...Lemon Drop...

Seeing tables designated at a reception as "Table 1" will give you the same thrill as when the DJ invited everyone onto the dance floor to do the hokey pokey and/or the chicken dance. Do your guests a little favor and take the time to come up with a couple of fun and entertaining table names. Places that you have been, names of your favorite songs/musicians or words of love {hope, trust, honor, etc} will certainly spice up your escort cards/seating chart.

This bride chose yellow as an accent color for her reception. Therefore, the table numbers were all named after pretty yellow things. My favorite was lemon drop due to the addition of lemon drops scattered throughout the reception. However, you have to admit that ducking, butterscotch, duckling, daffodil and honey buns were quite cute an innovative.

So, keep it fresh. Change it up a bit. Don't go for the standard "Table 1," if you can think up something more innovative. It will just be one more detail that will bring a smile to the faces of your guests.

pictures seen at the blog of: hugh forte

...Sanskripts...

For you fall 2010 brides out there, I just wanted to let you know that I am quite the fans of this lovely teal and orange color combo.
I also love that the names of the couple are surrounded by lovely elegant orange swirls.

Simple and unexpected yet elegant and whimsy. I love.

In case you were wondering, this darling invitation can be found here via style me pretty.

...Moving...

Tina over at with this ring i thee obsess recently featured the cutest post on moving announcements. If you're gearing up for a big move, here are some of my favorites from Minted:
And, obviously, I would love to put my calligraphy to work and address them for you!

...Christmas...

If you're a celebrant of Christmas, exactly 5 months from today it will be Christmas Eve. One of our favorite holidays. Time for presents, warm cookies, and colored wrapping paper. Perhaps even a wedding!
I am loving this design whipped up by Leslie at unless someone like you for a wedding around that special time of year. Almost makes me want to sing Christmas carols. Almost.

...Shop Announcement...

Hi friends,
Penned & Pretty has a little announcement to make.

This shop has turned into something that I never dreamed that it could. I have been cranking out calligraphy orders left and right for the sweetest of brides. My little shop is bursting at the seams and my tiny fingers are starting to hurt from writing so much! To be honest, I didn't realize how much of my time would {happily} be consumed with Penned & Pretty. Between the orders, the office work, weekly trips to the post office and office supply store, I realized that it is time to increase my rates to more accurately reflect the investment of time that I put into each order. The new rates are posted on the pricing page {here} and will be effective immediately for any order booked after July 21, 2009.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my previous brides/clients for their business. Without them I could not have built up such an amazing portfolio and words of pretty praise. To my current brides that have me booked solid, all the way out to November {!!!}, I am so excited to work with all of you! And to all of my future brides, I cannot wait to see what you have in store for me! Reserve your time frame by contacting me so that I can make your wedding paper products penned & pretty!

xoxo,
jessica lynn

p.s. we have plenty more samples of our completed work to share. we just haven't gotten around to blogging about them. fingers crossed, we hope to share the images of them with you soon!
p.p.s. in previous posts on this little blog, I have often referred to penned & pretty in the plural, even though its just clearly run & operated by little ole me. From here on out, I'll be blogging for penned & pretty as I should have all along, in the singular format {the "i" instead of the "we"}. I hope this provides better transparency, as I wouldn't want you to think that anyone but me would be providing a calligraphy service to you!

...Sea Horses...

Looking for an invitation suite that's affordable and chic!? Look no further than regas ny. We absolutely love just about each and every design that they offer! We couldn't help but post this one for our dear friend Debbie, a destination wedding bride!
It seems like destination wedding invitations are centered around starfish, sea shells and palm trees. In our opinion, sea horses are like a breath of fresh salty sea breeze!The invitation is displayed in a folder {right}, along with the invitation to the welcome "Friday night shindig" dinner {left}.
Even the response card is adorable! And we love the turquoise and lavender color combination!

The entire suite, as a whole is just darling. We would love to receive it in the mail!invitation by regas ny via style me pretty

...Zig Zag Tag Ties...

In need of some adorable tags for your bridesmaid gifts or wedding favors?! Head over to Linda & Harriett to order these playful Zig Zag Hang Ties!
Available in lime green, gray, and sky blue!
via frolic

...Via Love Notes...

We're sure that by now you have seen this precious little save the date. It chronicles the couples story from their individual births, the year they fell in love, the years they moved around the country and all the way up to the day they got engaged. It's quite cute!!

as seen on lucky me at this post via love notes.

...Woodgrain Embossed...

We think that it is safe to say that your save the dates should be nothing short of fantastic if you have crafting abilities equivalent to that of a beginner, a stash of craft supplies and the smallest desire to DIY. This bride had a serious eye for crafting and design, as you'll see below.

Here's a look at her stash of supplies. Once we saw that bakers twine was about to be involved, we knew this had to be good.
The actual save the date information was printed onto label sheets and affixed to an old map on which the area the wedding would occur was circled.

Scalloped scissors were used on the white woodgrain embossed paper for a beautiful finished look to the suite.

Moral of the story: adding bakers twine to your invitation suite will make them that much cuter than they already were.

found via this post on oh so beautiful paper. see the bride behind this lovely invitation set at: rupert and sarah

...DolciOdille...

One of our lovely blogger friends recently posted pictures of an adorable off-beat "Extra Information" insert for a wedding invitation. The envelope alone is quite precious.
The first extra information card informed guests of the important things in life...that there would be cake and ice cream following the ceremony.

The second card made us giggle. Now, some people might say that it's tacky to tell your guests where you are registered an or ask for money. But in the end, it's just easier on everyone. You don't end up with items that you don't need or like and Aunt Rita doesn't have to make the trek to every major department store in the tri-state to find out where you are registered at. Honestly, there is no shame in telling guests where you are registered at. Extra points if you can find a cute way {like the card below} to do it.

all items by DolciOdille, a charmingly cute little letterpress shop!