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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The intentional wedding details from Ella and Connor’s Southall Farm & Inn wedding in Franklin, TN was the definition of thoughtful design. Every element was created with purpose. It wasn’t just to look pretty, but to create moments their guests would remember long after the wedding ended. I love that they valued and were all about intentionality. Everything they dreamed up, from a custom bar and dance floor, to bespoke details like interactive guest menus, we were able to create. The best part was that these moments and details felt true to them AND were unforgettable to their guests.
This celebration proved that intentional design truly elevates the wedding experience. If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times, details matter. And this wedding was filled with them. The experience began with the invitations that set the tone. Everything else that followed tied the theme and their vision together.
An Invitation Suite That Set the Tone
First, let’s have a moment for these invitations. With a blind letterpress venue illustration of Southall Farm & Inn at the bottom of the main invite, these became more than just pieces of paper. They created a moment where guests could envision what was to come. We paired the suite with a vellum gatefold, a custom floral envelope liner, and a gold wax seal, creating a layered, tactile experience that felt elevated from the moment it was opened.
Since many guests were staying on property, we also designed custom welcome bags for their arrival. Delivering them turned into one of those behind-the-scenes moments we love most, as I ran into the groom while dropping them off and finally got to meet him in person for the first time.
A Seating Chart With Meaning
The custom seating chart was more than functional; it told a story. The sage green seating chart wall featured gold hooks with tags, tassels and a vintage key. The double-sided tag featured guests table assignment on one side and on the other, was a note to the guest to join the newlyweds for a private after party at a speakeasy. The key on the tag was a subtle nod to the location.
Cocktail Hour Details
For cocktail hour, we designed custom cocktail napkins in a fun tweed print. A fabric bar sign anchored the space, softening the bar design while reinforcing the refined, organic feel of the reception.
Fabric details continued to make a statement throughout the space, including FABRIC TABLE NUMBERS. This was our first time doing these and we are obsessed with how they turned out on the table. The tablescape was already stunning, and these fabric table numbers fit in beautiful with the already natural, elevated setting.
Menus + Place Cards That Stole the Show
If menus set the vibe, calligraphed place cards just elevate everything.
Connor and Ella’s interactive guest menus opened like a gatefold. Then, wrapped around each menu was a calligraphed place card, featuring both the guest’s name and their meal selection, creating a MOMENT for each guest as they sat down. It is these types of personal and intentional details that make an impact on your wedding day. I love that Ella and Connor not only understood that, but made it a major part of their vision.
Congratulations to this amazing couple and thank you for allowing us to create these meaningful details for your beautiful wedding!
Planning Ahead for 2026 Weddings
To all the spring brides, fall brides, and 2026 couples: if you’re dreaming up a tablescape that feels personal and polished, now’s the time to get on our calendar so you’re not rushing in the new year! Intentional design takes time, and the most thoughtful details are never rushed.
Connor and Ella’s Southall Farm & Inn wedding is a beautiful reminder that when design is rooted in intention, the result isn’t just stunning, it’s unforgettable.
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 gorgeous Clementine Hall wedding was a true reflection of creativity, elegance, and personal touches woven throughout the day. We had the joy of designing both their invitation suite and many of their day-of details, and every element wove the couple’s story and style into their big day.
Elegant Letter-Pressed Invitations
One of our favorite parts of this wedding was how involved the groom was in the design process and the overall aesthetic, which we love! Together, we created a letterpress invitation suite that set the tone for the celebration. A soft blue vine design bordered the invitation, while dreamy light blue lettering paired beautifully with an envelope liner resembling a watercolor field of flowers. The suite was layered with a vellum overlay, tied together with a thick, dusty blue ribbon, and finished with a gold wax seal. It was elevated, romantic, and timeless.
Limoncello Wall + Escort Tags
During our consultation, the couple mentioned that they LOVE limoncello. Naturally, we knew this had to play a starring role in their wedding design, so we designed a custom seating chart around limoncello, and it was better than we envisioned! Guests were welcomed with the seating chart wall display featuring three columns of shelving, each lined with bottles of homemade limoncello (or lemonade for those littles in attendance). Yes, you read that right, the couple made the limoncello themselves!! Talk about a personal touch!
Each bottle featured a circular escort tag with the guest’s name and table assignment. Across the top of the display, we added the playful phrase: “Take a ‘cello and Please Be Seated.” At the base of the installation, lush florals completed the look, making this display not just a seating chart, but a true statement piece and guest favorite.
Day-Of Details: Wedding Signage
Beyond the invitations and seating chart, we created several custom paper goods and signage to carry the couple’s aesthetic throughout the celebration. A white fabric wedding welcome sign with soft blue lettering set the tone from the moment guests arrived. Bar signage featured signature cocktails inspired by the couple’s beloved dogs, Willow and Luca, complete with hand-sketched portraits. It was a personal detail that had everyone smiling.
Menus and an Elegant Tablescape
Menus sat atop each place setting. The pink, floral patterned plates and gold cutlery added a pop of color to tables draped in textured white linens and surrounded by soft blue chairs. Candlelight and romantic floral centerpieces tied everything together for an atmosphere that was both inviting and elegant.
From the custom invitation suite to the unforgettable limoncello seating chart wall, every design choice reflected the couple’s personality and vision. This was so much fun to create and bring to life. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
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, we love when couples and planners trust us to have fun with design! This Saint Elle wedding in Nashville was no exception! The incredible Sarah Oakland worked her magic, and gave us the creative freedom to incorporate fun, bold colors. In addition to the bright colors, the personal touches and mix of trendy and traditional wedding details made this wedding truly one-of-a-kind.
As we were setting up in the morning, we overheard the father of the bride introduce himself to a vendor by saying, “I’m the father of the bride—last name Swift, like Taylor Swift, but not related.” It was such a cute and memorable moment that perfectly captured the joy and excitement of the day. The bride and groom were brimming with happiness, as were all the guests who shared this special day with them.
A Vibrant Seating Chart with a Personal Touch
One of our favorite elements of this wedding was the seating chart wall, which featured envelopes in a striking “Sour Apple” green shade. The bright pop of color added energy to the event and drew people in as they walked by. It was also the perfect complement to the varying shades of green woven throughout the wedding design.
However, there was one personal touch that made this seating chart extra special. Inside each green envelope, where guests could find their table number, there was also a handwritten note from the bride and groom. This incredibly thoughtful detail left a lasting impression and made every attendee feel extra appreciated. These are the details that make a huge impact on your day, and when they are seamlessly incorporated with your overall design like this, it is pure perfection.
Mixing Modern Trends with Timeless Elegance
We always love finding ways to balance current trends with classic design, and this wedding was the perfect opportunity to do just that. The seating chart wall featured a sophisticated custom wallpaper, bringing in a timeless element, while the guest cards and table numbers had a modern, red squiggle border design that felt fresh and playful. The contrast of these styles created a look that was both elegant and fun.
Wedding Signage and Details
As guests arrived at Saint Elle, they were greeted by a beautiful mirror welcome sign with white calligraphy, setting the tone for the celebration to come. White Ink Calligraphy also created the green bar sign with white lettering, similar to that of the envelopes on the seating chart. The soft, muted florals found in the wedding party bouquets and arrangements at the reception balanced the brighter green wedding details and the pop of red on the table numbers and guest cards.
We were honored to be a part of this gorgeous Saint Elle wedding. From the vibrant green seating chart to the personal touches and stylish design elements, this wedding was a great example of how to mix modern and classic elements to create a beautifully designed event.
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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This year we started off a busy fall wedding season with White Ink Couple, Ashley and Austin, at the iconic Hermitage Hotel in downtown Nashville. This unforgettable, art nouveau-inspired wedding did not hold back when utilizing details, pulling in colors, and interlacing style and texture throughout the entire event. White Ink was there for ALL of it!
We rolled up our creative sleeves and worked to help bring Ashley and Austin’s elegant vision into focus. We wove together poignant characteristics from The Hermitage Hotel’s architecture along with the flowing geometric styles and muted colors of the booming art nouveau movement were incorporated into all the important details of the day.
This was an unforgettable experience for the our team and we are delighted to finally get to share this day with you!
Art Nouveau- Did you know?
Art Nouveau or “new art” was a movement that gained popularity from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. According to the The Art Story’s website, “Art Nouveau was aimed at modernizing design, seeking to escape the eclectic historical styles that had previously been popular. Artists drew inspiration from both organic and geometric forms, evolving elegant designs that united flowing, natural forms resembling the stems and blossoms of plants. The emphasis on linear contours took precedence over color, which was usually represented with hues such as muted greens, browns, yellows, and blues.” www.theartstory.org
This invitation suite was designed to reflect the timeless details of the wedding venue. We custom-designed the envelope liner to include that classic, art nouveau look. Muted greens and yellows rested perfectly together with a focus on the natural beauty of white birds and the liners’ harmonious shapes and lines.
One notable detail within The Hermitage Hotel is a hand-painted bird theme throughout the guestrooms and suites. The idea to include birds in the custom envelope liner was a purposeful and beautiful way to connect the invites to the venue.
The ornament framing around the rsvp and details cards was meant to mimic the ornate frames and trim work throughout the hotel. This invitation suite was truly the ultimate ‘sneak peek’ for Ashley and Austin’s guests of what was to come!
A wedding welcome sign is multifunctional, especially if it is mirrored. Event signage, in general, is a seamless way to provide guidance for your guests as they enter the venue space. It adds to the tone of the space without stealing the show. It’s also a fantastic way to showcase the theme of your big day.
Ashley and Austin chose to use our floor-length, Bourdeaux, gold-framed mirror with minimal ornamentation. It was the perfect sign to bring just enough attention. Even in a vintage, art nouveau-themed wedding, small details can go a long way. Giving guests a quick opportunity to check their reflection is a welcomed added bonus!
Our couples often use seating charts and escort wall displays as an opportunity to showcase their wedding day theme in a big way, and I am HERE for it!
Ashley and Austin trusted White Ink to create a custom wallpaper to serve as the backdrop for this one-of-a-kind escort wall display. We kept with the art nouveau theme by focusing on natural elements, like leaves and flowers with a soft brown and white. The oval escort cards were individually hooked to the display and boasted a thick yellow tassel to replicate a vintage hotel key. How cute are these?
This stunning muted blue frame with gold ornamented trim was the perfect addition to our custom bar sign. It fit in with theme so seamlessly. The cocktail hour bar sign was a beautifully subtle addition to help carry the art nouveau theme by pulling in those soft hues and bold fonts.
Details like these are so much more than signs and menus, they provide a pivotal role in a carefully designed event. These little details leave a lasting impression and are something guests appreciate.
I could stare at these custom die-cut menus and place cards for hours. Guests enjoyed many day-of details that these little guys boasted. Much of the day’s style, colors, florals, and designs can be found right here in the artfully designed paper details.
A place card sat atop each menu, connected together with a soft, vintage, yellow chiffon ribbon. The same yellow ribbon could also be found on their invitation suite. I especially appreciated the functionality of the color-coded blooms on the place cards, which served as the meal indicator. Absolute perfection.
White Ink carried the vintage frame design from the invitation suite, rsvp, and detail cards to create Ashley and Austin’s table numbers. Table numbers don’t have to steal the spotlight in order to be a memorable part of a stunning tablescape.
The best way to tie in wedding theme details throughout the day is by pulling in designs just like this. Our couple also decided to use the vintage, wreath table number base from our extensive wedding rental collection. As you can see, it was the perfect choice!
Ashley and Austin came to White Ink with an elegant, vintage, art nouveau-inspired wedding vision. It was an honor to take on the task of bringing their vision to life. Taking in the approving whispers and smiles of the bridal party and guests is an unforgettable feeling. It is at the heart of why we do what we do. We love seeing the faces of our couples and their loved ones light up when they see their wedding dreams become a reality. We can’t wait to do it for you!
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!
