Michelle Dowling Calligraphy

WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2012

2012-01-24T10:23:00.001-08:00

Glastonbury,CT – January 24, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Michelle Dowling Calligraphy has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Unique Services!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Michelle Dowling Calligraphy was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Michelle Dowling Calligraphy is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Michelle Dowling Calligraphy for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Michelle Dowling Calligraphy is one of the very best Unique Services professionals within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/michelle-dowling-calligraphy-glastonbury/d6c56608fb5c15dd.html.

To learn more about the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation's leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.
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New year, new website look ;)

2012-01-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

Starting off this year recharged and refreshed with a new website look! Here's to the 2012 wedding season!

www.ctcalligraphy.com

Cheers!
md

Fun, whimiscal, informal lettering styles

2011-12-13T07:19:00.000-08:00

For those getting ready for their big day, you may be mailing save the dates, bridal party notes, thank you's, or shower invites, you may want a less formal feel for the lettering style. Here are a few styles that are fun with more whimsy, or some with clean lines and print like. As we collaborate to put together the whole story, we create styles that is unique to your event. I like to begin with a different feel for the informal notes, getting more traditional and fancy for the formal invitation. As one bride put it, "building up to the main event"!

Rich warm bronze tones for wedding stationery

2011-12-05T18:22:00.000-08:00

Happy wedding day to my bride who chose warm copper, deep orange and rich brown tones for her December wedding. Love to coordinate and carry through to the wedding reception with inspiration from the very beginning: the invitation!

Table names or numbers... which will you pick?

2011-11-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

After you figure out who will be sitting next to who and at which table, you'll need to decide whether to go with traditional numbered tables or choose names. There are so many options for table names: significant places, names of vacation spots, and special words (love, trust, friendship). Even photographs of yourselves (or the Beatles... see below!!!) add a touch of personality and will get your guests talking! Bring in color and design elements to your table and set the table markers on an small easel or picture frame. Here are some ideas:

We tied in the color of the bridesmaid dresses and flowers:

A wedding set in South Beach with a touch of color set in vintage frames:

Elegant black and ivory, with handwritten table names of special places to the couple and a short sentence about its significance:

For a truly "Beatles" inspired wedding, we used photos of the group to provide the background for each table marker:

Be creative in every detail!
md

Pretty (and a new) calligraphy style...

2011-10-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

For those who like the flourishes and scripty fonts ... a new flair to my portfolio!

Metallic touches...

2011-09-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

Shimmery, sophisticated metallic accents and color choices in gold, silver, platinum and copper add a glamorous touch to stationery. Traditional gold symbolizes wealth, good fortune, optimism and health. Silver is modern and distinguished. Metallics convey a feeling of luxury and quality... what perfect meaning for a wedding or event!

Gorgeous, rich and stunning bridal ivory suite with a touch of antigue gold. Gilded edge on the placecard, gold border around the menu and a custom monogram (created by me!) in gold for the cover of the wedding program.

Ivory envelopes with gold ink to match the gold inner envelope liner.

Mini envelopes used as placecards in ivory shimmer with a gold card to indicate table number and a sparkly onyx envelope with metallic silver writing on the inside card.

Taupe shimmer envelope with chocolate brown ink and platinum shimmer envelope with black ink.

Silver envelope with navy ink and for the wedding programs, we reversed the colors and used a navy shimmer paper and silver ink to personalize.

Gorgeous!
md

August Weddings

2011-08-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

Happy wedding days for these two brides I had the pleasure of working with from start to finish :) Beginning with invitation addressing to table markers, escort cards, and programs... take a look...

Ivory invitations with hints of green apple and lake blue carried through to the wedding reception. We chose lake blue paper with white ink for color on the escort cards and as a border around the table names. Single card programs, printed on the back and front in blue with accents of green, and a creamy ivory ribbon.

Touches of seashell in a ivory shimmer on the invitation inspired us. We used a pretty seashell as a motif on the escort card, one card program with a pretty blue ribbon and custom made rehearsal dinner invitations in taupe, ivory and ivory shimmer.

Color Story - Elegant and Neutral, the Color Gray

2011-07-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

We have been seeing gray as a trend for a while now and recently, I have worked using gray inks, in all tones. Gray is timeless, practical and mixes well with any color. Gray is the color of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom. It is perceived as long-lasting, classic, sleek and refined. Gray is a perfect neutral. I have loved working with the different shades: pewter, silver, charcoal, smoke, nickel with simply gorgeous results.

For your inspiration, a collection of vintage stamps in sepias and oranges for a twist on stamping your envelopes ... what an invitation! Designed by Jubilee Events for a September wedding.

Vineyard wedding invitations with a pewter background and ink to match on the envelopes:

Soft gray ink on an ecru placecard:

Summer Wedding in Pink and Green

2011-07-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

Two of the most pretty and bright colors for a summer wedding. There is so much you can do to play off this color combination! Here are a few ways we accented with stationery. First up, my fave, Mr. and Mrs. signs for the chair backs, with ivory sheer ribbons.

Signs for the dessert bar and table number markers

Colorful escort cards

Programs with pretty ribbons

Wedding Programs... the choice is yours!

2011-07-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

I have recently put together some really fun, pretty and unique wedding programs which you'll see in the photos below. Some brides may feel as if they don't need one and that is fine! A program is not mandatory. It is a nice memento and gives your guests a good idea of what's to come, who's who and offer explanations for certain traditions that may be part of the ceremony.

Your program can include anything you want and be as short or as long as you need it to be! Typically you will find the following components in a program:
the wedding ceremony (including order, readings and who is doing the reading, songs, etc.), the wedding party and honorable guests, a "thank you" to special people, a tribute or in memory of, and any special songs or quotations.

Your wedding program is a reflection of you and keepsake for your guests... here are some creative ideas:

So happy together :)

2011-06-18T04:59:00.000-07:00

Beautiful invitations and coordinated calligraphy ... I love seeing the invitation for the first time and coming up with the perfect match! Here are some recent combinations that I love :)

Gold ink on a white envelope, absolutely stunning inside liner in plum, purple and gold.

Classy black ink on an ivory envelope with silver ink on the inside black envelope

Fun, lively orange ink on the inside and outside envelope

Black ink on the outside and inside envelope with such a pretty grass green lined inside envelope

White ink on a navy envelope, so pretty!

Seating Charts or Traditional Placecards?

2011-06-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

What will you choose?

Seating charts, done graphically, to coordinate and inspired by the event stationery, can be framed (a great keepsake!) or leaned on an easel for your guests to see:

Also, for another idea, check out this photo of vintage postcard placecards:

Show big creativity in the smallest details....

2011-05-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

Love that quote! I think it sums up what all brides and those planning events wish to do... show off their style and likes in the process of creating and enjoying a special occasion. How about little signs like these?

What are you going to write on?

2011-05-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have received some great requests lately for writing on different materials and various different mediums. Sandollars and shells are always popular for summer weddings but there so many options and fun ways to bring creativity to the littlest details in your wedding.

Increasingly popular: chalkboard writing, wood, creating photo-cards with captions (especially fun for Save-the-date cards), mirrors, glass…

Adorn your placecards, menus, or table with natural, organic elements: grass, pots of flowers or herbal plants, copper, rocks:
http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/Escort-Cards_Brown/results.aspx?type=3&colors=Brown&Wedding%20Details=Escort%20Cards

I love the button and ribbon embellishments. Hanging placecards from clothespins and wire or a large tree for a breathtaking entry. There are so many ways to create little vignettes for visual effect and for people to appreciate!
I am addicted to theknot.com’s “Reception Ideas”. It blows me away and I always want to re-create so many of the things I see there. Use this as an inspiration and let me know if you see something we can work on together and add your personal touch!

md

Inner Envelope Questions Answered!

2011-03-11T05:01:00.000-08:00

Many invitations beg the question, what to do with the inner envelope?

Part One - Invitation with an inner envelope
The guest name is addressed in the center of the face side of the inner envelope. This side will be facing the guest as they pull it out of the outer envelope. It can be written as either "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" or in case of a couple invited with their children, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith, John and Mary". The outer envelope would be addressed as Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith.

You can also use family or first names on the inside envelopes in cases where the recipients are close friends or family (for example, Uncle Tom and Aunt Sue, or Tom and Sue Jones, or simply Tom and Sue). If you are inviting children, their names should appear on the inner envelope in birth order.

Please note, you can choose to use first names or more personal addressing for certain guests and titles and last names for those you find appropriate to address that way.

If a guest invited with a guest and the guest's name is unknown, "and Guest" usually appears on the inner envelope rather than the outer envelope. For example, Ms. Jones and Guest.

Part Two - No Inside Envelope

When the inner envelope is either not being addressed or there isn't one, it is important to remember all addressing details need to be written on the outer envelope. For instance:

Guests with children need to be indicated individually on the envelope or you can use "and Family". Just remember, if you use "and Family" and there are multiple families and/or people living at the same address, be sure that this will be interpreted as you planned. Alleviate any confusion by addressing all invited persons on line at a time!

Guests invited with a guest will need to be addressed on the outer envelope as "Mr. Thomas Smith and Guest".

One of the most important purposes of your invitation is to receive the guest response card back filled out appropriately so you know who will be attending the event. One creative idea is to fill out the RSVP card in advance to ensure an accurate response :)

I hope this helps and gives you some guidance on how to handle addressing your inner envelope. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions!

MD

Pretty Placecards in Pink

2010-08-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

A very beautiful, sophisticated wedding ... scroll down to see my placecards showcased in the photos.

http://eventjubilee.com/blog/a-wedding-story-jessica-frank-at-ethel-walker-chapel-in-simsbury-connecticut/

Style Me Pretty!

2010-06-12T03:51:00.000-07:00

It is very exciting to see my work in this capacity! One of my recent brides had a wonderful idea of having a "surprise" wedding. I got to work with her on some of the details including:

http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/gallery/1637/2

I am so happy to be part of this beautiful gallery of photos!

MD

COLOR COLOR COLOR!

2010-06-05T04:14:00.000-07:00

I often get asked how to incorporate more color into an event. To this I answer, use stationery! Sometimes we feel limited to flowers and bridesmaid dresses to capture the "colors" of the wedding but you can use table numbers (or names), placecards, menu cards all on colored paper or with colored ink to brighten up the tables or add a pop of color. I recently did raspberry colored placecards with with white ink and LOVE THEM! You can see photos on my "samples" page (placecards 5):
http://www.ctcalligraphy.com/Samples.php

Let's brainstorm ideas on how to incorporate more color into your event.

MD

WeddingWire Official 2010 Bride's Choice Awards

2010-02-02T15:47:00.000-08:00

How very exciting to be selected!

Thanks everyone :)
md

Invitation Trends

2009-11-28T04:31:00.000-08:00

I found some really "cool ideas" for invitations at this website. I love that you can find truly one of a kind invitations with an updated look. Check it out:

http://cool-invitation-ideas.com/

Happy Holidays!
MD

Placecards and Planning Seating Arrangements

2009-11-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

I always let my clients know that I am available to write placecards. This detail happens so close to the wedding or event date. Somehow, when you finally get all of your responses, there are still last minute changes, additions, deletions, etc. and it is hard to keep track! And just when you think you have got it all together, here comes the fun - the seating arrangements!

I had to share this website when I found it because it makes me think of all of my brides who, like me, strive to keep things as organized as possible even in the midst of chaos!

http://www.placeseveryone.com/index2.htm

Sounds like a great idea! Enjoy!

Is Calligraphy for you?

2009-09-07T04:43:00.000-07:00

There are many choices to consider when addressing your invitation envelopes. I personally believe there is nothing like getting a hand addressed invitation which to me says, "there is something special inside".

I found this article about calligraphy and the role of a calligrapher and wanted to share it:

http://www.apapier.com/articles_read/6/All_about_Calligraphy/

MD

Trends in Invitations

2009-09-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

I get to see so many creative and beautiful invitations. By looking at the "winning" invitation and hearing about what led them to make the final decision, helps me determine what kind of calligraphy and writing would work together well to achieve a perfect first impression.

I have come across this website and wanted to share it. New eco-friendly papers have such beautiful textures and contrasts. I love the idea of "plantable" papers! These invitations are quite elegant.

Check out this website for some really great ideas and invitations!

http://www.foreverfiances.com/All_in_One_Invitations_5_5_x15_s/100.htm

MD

2009-07-26T05:17:00.001-07:00

If you would like to see full reviews and feedback please click on the comments for the post "Welcome to the blog" below. Thanks!

Welcome to my blog!

2009-07-24T03:52:00.000-07:00

I began this blog to to share my thoughts on calligraphy as well as invite those who I have worked with to offer advice and share their experience with you. It is my hope that this feedback will be helpful in choosing a calligrapher to address your invitations. Thank you!