From the very beginning, I knew Elizabeth and Ross’s wedding at Southall Farm & Inn was going to be something special. Not only because of the soft, dreamy design they envisioned, but because I had the honor of working with this family once before. I created wedding details for the groom’s sister years ago, and being invited back to work with a family again is truly one of the greatest compliments. Elizabeth and Ross live in New York City, and their wedding brought such a beautiful blend of thoughtful design, book-inspired wedding details, personal storytelling, and timeless elegance to Franklin, Tennessee.
Soft, Dreamy Color Palette & Custom Wedding Invitations
The invitation suite set the tone for the entire wedding weekend. The main invitation featured crisp white paper paired with pale peach calligraphy. It created the soft, romantic, and elegant feel that they wanted for their wedding. Anchoring the design was a custom sketch of Southall Farm & Inn, placed at the bottom of the main invitation as a subtle nod to the stunning Franklin, TN venue where their wedding would unfold.
The wedding details card inverted the color palette of the main invitation making it stand out. The light peach card with white calligraphy added visual interest and dimension to the suite, while still feeling cohesive and refined. The invitations felt airy, romantic, and perfectly aligned with the wedding day vision.
A Book-Inspired Seating Chart
Elizabeth is a book editor, and with the couple calling NYC home, we knew it was important to incorporate literary details. The result was a seating chart that has quickly become one of my all-time favorites!
A wooden bookshelf displayed books wrapped in covers of soft pinks and light oranges. Each spine featured guest names and table assignments hand-lettered in white calligraphy. At the center of the display, a sign read:
“Our story couldn’t be written without your chapter.”
It was creative, personal, and such a beautiful nod to Elizabeth’s career and love of books. Watching guests linger, search for their names, and smile as they took it all in was incredibly special.
More Book-Inspired Wedding Details
The literary theme continued into the reception space, where books were also used as table numbers. Each light-colored book featured a white number on the front, tying seamlessly back to the seating chart design.
At each place setting, guests found custom menus printed on white paper with soft pink calligraphy. The menus sat beautifully atop the elegant tablescapes, adding another layer of softness and cohesion to the overall design.
Guests gathered under the clear tented reception and enjoyed an unforgettable evening, celebrating Elizabeth and Ross while taking in views of the water, the thoughtful details, and the joy of being together.
It was truly an honor to create the invitations and wedding day details for this New York City couple here in Franklin, Tennessee. Being trusted once again by a family I’ve worked with before made this experience even more meaningful.
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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I absolutely love when couples do things differently or incorporate details that aren’t your typical wedding choices. For Madeline and James’ Vintage Wedding at Union Station Hotel in Nashville, we were able to produce some unique day of details that leaned into the couple personally, as well as highlighted the historic Nashville venue, Union Station Hotel.
Once a bustling train station, the venue is now a luxury hotel that still carries the character, charm, and timeless elegance. It was the perfect backdrop for a wedding that celebrated their love of vintage style, literature, and timeless design. It was such an honor to create the custom invitations and wedding day details, like the vintage hotel key seating chart, vintage book table numbers, and train-inspired save the dates that tied their vision together.
All Aboard: Train Ticket-Inspired Save the Dates
We kicked things off with a playful nod to Union Station’s history. Their save the dates were designed to look like vintage train tickets. Guests instantly got a feel for the historic venue, creating the perfect prelude to their big day.
For their invitations, we leaned into a more classic, elevated design with white and navy taking center stage. The suite echoed the timeless elegance of Union Station, as the border of the invitation looked similar to the ornate architectural details found inside Union Station.
Seating Chart Display
A mirrored welcome sign greeted guests with timeless elegance as they entered the venue. They then made their way to the seating chart installation, which was one of the most memorable elements from their day.
To play off the venue being a hotel, we designed a display featuring vintage-style keys. The backdrop was a navy blue wall with small hooks, each holding a key paired with a guest’s name and table assignment. Not only did this create a fun and unexpected experience for guests, but it also doubled as a beautiful installation that perfectly fit the historic setting.
Vintage Book-Inspired Wedding Details
Because the couple are book lovers, it only made sense to incorporate that love into their wedding details. I hand-painted vintage books with numbers in gold to use as table numbers. The result was amazing!
These custom table numbers looked stunning on the elegant tablescapes, which were made complete with gold plates, navy napkins, and the custom menus we created.
Some of the tabletop signage was displayed inside vintage books as well. At the dessert table, for example, the display listed out the selections for the mini pie bar, all while tying into the couple’s love of literature.
The signature cocktail signs in gold frames, were another element created by White Ink, with the colors and font matching those on the invitation.
A Vintage Celebration at Union Station Hotel
This Union Station Hotel wedding was brimming with thoughtful, personalized touches. Every element tied back to the couple’s love for history, literature, and vintage style, all while honoring the character of one of Nashville’s most iconic venues.
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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At White Ink Calligraphy + Co., we specialize in creating custom wedding stationery and event details that tell your love story from the very first impression to the last dance of the evening. This elegant spring wedding at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens in Nashville was a perfect example of how thoughtful design can transform a celebration into something unforgettable.
Elegant Spring Wedding Details
The couple chose a dreamy palette of light blue, white, and soft green accents, perfectly suited for Cheekwood’s lush spring gardens. We carried these colors throughout their entire wedding stationery suite and event signage for a cohesive, elevated look.
Wedding Invitations | Grand Millennial Maximalism Meets Timeless Elegance
We started with their invitation suite. Featuring letterpress printing, a custom monogram, and an intricate envelope liner adorned with a bird illustration, the design was a nod to grand millennial maximalism. If you aren’t familiar with this design term, it is a trending style right now that combines more traditional elements with a modern twist, creating a detailed, yet polished and refined style.
The Custom Monogram
That custom monogram we designed on the invite became a signature design element for the wedding day. It appeared on the menus at each guest’s place setting, a stunning fabric backdrop at the reception, and, my favorite, on the dance floor wrap itself! Seeing our design come to life in such a grand format was a true “pinch-me” moment.
Statement Seating Chart & Welcome Sign
The seating chart was a showstopper! This elegant, tall display had guest names written in light blue calligraphy on a crisp white background. We framed the chart with the same floral-and-bird artwork from the envelope liner, creating a sense of connection between the invitations and the reception space.
The welcome sign echoed this same border detail, featuring a white oval center with the wording placed inside. It greeted guests and set the tone for the celebration ahead.
Place Cards with a Pop of Color
For the place cards, folded squares featured guests names in light blue with a soft floral and green border. Peep- The same border design can also be seen on the details card from their invitation suite! This subtle color combination perfectly tied into the tablescape’s springtime elegance, offering a fresh and cheerful finishing touch.
Designing for the Spring Season
When we began designing this suite, it was still the middle of winter, but these invitations gave us serious spring fever and got us SO EXCITED for spring weddings! This wedding was just as beautiful as we imagined and it was an honor to create so many elegant and beautiful details for their Cheekwood 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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Nashville is home to many amazing wedding venues, but this luxury lakeside venue sitting on 15 beautiful acres is one of my top favorites. The Claybrooks’ luxurious fall wedding at Cherokee Docks combined romantic elegance with interactive fun. Personalized touches and breathtaking details filled the entire weekend, and we were honored to play a part in it all.
We worked closely with the fabulous mother of the bride, Kelly, who planned every last detail of her daughter’s big day with care and intention. Kelly truly had a vision, and bringing that to life through elegant invitations and paper goods, custom signage, and unforgettable installations was such a joy for our team!
Custom Sketches for an Elegant Invitation Suite
Guests were first introduced to the weekend with a custom save the date featuring an engagement photo underneath a vellum overlay with the event details printed on top. Held together with a gold grommet, this piece was an interactive and modern way to include a photo while keeping the aesthetic cohesive and timeless. Read more about this and other fun and unique Save the Dates here!
The couple’s invitation suite was a perfect reflection of their classic style. We created a soft, romantic white invitation that featured delicate florals surrounding the couple’s monogram. A custom sketch of the Cherokee Dock venue on the wrap that held the invitation suite pieces together was my favorite detail. It completely elevated the suite! I just love slipping in little details and hints about the wedding day to guests.
To kick off the weekend, we also designed a welcome party invitation featuring a sketch of the General Jackson Showboat, giving guests a peek at the fun to come. From beginning to end, each paper piece was designed to build anticipation and set the tone for the weekend.
Ceremony Details
The ceremony wasn’t without its own beautiful paper moments. Guests received newspaper-style fan programs, which doubled as a ceremony timeline and a creative way to showcase an engagement photo. These charming, multi-purpose programs were a total win on a warm fall day.
Then there was the ceremony itself which took place outside by the water. Between the leaves changing colors, the sunlight hitting the water, and the beautiful couple so excited to be married, there was so much to love about this wedding,
Interactive Details Guests Will Never Forget
This wedding was full of beautiful, classic moments, but it also had some fun surprises! We loved bringing a little playfulness to the design while still keeping things elevated.
Our favorite feature of the day? A 20-foot cocktail pass-through wall, which is our largest installation to date! This statement piece displayed the seating chart alongside three signature cocktail options. Guests would ring a bell, and a white-gloved bartender on the other side would pass their drink through the wall. It was interactive, elegant, and such a highlight of the evening (a little birdie, aka the MOB, told us it was a MAJOR guest favorite!)
Day of Details
We also had the honor of creating many other day of details that fit flawlessly into their wedding day vision. Guests were greeted by a sleek, black acrylic welcome sign with white calligraphy. It looked so good surrounded by candle light reflecting off the glass. The bar signage and the black acrylic bourbon bar sign were two other reception details we had our hand in creating!
The details didn’t stop there though! Custom foam drink toppers for the espresso martinis (yes, the details even made it to the cocktails!) included their monogram with their last name and wedding date!
Guests could also grab a refreshing bottle of Fiji water that featured a custom sketch of their beloved dog, Scout, on the label. I love weaving fun and personal details into a wedding day in unique ways. The reception space was stunning with spherical chandeliers and greenery draped from the ceiling. At each table setting there were classic, black place cards in white calligraphy that corresponded with the grand seating chart.
Every single touchpoint of The Claybrooks’ wedding weekend, from the save the dates to the cocktail wall and seating chart, was designed with intention. We were thrilled to help Kelly and her family bring it to life. It’s weddings like this that remind us why we love what we do.
If you’re looking to add custom, thoughtful touches to your wedding or event, we would love to help make your vision a reality. Reach out today to learn more about our full-service design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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There’s something magical about being part of a venue’s very first event, and that’s exactly how we felt walking into The Sloane for the first time. This brand new wedding venue, nestled in the heart of historic Germantown just 5 minutes from Nashville, is bright and modern. With its tall vaulted ceilings and light-filled spaces, it provided the perfect blank canvas to bring this vibrant, colorful editorial to life. We were honored to be one of the first vendors inside this new venue for a photoshoot, and even more thrilled to create the wedding invitations and paper goods in collaboration with one of our longtime favorite planners, Kelsey Rae Designs, who brought the vision together in the most beautiful way.
Marigold Wedding Invitations That Pop
Let’s talk color! Because when a marigold envelope arrives in your mailbox, it’s not going unnoticed! Color is one of our favorite ways to elevate a paper suite, and for this shoot, a rich marigold hue was the star. We used a yellow envelope with a striped liner featuring a floral design of a marigold to set the tone. We then carried that motif to the save the dates and information cards. This bright and cheerful invitation suit is definitely one that guests will remember, perfectly setting the tone and vibe of the wedding day.
Layering Texture and Tone
At the venue, stunning, yellow floral displays were set up in the ceremony space. The bride carried her own bouquet of light and darker yellow flowers. Then for the reception, white and yellow arrangements sat in low vases at the center of the table, bringing a cohesiveness that tied everything together.
While the bold yellow made a statement, we also wanted to balance the palette with softer, grounded details. On the reception tables, peach-toned menus rested atop marigold napkins, adding warmth and elegance. Our dark green place cards featured crisp white calligraphy for contrast and depth. It was a small detail, but one that elevated each place setting and pulled the entire look together.
A Dreamy New Space in Nashville
If you’re a couple dreaming of a fresh, inviting, upscale venue, The Sloane is definitely one to have on your radar. Its clean architecture, gorgeous natural light, and flexible event spaces make it the perfect canvas for any wedding design. We loved seeing how the bright pops of yellow transformed the white ceremony backdrop and how every vendor worked together to bring this joyful concept to life. One thing is certain, creating wedding invitations that pop and set the tone for the wedding day ahead is not only our specialty, but our favorite thing to do!
If you’re looking to add custom, thoughtful touches to your wedding or event, we would love to help make your vision a reality. Reach out today to learn more about our full-service design offerings! We can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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When we first met with this bride, we knew this New Year’s Eve wedding would be anything but ordinary. From the start, she gave us complete creative freedom—a dream for any designer! While many NYE weddings stick to classic black, white, and gold, she wanted something unexpected. To bring to life this bold and chic NYE wedding, we embraced bold patterns, a maximalist style, and a color palette that felt fresh, unique, and celebratory. The end result was amazing!
Setting the Stage with a Statement Invitation Suite
The invitation suite was the first glimpse into the playful yet sophisticated vision for this wedding. First, save the dates in mint green cardstock with fireworks impressed into the paper provided that subtle nod to NYE and what was to come. For the invitation suite, we mixed patterns and colors in ways that are rarely seen in winter weddings. The envelopes were a striking combination of light green and dark green, while the invitation sleeve featured a bold blue and light pink floral pattern. A fun blue tassel completed the suite, giving it an elevated, textural element.
These design choices weren’t just beautiful on their own—they set the stage for the patterns and color combinations guests would see throughout the celebration, from the colorful wedding cakes to the lounge furniture at the reception.
Elevating the Guest Experience with Custom Details
Every wedding we work on is an opportunity to craft experiences, and this NYE celebration was no exception. The bride wanted fun, unique moments that guests would remember, and we designed details that delivered just that. One of our favorite elements was the Champagne pass-through and wall display—an elegant and interactive way to kick off the festivities. Guests loved this stylish touch, and it fit seamlessly into the chic, upscale atmosphere of the night.
The Champagne wall we designed showcased the same pattern from the invitation sleeve, tying the event’s visual theme together beautifully. A timeline display on one side and a shelf stocked with NYE swag on the other added an extra dose of fun, making sure guests were ready to ring in the new year in style with confetti poppers and 2025 glasses!
The details didn’t stop at the invitation suite and wall display. We carried the custom design elements through various pieces, including:
The Rehearsal Dinner welcome sign and menus for a stylish pre-wedding celebration at Liberty Common, just across the street.
Bar Signage at the reception that brought personality and cohesion to the cocktail hour and reception space.
Wedding Programs that guided guests through the evening while complementing the wedding’s aesthetic.
A Night to Remember
The bride and groom set the tone for a stylish night with not one but two outfits. For the ceremony, they both kept it classic with the bride in a sleek, white satin gown and the groom in a black tux. When it came time to party, the bride and her bridesmaids changed into fun, sparkly dresses that were perfect for a New Year’s Eve bash, while the groom changed into a blue suit jacket that shimmered in the lights. Their wardrobe change mirrored the entire event’s transformation—from a beautiful wedding ceremony to an all-out NYE celebration complete with confetti!
From the bold, unexpected color palette to the immersive guest experiences, every detail of this NYE wedding came together to create an unforgettable night. Designing the details for this celebration was such an incredible experience, and we loved seeing everything come to life in such a stunning and joyful way.
If you’re looking to add custom, thoughtful touches to your wedding or event, we would love to help make your vision a reality. Reach out today to learn more about our full-service design offerings—we can’t wait to create something unforgettable for you!
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