DIY Wedding

Designing Your Own Monogram

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Hey everyone!
I had a fellow bride who wondered if I had any pointers for designing your own monograms and I thought hey, why don't I blog about it? :)
I have a love for monograms, I don't know why. Perhaps it stems from my love for weddings or just love for design. Mostly I like the idea that you can say something about the couple with just a few simple letters and shapes. I'm not going to be able to give a step-by-step how-to since everyone will be using different programs, etc... I just want to give some pointers and hopefully inspire you. I'm just going to start rambling now, so take what you can from it!

Software
Obviously to create a monogram you will need some sort of software to create it in. I use Photoshop, but unless you have connections or a healthy pocketbook, this might not be an option for you. If you're willing to put a little learning time into it a good alternative is Gimp. It's free to download and use as you will. Other options are Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, etc... Powerpoint will let you move things around a little better and overlap, so many people prefer this to Word for designs.

Fonts
I like to use a combination of simple serif or san-serif fonts and script. I'll call the simple fonts "base" fonts and the script fonts.. well... "script" fonts. Many of my fonts are free and downloaded from dafont.

Base Fonts:
Optimus PrincepsCheboygan
Organic ElementsChocolate BoxThere are many more, those are just some I use often.

Script Fonts:
Stephanie MarieMiama
Scriptina
Black Jack
Mutlu Ornamental
Jellyka, Saint-Andrew's Queen
I'm sure there are more there, also, but those are ones I usually remember to try.
A good site besides dafont.com to try is Fonts for Peas. They have some GREAT handwriting fonts.

Flourishes
Another way to make a monogram unique is to add flourishes to your design, or perhaps just a simple symbol that represents a couple. This can be anything from an ornamental swoosh to swirls to a little feather or heart or house or flower or even just a simple line. I have shared a link for some great resources below.
DeviantArt
- Great place to download free brushes, shapes, etc... especially for Photoshop and Gimp

Techniques
Now here are some basic tips and tricks I use when creating monograms that I think can be useful to brides you wish to design their own. I'll try to show photos when I can, either of previous designs I've done or a sample monogram done for this blog.
1. I like to start by typing either the first letter of the couple's new last name or the initials of their first names. I usually start by making them the same font, etc... and I like to highlight the letters and cycle through some fonts to see what they look like applied to the specific letters.
2. Once I find a font I like (and sometimes I combine both this process and the first) I'll move both letters around to see how they fit into one another. As a general guideline you should put the last name initial in the middle and the individuals on both sides, the brides on the left and groom's on the right. This can be changed if they don't look or sound good that way. For example, if I had done that with our monogram it would have looked a bit like "BS" so I flipped them to read "SB." Consider things like this and how different letters balance each other out.
3. If you have a symbol you would specifically like to add you can do that next. Move it around to see how it looks in different spots. If you don't have a centralized letter, such as the initial of a last name, you can use a small significant graphic or even just an ampersand to add more visual appeal.
4. I like to use a different font for the "and" or ampersand for contrast. Probably my favorite ampersand is from the font "Miama" it's straightforward and yet elegant and isn't too italicized.
5. Use colors to add contrast, as well. Make the "and" either a different color or a more subtle shad of your dominant color. I like to make it 30-50% of my main color.
6. If you have letters that overlap, especially when they are in different colors, it sometimes looks too busy. There are two methods I like to use to make it look cleaner.
- Add a stroke (thick border around your letters) that is the same color as your background (usually white) on the TOP layer. This will give space around it and let it be seen better.
- Intertwine the letters by using an eraser or mask, etc... to make them look like they are wrapping in and out and around each other.
7. Monograms seem to look best to me when they are able to stand on their own. It should be able to look good smack in the middle of a page or at the corner, etc... sometimes if you give it too much imbalance, even if it looks good it could look wrong on things you decide to put the monogram on.
8. Depending on the monogram it may look better if you "close it off" by adding a border around all or part of the design or putting mirrored flourishes on 2 of the sides, etc...

Examples
Please refer to the uploaded images
I hope this blog will be able to help some of you brides out there who are wanting to make their own monogram. If you'd like to talk to me more, feel free to comment or message me. I love talking (especially weddings :D) I'm also always available for custom design work if you don't want to bother with it. If you message me or email me at dirtndiamonds@silverdoves.com I can quote you a price.

Now go out there and make your beautiful monograms like a pro!

-B