Maggie and Andrew’s love story is as charming and beautiful as the city where they celebrated their big day. Maggie and Andrew were married on August 26, 2023, in none other than the historically beautiful Charleston, South Carolina. Surrounded by their friends, family, and the timeless beauty of the Gibbes Museum of Art, their wedding was the perfect blend of classic charm and modern elegance. Andrew—originally from Australia—is a track athlete and coach. Andrew’s international roots added a unique twist to their celebration and the invitations that we created for their big day (stay tuned for how we incorporated his heritage in their invites!). The task was simple: figure out how their invitations would reflect the sophisticated charm of Charleston and also incorporate elements of Maggie and Andrew’s unique love story. At E Stokes Creations, we were able to achieve this through a mix of letterpress details, watercolor artwork, a custom watercolor map of the city, and beautifully curated vintage postage.

Setting the Stage for the Ultimate Garden Party Wedding

Maggie and Andrew envisioned a high-end, luxurious garden party for their wedding guests to enjoy and focused on celebrating the finer things in life with high-quality paperie and intentional details throughout both their invitations and on their actual wedding day. Maggie communicated to me that she desired for a vibrant, floral aesthetic to be carried through every element, from the invitations to the reception decor and created a cohesive and stunning visual experience for their guests (can we talk about how incredible their vendor team is to put this stunning celebration together?!)

Historical Venues: St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Gibbes Museum of Art

Maggie and Andrew exchanged vows at their wedding ceremony which took place at the historic St. Patrick Catholic Church in Charleston. Once the ceremony wrapped up, the happy couple and their guests moved the festivities to their garden party reception at the Gibbes Museum of Art. I personally love when couples have separate venues that hold both sentimental value to the couple as well as giving the opportunity for guests to enjoy more of the city they’ve traveled to for the wedding. The choice of these venues added an extra layer of elegance and history to their celebration: The St. Patrick Catholic Church is known for its historic architecture and rich heritage, and provided a timelessly sacred setting for their ceremony. And the Gibbes Museum is known for its absolutely stunning art and beautiful garden and provided the perfect backdrop for their reception.

Designing Maggie’s Dream Invitations

The invitation suite for Maggie and Andrew’s wedding was truly a labor of love, reflecting their vision while also capturing the essence of Charleston. Maggie’s formal invitation featured letterpress details in a stunning turquoise shade, topped with a hand-drawn palmetto tree. The details card was adorned with custom watercolor illustrations of each event, including a small, to-scale map of Charleston highlighting key locations for the wedding weekend.

A particularly charming touch was found in the RSVP cards. Their RSVP cards included vintage stamps featuring track athletes and a whimsical design of a bald eagle holding the American flag alongside a koala with the Australian flag. This playful element beautifully represented the couple’s unique bond and delighted their guests. Maggie loved that we found unique and fun vintage postage that highlighted their love story in such a playful way.

The invitations also included a reception card with all the important details, and select suites had a rehearsal dinner invitation. To add a touch of local charm, the envelope liners featured a serene watercolor scene of a marsh with Spanish moss-draped trees, complementing the turquoise envelopes.

One of my favorite elements for their invitation suite was the gatefold, which featured a watercolor portrait of Charleston’s iconic Rainbow Row. The gatefold opened to reveal all the invitation suite elements, setting a powerful first impression of the wedding’s elegance and charm.

Custom Envelopes and Printing

Creating custom envelopes from thicker paper posed a challenge, as they needed to be sturdy enough to withstand mailing while remaining elegant. Each envelope was cut in-studio before being hand-folded and glued to ensure quality. Maggie had thicker paper stock (known as double-thick paper) for all of her invitation cards, as well as thicker envelopes. While the envelopes and its contents were a bit of a snug fit, each element within was thoroughly protected while making its way through the post office.

The couple and their guests were thrilled with the final results. Maggie particularly communicated how much she loved the watercolor map, the gatefold design and the addition of small details like the sand dollar on the RSVP card. The custom watercolor illustrations and the cohesive color palette brought everything together beautifully.

Setting the Tone for the Wedding Day

The invitations played a crucial role in setting the tone for Maggie and Andrew’s wedding. As a wedding stationery designer, I love to remind my couples that their wedding invitations are the first introduction their guests will have to their wedding day. It is so crucial for the couples I serve to have a wow factor for their wedding invitations because we want to make sure their guests know that this isn’t just another wedding, but instead an event to remember for a lifetime. Every detail, from the hand-drawn illustrations to the vintage stamps, was meticulously chosen to reflect the couple’s vision and the charm of Charleston. The consistency in aesthetic touches throughout the wedding created a memorable and beautiful experience for all their guests.

A Day to Remember (Charleston’s Version)

Maggie and Andrew’s wedding was a perfect blend of elegance, charm, and personal touches. From the custom gatefold invitations to the luxurious reception at the Gibbes Museum of Art, every detail was thoughtfully planned and beautifully executed. Their wedding was a true celebration of their love and the timeless beauty of Charleston. Congratulations to Maggie and Andrew, and wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness!

Inspired by Maggie’s stunning letterpress and watercolor wedding invitations? I would be more than happy to get the ball rolling and find ways to make your own big day that much more unique and special with custom wedding invitations!

Custom wedding invitations: E Stokes Creations
Wedding Photographer: Olivia Rae James
Wedding Videographer: Siegel Films
Wedding Planner: Fox Events
Stationery Photos + Layout Design: Peterson Design Photos
Wedding Ceremony Venue: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Wedding Reception Venue: Gibbes Museum of Art
Wedding Florals: Roadside Blooms
Wedding Dress: Guild of Hands
Makeup: Dan Duran
Hair: Vivienne Coiffure
Catering: Cru Catering