A menu may be one of the smaller pieces on a reception table, and maybe even one of the lesser decisions you make when it comes to your wedding day. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t important or contribute to the overall guest experience, because it absolutely does. The right menu can introduce texture, color, calligraphy, artwork, and personality to the place setting. It can also be the item that seamlessly ties the overall tablescape or even an entire wedding design together. When it’s thoughtfully and intentionally designed, it becomes so much more than a piece of paper listing the evening’s dinner selections. Over the years, we’ve created custom wedding menus in just about every style imaginable. Some are formal and traditional, featuring elegant calligraphy and sophisticated letterpress techniques. Others are playful and unexpected, incorporating custom artwork, unique shapes, fabric, tassels, or textures.
The main thing is that every menu is completely custom and designed specifically for the wedding it belongs to. The menu wasn’t an afterthought, friends. It’s part of the overall wedding design.
Your Menu Should Feel Like Your Wedding
When we design a menu, we aren’t starting with a blank piece of paper and simply adding a guest’s dinner choices. We’re looking at the bigger picture. We take into consideration what the invitation suite looks like, the colors of the wedding, a common material used that we can incorporate, or maybe even a motif, illustration, venue detail, or personal element that we can carry into the paper goods. This freedom and customization is what makes designing menus and wedding details so much fun.
Classic, Formal & Timeless
For a formal wedding, refined calligraphy, beautiful paper, and sophisticated printing techniques can create an incredibly elevated place setting. Details like spot calligraphy or letterpress printing add craftsmanship while keeping the overall design timeless. Elegant bows, a hand written name, carefully selected paper stock, or a thoughtful fold or edge, creates menus that stand out while carrying out a particular wedding day vision.
One of my favorite things about designing wedding menus is finding ways to introduce texture. That might mean a wavy or scalloped die-cut edge instead of a traditional clean-cut rectangle. It could be vellum layered over another piece of paper, fabric incorporated into the design, or a unique printing method that gives the finished piece dimension. We’ve also created menus embellished with tassels and other unexpected details that make guests want to pick them up and look a little closer.
Custom Artwork That Tells Your Story
Custom artwork is another way we love to make menus personal. A menu can incorporate an illustration of your venue, a meaningful landscape, a floral motif, a city skyline, or another element that has significance to you or your wedding. Oftentimes, a custom illustration or piece of artwork becomes a visual that appears throughout your wedding day on invitations, menus, signage, seating chart, or even bar details, creating that feeling that every piece belongs together.
This is ultimately what we mean when we talk about intentional wedding design. We don’t want your invitation to feel like one design, your welcome sign to feel like another, and your menus to feel like something you grabbed at the last minute. Instead, we look at the wedding as a whole. Your paper goods and day-of wedding details should be cohesive.
Maybe it’s the same calligraphy style carried from your invitation to your place cards, or a custom illustration that appears again on your menus. It could be a particular shade of blue, a unique die-cut shape, or a beautiful paper texture that shows up in several places throughout the celebration. These repeated details show your wedding was created with intention, and also completely elevates the guest experience.
Our Favorite Custom Wedding Menus
Looking back at the menus we’ve created over the years, I love how different they are from one another. They all shine in their own ways and have features that I absolutely love. These are just a few of my favorites from over the years, and each one tells a story that paired beautifully with all the other details of the day.
At White Ink Calligraphy + Co, we love creating weddings where every element tells a story and is connected to a bigger vision. When invitations, signage, menus, and other wedding details all work together, they become part of the experience your guests will remember long after the wedding day. The wedding menu is part of the overall experience, and regardless of what your wedding day vision is, we’ll create a menu that feels like an intentional part of the design.
If you’re planning a wedding in Nashville, or anywhere in the world, we’d love to help you create meaningful, personalized stationery and event details that tell your story. We work with couples worldwide to design details you and your guests will remember forever.
Reach out today to learn more about our full-service wedding and event design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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Kate and Alex’s spring garden wedding at The Sewanee Inn felt effortless and cohesive as we worked hard to ensure all the details worked together to create a flawless experience and visual for guests. Soft spring hues, romantic florals, and breathtaking views all came together to create a celebration that felt fresh and romantic. As we were working on the details of this wedding, we discovered that the bride works at the same hospital as Townley’s husband. We are always amazed at what a small world it is!
The couple exchanged vows at Kate’s family cabin in Sewanee, TN. The rolling Tennessee hills created the most incredible backdrop for their ceremony before heading to The Sewanee Inn for the reception. Paired with peach and blush florals, the entire day felt like a romantic spring garden brought to life.
Spring Invitation Suite and Custom Envelope Liner
Kate and Alex’s invitation suite immediately introduced guests to the beauty that awaited them. Their letterpress invitation was paired with paper pieces in soft shades of sage green, dusty blue, and blush pink. This fresh spring palette was used in other details of the day.
One of our favorite elements was the custom envelope liner featuring an illustration of the beautiful Tennessee landscape where the couple would exchange vows. This beautiful artwork became the visual thread that connected to many other wedding details.
One of our favorite ways to create a cohesive guest experience is by carrying elements from the invitation suite into the wedding day details. For Kate and Alex, we incorporated the illustrated landscape from the envelope liner into both the welcome sign and the bar menu, using a muted version of the artwork behind the lettering. These subtle details created continuity that guests notice and appreciate.
We also designed the phone-free ceremony sign in the same soft green color found in the invitation suite. Classic white ceremony programs welcomed guests as they found their seats at the hilltop ceremony, which was absolutely breathtaking.
With stunning views and lush floral installations by Rosemary & Finch, the setting hardly needed any embellishment. The romantic arrangements of peach, blush, and soft pink blooms elevated the ceremony while allowing the natural beauty to remain the star of the show.
A Floral Bouquet Seating Chart
Inside the reception at The Sewanee Inn, guests discovered a beautiful floral bouquet seating chart. A white tablecloth with a light green foliage print anchored the design as fresh spring blooms in shades of peach and blush covered the table. Nestled among the flowers were the white seating assignment cards with light green lettering.
Enchanting Garden Tablescape
After finding their seats, guests sat down to round, light green menus with their name written in calligraphy directly on the menu. The circular shape of the menu allowed it to sit perfectly on the woven style plate. Coordinating table numbers in gold holders sat at each table as more stunning spring flowers lined the center. It created the feeling of dining in an elegant spring garden and had such a soft, romantic vibe.
For cocktail hour, we designed custom napkins featuring an adorable sketch of the couple’s dog alongside the words, “I do, too,” and their wedding date. It was such a playful way to include their beloved pup in the celebration.
We also created custom matchboxes personalized with the couple’s names and wedding date. This timeless favor allowed guests to take home a keepsake from the weekend.
Kate and Alex’s wedding perfectly illustrates how thoughtful design creates a memorable experience for all.
At White Ink Calligraphy + Co, we love creating weddings where every element tells a story and is connected to a bigger vision. When invitations, signage, and other custom details all work together, they become part of the experience your guests will remember long after the wedding day.
If you’re planning a wedding in Nashville, or anywhere in the world, we’d love to help you create meaningful, personalized stationery and event details that tell your story. We work with couples worldwide to design details you and your guests will remember forever.
Reach out today to learn more about our full-service wedding and event design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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This classic black and white wedding at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville perfectly blended sleek and modern design with personal touches, and a few unexpected details that made the celebration uniquely their own. We had the honor of designing everything from the invitation suite to several wedding day details, creating a cohesive experience for guests.
Classic Letter Pressed Wedding Invitations with Custom Envelope Liner
The invitation suite set the tone for the day with beautiful letterpress printing paired with elegant calligraphy. It created a refined first impression that perfectly reflected the couple’s classic style.
One of our favorite details was the custom envelope liner, which featured an illustration inspired by the cathedral where the couple exchanged vows. It was such a meaningful nod to the ceremony location and added an extra layer of personalization to the suite.
The direction for the invitation suite came largely from the mother of the bride, whose love for timeless design inspired the classic feel of the paper pieces. The bride’s black and white wedding day vision came to life through the details and overall experience, creating a beautiful blend of tradition and modern style.
Elevated Reception Details in Black and White
The reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame embraced a sleek black and white color palette that felt both timeless and sophisticated.
Each place setting featured a black menu with a playful wavy die-cut shape. A white place card was tied to the top with black ribbon, while the entire piece rested atop white plates accented with black details. The contrast between the black paper and white plates created an effortlessly elegant tablescape.
Black table numbers with crisp white lettering continued the color palette throughout the reception space.
A Music City Seating Chart
Since this was a Nashville wedding at the Country Music Hall of Fame, we couldn’t resist incorporating a nod to Music City itself. The seating chart installation featured a dramatic black display wall adorned with a custom illustration of the Nashville skyline across the bottom. Gold vinyl records displayed guests’ names and table assignments.
At the top, a glowing neon sign reading “For the Record” completed the installation. The neon sign gave guests an unforgettable first impression as they entered the reception.
The combination of music-inspired elements and modern design made this one of our favorite seating chart displays, and a perfect fit for a wedding hosted at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Cohesive Signage Throughout the Celebration
The welcome sign featured a black backdrop and a clear acrylic panel featuring a custom wavy edge. This subtle detail echoed the shape of the menus, creating continuity throughout the wedding design.
Sleek black and white bar signs, also with wavy-cut edge seamlessly tied the reception decor together. Every detail was intentionally designed to feel cohesive.
“Let’s Make It Permanent”
One of the most fun, unexpected, and entertaining elements of the evening was the couple’s on-site tattoo station. To complement this unique guest experience, we created a custom neon sign that read, “Let’s Make It Permanent.” We also designed a luxurious green velvet folio displaying the tattoo options available throughout the evening.
An additional item we had a hand in creating was a set of silver wine goblets for the bride and groom, which were a gift from the mother of the bride, that we engraved in an old-world style script.
From letterpress invitations and music-inspired seating charts to custom neon signs, every element of this Country Music Hall of Fame wedding reflected the couple’s personalities while maintaining an elegant black and white aesthetic.
At White Ink Calligraphy + Co, we believe wedding details should tell a story, and this Nashville celebration did just that. Congratulations Mary and Clayton!
If you’re planning a wedding in Nashville, or anywhere in the world, we’d love to help you create meaningful, personalized stationery and event details that tell your story. We work with couples worldwide to design details you and your guests will remember forever.
Reach out today to learn more about our full-service wedding and event design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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When it comes to designing for industry events, there’s an added layer of intention. Every detail matters, every texture is noticed, and every moment is an opportunity to inspire. At its heart, the evening was about inspiring creativity and making space for vendors to connect, collaborate, and celebrate one another. Needless to say, it was a true honor to plan and design elevated event details for the 2nd Annual Wipa Nashville Gala at 1 Hotel Nashville.
This luxury hotel was the perfect location to hold this epic event. The design brought bold color into the organic environment the hotel is known for, creating an atmosphere that felt both vibrant and welcoming. The theme, Lush Hues and Lavish Views, set the tone for a vibrant, layered, and immersive design experience. At White Ink Calligraphy + Co, we had the honor of bringing that vision to life through the details we created.
Invitations with a City View
The invitation suite introduced guests to the evening before they ever stepped foot inside the space. This is always our goal when creating custom paper invitations for weddings. In fact one of my favorite parts of my job is hearing our clients tell us all the amazing feedback they got from their guests after receiving an unexpected invitation that WOWS. We wanted our industry friends to experience that same dopamine hit wedding guests get when receiving beautiful invitations in the mail.
Let me just say: Goal accomplished! This is why paper is so important. This is why the invitation sets the tone for the event day. Sometimes, you just have to experience it, to get it.
For this event invite, a rich purple backdrop with a delicate white sketch of the Nashville skyline added a refined, architectural element. The event title, Lush Hues and Lavish Views, was written in shimmering silver calligraphy, catching the light in a way that felt both celebratory and elevated. It was the perfect balance of color and fine detail, a preview of what was to come.
The custom cityscape of the Nashville skyline that was central to the event design was included on the invitation, the seating chart installation, and the die cut pocket on the menus. As always, all the artwork was done by hand – not shortcuts here. It was such an honor to bring this theme to life and carry it throughout this event celebrating fellow Nashville wedding professionals.
Menus with a Personalized Touch
At each place setting, guests found menus that doubled as place cards, featuring their names handwritten in calligraphy at the top and tucked into a custom die-cut pocket featuring a sketch of the cityscape of Nashville. These kinds of details invite guests to slow down, look closer, and truly experience the design. These purple menus looked amazing at each place setting.
The tablescapes were a work of art. With stunning floral arrangements, intentional linens, purple glassware, and the royal purple table numbers we created in a fun material, it was a sight to behold.
Fig Shaped Escort Cards and Interactive Seating Chart
One of the most playful and visually striking installations of the evening was the escort card display. Each guest experienced the seating chart installation, walking up the steps to find their escort card amongst the trees. Each escort card was die cut in the shape of a fig, with the guest name and table number in calligraphy. The organic movement of the cards, paired with their unexpected shape, created a moment that felt immersive and artful. The trees framed a large arch display of the Nashville Skyline, which mimicked the design of the bar signage we also created.
Statement Bar Signage
The bar signage featured semi-circle acrylic designs in custom colors that tied seamlessly into the event palette. Each piece incorporated a stylized Nashville cityscape, reinforcing the visual story throughout the space. The curved shapes softened the overall look while still feeling modern and bold, a perfect complement to the venue’s aesthetic.
While guests grabbed a drink at the bar, they could also grab one of the cocktail napkins or matchbooks we designed. For the cocktail napkins, we had two designs. One in a bright green hue that featured the event theme, Lush Hues and Lavish Views, on it, adding a vibrant pop of color. The second napkin design was a soft lavender color that showcased a delicate line sketch of the Nashville skyline, tying back to the invitation suite.
Next to the napkins in a bowl, were the light purple matchbooks that carried the event branding, offering guests a stylish and functional keepsake from the evening. Each element worked together to create a layered, cohesive design story that felt intentional from start to finish.
Custom Onsite Engraving Experience
To make the evening even more memorable, we brought in a live engraving station, which is one of our favorite ways to elevate a guest experience.
Attendees received compact mirrors engraved on-site, creating a personalized keepsake they could take home. Watching the engraving process unfold added an interactive element to the event, while the finished pieces felt thoughtful, elevated, and truly one-of-a-kind.
Immersive Design Experience
The WIPA Nashville Gala at 1 Hotel was a celebration of creativity, community, and elevated design. The Lush Hues & Lavish Views brought in creative design elements that were thoughtfully woven through the day creating an immersive experience for all in attendance. Seeing the joy on everyone’s face as they witnessed the various day-of event details was a highlight. It was truly an honor to be a part of such an amazing event for such a wonderful group of professionals. The wedding industry in the Southeast is filled with incredibly talented people, and I’m so grateful to be part of a community that continues to inspire me every day.
If you’re planning a wedding or event in Nashville, or anywhere in the world, we’d love to help you create meaningful, personalized stationery and event details that tell your story.
Reach out today to learn more about our full-service wedding and event design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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Some weddings feel special from the very beginning, and this Cherokee Dock, Italian-Inspired Wedding was absolutely one of them. The bride is a fellow event industry professional, and we originally met her while she was working at a venue. From that first interaction, we completely fell in love with her. When she reached out about designing the details for her own wedding, it felt like such an honor to be part of the team bringing her vision to life.
Her inspiration for the wedding details was Italian-esque with a timeless, elegant edge. The design leaned into classic textures and thoughtful details with meaningful touches.
Invitations Inspired by Cherokee Dock
The invitation suite introduced guests to the aesthetic of the day before they ever arrived at the venue. The main invitation was printed on crisp white paper with soft green calligraphy, creating a look that felt both fresh and classic.
Inside the envelope, guests discovered a custom envelope liner featuring artwork of Cherokee Dock, the stunning Tennessee wedding venue where the celebration would take place.
Ceremony Details
Another special element we created for the ceremony was a flowing fabric memorial sign. Fabric signage has such a soft, romantic presence, and this piece offered a meaningful way to honor loved ones who could not be there.
Custom Olive Oil Seating Chart
One of the most memorable elements of the wedding design was the seating chart. Rather than a traditional display, the couple chose something far more personal and interactive.
Guests found their table assignments attached to small jars of olive oil, which doubled as their wedding favors. Even more meaningful, the olive oil had been made by a member of the couple’s family.
These kinds of seating charts are some of our favorites to design because they serve multiple purposes by guiding guests, telling a story, and leaving everyone with a thoughtful gift from the day.
A Hand-Lettered Bar Menu on a Vase
Out of all the details we created, my personal favorite was the hand-lettered bar menu written directly onto a vase.
It was such a unique and artistic way to present the drink offerings, and it fit perfectly with the Italian-inspired aesthetic. Details like this are what make weddings feel truly custom and unforgettable.
Timeless Hand-Deckled Menus
At the reception tables, guests found hand-deckled menus, a classic detail that instantly elevated the tablescape. The soft, textured edges of the paper added a sense of artistry and timeless elegance that paired beautifully with the rest of the design elements throughout the space.
TimelessItalian-Inspired Wedding Details
Designing the details for this Cherokee Dock wedding was such a joy, especially knowing the bride herself understood what thoughtful event design can bring to a celebration. Being trusted by a fellow wedding industry professional to design such meaningful elements made this entire experience even more special! We were so honored to be a part of it!
If you’re planning a wedding in Nashville, or anywhere in the world, we’d love to help you create meaningful, personalized stationery and event details that tell your story. We work with couples worldwide to design details you and your guests will remember forever.
Reach out today to learn more about our full-service wedding and event design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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Madison and Joseph’s elegant Eustis Estate wedding blended timeless elegance and playful personality perfectly. We created their wedding paper goods and the day of details to reflect their story and vision. They wanted items that felt both refined and deeply personal. We had a hand in designing many items for both the rehearsal dinner and their wedding day, which is always a treat!
One of the things that made this wedding especially memorable for us was collaborating with Emerald Events for the first time. Working with Devyn, the lead planner, was such a joy. The entire planning process was so fun and collaborative. It’s always a treat when vendors come together seamlessly to bring a vision to life.
A Letterpress Invitation Suite with a Playful Twist
The invitation suite set the tone for Madison and Joseph’s wedding day from the very beginning. The main invitation was letterpressed, giving it that timeless texture and elevated feel that couples love.
But the suite also included a detail that made it uniquely theirs: a sweet portrait of their cat. Yes, this was the first time we’ve ever put a cat on a wedding invitation, and we absolutely loved it. The couple trusted us to have fun with the design. The invitation suite took on jewel tones and even with the playful twist felt refined and elegant. It was the perfect introduction to a wedding that balanced classic style with meaningful touches.
Rehearsal Dinner Details
Before the wedding day festivities began, we had the opportunity to design details for the rehearsal dinner as well. These pieces helped carry the couple’s aesthetic into the entire wedding weekend.
We created the welcome sign, cocktail signage, and custom menus, each designed to complement the evening’s atmosphere. The menus were a favorite, as they opened like a small book, with each guest’s name featured on the front along with a tassel. This interactive element was fun and memorable and highlighted the attention to detail that was woven throughout their wedding weekend.
Thoughtful Ceremony Details
For the ceremony, we created a memorial fabric sign, a soft and meaningful detail that honored loved ones in a beautiful way.
Guests were also greeted by an oval, gold-framed mirrored welcome sign, which added a classic and sophisticated touch as they arrived for the celebration, pairing perfectly with the elegant surroundings of Eustis Estate.
Elegant Eustis Estate Wedding Reception Details
As guests transitioned from the outdoor ceremony to the indoor reception, the thoughtful details continued.
One of our favorite elements was the seating chart, where guest cards were tied to elegant candelabras. It created a visually stunning display that felt romantic and timeless.
At the bar, we designed die-cut signage finished with a tassel, mounted directly to the bar front. The tassel detail added texture and a subtle sense of movement, while also tying into elements found in the invitation suite and other design details. Peep the tassels on the rehearsal dinner menus and the place cards at the wedding!
We also created custom red foil matchboxes, a small but impactful detail that doubled as a keepsake for guests.
Throughout the reception space, additional pieces helped guide guests through the evening, including signage for the cards and gifts table and a guestbook sign for a deck of cards guests could sign, which was another fun and interactive element that felt true to the couple.
At each place setting, guests found custom menus that mimicked the colors and design of the paper pieces found in their invitation suite. Each menu paired with place cards that had a tassel attached, completing the elegant tablescape and tying together the design details from the rest of the day.
Designing details for Madison and Joseph’s rehearsal dinner and Eustis Estate wedding was such an honor. Not only did we have so much fun flexing our creative muscles, but thoroughly enjoyed working with the couple and the amazing planner. It truly made this wedding an unforgettable experience.
Madison and Joseph, thank you for allowing us to design these details and to collaborate with such an incredible team of vendors to bring your celebration to life.
If you’re planning a wedding in Nashville, or anywhere in the world, we’d love to help you create meaningful, personalized stationery and event details that tell your story. We work with couples worldwide to design details you and your guests will remember forever.
Reach out today to learn more about our full-service wedding and event design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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