calligraphy

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Weddings are a special moment in a couple’s life, and choosing to host the event at home can make it all the more memorable. However, planning for the big day can take a lot of time and preparation. From updating your house with a fresh coat of paint to installing landscape lighting, there are many details that you may not think about when planning an intimate backyard wedding. To help you create the ultimate backyard wedding, we’ve rounded up wedding industry experts from Hoboken, NJ, to Portland, OR, to share their expertise with you. 

1. Think big picture logistics 

When it comes to planning your wedding, it’s crucial to think of big picture logistics. This means considering the broader aspects of your event, from the venue layout and transportation for guests to the flow of the ceremony and reception. By focusing on these overarching logistics, you can ensure a seamless and well-coordinated wedding day that allows you and your guests to fully enjoy the special moments without any hiccups or stress.

2. Plan ahead for garden blooms

Timing is crucial for a backyard wedding. Planning a year ahead allows your garden to flourish, providing a lush backdrop for your celebration

“Start to plan a year in advance for your intimate backyard wedding, this way the garden flowers will be in full bloom for the big day and/or you can plant what grows best in your particular climate,” recommends Kait Thomson, Florist in Hoboken, NJ.

3. Set the stage with calligraphy

“The art of calligraphy brings elegance and sophistication to any event. Creating an intimate backyard wedding is a perfect venue to make a wedding more personalized and special with an elegant touch of handwritten calligraphy,” shares Katherine Glattard, Calligrapher in Wilmette, IL

Calligraphy is your secret weapon for adding a touch of elegance to your backyard wedding. Here are some creative ways to incorporate it:

    • Invitations and save-the-dates: Use calligraphy for your wedding invitations and save-the-dates. Hand-lettered envelopes, names, and details create a beautiful first impression for your guest
    • Custom Hand-lettered signage: “One of the easiest ways couples can make their weddings and receptions more personalized is by including custom hand-lettered signage. From signature drinks on bar menus that are named after family pets to hand-made place cards made specifically for each guest by name, the possibilities are endless when it comes to signage. Going with custom signage allows your calligrapher to design each piece with you and your partner in mind—that’s not the experience you’ll get buying a standard wedding sign from a retail store,” states Katelyn Maude Harder, modern calligrapher and owner of Letters by Maude in Kansas City, MO.
    • Personalized wedding favors: Infuse your favors with warmth by adding a calligraphed message of thanks, your names, and the wedding date. 
    • Guest book: Use calligraphy to decorate the cover of your guest book or have pages with calligraphed headings for guests to leave their well wishes.

4.  Set the mood with the right lighting 

“Ambient accent lighting is important at night. A big drawback to doing a backyard wedding is you likely won’t have at your disposal the lighting options available at a legit wedding venue. What you want are accent lights that add some flare to the surrounding. Those lights don’t need to light up the entirety of the backyard, rather they can take the form of strung lights around the periphery or overhead. You could even do uplighting on trees or on porch pillars or globes hanging from limbs. Get creative,” states Kyle Carnes, Photographer in Portland Oregon

5. Choose the perfect ceremony background 

According to Lauren Ashlie, Photographer in Virginia Beach, VA, “No matter the size of your backyard, you want to pay special attention to the ceremony location. Your backdrop has a big impact on the focal point, you and your Person. Be sure to pick a spot that doesn’t have too many distractions in the background.” 

6. Be a courteous neighbor 

You don’t have to invite them to the party, but it’s a good idea to check in with your neighbors in advance of the event to let them know what to expect. Put them at ease with assurances you will keep the crowd under control and the noise at a reasonable level. Discuss issues that may come up like parking and property lines.

Go the extra mile by asking neighbors what concerns they might have about the event. Once you know the issues, you can figure out a plan that works for everyone. In the end, the party only lasts one night, but you have to live next to these folks for much longer.

7. Elevate the atmosphere with balloons

Balloons, when creatively incorporated, can add a playful and enchanting touch to your celebration. From charming arches to oversized installations, these colorful orbs can inject joy and vibrancy into your wedding decor. “For those seeking to make a bold impression, utilizing balloons of varying sizes, including a few oversized ones, can be remarkably impactful,” says Yuliya Altynnikova, Balloon Decorator in Sayreville, NJ. 

8. Plan for inclement weather

Planning for inclement weather is a wedding essential that can’t be overlooked. Mother Nature can be unpredictable, and a well-thought-out backup plan ensures that rain or unexpected conditions won’t dampen your celebration. Consider renting a tent or canopy to shield your guests from the elements while still enjoying the beauty of your backyard venue. Having a contingency strategy in place allows you to adapt gracefully to any weather curveballs, ensuring that your special day goes off without a hitch, rain or shine.

An intimate backyard wedding is a canvas for crafting cherished memories in a personal and meaningful setting. It’s a place where your love story takes center stage, etching new memories into familiar surroundings. As you embark on this journey, understanding the best way to transform your yard is crucial, allowing you to create the perfect wedding atmosphere for your big day. 

Source: redfin.com

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There is nothing quite like receiving a beautifully handwritten note in the mail, wouldn’t you agree? The rarity of a greeting sent “the old fashioned way” is especially endearing. Old-fashioned cards make the sender feel just as good as the recipient- there’s something so satisfying about actually dropping a note in a mailbox! So why don’t we send out more “thank you’s”, “thinking of you” notes or love letters anymore?? In a world of electronic everything, from emojis to emails, it’s almost as if we’ve forgotten how to express ourselves on pen and paper.

Now, we’re the first to admit we rarely send out cards in the mail ourselves. So, in an attempt to keep the handwritten note from becoming a dying art form, we decided it was time to brush up on expressing ourselves on paper- no laptop or keyboard required!

To help us out, we enlisted on local calligrapher, Kim from Bright Room Studio, to school us on fun writing treatments to jazz up our snail mail. We all gathered round the table on a Saturday morning (with much needed coffee in hand!) to learn some tricks of the trade – and of course we had to share it all with you!

our favorite card stock, envelopes & paper goods from Tiny Prints”>Tiny Prints

When it comes to a handwritten note, where to start is easy: cute stationary is a must we love this set and this set!! Then you just have to decide to whom you care to send a special note. We have a little pretty! notebook in the office to keep track of ideas. It doesn’t have to be a cousin who is celebrating an upcoming birthday or a friend who is expecting. In fact, we argue that it shouldn’t be. We love the idea of sending “just because” notes; they’re such an unexpected gesture that will no doubt turn any friend’s mid-week frown upside down!

But if you’re still feeling stumped on how to write something that’s actually longer than 140 characters, we’ve got your back!

Get Past Notecard-Writer’s Block With These “Just Because” Ideas:

> Send a loved one your favorite memory of them
> Tell a person why they inspire you
> Start a card with “thanks for” & express what you truly appreciate about the recipient
> Share something that will make them laugh- something you’d normally text to them
> Write out a favorite quote from the book you’re reading and send it off for someone else to enjoy

Once you’ve got your note ready to go, here’s where you can take some additional creative license: addressing the envelopes! There are a couple of different writing styles Kim showed us.

> Calligraphy is a classic way to put a sophisticated spin on your mail. It takes practice to perfect, but it’s so much fun. We urge you to pick up a nib and try it!

> Watercolor is so on trend right now. You can either write with a thin, rounded tip paintbrush or paint a watercolor background and print with a pen over it. We’re obsessed with this playful and free flowing style. Let the paint do its own thing- embrace its imperfections and runs.

> Combine fonts and sizes, spacing between characters and colors to instantly take your handwriting from drab to fab.

The key here is to simply let your creativity flow!

And for us creativity definitely starts after coffee! Since it was early and we needed to stay focused on our craft, we set up an ultimate coffee bar with three different roasts from our favorite Bay Area-based coffee roaster, Wrecking Ball you may remember them from here!. We felt a little like coffee aficionados while we sipped the different blends. Since you usually get whatever is being served at your local cafe that day, we certainly indulged by taste-testing a cup or two or three!

Don’t you just love that print Kim made for our coffee and calligraphy date? You can get your own in black or white, or both! here!

So one of these weekends, why not motivate a handful of your gal pals for a different kind of “girls day.” Set up a fun coffee bar; indulge in your local coffee shop’s beans and grind them yourself to really bring things back to basics. Dust off your cutest mugs that quickly get forgotten amidst the convenient thrill of to-go cups. Set out all your pretty paper and cards don’t forget the address labels either! with a couple of different writing tools, and you’re set to go for a really simple and super fun weekend activity. We’re here to attest that calligraphy and coffee is the most inspiring way to start off a Saturday!

original photography for apartment 34 by Aubrie Pick // art direction + styling by Bianca Sotelo 

This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints, where every choice is a stylish choice. Thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. Thanks for supporting our partnerships!

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Source: apartment34.com