Stevie and Scott | Intimate wedding at home

Stevie and Scott hosted their intimate wedding at home in 2020. I was honored that Cassy Rose Events brought me onto this sweet couple’s vendor team to design their custom stationery. They had fewer than 30 guests on the grounds of the bride’s parents’ home for their ceremony and reception dinner. Their outdoor tented cocktail reception kept the after-party going a little while longer into the evening. No stone was left unturned with this event, proving an intimate wedding at home can be as elegant and luxurious as it is heartfelt and meaningful.

This event was featured on Martha Stewart Weddings!

Thanks to Blaine Siesser’s incredible film images, I can keep this blog short and let his captures do the talking. Except about the paper goods — you know I’ve got to share my two cents about those!

Invitations

The Envelope

The blush envelope featured burgundy hand calligraphy for their guest addressing, which is always a special touch. The postage featured botanical gardens nationwide, as a nod to their engagement (Scott proposed in Ann Arbor’s own botanical garden). Their return address graced the bottom of the envelope, for a modern twist on the usual placement. It included their “SS” monogram, which was peppered throughout the invitation suite, as well as during their wedding day. This was the first placement of it. The inside of the envelope was lined with a watercolor floral painting, of a pink and burgundy peony stem.

The Wrap

After opening up the envelope, guests were met with a beautifully-wrapped parcel. A pale pink vellum “jacket” was wrapped around the invitation elements, tied with a red velvet ribbon, and secured with a burgundy wax seal. This wax seal again featured the “SS” emblem, which (along with the florals) would serve as the base of Stevie and Scott’s event branding. The top element of the stack of cards inside was the back side of their details card, which had an all-over floral pattern printed on it. This incorporated the same floral from the liner, on a much smaller scale, inspired by delicate wallpaper. Since the vellum was translucent, the floral pattern showed through.

The Design and Printing

Overall, the main invitation was designed with lots of white space and breathing room. The main cards were simple and timelessly elegant, but featured a modern calligraphy style to keep things current. The overall suite was letterpress printed in a beautiful burgundy shade of ink. On the main card, we added a blind impression, which is letterpress printed with no ink applied, for a subtle representation of their SS element. Though it’s hard to see in photos, the edge of the double-thick cardstock was foiled, with a bright red metallic foil, to coordinate with the red velvet ribbon.The reply card was printed in this same red ink, on a blush card, as a pop of contrast. All guests were invited to the cocktail reception (after-party), and their VIPs got an added insert card for the ceremony and dinner, inviting them to Stevie and Scott’s actual intimate wedding at home.

Getting Ready

Portraits

Ceremony: Their intimate wedding at home

The grounds at the family home were immaculately cared for, in advance of the wedding. The whole setting made for a picture-perfect ceremony location for Stevie and Scott!

Each guest received a custom ceremony program booklet that I designed. They were wrapped in the same pink vellum and tied with the same red velvet ribbon as from Stevie and Scott’s wedding invitation. The cover featured a repeating floral pattern, again reminiscent of their invitation. This detail worked perfectly for their intimate wedding at home — it was a perfect keepsake for their loved ones to take home. You can watch me flip through the booklet for a closer view here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ685sNj-pw/

After Ceremony and Wedding Party

Dinner Details

Since Stevie and Scott had such an intimate wedding at home, each guest was treated to a fine dining, luxury experience. All guests were seated together, at one long table full of florals. Each guest’s place setting was identified with a hand-calligraphed place card tag, written on wildflower seed paper. This tag was tied around their menu with the same red velvet ribbon from their invitation and ceremony program booklets. The menu was letterpress printed in the same burgundy ink from the invitation, and the wax seal adorned the top, in the same “SS” emblem. This is a beautiful example of how event branding is carried out! These details set the tone for the epic culinary experience their nearest and dearest enjoyed.

Cocktail Reception and After Party

Stevie and Scott hosted their cocktail reception in an open, sail-top tent. Again, no detail was missed. From the signature drink signage featuring their sweet pup (and custom SS cocktail napkins to boot), to a custom dance floor decal in a floral explosion, I had so much fun designing beyond the paper goods. Providing a complete event branding experience is always a treat for me when working with wonderful clients.

Aside from the small details I provided, all the other vendors’ contributions were truly epic. Wonderful lounge seating, an incredible floral installation from the ceiling, and a fireworks show to close out the night… Stevie and Scott’s intimate wedding at home was one for the books!