While planning my wedding, I fell into a common trap: I knew exactly what I wanted my invitations and stationery to look like, but I lacked the skills to take the vision in my head and turn it into a tangible product. As a trained librarian, English teacher, and lifelong reader, my life revolves around the written word, and it only seemed fitting for my wedding to absorb this love of literature into its core design. I looked everywhere for the right stationery, but the big name sites had nothing, and Etsy was full of kitchy designs that lacked the elegance I was looking for.

 

I spent several months playing Goldilocks, and it wasn’t until my best friend recommended Tani that I found the designer whose vision fit ‘just right.’ She took my vague idea of Harvard Classics and book templates, and turned it into an invitation unlike any other. Her flawless design brought the story of my wedding to life, and my guests loved literally turning through the pages to get a closer glimpse into our own fairy tale. The RSVP cards were modeled off vintage catalog cards, and a retired librarian even commented on the authenticity of the design! To top it off, each one was lovingly hand-addressed in Tani’s beautiful calligraphy, and sealed in wax to give it that final, finishing touch. All my guests raved about her work, and were awe-struck by her excellent penmanship.

 

Though I initially thought I would only need the invitations, as every bride knows your initial plans fly out the window in the end. Fortunately, Tani is nothing if not flexible and punctual, and was able to work around my crazy schedule to create programs and personalized labels to attach to my wedding favors. At first, I wanted to avoid programs altogether, since it seems like that one piece of paper that goes straight into the trash at the end of the reception, or its found flying throughout the countryside, a forgotten, expensive piece of litter.