A well-placed swirl. Letters that swoop, curve and curl in all the right places. Words that make you stop and stare, rather than skim. Gone are the days of traditional—and a bit rigid—calligraphy. Today's detail-oriented brides look to hand-lettering experts to craft custom wedding day paperie that can set the style of the entire event.
Lauren Perry of Lauren Perry Studio designs and hand-letters invitation suites, save the dates, and day-of details for local brides and tops them off with calligraphy, watercolor design, and details like silk ribbon and custom liners. She describes her style as a fun, modern take on a traditional Southern look.
Invitation suite by Lauren Perry Studio
Photo by Alisandra Photography
Photo by Sarah Street Photography
"I am inspired by each unique client and their love story, as well as the poise and class that heirloom wedding stationery evokes," says Perry. "Your invitation invites your closest family and friends to one of the most special days of you and your soon-to-be husband's lives. I love to incorporate little details that celebrate my couples' unique personality and top them off with pretty little things like wax stamps, silk ribbon, watercolor monograms and envelope liners."
Invitation suite by Letterlyn
Photo by Kirstyn Marie Photography
Place cards by Letterlyn
Photo by Daniel Kim Photography
For the bride looking to establish a more ethereal and earthy feel through scripted wedding elements, Evelyn Cunningham of Letterlyn draws inspiration from nature and its wonder. She offers custom invitations with calligraphy and hand-drawn elements, place cards, signage and anything with the written word, including hand-bound ceremony or guest books.
"I find that most, but not all, of my couples have outdoor weddings with lots of inspiration from nature," says Cunningham. "We weave their love stories into that inspiration and create something unique and beautiful."
Too learn more about hand-lettering by Lauren Perry Studio or Letterlyn, visit LaurenPerryStudio.com or Letterlyn.com.
Melissa M. Stewart
Melissa M. Stewart was the former editor of Savor Virginia and Coastal Virginia Magazine. After she got her first story published in the second-grade school newsletter, she has since been an avid writer and word nerd for 20 years. She has served as production editor for AmeriForce Media and marketing communications manager for Volvo Penta. When she is not working, Melissa spends her time in Virginia Beach keeping up with her two spunky daughters, planning beach days, creating craft cocktails with garden ingredients and running to make up for all the wonderful food she discovers around Virginia.
