Happy Anniversary Caroline & Erkin
Photo by Josiah and Steph Photography
It’s been a full year since Caroline and Erkin said “I do,” and as I look back, one of the most fun parts of the design process was creating their day-of stationery and signage. From the moment guests arrived to the final evening toast, each piece told a bit of their story and tied back to the invitation suite.
You may remember from their invitation suite, we wove in their favorite colors, roses, and blended digital and letterpress techniques to create a design that reflected their personalities and the vision for their wedding day. If you missed it, you can read all about their invitations here.
In honor of Caroline and Erkin’s first anniversary, I’m highlighting how that vision came alive on their wedding day itself.
When designing for a wedding day, I begin by envisioning myself as a guest at the wedding. I walk through the venue in my mind and ask myself what information I need and what would be the most efficient and beautiful way to receive that information. The most common things that a wedding guest needs to know are where to go when they arrive and where they are seated for the reception. Beyond that, there are a few more details that are helpful for guests, such as the ceremony outline and who is in the wedding party, what is being served for dinner, and the selection of drinks at the bar. As I’ve designed for more weddings each year, I am constantly delighted by the uniqueness of each couple’s wedding and the many ways we can incorporate stunning design in these important details.
Photo by Josiah and Steph Photography
When guests first arrived to Caroline and Erkin’s wedding, they entered a lovely foyer where Caroline had arranged for a wall of roses, the perfect spot to place their welcome sign. The sign featured the same typography as their invitations, on a lovely gold-framed mirror. Placed just by the rose wall, the visual story of their wedding was underway from the moment guests entered.
Welcome signs are a relatively new piece in weddings, becoming popular in the last decade or so. What I love about them is how it feels like a smile from the couple as guests walk in the door. Since they will be waiting a bit to actually get to interreact with you, its a great way to convey a greeting and make guests feel, well, welcomed!
Photos by Josiah and Steph Photography & Spellbound Press
Next, we have the ceremony programs, an excellent way to inform guests about the order of the ceremony and who is in the wedding party. For Caroline and Erkin, we also used the programs as an opportunity to give a peek into their relationship.
With all the important info on the front, I used the back to show a map of all the states they have been to together, the dates that are important to them, and a cute photo of their cat, Tiger. Next I added a QR code that led guests to a site to upload and share photos with the couple. Caroline and Erkin wrote a message of thanks to their guests, and we ended with their favorite quotes. I love that their guests got a peek into their lives while waiting for the ceremony to begin.
One thing about wedding ceremonies that is sometimes overlooked is reserved seating. Not with Caroline! She had a list of VIPs that she knew needed to be seated up front for the best view. To make sure the most important people had a seat, I created reserved seat tags, with each person’s name. Using the same green paper as their invitations, I layered each tag and added ribbon to attach them to the chairs. It is a small touch, but adds to the feeling of the occasion and is yet another way to give a little nod to the most important people in your lives.
Photos by Josiah and Steph Photography & Spellbound Press
Many couples are opting for beautiful installations to display their seating chart, rather than the traditional table of escort cards. I love this trend, as it is the perfect way to infuse more style while being functional. As the stationery designer, this gives me the chance to have some fun with names cards that will be displayed directly on the table.
For Caroline and Erkin, I combined their name cards and menus. Each menu was letterpressed in green and included their custom wedding crest. I then layered printed vellum on top, using the same floral elements from their wedding invitations. Each name was printed on a green tag, and everything was attached with a gold eyelet. The menu design was a lovely call back to their save-the-dates, which featured vellum as well.
Photo by Josiah and Steph Photography
When was the last time you attended a wedding that didn’t have a bar menu? I love bar menus for two reasons; (1) its a perfect spot to add a pop of your personality where nearly every guest is going to see it, and (2) it keeps the line for the bar moving!
Having known Caroline for some time, it was no surprise to me that one of the signature drinks at her wedding would be a sangria. It was a no-brainer to include Tiger on their signage and guests were cracking up at the thought of Tiger paying for the bar tab.
Photo by Josiah and Steph Photography
Caroline and Erkin’s wedding is a perfect example of why day-of stationery matters, and why working with one designer helps bring everything together in the most pleasing way.
When the signage and stationery of your wedding echo your invitation design, your wedding feels cohesive, intentional, and polished. Thoughtful signage makes guests feel welcomed and guides them through the day seamlessly, elevating their experience. Every design I create is carefully crafted to help tell your story. Each typographic choice, motif, layer, and color communicates something meaningful.
Caroline & Erkin, congratulations on your first anniversary. Working with you was truly a joy from start to finish. Thank you for trusting me with your vision and giving me the freedom to design every piece with care.