Here at Art Paper Scissors, we absolutely love bringing a couples’ wedding theme to life. From save-the-dates to invitations to thank you cards and everything in between, Art Paper Scissors is a couple's one-stop-shop for all things wedding stationery.

Today we are chatting with an amazing couple, Kara and Keith DuFresne. These two tied the knot in May 2019 at the stunning Crossed Keys Estate with a sentimental ceremony and a fun family-and-friends-filled celebration. We loved designing all of their stationery leading up to the big day, from save-the-dates to reception menus.

Kara is sharing all of the details of their wedding day - read on and swoon looking at these beautiful photos, captured by Pat Furey Photography.

Art Paper Scissors: Tell us about your wedding day. The date, place and any extra fun details you would like to share.

Kara: We got married at the Crossed Keys Estate in Andover on May 18, 2019. Crossed Keys Estate is an amazing venue, run by a family who put so much pride in what they do. It’s located on a beautiful piece of land that they keep in tip top shape all year round - they are actually building an unreal new farmhouse!

We got married in front of a cottage that had vines and flowers all around it and the reception was under a gorgeous white tent that had draping lights and garland everywhere. Everything about the day was gorgeous: the weather, the food, the flowers, the decor and having our close family and friends celebrate with us.

Art Paper Scissors: How do you remember that special day? Any great memory that stands out?

Kara: The day was such a whirlwind! It really is true when people say it flies by! From the moment we got to the venue, it was just go, go, go. Before I knew it, we had walked down the aisle, made it official and had our first dance. I was overwhelmed with joy and anxiety (I don’t like being the center of attention) and just needed a minute to breathe and literally take it all in.

My husband and I were walking around and I glanced over at the dance floor and saw a bunch of our family and friends dancing, laughing and smiling. I didn’t want to forget that moment. When the sun went down, the lights in the tent were the perfect setting. The fire pit was going with people hanging around, drinking cocktails. It was such a perfect moment for us and we felt so blessed that we could share it with the people we love.

Art Paper Scissors: What is your favorite part about being married?

Kara: This is such a good question! Who doesn’t love being married to their best friend? We have been together for six years and lived together for three, so we know each other in-and-out. Our conversations have changed though - I love talking about our future and the happiness that we both get when discussing the possibilities!

Art Paper Scissors: Describe your wedding theme and feel in 3 words. Why did you choose this theme?

Kara: I would say romantic, rustic and elegant. It’s funny, when we first set out to start planning our wedding, we had no idea what we really wanted. Thank goodness for Pinterest and Instagram. We both fell in love with a more intimate feel and found that we loved neutral color tones. We incorporated mauves, pale pinks, lavenders and dusty rose into our scheme and think it added to that romanticism and elegance of the wedding. Since the wedding was outdoors, we already had natural elements, which spoke to the rustic-ness and helped tie in the elegance of our invitations.

Art Paper Scissors: How did you decide on your wedding invitation design?

Kara: This was really tough for us. There are SO many different things you can do and I tend to get so overwhelmed when there are just so many options. However, after we picked our venue and started to discuss our theme, we realized that we wanted to keep things simple, elegant and rustic. I knew that I wanted our colors to be those pale, neutral tones.

After taking a look at all the different types of invitations at Art Paper Scissors and having a really good discussion with Lisa, I felt that she knew what we were looking for. After a few mock ups and some back and forth emails, the design that was our final product was everything I didn’t know I wanted and more. What I love most about it is the gold letterpress floral design in the corner. It added the perfect element of sophistication to the beautifully simple design.

Art Paper Scissors: What design element or feature was a “must have” for your wedding invitations?

Kara: My husband really wanted a letterpress effect as part of the design. I didn’t have a vision for what I was after (that likely makes me the worst kind of client as I’ll know it when I see it).

Art Paper Scissors: What advice do you have for other brides and grooms looking to incorporate their theme or personal elements into their wedding invitations?

Kara: This is your time to do what you want that describes your relationship. Everyone close to you will have all different opinions, which can be helpful, but it can also be overwhelming! From letting the invitation tell your story to having it incorporated into your wedding theme, the options are limitless, so decide what you want your invitation to do for you. Trust your gut and don’t second guess yourself! This is your day and it’s going to be perfect no matter what.