OSBP at Home: Urban Backyard Inspiration

It’s Spring – yay! The magnolia trees and daffodils are finally blooming, which is definitely the beginning of my favorite season of the year. The last time I shared a peek at our backyard, I showed you a few of the improvements we’ve made over the years, like adding a pergola and removing a scary weird staircase that goes up to the storage space above our garage. Well, now I’m ready to address some of the other parts of our little urban backyard – so I thought I’d share some of my inspiration before we get underway!

Urban Backyard Inspiration

Image sources – all from my Pinterest garden board: Horizontal Fence | Deuce Cities Henhouse // Fire pit patio | 100 Layer Cake //  Rose Arbor //  Jasmine wire trellis | Andrew Renn Design via Houzz // Natural Wood Arch // Pink barn door | Castle & Cubby // Graphic Garden | The Guardian

Our backyard is more like a back patio – long and narrow and mostly covered with pavers. On the right side, we have a small planting area with a crepe myrtle, some lilacs, peonies, and a rotation of annuals that I refresh each year. On the left (southern) side, we have a fence that we share with our neighbor that needs to be replaced. The posts are still in good shape, it’s just the pre-fab sections in between that are rotting and falling apart. So we’re hoping to keep the existing posts and DIY a new fence by replace the rotting section with horizontal boards. We have some jasmine, climbing roses, and autumn clematis vines growing on that side, so we’re hoping to space some of the planks out a bit to allow for space for the vines to grow, similar to this fence from Deuce Cities Henhouse

Since we don’t have a lot of planting space along the southern fence, I’d also love to build narrow planters running along the bottom of the fence where we could grow herbs and veggies. Andrew likes to have lots of mint for cocktails, but mint is super aggressive and invasive if grown in a garden, so I like to keep that in a separate bed. I’d also love to have more room for strawberries, watermelons, cucumbers, Right now we grow a few of these things in containers, but it feels a bit cluttered. 

We also have a brick garage, so I’d love to do some sort of trellis system along the wall (wire? wood?) for the vines, with an arbor to connect the fence to the garage for the climbing roses to grow over. And maybe a barn door to be able to close the garage when we have company over? Right now it’s just kind of a gaping hole and feels kind of weird. Wouldn’t a pink barn door be SO cute?? The brick is white, and I love the idea of a pop of pink against the white brick.

So that’s pretty much what I’m thinking about these days! Are you planning any outdoor home improvement projects this year? Or have any fence tips to share with us? I’m all ears! You can also follow along on my Pinterest garden board right here!

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 Place Cards by Script Merchant / Photo Credit: Kayla Barker Photography

Calligraphy by Script Merchant / Photo Credit: Kayla Barker

1. The Invitations and envelopes

First things first – 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 – like these hand lettered Sumi ink invitations – 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

Minimalist wedding invitation design by Jenny Sanders

Semi-Custom Wedding Invitation Design by Anne Robin Calligraphy

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 – 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!

Copper Calligraphy Seating Chart / Photo Credit: Blush Wedding Photography

Photo Credit: Blush Wedding Photography via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy Wedding Seating Chart by Neither Snow / Photo Credit: A Bryan Photo

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 – 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 by Wildfield Paper Co.

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

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

We’re obviously pretty big fans of all things calligraphy, hand lettering, and typography here at Oh So Beautiful Paper. And weddings offer endless opportunities to incorporate a bit of text into your wedding décor, from welcome signs to ceremony backdrops to dinner menus. Here is some calligraphy, hand lettering, and typography wedding inspiration that you can incorporate into your big day! – Annie

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

A wooden sign with sans serif type and script makes the perfect backdrop. | Photography: Harmony in Happenstance, Event Design: Bashology, Hand-Cut Wood Letterings: Bashology via Green Wedding Shoes

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

Hand lettering adds a whimsical touch to escort cards. | Photography: Mi Belle Photography, Event Planning: Bash, Please via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

Watercolor and calligraphy is a killer combination. | Photography: Henry + Mac, Event Planning: 42* North, Calligraphy: Jenny Sanders via Style Me Pretty

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

These graphic gold napkins prove it’s all in the details. | Photography: Gina Paulson Photography, Event Coordinator & Stylists: ae creative via Wedding Chicks

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

Favors are an easy way to add a personal touch. | Photography: Bradley James Photography via Weddingbells

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

Love the hand lettering on this simple and elegant menu. | Photography: Samantha Davis, Event Planning & Coordination: Marry Me In France via Wedding Chicks

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

How fun are these personalized paper flags?! | Photography: Jesse Chamberlin of Our Labor of Love, Event Planning: Bash Please via 100 Layer Cake

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

You really can’t go wrong with a gorgeous laser cut wooden sign. | Photography: Christine Sarah Photography, Event Design & Planning: The Bloom & Co., Handmade Sign: Feather and Birch via Green Wedding Shoes

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

This graphic black and white menu is anything but boring. | Photography: Mackensey Alexander Photography, Event Planning: Ivory & Beau via Junebug Weddings

Calligraphy, Hand Lettering, and Typography Wedding Inspiration

A dose of calligraphy at each place setting is also the perfect memento. | Photography: Jessica Kettle Photography, Event Design & Planning: Amorology, Paper Goods: Peanut Press Creative via Green Wedding Shoes

p.s. Fun acrylic sign ideas for weddings and photo booth backdrop ideas!