The Bride’s bouquet and The Groom’s boutonnière both included bromeliads, the ultimate sustainable bloom. Photos: Marla Christina Aufmuth.

I chatted with The Bride about her moodboards (16 in all!), her “individual eco-system” terraria (70) and other deluxe DIY details (myriad). It’s worth keeping in mind that Michele and Tony became engaged on May 8 and were married October 8 — because they wanted an autumn wedding. The entire event, including finding a supremely sustainable venue, came together at “wedding warp” speed.

The floral moodboard: After the wedding, The Couple deconstructed the 50 terraria centerpieces unclaimed by guests and planted the succulents in their garden.

As a trained graphic designer, did you consider designing your wedding invitations yourself?
I did, but Michael [Osborne] was one of my instructors at the Academy of Art University, and I worked for him in the mid-’90s … and as soon as I told him Tony and I were formally engaged, he insisted. I was honored and flattered, and I knew it would be fun to work together again after all these years.

The “layers” moodboard, evoking the many textures and patterns desired in the stationery suite.

Have you created moodboards for other projects?
Yes, for years, for my residential interiors projects as well as for work on branding and experience projects. And my husband is in the food and wine industry, where he uses moodboards a lot, too. Moodboards have always been a great way for us to collaborate and communicate easily — especially on restaurant concepts. Most of the time I assemble, but he often describes: “very warm, sunflowers on the table, Moroccan tile-ish.” I might ask “modern Switzerland or traditional Switzerland?” I’ve found that moodboards provide an excellent storytelling framework.

The “tablescape” moodboard. Michele Ronsen combines fabric, imagery she finds online, and photos she takes with bits from magazines, menus and brochures.

In this case, they helped us develop a shared vision and experience, and also saved us tons of time and effort with our vendors and suppliers. The vendors perhaps benefitted the most. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

The save-the-date cocktail coaster was letterpress-printed by Rocket Caleshu at the SF Center for the Book, with help from The Bride. (The invitation and RSVP card were letterpress printed at One Heart Press.) Photo: Marla Christina Aufmuth.

How would you describe the mood, or the message, evoked by all your bridal moodboards?
“Upscale urban picnic.” We wanted to truly delight our guests with a local evening — using as many local ingredients and local suppliers as possible. My #1 was that the location had to be unique. Tony’s was that he wanted full control over food and beverages. And we wanted everything to feel warm, intimate and homemade — and to be as sustainable as possible.

Laser-printed sheets provided details and directions, customized by guest demographic — locals (residents of SF), bridge-crossers (Bay or Golden Gate), out-of-towners, wedding party/immediate family.

What happened when you and your 16 moodboards arrived at MOD?
Michael almost had a heart attack. He laughed, though, because he knows me! I said I thought they would go a long way toward illustrating the look we were after. I walked him through them, and we started to sketch right there. Ten days later, MOD came back with three options, all of which we loved. For all Michael’s joshing about the moodboards, they saved everybody a tremendous amount of time and energy.

Ronsen experimented with various decorative papers from Flax. This pattern was the winner.

And then?
We combined two of the three options into the invitation, and used the third for the save the date. So the moodboards worked. Then I went to Flax to select some decorative papers to play with. We definitely wanted color — particularly orange, which we both love — against something neutral. Tony envisioned a wooden, rustic, warm combination.

Art for the floral rubber stamps came from the decorative paper. MOD e-mailed files to City Stamp + Sign and several days later, the stamps were delivered.

I’m guessing you were the primary invitation assembler. Did you have any assistants?
Yes, I was, but Tony and I assembled them together. It was funny! We wound up with very specific roles. He liked cutting the leather laces [which Ronsen bought on a spool at Michael’s Art Supplies], and he liked layering the sheets, but he didn’t like stamping or tying. We kept track of how long it took us to assemble them: over 40 hours to put together 120 invitation packages, including the rubber stamping. I thought it was a bonding experience! He joked about divorce, though! LOL.

The postage stamps also add to the envelope ambiance. The invitation envelope (foreground) received a pair of stamps, since it weighed over an ounce.

Did you use your floral rubber stamps anywhere else?
On the water bottle labels. I bought the water at Trader Joe’s, because the bottle had a small label, so we would save paper and reduce stamping time. We removed the existing labels, rubber stamped new ones, and wrapped the bottles at my bachelorette party. I had always known the bachelorette party would include craft activities. Most of my closest girlfriends are designers and/or crafters!

The bachelorette party was actually a two-day slumber party. We also designed and assembled the ceremony programs, the margarita swizzlers, coffee stirrers and welcome packets for out-of-town guests. And we stamped the napkin rings and utensil roll-ups, made the flower girl halo headpiece and props for the photo-booth. And lots of directional signage.

Tip from Ronsen: “If you try this at home, make sure not to place the newly wrapped bottles in ice to chill. The paper labels are not waterproof!” Photos: Marla Christina Aufmuth.

Napkin rings are kraft paper rubber stamped with the [heart] TM [heart] logo. Photo: Marla Christina Aufmuth

If you had to describe your favorite aspect of the entire creative process, what would you say?
I cannot pick just one! The whole experience was a creative and collaborative process — for Tony and me, and for our guests. We’re seriously blessed to have such generous and creative people in our lives, many of whom contributed in unforgettable and imaginative ways. Designing our wedding has made me realize how much I love doing event design. Tony and I are currently collaborating on events — with moodboards! —  for Wayfare Tavern. I would love to design other people’s weddings, parties or business events!

Branded Champagne bottles were a surprise gift from graphic designer Andrea Jenkins, who is also an independent artisan wine consultant. Photos: Marla Christina Aufmuth.

Lead photo & all attributed photos: © 2011 Marla Christina Aufmuth

To read about how The Couple met, click here.

To reach Michele Ronsen, click here.

At Love on the Run, you type a note, which goes in a tiny bottle, which goes in a beautiful plantable bag made of paper with wildflower seeds in it, and on February 14, a “valenteer” delivers it anywhere in Lincoln.

Cupid calling: a happy recipient on February 14.

When I ask James if he can share any romantic stories with us, he responds, “Some of the best stories from Love on the Run aren’t the traditional tales of love notes being written from lover to lover, but rather from people in other relationships, with other types of love to share — such as children punching out notes of affection for their parents, grandparents or even their school teachers. Sisters write to brothers; nieces and nephews to aunts and uncles.”

“One of my favorite memories is of a little boy whose dad brought him in to type a love note to his mom. He sat at the ancient typewriter, pecking one letter at a time, regularly stopping to ask his dad how to spell the next word. After much concentrated determination, he finally had a complete letter, one that will probably become his mother’s treasured keepsake for years to come.”

“A very different story is that of a soldier serving in Iraq. Since he was unable to come and personally send his sentiments to his love, he devised an elaborate plan involving a friend, who came in to type the soldier’s note for his love without her knowing. We can all only imagine her reaction to receiving it!”

Elementary school teacher Sandy May loves Love on the Run.

James also shares with us the text of some love notes. No, he did not “read” the typewriter ribbons to reconstruct them: Many of the typists type drafts, which ultimately get recycled. Here are bits from what James refers to as “the best scrapped notes,” minus the names of sender and recipient.

“I’m so glad that you’ve come into my life. Your beautiful mind and spirit lifts me out of myself to somewhere indescribable.”

“Happy birthday to my valentine. I love you tons brother. I hope your real birthday is amazing too. I hope you love the doughnuts, I know you will have a splendid day with your beautiful wife and kids, you mean the world to us all so, happy valentine’s day and….”

A wife who had typed a love note for her husband presented homemade cookies to the valenteer who delivered her husband’s valentine.

“Dearest, I want to wish you a truly happy valentine’s day. It has been 3 years since I first fell in love with you, and I need to tell you that it has been worth every minute. I really do think you are the most beautiful woman, and I hope I can be graced with your presence for the rest of my life….”

Rx for love: A valenteer delivers directly to a nursing station.

“Days may be cloudy or sunny / We’re in or we’re out of the money / But I’m with you always / I’m with you rain or shine / Thank you for being a wonderful friend, husband and father.”

“To my beautiful wife, I love the way you take my hand. And [s]how me the other side of the world. everyday. Like it’s the first.”

“just to let you know you are always being loved”

“you are my one true love / My one and only / The be all end all / My heart and soul  The one that I want / The cheese to my macaroni”

“Querido, On this gray Valentine’s Day you are still far away. But thinking of you makes me smile, and that seems good. Thanks for doing so much learning, growing and playing with.”

“I love you more than Snickerdoodle cookies, chocolate and a bottle of red wine on a cold winter night.”

“My darling, my lover, my dreamboat. I can’t live without you so please never make me.”

The Book of Love is made of many signatures (sets of folded sheets) that will be sewn together before the binding is applied.

Porridge Papers commissioned a Book of Love from Kevin Oliver of Signature Bindery. Christopher James’ idea was to use the book as a perpetual guest register: Anyone sending a note could sign and date the book, and maybe even include the recipient’s name. Well, guests had a different idea.

The Book of Love is 20 x 15 x 2.5 in., bound in white leather.

Most visitors decided to thank Porridge Papers for Love on the Run. The book is about one-third full and will have a position of honor at this year’s event … and probably even the year after!

Photos: Studio Orange and The Leekers

Graphic designer Ella Durham donated the Love on the Run logo in 2008. It’s having a great run.

James aims to spread the (free) love. He started the Love on the Run event in 2008, and he has learned a lot about logistics — even more about the joys and generosity inspired by building a community. James loves to rave about the “valenteers” (his word, not ours — it’s even a tab on the Love on the Run web site). Like Todd, Porridge Papers’ regular UPS driver: He volunteered to be a driver for Love on the Run in 2009, when February 14 fell on a Saturday.

2008 valentines: 90 bottles, arranged in a heart. The red car out front is serendipity.

Has the event grown every year?
Oh, yes. It started out with 90 people the first year. Last year — four years later — we had over 350 people. This year we are preparing for 500, since it is the five-year anniversary.

Love on the Run started with five typewriters. This year, there may be as many as 20 at the event.

You must need more and more typewriters. Whose machines are they?
Most of them are ours now. Back in the beginning, when my father-in-law heard what we were doing, he had four in his basement that he gave us. Since then, random people have just stopped by and dropped theirs off after hearing about Love on the Run.

We think Oliver’s father will cherish his son’s “early work” forever, or at least for years.

Last weekend, I dropped off some Love on the Run flyers at Studio K, our cupcake sponsor, on Saturday morning. Later that morning, I got a call from a gentleman who had not been aware of the event, but he said that he had a collection of vintage typewriters — and he will be happy to lend us three!

Ella Durham, designer of the Love on the Run logo, with her daughter Ivy

And he understands that children as well as adults will be typing on his machines?
He does! Another great thing: The machines he’s lending us are already in working order, with ribbons in good condition. I’ve learned how important it is to have a good repair service for these old machines and how to check the ribbons — and how to rewind them halfway through the afternoon.

Party favors include “i gave love” buttons. A lovebird told us that the 2012 buttons might be year-specific, so even more of a souvenir.

What paper will people be typing on?
This year we selected Mohawk Ultra Fuchsia. It is a bright, festive pink that just wants to make you smile. We’ve learned that our handmade paper does not work so well in the typewriters.

The Oliver is James’ personal favorite typewriter, and it lives at his house now. The “ears” at the top are like hinged piano keys.

And what about envelopes?
No, we don’t use envelopes. From the first year, the love note has gone in a little “vehicle,” because — given that they are all hand-delivered — it has more impact than an envelope. So, first the message gets rolled up in a tiny bottle, which we provide.

But everyone who receives a valentine will also get some Porridge Papers plantable paper. Can you tell us about that?
Last year, we decided to make a bag out of our wildflower seed paper. We include a little tag that says “Plant this bag,” so people can also get a flower garden out of it. Plus, the bag has handles, which makes it perfect for hooking over a doorknob or on a mailbox or what have you.

Porridge Papers pressman Blayne Tanner (left) printed all the bags.

How little is this little bag, and how do you make it?
It measures 2.75 tall x 2 wide x 1.5 in. deep. We letterpress print them, die cut them, and then valenteers assemble them before the event. It’s labor intensive, but it works really well … and we know that some people like to keep the note in the bottle in the bag, instead of planting the bag.

People put their bags on the delivery tables, into boxes labelled by ZIP Code.

Where does the address go?
We print a spot right on the bag for people to fill in: to, from, address and phone number — that’s the sender’s phone number, in case we run into any difficulty.

How does delivery work?
Beautifully! Obviously, it is really important that we are able to guarantee that every valentine will be delivered. We deliver them to offices, schools, nursing homes and of course houses. We have a good system, and to our knowledge we have had no mishaps — and some really sweet surprises. These are the kind of how-to’s — and stories — that we want to share in our Love on the Run manual.

But wait, there’s more! Local photographers Aubrey and Josh Leeker use their nifty Polaroid Insty-Max to take a print-on-the-spot photo to go in the bag you’re sending.

This video shows the 2011 typists snapped by the Leekers, who will be snap-happy again this year.

And will you send love notes to people who support your Kickstarter campaign?
Yes and yes! For small pledges, we’re saying thank you with a letterpress print, a limited-edition Cupid Crew button, and letterpress Valentine cards. For a pledge of $50, we will type out your love note for you, put it in the bottle in the bag, and mail it to your valentine. For larger pledges, our gratitude gets, well, greater. I admit that it was a bit of a challenge for me to make the Kickstarter video without getting emotional.

This year’s Love on the Run is open to the public in Lincoln on Saturday, Feb. 11, and Sunday Feb. 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday evening, Feb. 10, the store will host a semi-private Ladies’ Evening.

Photos: Studio Orange and The Leekers