Creating a Wedding Guest List

May 1, 2020

Calligraphy envelope addressing is one of my very favorite activities. There is something special about sitting down to a stack of envelopes and carefully writing the names of the most important people in a couple’s life.

Creating a Guest List

Something I hear from couples after their invitation is designed and going to print, is that gathering the guest list is the most difficult part of getting married. I’m with you. How to narrow down who you invite based on venue space, budgets, or travel can be so difficult. I do have a few helpful tricks though.

First, Start Early! You are going to need a quantity count to order invitations, pick a venue, plan table arrangements and florals, ceremony seating and catering numbers. Pretty much everything you plan for a wedding will be based on your guest count numbers. So, my recommendation is to start putting your must have invitees into a list right away when you are excited for the planning process.

Second, Get Organized! A well thought out spreadsheet will make your life easier as you go through the wedding planning process. I have a free template on my website. My preference is to use the advanced tab so that the guest list can be organized by last name… and sorted anyway you please depending on the information needed. Always, have separate columns for the street address, city, state and zip codes. This will allow more flexibility for information processing. Also, your calligrapher will be thankful so they can layout your list as they like.

Next, Pester your friends and family. Gathering addresses from your friends and family can be a challenge. If you start early and get organized you will have enough time to have a completed list by the time you need to send out invitations. When you see them for dinner, double check their address (including zip code!). Text or call those you don’t see as often. A great time to do this is when you are talking about your engagement with them.

Finally, Send Save the Dates. I promise, I’m not trying to get you to spend your whole wedding budget on paper goods! Save the dates serve many functions. First, they communicate your wedding is happening and your guest should should check their calendars. It also communicates they are invited! The mailing also serves as a test run for the wedding invitations which are usually more expensive to mail. Here is where you find out if someone has moved, had a relationship change, the address is wrong. All the things that happen when dealing with a guest list. Then you have time to make corrections before sending out the actual wedding invitations that are a bit more time sensitive.

I do hope this advice helps you make a guest list with a little bit of ease. Next time, I will discuss a bit more regarding the etiquette of sending a formal invitation and how to address your guests.

Change of Plans

March 20, 2020

Change of Plans

Goodness. It has been a week. A month. It’s amazing how quickly we must pivot and readjust when everything is shut down. Change of Plans. I’ve been hunkered down here in Texas for nearly 2 weeks and processing and thinking and crying. I’m heartbroken for my couples that are having to reschedule and postpone their celebrations. I am heartbroken for my industry friends who are now looking at 3 months without and income. They are such good people to even consider returning retainers if the events can’t be re-scheduled on a date they are available.

These are unprecedented times and I wanted to let you know: I am here. I am listening. Call me and talk and share and I will cry with you. I know this is hard times. But we can make it through together. I will listen and be angry and sad and celebrate the little things for you. I’m in your corner and your cheerleader. You got this. This is a change of plans. You can do this. I can help you.

I know this isn’t much. But, communicating the change of plans to your guests is one of the most difficult time consuming tasks of a postponement. I put together a few pretty graphics you are free to use. Want something more custom. Just email or call. I’m here (and not going anywhere for at least 2 weeks!). xoxo

Just right click and save. Want to share – please give me credit.

Dallas Fashion Event

August 19, 2019

Dallas Fashion Event

Fashion in Dallas, Texas is serious business and lunch events for fashion housed should be just as chic. These printed acrylic menus with white leather were just the ticket.

Each was personalized with the guest name in a red italic capital hand. A far was from my normal swirly scripts, it was a fun change of pace.

acrylic and leather menus

acrylic and leather menu

On-Site Calligraphy

I completed all of these menus on-site in a few hours before guests arrived. Dallas fashion events can have a fluid guest list with last minute additions and I like on-site calligraphy because it can ensure each guest is special and valued. This is the fun time when the caterer is buzzing around and the rentals are being carried in and set in place. I usually work alone so this is big change of pace for me. The key to working in a different environment is to be flexible and adjust to your situation.

acrylic and leather menu

Modern, Simple Table

I adore what Gro Designs did on the table design. It’s stunning and has a nice pop of color with the red blooms that span the table. The white linens and plates, along with the clear acrylic chairs, allow the red menus to shine.

acrylic and leather menu

Bridal dress Wedding Hangers

July 12, 2019

It is always fun to work on a project that is not paper like these bridal dress wedding hangers. I love the way we used gold ink on the walnut wood hanger. Also, mine are a bit unique because I use a pointed pen on these to really capture the thick and thin strokes of the script.

These hangers were created for Emily Clarke Events in my Talia hand. Aren’t the flourishes so lovely and delicate for this lucky bridal party?

You can order your custom wedding dress hangers too – contact for a quote!

Dallas Ballroom Wedding

March 20, 2019

Here is the thing about a Dallas ballroom wedding, you can seat hundreds of people comfortably and stylishly. This ballroom wedding was certainly stylish with this super cool bride and groom duo.

The Invitations

I worked with The Details Department and Emily Clarke Events to provide calligraphy for the invitation suite. all photography is by Sarah Kate. This suite featured foil, a custom crest and stunning calligraphy. Again, a little bit of calligraphy and type combo really highlights the important items. Black and white wasn’t drab with a little accent of pink in this stationery. I really like how the floral envelope liner was black and white and the envelope was blush. Also, how they used a black and white photo for their save the date design.

This show-stopper features my Flourished hand foiled on a black card. The lux design is a chic introduction to the celebration.

The Day Of – Dallas Ballroom Wedding

Day of calligraphy was a proud moment for me. The groom is a baseball player and the escort card display featured a home plate design. These little cards were made of white acrylic and have my flourished hand in black ink. I had to write very tiny and carefully to make this work, but I am so pleased with the outcome!

When the guests entered the ballroom at Union Station they were greeted by supreme hospitality. Each seat had its own cheese tray by Wolfgang Puck catering. And each tray had the guest name calligraphed in white ink with lots of flourishing. One thing I love about a classic Dallas ballroom wedding is how magical everything feels when entering a room.

Each name was a mini piece of art and no one had to share their cheese and crackers. How yummy does that look?! You can only imagine how quickly that little appetizer cheese tray was eaten as soon as guests sit down. I can almost never resist a cheese tray. Much less a personalize one!