Meet us at the River
May 14, 2022
Evan is my calligraphy partner’s brother, and when I found out he and his fiancée Casey wanted to work with me on their invitation suite, I couldn’t have been more excited. I knew that together, Alli and I would create some serious magic for these two. A gorgeous spring color story and luxurious finishes came together for Casey + Evan.
After meeting in 2013 at Saint Joseph’s University, this beautiful love story bloomed. Evan romantically proposed to Casey in 2019 in an Italian village, hiring a secret photographer to capture the moment. Between Evan’s family heritage and this special moment, Italy is a place these two hold so dear. We wanted to channel that culture into their stationery, from save the dates all the way through to the big day.
Tapping into this connection, we were inspired by Italian romance. We pulled in elements that evoke the textures of cobblestone streets, florals and scenery that exude springtime, and warm and inviting colors for a vibrant Tuscan-inspired palette. We also incorporated the sweet charm of their venue through curated details and (of course) added in calligraphy embellishments for an extra touch of personalization.
A palette-knife painting made with spring pastels was the star of the show, serving as the first impression wrapped around the invitation suite. Though flat printed on a cotton paper wrap, the texture of the painting came through in a visually stunning way. This painting combined with delicate line-drawn florals are what really gave this suite its fine art aesthetic. We illustrated a delicate custom crest for their initials, which was used in the main invitation as well as a special letterpress emblem on their envelope liners.
We ordered custom handmade paper from Inquisited in subtle sage ombré tones, including a deckled edge envelope liner that was flecked with gold leaf. We finished off the wrap with coral crinkle-silk ribbon and a Prosecco-gold bicycle wax seal – an homage to the venue’s available bikes for a leisurely ride along the river. All this combined with a deep green letterpress ink and gold foil printed border, this suite is one of our favorite final products that’s ever left the studio.
The wedding day was full of love and laughter. Casey’s gown was classically beautiful, especially next to her bridesmaids’ elegant sage green dresses. The florals were bursting with variety and color – an organic showcase of their color story. It’s clear looking through this gallery that every detail was carefully chosen.
They say rain is good luck on your wedding day. While the weather may not have been perfect, these two made the most of it. Casey + Evan opted for an intimate first look by the river. The joy in their eyes is so pure and sweet, and it was evident that they’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. Their wedding party then surrounded them with love for some pre-ceremony photos back indoors.
The ceremony and reception were a spectacular display of flowers and personal elements. Friends and family gathered as these two said their “I do”s and began the next chapter of their lives together. Guests danced the night away, and the party continued in downtown New Hope. After a three-year engagement, no moment of celebration would be spared! When the night was done, Casey + Evan would embark on another Italian adventure on their Sicily honeymoon.
Homemade limoncello favors, espresso cannoli desserts, and signature “DiMartinis” tied Italian culture into the little details of their reception. We carried the theme of their invitations all the way through their day-of paper and signage. Dragonfly Paperie provided welcome bag inserts, a signature drink sign, and letterpress menus, while AlliCat Calligraphy incorporated my illustrations into the signage and favor tags. Even their cake design paid tribute to the custom palette knife painting.
In Alli’s words:
“It was so special getting to create custom pieces for my brother’s wedding. Every detail has so much more meaning when you’re designing for family and want to make sure that their style and personalities shine through. I can’t thank Amy enough for her hard work & dedication in bringing everything to life – It was as if this wedding was for her family too. The day was made so much more beautiful by her work, and we had so much fun working together to create pieces that my family will cherish forever.”
Congratulations, Casey + Evan! It was truly an honor to create your wedding paper in collaboration with Alli.
Vendor List:
Venue: @riverhouseatodettes
Photography: @samanthajayphoto
Coordinator: @danaeverwine.events
Hair & Brides Makeup: @marissagraceartistry
Bridesmaid Makeup: @stacilynbeauty
Florals: @carlalanfloralltd
Stationery: @dragonflypaperie
Calligraphy & Signage: @allicatcalligraphy
Videography: @wellspunweddings
Music: @patandseankelly
Photobooth: @thebestphillyphotobooth
Cake: @platinumhouseofsweets2021
Dress: @alexandragrecco from @lovelybridephilly
Bridesmaids: @jennyyoonyc from @bellabridesmaidsphilly
Jewelry: @oliveandpiper
Rings: @haddonfieldfinejewelers
Grooms suit: @suitsupply
Groomsmen: @indochino
Officiant: @revjilldillner
Featured in: @modluxweddingsphl
From the couple:
“Amy was a dream to work with from start to finish! Despite our lack of inspiration and ideas she was able to come up with a design that we absolutely loved! She is so creative and her artwork is incredible. Amy went above and beyond to execute our save the dates, invitation suite, and day of pieces and made sure we were happy with it all every step of the way. The spot calligraphy from Alli was an added bonus and provided an extra wow factor- we received numerous compliments from our family and friends. Amy and Alli helped bring our wedding vision to life and we can’t recommend them enough!”
