Elegant Invitations for a Summer Wedding in the English Countryside

Elegant wedding calligraphy for a romantic and whimsical wedding set in the English countryside. This bespoke calligraphy invitation suite adds a touch of luxury for your guests and makes a lovely keepsake too.

Romantic and Elegant Country House Wedding

Handmade wedding stationery and on the day calligraphy for a styled shoot

Set near the exquisitely beautiful city of Bath in the Cotswolds, Hamswell House makes the perfect setting for an English country wedding, full of romantic charm, historical architecture and extensive gardens to indulge in.

This romantic styled shoot designed by Chloe from Kennedy Wedding Events called for an elegant calligraphy wedding invitation suite to include the save the date, main invitation and RSVP along with handmade on-the-day details: table name cards, calligraphy place names and a handwritten menu.

Everything from the off-the-shoulder wedding dress with lace details to 3 tier wedding cake and calligraphy invites was captured beautifully by Naomi Kenton Photography and Byron from Power House Videos - make sure you stay until the end for a treat!

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Hand drawn wedding venue illustration and florals

It was important that the wedding stationery design reflected the story of this historical and luxurious venue so I wanted to include some illustrations, taking inspiration from the arches seen in the architecture and garden then putting it into the shape of some of the paper pieces.

The abundance of soft pink florals with floating foliage and ruffled textures designed by Louise from Loubee Floral Designs were to be a large part of the look so I wanted to bring a floral element to my design too.

Save the dates are a perfect opportunity to give guests their first glimpse into what the wedding day will hold and should reflect the overall sense of the look and feel, leaving them anticipating more. The save the date was curved at the top and illustrated with a floral arch, all hinting at the timeless location and feel of the day to come.

elegant calligraphy

The calligraphy asked for a loose and romantic look, verging on the edge of whimsy, just like getting swept away in a moment so I intended for it to look like it gently ebbed and flowed across the page.

I wanted to create a timeless look that merged old and new in a sympathetic way so the wording on the invites was traditional yet relaxed and loosely executed in a perfectly-imperfect style.

Locally sourced textured off-white and light grey paper with torn edges was used to keep the tones soft and muted to match the overall look of the wedding design.

The paper was teamed with iron gall ink, a historical writing ink that, when you use it, is a little bit like alchemy. It goes on the page almost like water, very light and transparent then as it reacts with oxygen and dries it darkens to a near-black, adding a slow and indulgent process to the calligraphy.

Elegant table setting in blush pinks and whites with calligraphy place names complete with wax seals and torn edges.

The main invitation suite was contained in a soft grey hand-torn paper folio, illustrated again with loose florals and tied together with vintage cotton ribbon to make guests feel like opening their invite would be an event in itself.

On the inside of the folio flap was a monogram which opened to reveal the calligraphy invitation on off-white paper complete with a line drawing of Hamswell House, as well as a small reply card with an envelope.

The following photos are my own.

The calligraphy suite wouldn’t be complete without on-the-day details to complete the story, carrying the calligraphy and elegant look throughout.

The beauty of calligraphy is that it serves a practical purpose in the most charming of ways so should be incorporated into the overall wedding design and not a last-minute thought.

Guests are guided to their tables by a table name card, then to their seats with a calligraphy place card that serves as a warm welcome and the loveliest of keepsakes.

the finishing touches

Each individual place card was adorned with hand-dyed cotton ribbon - the same as used on the invitation folio - vintage thread and a wax seal containing dried petals picked from my own garden.

Soft blue fabric, toned-down whites and blush pinks dressed the table which featured coloured glassware, romantic floral blooms and gold elements for ultimate luxury.

To add a finishing touch to each place setting a petite handwritten menu was served folded and closed with a wax seal to create another moment for guests to enjoy.