A Calligrapher Gets Married

So.............................I got married. To the most wonderful person. At my most-special place. High in the mountains. Surrounded by everyone I care about.

Save the Date

It was perfect.

Photos by Kent Meister Photography

Not like, I-can-describe-it-to-you perfect. More like, The same-minister-who-baptized-me-and-now-happens-to-live-part-time-in-both-NYC-and-just-outside-of-Cataloochee-NC perfect. Here he is, The Honorable Dr. Reverend Daniel P. Matthews:

32 years later, in the same church.

Palmer Chapel, 1982

Palmer Chapel, 2013

We were very lucky. 

So when it came time for invitations, I must have heard this phrase at least 100 times, "I can't wait to see your invitations!" I'm telling you, with so much pressure (albeit self-imposed pressure), I considered sending an e-card. (I have nothing against e-cards.)

But.

This was my one true wedding. To my one true love. At my one true place.

It had to be real.

So I started with two items of inspiration:

The RSVPeas

A passage from Patrick Leigh Fermor

And came up with this:

It was all-consuming.

Supplies

Sketch for Original Wax Seal

Wax Seal

Wait! I forgot to tell you the most-important part! I did them all by hand.

I didn't mean to. Yet, at every turn, I found myself saying, "Well, I could do that." Or, "It would save money if I did that." Until finally...I did that. All of that. And looking back, I often think to myself, I would never do "that" again. But I know it's not true. 

POSTED: Start early if you're doing your own invitations!

I'd do it again tomorrow.

Ready to mail!

Special Delivery

They came with me everywhere.

The subway

The bus stop

And by that, I mean evvvvverywhere.

Sunday brunch

Don't take pics in Post Office. They will yell.

Until, at last, I was finished.

And by that I mean happy.

The end.