Lauren and Charles - Columbus Georgia Custom Letterpress Wedding Invitation Suite
Six years ago, we had a position to fill at Dinglewood Design and Press. Lauren strongly recommended her boyfriend and longtime best friend Charles. I was skeptical to hire someone who was romantically involved with my best printer, but I trusted her in that she knew herself best.
And then, my adventure with them began.
Y’all, for three and a half years, these two worked together seamlessly and without error. Unheard of in the handmade small business world, and I’ll never be over it. Through four holiday seasons, the pandemic and the great studio flood of ’21, their partnership grew into something unbreakable and magical. Their calm and joy fills the room when they are together.
After Lauren shared the happy news of their long awaited engagement, and the happy tears had been wiped away, it was time for us to (finally) work on something for them together that was sure to be nothing short of magical……
They wanted the Save the Date design to hint an enchanting evening with renaissance, medieval, and cozy hobbit-like vibes.
I started the design with a storybook letter S, paired with hand drawn baroque elements, whimsical leaves and married it together with a combination of contrasting block text and an ornate script font. Once the design was ready, Lauren did the rest….
She chose this handmade ivory cotton paper which has the most beautiful textural quality, contrasting beautifully with shimmering gold leaf envelopes to hint a whisper of candlelight.
Lauren hand-mixed burgundy, almost wine colored ink for the letterpress printing. Then with the help of a digitally printed envelope liner, we introduced the moody color palette of hunter green, orange, deep blue, black and burgundy with a vintage intimate still life panting of florals, butterflies, snails and peas by Jan van Kessel.
Lauren and Charles worked together to stuff and seal the envelopes with a golden wax seal which is just *chefs kiss*
In designing L and C’s main invitation suite, we wanted guests to feel like they were opening a letter inviting them on an adventure into a magical event when they received their invitations, building excitement and anticipation for a fairy-tale evening of fellowship.
Burgundy ink on handmade cotton paper paired with ebony and shimmery gold leaf envelopes evoke an autumnal intimate candlelit dinner.
From their magically sentimental Pasaquan and historical Bibb Mill venues, their custom hand drawn map illustrations were important elements in the process of bringing their wedding vision to life.
Of course, we had to pull in a subtle nod to their letterpress printing history together with a vintage wooden type block font for the letters RSVP on the response card.
Lauren also hand drew the crest for their golden wax seals.
The envelope liners on both the save the date and main invitation suite were crucial to pulling together the floral color palette and illustrating their fairy tale fellowship.
The invitation liner art also hinted at the sword they would use to cut their wedding cake with at the reception!
By the way, my mom made the cake -isn’t it incredible?
Lastly, we incorporated a few of the design elements into their day-of stationery for a cohesive look with B Anderson Floral's dreamy tables capes of autumn blooms, brass candlesticks and fresh fruit during the candlelit celebration. 
At the end of the evening of feasting, laughing and dancing, Leanna took a firm stance in front of the double doors and firmly commanded “You Shall Not Pass!” Because seriously, who would want to leave a party in The Shire?
Charles and Lauren Fowler, I wish you goodness, happiness, comfort and a little bit of magic in your forever fellowship.
“There’s some good in this world, and you two are both a part of that good. You’re worth fighting for.”
Photographer: Sammie Saxon
Florals: B. Anderson Florals
Planner: Patti Hastings
Cake: Cakes by Guenda
Invitations and Wedding Stationery: Dinglewood Design and Press
Monogram: Shuler Studios
Ceremony Venue: Pasaquan
Reception Venue: The Bibb Mill
