Ganesh:

Not a Love God as such but Ganesh has been traditionally placed on Wedding invitations for generations as a God of wisdom and prudence to bring good fortune on a new journey.

Born as a beautiful boy in India his mother was very proud of her new son and invited all of the Indian Gods including her brother to come and see her new baby. Unfortunately her brother (Ganesh’s Uncle) was cursed and anyone he looked at would die instantly. He refused to see the new born baby in fear that he might unwillingly kill the child. Nether the less Ganesh’s mother insisted he come and see her beautiful baby.

Ganesh’s uncle came with his eyes closed and prepared himself for a quick glance at the baby to avoid any damage. He opened his eyes for a split second but that was all it took. Ganesh’s head was destroyed. Luckily one of the many Gods present, claimed “If you can replace Ganesh’s head immediately I will give the child life again.”

Ganesh’s uncle ran to find the nearest creature and take his head so Ganesh could live again. The first creature he came across was an elephant.

Ganesh’s head was replaced with an elephants head and thus bought back to life. Since then he became a master of wisdom and good fortune bringing luck to those in need and removing obstacles through clever thinking.

As an Indian God always draped in gold Ganesh was the clear inspiration behind this gold wedding invitation.

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Xi Wang-mu

Xi Wang-mu was a beautiful young Chinese woman crowned as a Queen and Goddess of immortality. Further represented as the feminine half Yin, in the Yin Yang Chinese symbol.

Dressed in her royal robe and residing in her giant palace she homed male and females with the gift of immortality. In her Palace garden was a tree which grew one peach every 3000 years and then 3000 years later the peach would ripen to be served. Xi Wang- mu would arrange a feast with the single peach for all the immortals to celebrate their day of immortal life. .

As a symbol of femininity and the holder of the immortal peach Xi-Wang Mu was the inspiration behind the invitation. A decorative and exquisite design with the ability to be add as much info as required.

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Tristan

A famous British Knight known for his intelligence and escapades around Britain but especially for his love affair with Isuelt. Their love affair was one which embodied passion and denied everything else in the world, right or wrong.

Whilst in Ireland to meet and greet a King, Tristan is asked to escort the Kings daughter Isuelt back to England so she can marry Tristan’s uncle Mark. On the passage back to England they both accidentally drink a love potion meant for her and Mark. From here in their life consuming love was set to grow but ultimately doomed.

The tales tell a mixed story of who they really were and what actually happened but after being banished from Britain, Tristan is killed for loving Isuelt. In grief of Tristan’s death Isuelt also dies and they are laid to rest together. From their deathbed a vine grows from Tristan’s grave and intertwines with a rose growing from Isuelts grave showing that their love is eternal.

Their unremovable love symbolized by the vine and rose was the inspiration behind this invitation

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St Margaret

St Margaret was known as the most beautiful woman of her time but also somewhat of an unfortunate woman in life. She was known as a pure woman but always remained a force to be reckoned with. Born into a Catholic Orthodox family with a Priest father her religious upbringing was to be strict. Her mother died very early in her life and thus was raised by her Christian nursemaid who naturally converted her. St Margaret’s father was appalled by the conversion and threw her out of the family home.

Living alone she faced many battles and lived by her religion. Besotted with her beauty The King at the time saw St Margaret and had to have her hand in marriage. In disgust St Margaret refused the Kings proposal and through spite he condemned her to death.

The Kings attempt to burn and drown her alive failed several times over as St Margaret would escape death unscathed. Locking her away to provoke insanity worked neither. Lastly the King made a sinister attempt to murder her soul by requesting the help of the devil to transform into a handsome man, win her love and take her virginity.

Being the woman she was St Margaret saw straight through the man and used her crucifix to slay down the devil.

Her most memorable and famous image is slaying a yellow dragon on a purple field, with her symbolic silver swords. She is still celebrated by the catholic and Orthodox church andremains a God of childbirth.

As a symbol of strength, belief, courage and beauty St Margaret was the inspiration for this invitation. With the colour theme of her most memorable image in mind we created a reflection of such beauty through the design.

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Apollo

Apollo was a strong man and a great god of alchemy, the sun, music, art and many more, but very big headed. Always shown with a bow and arrow, his claim to being a great Archer often made him boastful and one day spotted Eros (an alternate version of Cupid) firing Arrows in the Forest. Apollo belittled Eros claiming his arrows were useless and harmless.

Retaliating to the insult Eros had two arrows at the ready, one made of gold to create an immense lust in the person it hits and the other made of lead. The lead arrow would thrust disgust and hatred in the one it strikes. Eros fired the arrows hitting both Apollo and Daphne. The gold arrow struck Apollo, but the lead one struck Daphne.

Apollo’s desire for Daphne was immense, he began to chase her down and pursue his love but Daphne was appalled by him ran as quick and far as possible. In fear that Apollo will eventually catch her she called out to her father for help. Her father, Peneus the water God, used his powers to transform her now miserable life into a beautiful laurel tree.

Apollo saw the transformation but could not help still be smitten with Daphne. He claimed the treeas his own and wore the leaves on his head as a crown. In doing so the laurel tree leaf has become a symbol of Apollo.

The notion of wearing a tree as the symbol of his love was the inspiration behind Apollo. A green and red colour them to reflect the laurel tree and encapsulated passion.

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HERA

Hera was a strong and powerful queen with an athletic ability but known as the Goddess of marriage and birth, a woman equal in emotions of ferocity and love.

She punished enemies with great fury killing whole families in rage yet she was adored and celebrated in Argos as the towns own Goddess.

A woman with pride and immense love for her frivolous husband Zeus, she was portrayed as a hard and grand woman with several symbolic characteristics. Her tales of love, war and revenge are endless.

Hera’s personality was the inspiration of this invitation. A mixture of complexity, beauty and simplicity rolled into one, created a simple but elegant design.

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CUPID

Created by the Romans as a Love God and in some cases referred to as Eros. Often personified as a small child or a man with wings, firing golden arrows at men and women to create deep loving emotion to one another or a lead arrow to create quite the opposite.

He was mischievous man who was cruel to those he disliked but at the same time a friendly and handsome man to those he favored.

Despite his antics Cupid himself fell in love with Psyche. Initially sent to cause her distress and heartache Cupid saw her and fell deeply in love. They began a secret love affair in which cupid insisted his identity remained a secret to her by meeting only in the dark.

One night while sleeping curiosity got the better of Psyche and she lit a lamp while Cupid was asleep to see who he really was. After revealing his identity Psyche dropped the lamp and Cupid was awoken. Distraught at her mistrust Cupid left and the saddened Psyche wondered in vain to find him again.

After many years of searching the King Zeus took pity and reunited them with blessings to be married.

The tradition of cupid’s love tales and secret identity were the inspiration of this revealing card.

The symbolic colour of red for love and passion wasa clear choice.

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Kama

Kama is known to be the first and original story of Cupid, the oldest known Love God gifted with the powers of love and desire in India. Kama was known for more then the gift of love and was regarded as the possible supreme creator of all. Self existent he was born from the cosmic waters to begin time. Created as the most handsome man ever, Kama carried the signature bow and arrow tipped with a flower to strike love and desire into any person it hit.

His gift of love and desire was equally matched by his will for mischief which ultimately sent him to doom. Upon roaming through the forest he would fire his arrows at will but his mistake was to shoot Shiva another great God. Awoken from his meditation Shiva was angered by Kama’s stupidity and destroyed him without hesitation.

Upon doing so the gift and curse became apparent. Kama’s arrow made Shiva fall deeply in love with Parvati, but as Kama died so did the universe. Love and desire disappeared everywhere and the glorious green nature turned into exhumed deserts. Surrounded by doom, gloom and death the Gods ordered Shiva, (a normally prudent God) to reincarnate Kama. Shiva agreed and Kama was reborn as Krishna’s son brining nature and life back with beauty, immense love and desire.

The cosmic waters and sense of creativity related to Kama was the inspiration for this invite. The use of shimmering blue tones, transcluent paper and original design made it symbolic of Kama.

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Lamia

Lamia was a beautiful Libya queen but her love affair with Zeus lead her to a gift and curse. When Zeus wife Hera found out about their love affair, she killed Lamias children.

With the loss of her children Lamia turned into a monster. Crowned as a Vampire queen, thirsty for blood with a snake like legs but female body, she had the ability to transform herself from female to monster whenever she wanted to win a mans love. Stricken with what Hera had done to her, Lamia took revenge on mothers by stealing their children and devouring them.

Lamias dark and devilish character combined with her snake like charms were the inspiration behind this invitation

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Orpheus

Orpheus was known to be the greatest musician and poet in his time. His music could move even the stillest of objects and

hypnotize all.

When his wife Eurydice was killed she was taken by Hades into the deep death lands. Orpheus followed in an attempt to bring her back. His persuasive music convinced the Evil Hades to allow Eurydice to return to the living World but there was one condition.

Orpheus must walk back to the World and Eurydice will follow but if at anytime Orpheus looks back to see if she is following, she will be snatched back to the death lands. Qrpheus agreed and began the journey. As they were reaching the last steps to the living World, Orpheus glanced back for Eurydice. As soon as his eyes saw her, Eurydice was pulled back into the depths to Hades.

Orpheus was traumatized and sank into depression with the loss of his wife for the second time. He turned away everyone and became a recluse. Eventually he died a violent death by strangers but was still singing in mourning for his wife.

Orpheus artistic personality and devotion to his loving wife even after death was the inspiration for this card.

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