Little Woman Design is in love with calligraphy! We thought we should state that right from the start. As we've said before, your invitation sets the stage for your wedding and/or special event. It introduces your color palette, style, theme, and personality as a couple to your guests. And the first impact that your invitation will make upon your invited guests is with your envelope — specifically, how it is addressed. 

Everyone's priorities with their stationery is going to be different, but we would be so bold to suggest that if our couples have a restricted budget and are deciding between a fancy envelope liner or calligraphy that our couples go with calligraphy. The well-worn comments that the envelope will be ripped open and discarded are significantly lessened when your envelope is presented to your guests as a work of art.

Little Woman Design has worked with Lynda Asprinio from Write Away for You Calligraphy since opening our doors in 2011. We have used Lynda's invaluable talents for both our own personal projects as well as our couples. Lynda has been practicing the art of calligraphy for over 25 years, and has made Write Away for You Calligraphy her full-time business since 2006. We recently sat down with Lynda for a Q & A to help shed some light on this important part of your wedding invitation.

Hi Linda! Could you tell our readers who may be interested how they can learn more about the art of calligraphy? 

• Calligraphy is all about practice so you will need to own some pens and inks.  I started teaching myself with books and videos then took a class at a community college.  I’ve since taken a few classes throughout the years as I found lessons from instructors are inspiring, there is always something new to learn.  Look for a local calligraphy guild and they will be able to guide you to classes to begin.

What are some common event stationery items that calligraphy can be used for?

• Envelopes (for save-the-dates, showers, invitations and thank yous), place cards,  table cards, table numbers, table names, menus, tags for favors and gift bags, and signs. Small signs throughout the event direct the guests and add a nice detail.  I have made signs for guest books, signature drinks, candy buffets, donation signs and more. 

What kind of inks do you use and are custom colors are available?

• I mostly use acrylic inks and gouaches as these are waterproof and adhere to most surfaces. Color mixing to create custom colors involves sunlight, color charts and time.  Sometimes it takes just a couple different colors to achieve the desired shade, other times it takes a few.

How many styles can a couple choose from?

• I offer 20 different writing styles.  To learn a new style I need to obtain the full alphabet and practice, practice, practice.  A lot of time I’m asked to mimic the font used on the invitation, I can usually come close, but out of respect to the art of calligraphy I have to say – no writing style can be mastered over night.  An eye for detail and ability to execute accuracy is also needed. I have also created my own writing style that I call “Cadence”

Why should our couples consider calligraphy for their invitations? 

• A calligrapher can relieve you of a time consuming responsibility.  A nice gift you can give yourself at this busy time.
• Envelope calligraphy enhances and completes the invitation suite ~ beautiful inside AND out, becoming an everlasting memoir of your day.  A place for guests to forever keep your invitation (no more throwing away of envelopes, better for the landfills!)
• Each address is different making each envelope a unique, original piece of art, a gift for your guest.  
• When a calligraphed envelope arrives at your guest’s home it’s the first introduction to your event that they will see.  Hand calligraphy prompts the ‘wow’ factor.  It will engage immediate attention and evoke anticipation.
• Your choice of writing style and color will reflect your personality, setting the tone to be elegant, sophisticated or just plain fun!
• Calligraphy is a formal detail that creates a nice presentation and a lasting impression of your event from beginning to end.
• So my question is, why wouldn’t use calligraphy?  Hiring a calligrapher will be one of the lower expenses on your list of vendors.  Why not treat  your envelopes with the same care as the rest of the planning?  If all the above reasons aren’t enough, the positive feedback you get will assure you that you made a good choice!

What new services are you providing?

• Hand calligraphy costs more than computerized because it is an art form that takes time.  Receiving  beautiful hand lettering on an envelope in the mail really makes a difference.  Because I want everyone to be able to have the option of hand calligraphy, I now offer monoline calligraphy.  All my scripts can be done in this way.  Monoline uses a gel pen as opposed to a dip pen therefore I’m able to write faster, cutting down the turnaround time, therefore the cost is less.

Thanks, Lynda for taking the time to answer all of our questions!

If you are interested in seeing more of Lynda's work, please be sure to visit her website at writeawayforyou.com. You may also contact her with any questions you may have about her services at writeawayforyou@aol.com. And, if you are interested in setting up a free consultation with Little Woman Design for your invitation needs as well as to see Lynda's work for us up-close-and-personal, please email Francesca at francesca@littlewomandesign.com or call 267-481-4093.

Little Woman Design at AFE's Wedding Planning Bootcamp - June 9, 2013

Little Woman Design is proud to once again be a featured presenter at Always Fabulous Events' Spring Wedding Planning Bootcamp being held on Sunday, June 9, 2013 from 1:00pm — 5:00pm at The Philadelphia Wedding Chapel. This exclusive event brings insider's secrets to couples looking for advice on how to plan their dream wedding. Photographers, videographers, DJs and - of course! - wedding and event planner Randi Martin (owner of Always Fabulous Events) will be in attendance to help you save your time, money, and sanity. Seating is limited. For more information and to register for tickets, visit phillyweddingbootcamp.eventbrite.com.

Trilogy Event Design June Open House PLUS Stella & Dot Show - June 8, 2013

Little Woman Design's studio space is located at Trilogy Event Design, a joint venture with Always Fabulous Events. We will be hosting our June Open House on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 12:00pm — 5:00pm. Drop on by to say hi to Francesca, Michael and Randi and see our new digs! We will also be hosting a Stella & Dot Trunk Show during this time. Registered brides and event professionals will be able to receive 10% off their jewelry order. For more information and to register for this free event, please visit trilogyjune.eventbrite.com. Hope to see you there!

Little Woman Design will be participating in The "Brides and Grooms" Wedding Showcase this Sunday, March 17th at Talamore Country Club. This will be the third show we've done this year with The Bridal Event by Bouche Productions. As always, we are expecting this to be a great event! We'll be on hand to meet with couples to discuss their designs, review our samples, and chat about any questions they may have about their wedding stationery. While we have quite a few samples of our work featured in our online portfolio, couples who attend this show (or schedule a free consultation) will be able to see our latest designs before they hit the web! For more information about this show and to register for tickets, visit The Bridal Event's Talamore page. 

One of our most popular pieces is Francesca's custom-illustrated save the date! Based upon photographs our couples provide, these unique save the dates can incorporate their color palette, clothing, and any other design elements that are important to them! For a look at how closely these illustrations resemble our couples, be sure to read our blog by clicking here. 

While we have quite a few projects on our website, we hold many back until after our couples' events. However, after reaching out to one of our brides, she was happy for us to give our readers an early look at her save the date!

Shira and Terence are a fabulous couple that we are currently working with on their wedding stationery. Owner Randi Martin, of Always Fabulous Events, reached out to us back in the fall of 2012 to set up a meeting with us, Shira and her good friend and bridesmaid Tamieka. Once Shira saw Francesca's save the dates, she knew she wanted one to set the tone for their upcoming August 2013 wedding! While many couples opt for a two-sided, paper save the date, Shira asked us to print her design on a glossy magnet. We were so excited to send them out to her, and thrilled that she loved them! 

If you are interested in any of our products and services, schedule your free consultation with Francesca by emailing francesca@littlewomandesign.com or calling 267-481-4093.

Little Woman Design has had a busy start to the year! We are so fortunate to have been embraced by so many more wonderful couples!

As we have continued to grow with every passing month, we knew it was time to start looking for someone to add to our team. Someone who would match our vision of creating the very best in wedding and event stationery!

So it is with great excitement that we announce the addition of Lisa Suszek to the Little Woman Design team! With an extensive background in illustration as well as event and wedding graphic design, Lisa joins us as a Junior Designer, adding her own unique style and flair to the Little Woman Design studio.  After our initial meeting, we knew immediately that Lisa fit with our mission of bringing all of our couples great designs that their guests will remember forever.

We've asked Lisa to share with you all a little bit about herself and her background. Read on, and be sure to check out some of Lisa's vibrant and amazing illustrations at the end of the blog to see what a talent we found! (Special thanks to Nancy Paravano for introducing Lisa to us!)

Hi Lisa! Welcome to the LWD Team! Could you please tell our readers a little bit about your background? 

In college I majored in Illustration with a minor in Graphic Design. I also have experience in silk screening and book making and have done work in invitation and corporate design. 

Why did you want a career in design? 

Designers solve visual problems. They create a beautiful order and harmony from the smallest idea, and that’s something I’ve always loved to do. I also wanted to be able to incorporate elements of my art into the world around me.  

What is it about the wedding and event industry that you love? 

I’ve been dreaming about weddings since I was little. I love the dress, the ring, the flowers, but most of all I love the invitation. It’s the first glimpse that your guests get of what’s to come on your special day.

Tell us about some of your hobbies and interests?

I love to cook, especially traditional Polish food and desserts that my mother and grandmother taught me.  I enjoy old school video games, watching the Flyers, and reading romance novels. I’m also a big family person, so I try to get up to Connecticut to visit them as often as possible.

Thanks, Lisa! We're looking forward to working with you, and all the great ideas and skills you will bring to Little Woman Design!

Lisa will be working with us at the upcoming Bridal Event at Talamore Country Club on Sunday, March 16th! Come stop by and say hi to Lisa!

Little Woman Design was thrilled to participate in three wedding expos in the past two weeks! Over the weekend of February 23, 2013, we exhibited at the Main Line Bridal Event at the Radnor Hotel as well as The Bridal Event at The Philadelphia Racquet Club. On March 3, 2013, we had the pleasure of being a part of the Sixth Annual Gay and Lesbian Wedding Expo in Bucks County! At all three of these shows, we met with many wonderful couples who were not only interested in checking out our samples, but also had many questions about their wedding stationery and timelines. We've picked the most popular questions that we heard over these past two weekends for this week's blog!

• When should we send out our save the date? The time that you send out your save the date is dependent upon what you're hoping to achieve, and when your wedding date falls. We typically recommend sending out your save the date 9 – 12 months in advance if you are getting married on a holiday, holiday weekend, or during the summer months. Many people make their vacation and holiday plans up to a year in advance, so it would be wise to send out your save the date sooner rather than later. Summer holiday season runs from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend. You should also send out your save the dates 9 – 12 months in advance if you are inviting many out of town guests. If you are sending out a save the date to set the stage and get guests excited about your wedding, you can send them out between 6 - 12 months in advance. 
• When should we send out our wedding invitation? We normally recommend mailing out your wedding invitation 8 – 10 weeks before your wedding. Your RSVP date should be set 3 - 4 weeks before your wedding day as you will need to let your venue know as soon as possible your final head count. While you may not want to think about it, there will be some guests who you have invited who have forgotten to reply by the date sent. You will need to allow yourselves enough time to track these individuals down before letting your venue know.
• How much does (fill in the blank) cost? While we have some basic pricing available on our website, there is so much variability in printing methods, paper stock, envelopes, and other materials, that it can be difficult to rattle off a price on the spot. Your quantity also will affect how much the total cost may be. The best recommendation we can make is to schedule a consultation with whomever you decide to meet with for your wedding stationery, be upfront about your budget (if you have one), and ask your graphic designer to make suggestions on how to keep you within the budget you've set for yourself. Several couples we've met recently wanted letterpress invitation suites. By being upfront about their budget, we were able to make suggestions on how to cut the cost of the suite while still having their wedding invitation suite letterpress printed.
• On that note, why is letterpress printing more expensive than digital printing? Letterpress printing is not only laborious but requires the use of many more materials which contribute to the cost: 1. Metal or polymer plates need to be made once your design is finished. 2. Unlike digital printing, letterpress printing uses hand-mixed inks which correspond to the Pantone color swatches giving you a very close color match to your wedding color palette. 3. Normally, thicker paper is used to achieve the best impact of this printing. And, 4. Each invitation is printed one at a time. The combination of these factors increase the cost of the wedding invitation.
• What wording should I use on my wedding invitation? During our consultations, we will ask the questions that will help guide the writing of your wedding invitation. Who is paying for the wedding? Is the ceremony and reception at the same venue? Is there a dress code? Are you doing a sit-down dinner or a buffet? These are only some of the questions that we ask during our consultations to aid us in determining what the best way to design and write your invitation will be. For instance, if the couple is paying for the wedding themselves, they are the hosts of their own wedding and the copy may be written as "The honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of …" If the couple would like to recognize their parents they may write "Together with their parents …" We are always happy to make etiquette suggestions and will ensure that your wedding invitation communicates all of the important information that is needed.
• Where do I put my registry information? We strongly advise our couples NOT to put their registry information on their formal wedding invitation. It may be a matter of preference, but it detracts from what you are trying to achieve by inviting your guests! The main reason you are inviting them to your wedding is to help you celebrate, not because of the toaster they are potentially going to buy you. If you want to pass on your registry information to your guests, we recommend the following: 1. Have your bridal party spread the word. Or, 2. Set up a wedding website which includes further information about your wedding including registry information. We can design you either a separate insert card or a business card style wedding website card to communicate this information, if desired.

While these were the most popular questions we were asked, there are still many more that can be answered! If you have a question that you would like us to answer, please feel free to leave it in the comments section below! Or, set up a free consultation with Francesca by calling 267-481-4093, emailing us at francesca@littlewomandesign.com, or fill out our contact form here.

Thanks to BG Productions for the photograph of us at The Bridal Event at The Racquet Club!