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No two invitations printed at this 105-year-old Bay View print shop are alike, and couples get a say in what that design looks like. Armed with art degrees from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Ashley Town bought the company and its antique printing presses eight years ago when the owner retired. Danielle Gagliano, who met Town when they were both professors at MIAD, joined the team in 2017 and became a co-owner in 2018.
“I learned everything I know about printing in our shop,” Town says. But sitting down with engaged couples is even more fun for her than tinkering with technology. “They’re going through a huge life milestone, and we get to be a part of that.”
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Bay View Printing Co. handles invitations, save-the-dates and RSVP cards, and the wedding package could also include coasters or maps. “Some couples have no idea [what they want], and we talk for an hour” about the vibe they’re after, while some arrive with clear concepts. Hand illustrations of venues are a common inclusion on invitations, and all fonts are derived from letter presses. “We are marrying contemporary design with old-school design,” Town says.
One couple represented their new household on their invitations by including their two dogs, two cats and nine houseplants. For another wedding, Town embossed navy velvet coasters with a message from the couple in gold foil: “Eat, Drink & Dance Boldly.”
ADVICE: Don’t be afraid to say you don’t like a design. “Please give us all the feedback and respond honestly,” says Town. “More than anything, we want you to love it and walk away happy.”
