07/05/2018

Nine Ways to Incorporate Calligraphy Into Your Wedding

If I have a weakness for anything, it’s calligraphy. As far as I’m concerned, calligraphy is magic and elevates everything it touches to a work of art. Today I’m sharing nine ways to incorporate calligraphy into your wedding, for those of you in wedding planning mode who are as calligraphy-obsessed as I am!

Calligraphy by Script Merchant / Photo Credit: Kayla Barker

1. The Invitations and envelopes

First things first â€“ the wedding invitations! When most of us think about wedding calligraphy, we think of envelopes with beautifully calligraphed addresses. And I’m definitely all in favor of going all out for the envelopes, but you can also use calligraphy for your entire wedding invitation! Depending on your budget and guest list size, you could ask a calligrapher to hand write each invitation entirely in calligraphy or brush lettering â€“ like these hand lettered Sumi ink invitations â€“ or commission something called spot calligraphy, where a calligrapher writes out a few words (usually your names and maybe the venue or location) and digitally scans the lettering to incorporate into the final invitation design. There are calligraphy styles to suit every type of wedding: classic and elegant, modern, bohemian, whimsical, and plenty of examples of spot calligraphy in our wedding invitation archive!

Minimalist wedding invitation design by Jenny Sanders

Semi-custom invitation design by Anne Robin Calligraphy

Photo and Calligraphy by Lauren Saylor of A Fabulous Fete

2. Wedding Welcome Signs

Large signs are the perfect way to welcome guests to your wedding! Wedding welcome signs can be made out of anything from large pieces of plexiglass to reclaimed wood to an oversized tropical leaf. Looking for even more wedding sign inspiration? You’re in luck! I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to this topic right here!

Photo Credit: Barrie Anne Photography via Glamour and Grace

3. Ceremony Backdrop

I love the idea of using a favorite quote or a meaningful phrase written in gorgeous calligraphy to serve as a wedding ceremony backdrop! Text can be painted onto fabric (white cotton curtains or even a bed sheet would do the trick!), written onto a roll of art paper, or even printed using a service like Spoonflower!

Calligraphy by Neither Snow / Photo Credit: Erich McVey

4. Seating Charts & Escort Cards

Seating charts and escort cards serve the extremely helpful purpose of letting your guests know where to sit at the reception â€“ but they can also be beautiful! The difference between a seating chart and escort cards is that a seating chart is usually organized by table number, with the names of each guest at that table below, while escort cards are individual cards alphabetized by guest name that help escort guests to their table. Either way, your guests’ names will look absolutely amazing in calligraphy!

Photo Credit: Blush Wedding Photography via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy by Neither Snow / Photo Credit: A Bryan Photo

Calligraphy and watercolor by Holly Hollon, Styling by Ginny Au, Photography by Erich McVey via Once Wed

5. Place Cards

A seating chart or escort card will get your guest to the appropriate table, but if you’re planning on assigned seating at your wedding, you’ll also need place cards. I love these simple color-dipped place cards with deckled edges â€“ or beautiful calligraphy tags pinned to gold spray painted faux fruit for a fall wedding. Plenty more place card ideas right here!

Color-dipped place cards with deckled edges by Wildfield Paper Co. / Photo Credit: Callie Hobbes Photography via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy by Ashley Buzzy / Photo Credit: Rustic White Photography

6. Drink and Dinner Menus

Planning to offer a signature cocktail? Share the options with your guests with a beautiful calligraphy bar sign! And individual dinner menus can even double as place cards by writing the name of each guest at the top!

Calligraphy by Meant to Be Calligraphy / Photo Credit: Rebekah J. Murray via Wedding Chicks

Calligraphy by Chelsea Petaja / Photo Credit: Tec Petaja via Once Wed

7. Table Runners

This one is a bit outside the box, but wouldn’t a calligraphed table runner be the perfect addition to the head table for a romantic wedding? Similarly to a wedding ceremony backdrop, ask your calligrapher to write your wedding vows or a favorite poem onto a roll of butcher paper or art paper, making sure that the text appears only on each side of the table so that it isn’t covered by your centerpieces!

Calligraphy by Rachel Jacobson / Photo Credit: Milton Photography via 100 Layer Cake

8. Chair Signs

I love the idea of creating special signs for the bride and groom’s chairs at the wedding reception. Calligraphed signs (or fabric banners) could be the answer! They also look amazing with a little posy of flowers to accent the sign.

Calligraphy by Li Ward / Photo Credit: Dylan Howell and Sarah Byrne

9. Favor Bags

Last, but not least, send your guests home with a sweet little favor bag! Ask your calligrapher to make you a rubber stamp with your names or initials in calligraphy, then stamp it on cotton muslin bags and fill with your favorite treat!

Photo Credit: Jose Villa via Style Me Pretty

05/29/2018

Outdoor Wedding Stationery Inspiration

‘Tis the season! Memorial Day is often considered the unofficial start of summer, and with wedding season officially underway, we thought it would be a good idea to round up some outdoor wedding stationery inspiration. So for those of you planning an outdoor affair this summer, check out a few ideas for day-of wedding stationery ideas for a carefree outdoor summer wedding! â€“Annie

Forget trying to balance a plate during cocktail hour and opt for paper cones instead. | Photography: The Ganeys, Event Planning & Styling: Ever After Vintage Weddings via Ruffled

Framed table numbers look so elegant. | Photography: Lisa Hoshi, Event Design & Planning: Houlfa Rekik, Stationery: Callyane via Boho Weddings

How cute are these seed packet escort cards? | Photography: Ashley Crenshaw of Gypsy Jane Photography via Exquisite Weddings

Paper lanterns are an easy way to instantly brighten up a space. | Photography: Steve Cowell Photo via Ruffled

Those summer nights can get chilly! | Photography: Lovers of Love Photography, Event Coordinator: Michelle Garibay Events, Calligraphy: Outside The Bloom via Wedding Wire

Windy day? No big deal. Wooden place cards won’t blow away! | Photography: Kristen Booth, Producer & Art Direction: Green Wedding Shoes, Event Design: LB Event Planning, Calligraphy: Calligraphy Nerd via Green Wedding Shoes

Take a paper table cloth from boring to playful with hand lettering and illustrations. Plus, easy clean up! | Photography: Kathryn McCrary, Coordination: Candice Beaty, Paper Goods & Hand Lettering: Jenn Gietzen Of Write On! Design

Draw inspiration from your surroundings, like this wooden escort card display. | Photography: Lindsay Hackney Photography via Junebug Weddings

Terracotta place cards are perfect for a garden wedding. | Photography: Jessica Kettle, Event Design & Planning: Amorology Wedding, Calligraphy: Betlem Calligraphy via Green Wedding Shoes

Rather than worrying about individual menus, create a bright and graphic wooden sign that no one will miss. | Photography: Melissa Ryan, Hand Lettering: Wylie West Creative via Wylie West Creative

Are you planning an outdoor wedding? Let us know in the comments â€“ and be sure to share your wedding theme or style inspiration!

05/09/2018

Paper Flower Ideas

Spring is my favorite season. I practically live for Spring during the dark months of Winter, especially here on the East Coast where the winter months can be bitterly cold. I love seeing new green plants emerge from the ground, buds begin to open on the cherry blossom trees and lilac bushes, and it all just keeps getting better through peony season in May and rose season in the Summer. Paper flowers offer a much-needed dose of color and floral inspiration to get me through to Spring â€“ and they make gorgeous decorations for weddings and parties! Here are some of my absolute favorite paper flower ideas!

Paper flower wedding bouquet by The Lovely Ave

DIY paper flower bouquet by The House That Lars Built / Photo Credit: Jane Merritt

Carry a Beautiful Bouquet
As much as I love real flowers, crepe paper flowers are seriously stunning in their own right. And you don’t have to limit yourself to in-season flowers or worry about the cost of expensive out-of-season blooms!

Pastel paper flower backdrop / Photo Credit: Roberta Facchini via Wedding Chicks

Paper Flower Backdrop
Clusters of large paper flowers make an amazing statement wall for parties of all kinds and look incredible as a ceremony backdrop for weddings! Group them together as closely as possible for a beautiful and abundant layered look, or arrange them above cake and refreshments for added visual interest.

Paper flower birthday party decorations / Photo Credit: Lark Photography via The Makerista

Paper Flower Escort Cards (that double as favors!) / Photo Credit: Appetite Paper for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Paper Flower Escort Cards
I’m a big fan of wedding details that serve double duty. These crepe paper poppies in small glass bottles are beautiful escort cards â€“ and can also go home with guests at the end of the evening as wedding favors! You could even group several together on a table for a whimsical centerpiece.

Giant paper flower bridesmaid bouquet / Photo Credit: Ashley Goodwin via Ruffled

Giant Paper Flower Bouquet
Why stick to a traditional floral bouquet? Giant paper flowers make an excellent statement bouquet for bridesmaids and brides alike!

Crepe paper flower crown by Castle in the Air via HonestlyWTF

Paper Flower Crown
This crepe paper flower crown would be so lovely for bridesmaids or flower girls in a whimsical or bohemian wedding! And I love the addition of tropical flowers like hibiscus.

Magnolia paper flower place settings / Photo Credit: Appetite Paper for Oh So Beautiful Paper

Paper Flower Place Cards
This is such a wonderful idea for holiday dinners or smaller, more intimate weddings. Create (or purchase) your favorite flower from crepe paper, then add a place card in the shape of a leaf!

Crepe paper flowers with watercolor calligraphy escort cards / Crepe paper flowers by Land of Flowers, Watercolor Calligraphy by Perch Paper Company / Photo Credit: Meghan Elliott Photography via Southern Weddings

DIY tea-dyed paper flower garland from The House That Lars Built / Photo Credit: Anna Killian

Paper Flower Chair Decoration
Looking for a special way to decorate chairs at a wedding or a bridal shower? Paper flowers to the rescue! Make a large single bloom and hang it on the back of a chair â€“ or drape a paper flower garland between two chairs.

Paper Flower Garland by May Contain Glitter

Large paper flower chair decorations, Photo Credit: Roberta Facchini via Wedding Chicks (left) // Paper flower ceremony arch, Photo Credit: Rylee Hitchner via Green Wedding Shoes (right)

Create a Ceremony Arch
I love the idea of using paper flowers to create a ceremony arch. Make several sizes of paper flowers in your wedding color palette, then adhere to your ceremony arch using chicken wire and floral wire.

Fairytale illustrated giant flower ceremony aisle decoration / Photo Credit: Caramel Studio

Line the Aisle
Isn’t this something straight out of a fairytale? These giant paper flowers are illustrated rather than made from crepe paper or tissue paper, then mounted on stalks made from chicken wire and covered with green crepe paper!

Tissue paper flower nursery decoration / Photo Credit: Tracey Ayton via Glitter Guide

Decorate a Nursery
Last but definitely not least â€“ can you imagine growing up in a room with giant paper flowers on the wall?! I honestly can’t imagine anything more beautiful or inspiring for a little girl’s room. And I love the added touch of Spanish Moss in the center of the flowers.

04/19/2018

Soft Neutral Vineyard Wedding Invitations

Soft neutral hues never go out of style. Michelle of Honey Paper designed these soft neutral vineyard wedding invitations inspired by the gorgeous venue nestled in the California mountains. Add in some vinyeard-inspired botanical illustrations, gold wax seals, and curated vintage postage and you’ve got the recipe for one seriously elegant and refined wedding invitation!

From Michelle: Between the San Rafael and Santa Ynez Mountains the summers are warm and rainless, dense with thickets of shrub and stippled in gray pine, wild cotton and a long list of oaks. The narrow, steep ranges are considered young at five million years old. Alluvial soils of the valley bear the plants of myth: bay laurel, rosemary, grape and olive. The Santa Ynez Valley is vintner’s and an artistâ€™s dream. Gravelly soil bakes white in the sun while the slender olive leaves shake and bristle like birds in flight. The villa at Sunstone Vineyards and Winery was built under a seafaring sky in the heart of this beautiful place.

When the Rice family founded Sunstone Vineyard and Winery it became one of the first organic vineyard estates in the region. Everything about their venture has remained true to the story of the land, from practicing sustainable viticulture to incorporating hillside caves among dense blankets of wild grasses and evergreen. Antique wooden beams, once privy to the smells and sounds of a Victorian lavender factory, were brought from England and integrated into the architecture. The villa is a testament to the materials and practices of the old world integrated seamlessly to meet modern standards. Thick walls of local stone were finished with imported French limestone and elegant terra cotta roof tiles. The villa is an architectural gem that simultaneously preserves the past and shapes the future.

We wanted the stationery to capture the essence of the light at Sunstone. We paired a pale clay-colored ink with soft white paper. Each piece of the suite and day-of details, including menu and escort cards incorporate the silhouette of slender olive leaves and branches. The subtle design is reminiscent of a sun print – light waves patiently breaking down the fragile color bonds leaving only traces of color. The envelope and invitation enclosure are a nod to sandstone – a rock whose only memory is of the sea. Each invitation was wrapped in a buttery white ribbon and completed with a golden wax initial seal.

Fine linens and freshly cut greenery were arranged on long tables with wooden benches and tawny pillows under the shade of the high walls. The wedding cake arrived: three tiered, quartz on sky on the softened teal of mountain bluebird. All of the details came together in this inspiring land of rocky outcroppings, sandstone, shale and limestone. A place where the sun leaves a trace of its brightness behind.

Thanks Michelle!

Design and Calligraphy: Honey Paper

Check out the Designer Rolodex for more talÂented wedÂding inviÂtaÂtion designÂers and the real inviÂtaÂtions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Ashley and Erik Fine Art Photography

04/18/2018

Citrus Wedding Inspiration

Today we’re celebrating one of our favorite wedding themes with some citrus wedding inspiration! Citrus is the perfect wedding theme any time of year. Plan a citrus-inspired indoor affair during cold weather months when citrus is in season down in the South, or incorporate citrus into your menu for a refreshing treat during the warm summer months. The ideas below will get you ready for sunshine, longer days, and lemonade (or in this case, limoncello!). â€“Annie

Lemons make for the perfect place card! Just use a paint pen for crisp white lettering… | Photography: Brett Hickman Photographers, Event Planning and Design: A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production, Paper Goods and Calligraphy: A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production via Green Wedding Shoes

…or write on pieces of handmade paper pinned to clementines! I like how they incorporate shades of pink. | Photography: Katelyn James Photography, Calligraphy: The Weekend Type via Grey Likes Weddings

Citrus table numbers! | Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography, Event Planning: NK Productions Wedding Planning, Table Numbers: Paper Goat via Style Me Pretty

These chalkboard signs offer a sunny greeting. | Photography: Brett Hickman Photographers, Event Planning and Design: A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production, Paper Goods and Calligraphy: A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production via Green Wedding Shoes

Add a burst of color with a citrus-inspired watercolor menu. | Photography: Paula G. FuriÃ³, Event Design: Macarena Gea via Ruffled

Send each guest home with a little bottle of limoncello! | Photography: Janet Kwan Photography, Event Planning and Design: Blissful Memories & Events, Stationery Design: Nadiya V Design, Calligraphy: Love Lettering via WedLuxe

How cute are these leaf escort cards pinned to oranges? | Photography: Hunter Ryan Photo, Event Planning: Fabulously Chic Events, Stationery: The Paper Merchant via Every Last Detail

Escort cards and favors: check. | Photography: Steve Steinhardt Photography via Brides

Planning a welcome bag for your guests? Fill it with citrus goodies. I’ve got my eye on that fig orange spread. | Photography: Shewanders Photography, Event Design: Coastyle Events, Stationery: Paperless Post, Calligraphy: The Bloomery Co. via Martha Stewart Weddings

Such a creative way to display your place cards and menus. | Photography: Westrich Photography, Event Planning and Design: Carrie Darling Events, Stationery and Calligraphy: Cheree Berry Paper via Martha Stewart Weddings

These clothespins are so cute. | Photography: Shewanders Photography, Event Design: Coastyle Events, Stationery: Paperless Post, Calligraphy: The Bloomery Co. via Martha Stewart Weddings

Are you planning to incorporate citrus in your wedding? We’d love to hear the details!