Invitation package by Heather Forsythe Designs
June 14, 2010
Paper, Dolls!
Check out the latest from Charleston’s stationery stars
WRITTEN BY Melissa Bigner
Charleston got a lot of press a while back when Vogue, Town & Country, etc. heralded dress shops in town, saying that no longer did Lowcountry brides have to journey to bigger cities—Atlanta, D.C., New York—for grand style gowns. Charleston had arrived.
And today? Well same goes for stationery. Back when I started with Charleston Weddings years ago, whenever we did a stationery story, we had a few folks here in town to highlight, though only a handful were doing their own designs, there was one main go-to calligrapher, and I think about one letterpress stationer. I filled out our stories with papergoods from “off.” Now? Holy cow in the Holy City. I never send off for filler when we are doing a story because there are scores of fantastic local options to choose from.
Sand Dunes invitation by Dodeline Design
This all came to mind last week when I got an e-mail from Sarah Early of Stationery by Dodeline. A new kid on the stationery block, the recent college grad says that she started creating wedding suites to give a fresh, modern look to typical Charleston city and coastal themes. I peeked at her fresh-from-the-oven site and totally dig her interpretations—especially the dunes, beach sign, and single house lines. Take a look for yourself at lowcountryinvitations.com.
Another fun thing? I bumped into Heather Forsythe not too long ago and she told me about the new letterpress she’s got. While I first knew her as a killer wedding photog, she’s also running heatherforsythedesigns.com these days, a stationery company that features the Renaissance woman’s work. Expect the same dreamy design eye she expresses in her photos, but check out her down-to-earth site, where the blogging captions tell you not only about her latest creations, but also how to save money in real-life wedding stationery situations. Love me some practical penny-wise wisdom!
Here are some more teasers: Visit mac & murphy for my favorite kid’s table treat—a Charleston-themed coloring book from Wild Hair press; check out Dulles Designs for a custom calligraphy and hand-hewn fonts; peek at The Lettered Olive for a list of shops that now carry their dreamy looks; and Stitch…have you stopped by their killer graphic design boutique on Cannon? If you’re looking for a way to jazz up favors or really innovate your stationery, Amy and Courtney are your gals.
For a complete list of top local stationers (hmmmm, wonder what Studio R is up to? and…), please visit charlestonmag.com!
Join Charleston Weddings at Gown Boutique of Charleston on June 24th from 6-8 pm for a special preview party featuring Junko Yoshioka’s haute wedding dress designs. Sea Oat Catering will be on hand with libations and delicious treats, stunning florals provided by Ooh! Events, plus special gift opportunities for all the brides-to-be (including a consultation with Charleston Weddings editor Melissa Bigner)! You can also pick up your complimentary copy of the spring edition and register to win a pair of tickets to Charleston Fashion Week's Spring Bridal Show. Trunk show will take place June 25-26. Please call 843.856.2682 to schedule your appointment.
