I had the joy of designing the full stationery suite for my own wedding, including invitations, save-the-dates, menus, coasters, escort cards, table numbers, signage, and more. While print isn’t my usual medium, this was a rewarding challenge that let me explore illustration, typography, and physical interaction design. The goal was to create a cohesive, personal, and visually engaging experience for our guests—one that reflected the warm, intimate, and eclectic feel of our destination venue.
Design Goals
Capture the event's essence: A charming organic farm in Cabo with a warm, relaxed, playful aesthetic and an elevated touch.
Make travel & logistics easy: Guests needed a clear, engaging way to visualize the locations of different events.
Create a personal touch: Infuse elements of our story into the design in a way that felt sophisticated, not overwhelming.
Process & Tools
I illustrated elements in Procreate, compiled layouts in Photoshop, and worked with carefully selected vendors to bring the final prints to life. Given the tactile nature of print, material selection was key—for most materials, I chose 100# felt weave cover stock to add a subtle texture that felt premium yet inviting.
Save the Dates
Themed Die-Cut magnets
I designed our Save the Date to be the first taste of our highly personal wedding, where my own design would be woven into every detail. Inspired by whale season in Cabo, I illustrated a playful humpback whale, knowing that one of our wedding events would be a sunset sail to see them.
To create this, I illustrated the whale in Adobe Illustrator, then added a paper texture in Photoshop before sending it to print. The design also included our wedding website, ensuring guests had access to important information as early as possible.
We chose magnets for their functionality and longevity—unlike traditional paper Save the Dates, they’re often displayed on fridges as a daily reminder and can even serve as a keepsake long after the wedding. Many of our friends and family still have them up, which makes it even more special!
Invitations
The Illustrated Z-Fold
Our invitations were designed to be both deeply personal and highly functional. The cover features a collection of meaningful Easter eggs—small illustrations that reflect our relationship and shared experiences—while the wording was intentionally warm, lighthearted, and inviting.
On the back spread, I created a hand-illustrated map to clarify event locations and help guests distinguish between San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Since travel logistics were key, we wanted our wedding website to be the primary source of truth, ensuring guests always had the most up-to-date details. To reinforce this, we included both QR codes and a URL on nearly every panel, making it easy for guests to access the latest information as the event approached.
Mockup of Z-fold printed on 100# felt weave cover stock
5x7 folded, 15x7 unfolded
5x7 folded, 15x7 unfolded
Menus
A Celebration of Place & Sustainability
Our wedding menus were designed to be both functional and meaningful, doubling as place cards that welcomed guests to their seats. One side featured the illustrated barn from our invitations, reinforcing the visual identity of our venue, while the other displayed the carefully curated family-style menu awaiting them.
To further embrace the magic of Mexico, I hand-illustrated small embellishments inspired by traditional motifs, adding a touch of personality and craftsmanship to the design. Every dish on the menu was deeply connected to its surroundings—Flora Farms, our venue, is known for its commitment to sustainability, holding a Michelin Green Star for its farm-to-table practices. They grow their own produce, raise chickens, and even bake all their own bread. Since our guests were traveling so far to celebrate with us, it was important that their dining experience reflected the highest quality, sustainability, and care.
Mockup of our menus/placecards, printed on 4x9" 100# felt weave cover stock
Table “Numbers” & Escort Cards
A Cinematic Tribute
Movies have always been a special part of our relationship, from the films that made us laugh to the ones that sparked deep conversations. Instead of traditional table numbers, we assigned each table a film that held personal meaning to us—ranging from the silly to the sentimental.
To ensure a cohesive aesthetic and personalized touch, I hand-illustrated each movie poster in a consistent style and color palette, tying the visual identity of our wedding together while allowing each table to feel unique. These custom designs transformed the tables into little cinematic moments, making it both an artistic and deeply personal detail of our day.
We knew that our guests were traveling from all over the world to celebrate with us, and we wanted each person to feel uniquely seen and appreciated. Each guest received a sealed envelope containing:
• A 4x6 card with their table’s movie poster printed on one side
• A handwritten*, heartfelt note on the other, personalized just for them
These messages were more than just seat assignments—they were deeply personal thank-you notes, honoring the shared memories and connections we had with each guest. Throughout the night, we loved seeing people reading their cards, sharing them with each other, and keeping them as mementos.
* I made both my husband's and my own handwriting into fonts and printed these since hand-writing 70+ notes without screwing up was a tall order! We had a limited number of these cards, so this method ensured it was going to be enough.
Signage
Thoughtful, Purposeful, & Personal
We wanted our wedding signage to be both functional and meaningful, avoiding excess while ensuring every piece served a clear purpose. Each sign was intentionally designed to blend playfulness, personal storytelling, and practicality while complementing the overall aesthetic of our wedding.
Cards & Notes
We asked for no gifts, but knew that some guests would bring cards anyway. Rather than making it feel expected, we created a hybrid guest book & card station:
• A dedicated space for those who brought a card to drop it off.
• Pens & custom stationery for anyone who wanted to write a spontaneous note.
• Polaroids available, leading to hilarious, progressively more creative photos and notes throughout the night.
Fun Fact Cocktail Napkins
We wanted to inject a little extra fun and personality into the event, so we created custom napkins printed with random fun facts about us as a couple. These weren’t just decorative—they became a game! Guests started collecting them, comparing them, and sharing little-known details about us, which was a blast to watch.
Our bar menu, including an illustration of our dog holding a bottle of champagne
Signage for our card table
Custom made and printed cocktail napkins to add a fun flare to the bar
Signage for our dessert table, including a CTA to take home some cookies!
I hand-stamped these takeaway bags for a personalized touch
Ok, now we're getting to the part that made me feel like I was teetering on the edge of crazy-dog-lady status, but we have no shame! All of these signage elements contained hand-illustrated images of one or both of our dogs. Since we couldn't have them there in person, we had to get creative.
Bar Menu
One of my favorite designs was the bar menu, featuring an illustration of our dog Loki joyfully holding a bottle of champagne. I was sorely tempted to include a “Dog Pawignon” pun—but ultimately refrained! Instead, I focused on a balanced menu that ensured everyone had great options:
• A Zero-Proof section was prominently displayed to offer delicious non-alcoholic drinks for those who preferred them.
• For those looking to party, we also included a shots section—but only after dinner (because empty stomachs+shots=yikes).
Coasters
To add a bit of fun and utility to our reception (especially since we were paying for drinks on consumption), we designed custom coasters featuring our dogs, Loki and Luna, playfully running across the surface. These weren’t just decorative—they served a functional purpose too!
Guests could use them to mark their drinks while stepping away, following the instructions printed on each coaster. This small detail brought a lighthearted energy to the evening, while also ensuring that guests could keep track of their drinks in a busy, festive environment. Plus, they made for great keepsakes, with many guests taking them home as a fun memory of the night.
Doggie Bags
Rather than giving out traditional wedding favors, which can sometimes feel wasteful or impractical for traveling guests, we opted for something meaningful and consumable:
• Our household is known for its abundance of homemade chocolate chip cookies, so we set up a cookie station where guests could grab a few for the road.
• Custom-stamped biodegradable ‘Doggie Bags’ featured illustrations of our dogs
This was a homage to our relationship, while also ensuring guests had a delicious parting gift that wouldn’t go to waste!
Bringing It All Together
Storytelling Through Design
From the very first Save the Date to the final escort cards, every piece of our wedding stationery was thoughtfully designed to create a seamless, deeply personal, and immersive experience for our guests. We wanted the event to feel like an extension of who we are as a couple—filled with warmth, storytelling, and intentional details that reflected our personalities, passions, and gratitude for those who traveled to celebrate with us.
Our invitations set the stage, incorporating personal Easter eggs and a custom-illustrated map to help guests navigate Cabo with ease. The menus and signage embraced the beauty of our venue, highlighting Flora Farms’ sustainability while adding a touch of fun with illustrated details, from Loki holding champagne on the bar menu to fun fact napkins that guests collected throughout the night. Even our coasters played a role—doubling as drink markers while bringing humor to the table.
At the heart of it all was our love for film and the people who make our lives special. Our movie-themed table “numbers” honored the stories that shaped us, while our escort cards, complete with personal notes to each guest, ensured that everyone felt uniquely seen and appreciated. These small but meaningful touches transformed our wedding into more than just a celebration—it became a shared experience, one where every detail carried weight and intention.
Ultimately, this project was about more than just designing paper goods—it was about crafting an experience. One that didn’t just guide guests through the logistics of the event, but one that made them feel welcomed, valued, and part of something special.
