamp limits. To confirm options, I took a prototype to the post office and asked the clerk, who recommended a 2 oz. wedding-rate stamp—a common and affordable solution that kept our vision intact without complicating mailing.
I handed early prototypes to coworkers—no instructions, just the envelope—and they quickly figured out how to pop up the basket. Their immediate delight confirmed the concept worked. From there, I fine-tuned die lines, fold patterns, and tab placements until the setup was easy and intuitive. No assembly guide needed—and definitely no engineering degree required.
A Typeface with Meaning
I chose Kaufmann for its unique, hand-lettered feel—and because our engagement took place at Fallingwater, the Kaufmann family’s famed Frank Lloyd Wright house. A little detail that added some emotional weight.
Challenges
Small Format, Big Idea
Balancing a memorable “wow” moment with real-world limits was the biggest challenge. The invite needed to be mailable, printable, and buildable at home, all without breaking the budget.
Through multiple prototypes and constant refinements to die lines, fold patterns, and scale, I fine-tuned the small-but-mighty details that made the design not only feasible but truly fun.
Outcome
A Little Picnic in the Mail
The final piece was a hit—both with us and our guests. It mailed flat, popped up with ease, and invited everyone into the mood of the celebration right from the mailbox.
It was functional, emotional, and full of personality. Every element told a story, and the response from invitees was overwhelmingly positive: they loved the creativity, and many kept the basket as a keepsake.