Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas

We’re big fans of cocktail hour here on Oh So Beautiful Paper. At a wedding celebration, the cocktail hour kicks off the post-ceremony reception, but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money to make a big statement. Just a few details, like personalized napkins or coasters, are a fun way to incorporate your personal style, stories, and tastes. Here are a few fun cocktail hour ideas for your wedding! – Annie

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

How gorgeous is this garland around the bar? | Photography: Tec Petaja, Design, Coordination, Paper, and Florals: Bash, Please via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Love this wooden drinks menu with hand drawn illustrations and lettering. | Photography: Flora + Fauna, Signage: Paper Tangent, Event Coordinator: Flutter Fete via 100 Layer Cake

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Custom coasters add a personal touch. | Photography: Max Wanger, Hand lettering for Coasters: Bernadette Pascua, Event Planning: Bash, Please via 100 Layer Cake

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

These napkins are a modern take on monograms. | Photography: Our Labor of Love, Event Planning: Bash, Please via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Mirrors with calligraphy bring glamour to the bar. | Photography: Tory Williams Photography via The Knot

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Calligraphy bar accessories – like these napkins, drink stirrers, and bar sign – create a cohesive and elegant look. | Photography: Rebecca Yale Photography, Cocktail Napkins and Drink Stirrers: Laura Hooper Calligraphy, via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

These paper maché letters are easy to personalize. | Photography: Kelly Stonelake Photography, Paper Goods: Hen & Co., Planning, Coordination, and Design: Going Lovely via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Use a framed chalkboard to display your signature drinks options. | Photography: Our Love Is Loud, Bar Sign Calligraphy: Whimsy Design Studio, Event Design and Planning: Cammye with We Tie The Knots via Green Wedding Shoes

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

For the tropical or botanical-inspired wedding, these calligraphy leaf drink markers are a must. | Photography: Something Minted, Calligraphy: Pink by Peach, Wedding Planner and Creative Director: The Wedding Project Photography via 100 Layer Cake

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Custom drink stirrers carry on the theme of your wedding in a subtle way. | Photography: Milou + Olin Photography, Event Planning, Flowers, and Stationery: Bash, Please via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Ice breaker! Guests will love reading these fun facts as they mingle. | Photography: Flora + Fauna, Signage: Paper Tangent, Event Coordinator: Flutter Fete via 100 Layer Cake

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Cocktail Hour Ideas / Oh So Beautiful Paper

You can’t miss this graphic, graffiti-inspired drink menu. | Photography: Jes Workman, Paper Goods: Boldhouse, Event Design: Art & Soul Events via Green Wedding Shoes

p.s. More cocktail hour and reception signage inspiration right here!

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations

Baby showers are just the best. They’re both a chance for parents-to-be to celebrate with family and friends and stock up on a few new baby essentials (OMGbabiesneedsomuchstuff). And seriously, there really are so many things that new parents need – including moms and dads becoming parents through adoption. I’m beyond thrilled and honored that the talented Kristy Rice of Momental Designs is sharing her whimsical floral adoption baby shower invitations with us today! The invitations feature Kristy’s signature vibrant hand painted florals, rose gold foil printing, and fabric envelope liners, these festive baby shower invitations – perfect for celebrating Kristy’s newest addition!

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

From Kristy: These invitations were very special for me as I created them for my own baby shower for my recent adoption. The invitations are loosely based on the paintings of artist, Frida Khalo, and a blooming cactus watercolor painting that I did. They are very whimsical, featuring a variety of different fun elements to help the overall aesthetic come to life!

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

The highlights of the design for me were the rose gold foil printing, fabric elements, and the individually hand painted components of the invitations. All pieces are hand painted using various techniques like gold spatter, bold aqua watercolor washes, and fuchsia free hand outlines on the menus.

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

The envelopes were lined with fabric for an added touch! To complement everything inside the envelopes, we featured calligraphy envelope addressing with colorful artwork on front and oversized vintage stamp composition.

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

Each guest wore paper flower crown, even the babies! Made from handmade, painted papers and greens, each crown had its own personality. Each seating card featured a personal free hand watercolor sketch that I made for guests based on their favorite flowers, favorite pet, favorite collectibles, favorite food, or a nickname. Seating cards were hung on a dip dyed fabric backdrop featuring a calligraphy laser cut wood sign and greenery.

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

The menus were die cut on shimmering gold stock with a nearly-neon pink painted edge. The edge painting was done a bit differently than usual as it was painted on the face of the menu along with the edge. Each menu was unique depending on how much pressure was applied to the brush during painting.

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

The vibrant floral aesthetic continued throughout the party with floral watercolor pattern placemats featuring dahlias, mulberries, vines and ranunculus. I had a blast putting together all the elements for this special day and making my vision come to life.

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

Whimsical Floral Adoption Baby Shower Invitations by Momental Designs

Thanks Kristy!

Design: Momental Designs

Envelope Calligraphy: Designsgirl

Wooden Calligraphy Sign: Laura Hooper Calligraphy

Event Planning: Patchwork Planning

Momental Designs is a member of the Designer Rolodex – you can see more of their beautiful work right here or visit the real invi­ta­tions gallery for more wedding invitation ideas!

Photo Credits: Danielle Coons Photography

Modern Calligraphy Summit – Enrollment is Open!

Aaaaah! With all the hubub around the National Stationery Show, I almost forgot to tell you that enrollment for the Modern Calligraphy Summit is now back open! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can read the original post right here. The Modern Calligraphy Summit is an amazing 18-day online calligraphy course from some of the most talented working calligraphers today: Anne Robin Calligraphy,Wildfield Paper Co., Ashley Buzzy Lettering & Press, Feast Fine Art & Calligraphy, Design House of Moira, Laura Hooper Calligraphy, Fozzy Castro-Dayrit, Calligrafikas, and Nicole Miyuki.

Modern Calligraphy Summit / Wildfield Paper Co.

Wildfield Paper Co.

The original Modern Calligraphy Summit took place in late February, but you can still have access to all the wonderful lessons and materials from the summit! Modern Calligraphy Summit courses include Beginning Calligraphy, Brush Lettering, Envelope Layouts, Flourishing, Floral Embellishments and so much more. For those of you who enroll now, you’ll receive access to all the original videos from the Summit, including nine total video lessons released one-by-one every other day – just like the live event – PDF workbooks, and special cheat sheets from the instructors with their favorite tools and materials. Plus, there’s more than 6 hours of brand new video content with instructors answering questions from the original Summit and a SUPER helpful private Facebook group. You can enroll right here!

Modern Calligraphy Summit / Ashley Buzzy Lettering & Press

Ashley Buzzy Lettering & Press

Oh, and did I mention that once you enroll in the Modern Calligraphy Summit, you’ll have LIFETIME ACCESS?? Enroll, watch the webinars and videos, then go back as many times as you need to practice and get the hang of things!

Modern Calligraphy Summit / The Fozzy Book

The Fozzy Book

Sign up for the Modern Calligraphy Summit right here – and HAVE FUN learning the beautiful art of calligraphy!

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring

Sometimes pastels get a bad rap for being tired or old fashioned, but these aren’t your grandmother’s pastels! Keep reading for ideas on how to incorporate pretty pastels into your wedding day in a fresh, contemporary way. – Annie

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Top your cake with a pair of pink flamingos via Studio DIY

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Welcome your guests with a painted sign adorned with flowers and greenery. | Photography: Delbarr Moradi Photography via Refinery 29

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

White plates pop against a pastel table cloth. | Photography: Nancy Ray Photography via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

These pink and blue ribbons used as escort cards deserve a prize (pun intended) for being so pretty! | Photography: Harrison Studio via Style Me Pretty, Calligraphy: Laura Hooper Calligraphy via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Paint balloons for a watercolor effect. | Photography: Jeff Mindell via Balloon Time

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Layer pastel paper flowers for a whimsical backdrop. | Photography: Roberta Facchini, Paper Floral Wall: Paper Flower Weddings via Strictly Weddings

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Or make these standing flowers for an equally beautiful backdrop! | Photography: Lauren Peele Photography, Paper Flowers: Blome’s Paperie via Green Wedding Shoes

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Use watercolors to make place mats that double as seating cards. | Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Send off the happy couple with pastel confetti or flower petals. | Photography: Hudson Nichols via Style Me Pretty

Wedding Stationery Inspiration: Pastels for Spring / Oh So Beautiful Paper

Decorate the reception with colorful ribbons and streamers. | Photography: Shipra Panosian via Shipra Panosian

Modern Calligraphy Summit – Studio Sneak Peek!

Okay, raise your hand if you’re all signed up for the Modern Calligraphy Summit! I first shared the news about this fantastic online conference back in August (and again just before Thanksgiving), including all of the amazing participating instructors and lesson topics! If you haven’t yet had the chance to sign up for the Summit, I have good news! Registration re-opens this week, and it will be the last chance to enroll before the Summit takes place later this month.

Modern Calligraphy Summit Studio Sneak Peek Video Tours

As a special treat this week, the Modern Calligraphy Summit is offering the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the creative studios where professional calligraphers work their magic! Three of the talented instructors will take you inside their offices for three gorgeous studio sneak peek video tours. You’ll see what it’s like to work from home as a professional calligrapher with studio sneak peeks from Feast Fine Art & Calligraphy, Anne Robin Calligraphy, and Laura Hooper Calligraphy. Sign up here to see the free video series!

Modern Calligraphy Summit Studio Sneak Peek Video Tours

And of course, the full Modern Calligraphy Summit will officially kick off later this month, with video lessons in modern calligraphy and brush lettering from nine amazing artists! From beginning calligraphy to flourishing, from envelope addressing to floral embellishments, it’s an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s best professionals, all from the comfort of your home.

Modern Calligraphy Summit Studio Sneak Peek Video Tours

Registration reopens this week – February 8-12 – and is the last chance to enroll before the Summit takes place online February 22 – March 5. You can sign up right here!