As I sat down to write about Hannah and Connor’s wedding, I realized I have known them for nearly 20 years. Having gone to the same middle and high school, the three of us graduated together in 2012. Fourteen years later, we are now celebrating even more of life’s greatest milestones side by side.

Hannah and Connor’s story began long before their wedding day. Although they had known each other since elementary school, it wasn’t until sophomore year of high school that they started talking. After two years of friendship, and Connor “chasing her,” as he puts it, they finally went on their first date, a trip to the movies to see Paranormal Activity. To this day, they still make it a point to go to the movies together at least once a month.

When I asked how they knew they’d found “the one”, Hannah explained that it was an accumulation of all the little things, seeing Connor’s kindness, thoughtfulness, and sense of humor. (I have to agree, Connor is one of the kindest people I’ve ever known). For Connor, it was clear early on, being together felt natural, exciting, and full of possibility.

When Hannah first showed me their venue, The Atrium, I immediately fell in love. The open-air space, filled with lush greenery, feels like an oasis tucked within the city. Hannah’s aesthetic of “90s meets a cozy dive bar,” paired effortlessly with the venue’s natural character. The palette of green, white, and orange, accented with warm wood tones, created a space that felt both relaxed and deeply personal.

Hannah and Connor are two of the most fun, creative people I know, and their carefree personalities were reflected in every detail of the day. From the beginning, Hannah had a clear vision for their stationery: expressive typography would take center stage, supported by hand-drawn illustrations that added personality and cohesion throughout.

We began with their save the dates, inspired by a meaningful detail from their wedding weekend. Hannah’s father planned to bring his boat down to Wilmington for the welcome party along the Cape Fear River, so we incorporated it into the design with a custom illustration of the couple aboard the boat, complete with a flag reading “save the date.” It was playful, personal, and perfectly set the tone for what was to come.

The postcard format felt especially fitting for a destination wedding and carried through beautifully into the celebration itself. One of the most talked-about details from their cocktail hour were the escort cards. Hannah and Connor used postcards with handwritten notes to each guest, thanking them for being part of the day. It was such an intentional way to make every guest feel welcomed and appreciated from the moment they arrived.

The formal invitation suite is where their shared love of food and drink truly came to life. From their rehearsal dinner to the welcome party and wedding reception, creating a thoughtful and enjoyable guest experience was a top priority. I reflected this in the design through hand-drawn illustrations, and color choices, resulting in a suite that felt vibrant, inviting, and uniquely theirs.

The full suite included an invitation, a tri-fold details card, and a rehearsal dinner invitation, all tucked into a pocket envelope and finished with a custom liner.

The details card quickly became my favorite piece. With so much information to share, I proposed a tri-fold format that allowed the weekend events to unfold naturally. Guests first encountered the welcome party details, followed by the wedding day itself, creating a guided, intuitive experience.

Production of this suite was entirely hands-on. I duplexed mid green paper stock to create a double-thick invitation, sturdy enough to hold a deep letterpress impression. Each details card was carefully folded and pressed to ensure it lay perfectly flat. I custom-mixed an orange ink for the rehearsal dinner invitations to match the pocket envelopes and illustrated liners. Every element was thoughtfully crafted, resulting in a suite that felt cohesive, tactile, and deeply reflective of Hannah and Connor’s vision.

Hannah and Connor spent years traveling back and forth while Connor attended West Chester University and Hannah studied at UNC Wilmington. Over time, Wilmington became a place filled with shared memories, favorite spots, and dreams for the future. When it came time to plan their wedding, there was no question—they wanted to bring their loved ones to the city that holds such a meaningful place in their story.

Their wedding day was designed with guest experience at the forefront. They wanted everyone to feel comfortable, relaxed, and free to celebrate in their own way. The reception struck the perfect balance between high-energy and laid-back, with a packed dance floor and cozy corners for guests who wanted to unwind. Complete with a TV playing old movies on VHS and a photo booth inside a green VW bus, the reception was incredibly unique.

For their wedding day, I created a collection of signage and details, including an acrylic bar sign, table numbers, menus, and additional pieces throughout the space. The bar sign was particularly special as it was the first acrylic piece I made after adding a laser cutting machine to my studio. I’m so glad they trusted me to make it happen, thanks for being my guinea pigs!

Photos by Joanna Creates

One of my favorite unexpected elements was their card box, an old iMac, finished with a custom acrylic plaque. It really brought me back to our days in middle school together.

The menus doubled as place cards, featuring each guest’s name alongside custom illustrations. This has quickly become one of my favorite ways to bring personality into a tablescape while creating a thoughtful moment for each guest.

When asked about their favorite moments of the day, Hannah recalled jumping into the photo booth with friends and family, while Connor shared how meaningful it was to see everyone together, smiling and celebrating, and to have a quiet moment alone together just after the ceremony to take it all in.

There were plenty of unforgettable moments, from heartfelt words shared during the ceremony to playful surprises, like guests appearing on the dance floor with cutouts of Connor’s head. But what I have to say was my favorite surprise, was Hannah’s parents pulling out her old Twilight pillow during their speeches.

Photos by Joanna Creates

At its core, Hannah and Connor’s wedding was a celebration of joy, connection, and the life they’ve built together over the years. Every detail reflected not only their shared history, but the care they put into creating an experience their guests would truly enjoy.

And as someone who has known them for so long, it was incredibly special to play a small part in bringing it all to life.

It’s always an honor to create something meaningful for my clients, but working with Hannah and Connor was especially close to my heart. From their save the dates to the final day-of details, every piece was thoughtfully designed to reflect their story and create an experience their guests would remember. If you’re dreaming of wedding stationery that feels just as personal, intentional, and true to you, I would love to hear your vision and bring it to life together.

Hannah & Connor’s Vendors

Venue: The Atrium

Photographer: Joanna

Day of Coordinator: Devon, Detailed Event Visions

Florist: Serendipity Floral Design

Caterer: Spoonfed Kitchen

DJ: Absolute Best DJ Services

Photobooth: Little Green Booth

Hair and Makeup: Citrine Beauty

Rentals: Party Suppliers & Rentals and Martha My Dear

Hannah & Connor | Wilmington, NC

Happy Anniversary Caroline & Erkin