Room 1520 Mirror Calligraphy: Wedding for Lauren & Michael

Michael and Lauren were married this past winter at the gorgeous Room1520 in Chicago, IL. I loved being able to write out their bar menu, complete with monogram and specialty drinks including the “Olive Love You” Dirty Martini and the “Barrera-ita” Margarita—a play off the new couples last name.

The monogram and type was carried over to the couples reception seating chart where I matched the calligraphy and font from the seating chart print outs to fill in the mirror space below.

Congrats Lauren and Michael!

Photos by Courtney Cimo

Jennifer and Nate - NYE Wedding Chalkboard

How fun is this wedding chalkboard on New Year’s Eve? It is always fun to help a client’s idea come to life. For Jen and Nathan they wanted more of the party feel to continue onto the chalkboard. We added fireworks, florals and fun sparkles to match the NYE vibes.

Congratulations to Jennifer and Nathan!

Featured on: Lakeshore In Love

This gorgeous styled shoot is the perfect inspiration for any Spring or Summer wedding. The earthy tones and sweet pops of pink and green are perfect for any locations. Find the full gallery and feature here!

Planning + Styling:K & K Celebrates, @kandkcelebrates

Photography:Ashlyn Henry, @ashlynhenry_

Floral:Fleur, @fleurinc

Cotton Candy Cart:Bubbly Events , @bubblyeventschicago

Stationery: Lina Luna Paperie @linalunapaperie

Bridal Gowns: Jenny Yoo, @jennyyoonyc

Bridesmaids Dresses:Jenny Yoo, @jennyyoonyc

Models:Madison (Bride) @madisonannx , Ashley (Bridesmaid) @ashmow , Cacha (Bridesmaid) no instagram Hair + Make Up: Goldplaited, @goldplaited_

Jewelry:La Kaiser Jewelry @lakaiserjewelry

Cake + Sweets:Toni Patisserie, @tonipatisseriecafe

Rentals: Halls, @hallsrental Venue:Eden , @edeninchicago

Linens: BBJ, @bbjlinen and La Tavola, @latavolalinen

Wise Wedding: All about Envelopes

Envelopes are one of my FAVORITE paper goods! They can add so much to the experience of receiving your invite, not to mention build anticipation for your guest to open the envelope to see what’s inside. There are endless combinations and styles to choose from, but let me talk you through a few of the common ones.

Calligraphy

I rarely miss an opportunity to talk about having a calligraphed envelope for your wedding. When else do you have such an open opportunity to make an envelope look extra special?

Calligraphy is a beautiful and timeless option for your envelopes, but not the most inexpensive. Since there are a variety of calligraphy options, you can truly match the feel of your wedding to the style of calligraphy you would like to have on your envelope.

Since calligraphy is hand-done, it will take longer to have ready to send immediately. I’ll let you on a little trick: Take your Save the Date spreadsheet of addresses, add any additional guests and pass it on to your calligrapher as soon as possible. Once you have picked out your envelopes, order them and send them to your calligrapher. They can have them done right when your invites are getting printed or even earlier. This will keep your wedding timeline going smoothly and allow your calligrapher enough time to get them done with our adding rush fees—win, win!

To find my calligraphy styles and prices check here!

Printed Envelopes

Calligraphy may not fit your wedding vibe or even may not fit your budget. A beautiful and cost-effective option is having your address printed on the envelopes. You can also try printing the proper address and write the name in calligraphy to add a modern but elegant touch. These two combinations can create a more cost effective but equally stunning outcome that you’re looking for. This option is also a time saver if you are getting married in a shorter time period than typical or time is running low on when to get your invites out.

All the Details

Adding extra detail to your envelopes can be a fun way to make them more personal and infuse your style. Here are a few ideas on what to add:

• Envelope liners: Once used to block the inside contents of an envelope, these additional pieces are a beautiful way to add color, texture, and elegance to your envelope and invite suites.

• Wax Seals: These are fun additions to close ( or seal) your envelope with, but can be costly in the long run both in expense and the time the envelope will make it to your guest.

• Decoration: This, in my opinion, is always a great option! From handpainted details like the envelope below to small printed flowers on the envelope flap, make your envelope your own! The options are endless.

As your stationer, I would love to walk you through the additions you can add to your envelopes without making costly mistakes such as wrong address formatting or other mailing faux pas.

Stamps

Stamps are the most important detail of your envelope! With out them they will not get very far to your guests. There are a variety of stamps from USPS that are perfect for any suite. If you are looking for vintage stamps, remember to make sure the total adds up to modern day postage price. I also suggest finding a beautiful theme ( such as botanicles or travel) or color combination ( like the pink and gold below) to make them pop off your envelope.

A few last items to considerations with envelopes are:

• Shape: Anything outside a rectangle will cost more in postage.

• Address: Whatever way you choose to address your envelope, make sure it is readable, in the correct area on the envelope, and you include a return address.

• Thickness matters! Make sure you are aware of what you are putting in the envelope and that the envelope is the right material to hold it all.

• Color: Don’t forget color is an option for your envelopes.

Have questions or concerns about envelopes? I would love to help you, just let me know your questions below!

Styled Shoot: K and K Celebrates, Frosty Blues

This past winter I had the pleasure of working with K and K Celebrates, a talented sister team based out of Chicago for two styled shoots. These two dreamy concepts were so fun to work with and create concepts for! The first one was this elegant, frosty blue color-scheme with hints of silver, white, and a pop of red florals.

The incredible team includes:

Planning: K and K Celebrates
Photography: 606 Photo
Grazing Boxes: Sage and Jam |
Floral: FleurInc
Venue: DL Loft, Chicago

These beautiful grazing boxes by Sage and Jam serve as both a great cocktail hour solution, but a fun way to make sure all guests receive and locate their seats with their escort cards.

To add a special touch to the bar, I illustrated this mulled wine drink. How delicious does the real thing look? Yum!

Easy Fall DIY Place Cards

No matter where you live, add these leaf place cards to your Fall gathering as the perfect finishing touch to your table! Follow these easy steps to add these beauties to your next gathering:

STEP 01: Prepare and Gather Your Leaves

First, decide if you will collect leaves from your yard or purchase the leaves from your local craft store. When choosing leaves, consider not only the color that will go best with your decor but also the size that will fit your guest with the longest name.

If you are using real leaves:
- I suggest collecting your leaves 2-3 days* ahead of your event. Collect a few more than you think you will need in case of additional guests, items, or a mistake is made.
- Grab a paper towel and a few heavy books. Slip the leaves in-between the paper towels. Place them flat, either in between the pages or between two books then add additional weight on top.
- Allow them to flatten out under the weight for 1-2 days.
* You can collect and write on the leaves day-of, but to ensure a flat, dry writing surface follow instructions above.

If you are using fake/purchased leaves:
- Lightly clean your leaves to make sure no extra bumps or dust are on the surface.
-If your purchased leaves are not truly flat, using a clothing iron, slip the leaf between a pillowcase or fabric. On a low heat flatten out leaf until desired. Be careful not to melt your leaf.

STEP 02: Prepare Your Spacing

If you are not familiar with writing in calligraphy or hand lettering grab an extra leaf, and use it as your practice piece. Using a pencil first to lightly write your names out will also help you space everything out. 

If you are needing more practice with your letters, download a lettering guide here from Sip and Script or take a class with me to learn more about calligraphy!

If you feel more confident, using a pencil gently mark a small vertical line for the start of your name and one for the end of your name, leaving a finger-tip amount of space on each end. This will give you a more uniform look for your place cards.

STEP 03: Write Your Names

Now that you are confident with your letter spacing and pen, grab your favorite sharpie - traditional or oil-based - and start writing those names! Remember to go slow, and when in doubt sketch it out! Again, always collect a few more leaves than the number of guests attending in case of a misspelling or ink smudge.

STEP 04: Decorate Your Table

Hooray! Now add your name cards to your table. Add unused leaves for additional decor on the table or as labels during your gatherings for items such as punch, dessert, or sauces!