Header image by the fabulous Marion Botella Photography for By Moon & Tide Calligraphy
So. Lockdown. Here we go… and I’d like to send out a massive hug to all of you. I know this is hard. I know it’s not just about weddings – it’s about loneliness, and fear, and financial crises, and missing people so much it hurts. I know.
I’m staying home. I will do whatever I can to keep our grandparents, parents, neighbours and healthcare workers alive this winter. I only wish we had a government that was more in touch with the rest of us, that would understand the support we all need, and find a means to provide it.
I’m missing writing calligraphy so much! Here are some of my favourite wedding calligraphy ideas for all of you 2021 couples out there. If you haven’t seen this side of me, as well as writing English Wedding I love to pick up my dippy ink pots and nibs and write handcrafted wedding stationery. I’ve been incredibly lucky over the last few years to work alongside some incredible creatives: photographers, stylists and of course my super talented illustrator friend, lovely Amy Swann.
I still love styled shoots – they’re fabulous for first glimpses of inspiration and ideas which will gradually make their way into real couples’ weddings on blogs and in magazines. I publish plenty: I send my calligraphy out to a select few. But when Krysta (For the Love of Weddings) asks for stationery or calligraphy I know the shoot will be insanely beautiful, and I jump at the chance to take part!
Approach any wedding creative with an idea for dramatic and beautiful styling, and they’ll be your best friend forever. There’s something especially exciting about working with darker colour palettes, dramatic contrasts and an alternative wedding look which we all love. I was thrilled to be asked to create stationery for this breathtaking styled bridal shoot with Jo Bradbury Photography last year. It’s one of my favourite collaborations of all time and I’m so excited to be sharing it with you today! Jo has an artfulness to her photography which I absolutely adore. We’ve featured her beautiful weddings on the blog before – she works across the north west, photographing dreamy celebrations in a romantic editorial style.
Regular readers will know stationery is close to my heart! As a calligrapher I’ve worked with some of the very best from Cutture to Print for Love – and one of the loveliest things about writing the English Wedding Blog is discovering new stationery designers and online wedding invitation boutiques.
I’m also a huge supporter of independent and local businesses, so I’m delighted to bring you my top picks of wedding stationery designers to watch (and buy from!) in 2018. In no particular order….