#MarryMeMonday

Local wedding stationery vendors + photographers

It’s time for the latest installment of our #MarryMeMonday series.

Last month, we brought you a guide to wedding venues in Charleston. So now that you’ve booked the locale of your dreams, it’s time to invite your guests + find a trusted professional to help you capture the special moments– everything from saying your “I do’s,” to your crazy aunt from Omaha dancing on a table.

While there are countless websites to help you design + order the stationery that will give your guests the inside scoop, hiring someone to help create your save the dates, invitations, + response cards helps set the tone of your wedding– ensuring that proper etiquette is being followed when it comes to addressing envelopes (yes, darling, there is more to than “To College Roommate + Guest”), + adds a personal touch, which can easily get lost in the age of a digital world.

Once you’ve set the scene with your stationery, keep the flow moving right along by selecting your photographer.

Think hard about what you want your wedding photos to reflect. A romantic affair? A bright-colored beach wedding? Still diggin’ that vintage vibe?

Not all wedding photographers are the same + it’s crucial that you select the person who works best for you. Since there are hundreds to choose from in the Charleston area, I asked y’all for help in rounding up some of your favorites.

Here are local stationery experts + photographers that can help create visual depictions of your love.

🖋 Stationery

The Holy City is bursting with local artists– many of whom are willing to craft custom creations to help brides + grooms design the wedding elements of their dreams. From gold foil details to magnolia leaf place cards, to Charleston-themed thank yous, these local businesses will offer their services with a touch of southern charm.

Graefic Design

💌 High-quality, custom wedding stationery + signage. Graefic Designs helps brides on a budget create a high-end look.
📸 @graeficdesign
💰 Prices vary based on design + quantity.

Sam and Co. Calligraphy

💌 Specializing in handwritten pieces, the stroke of each letter strung together will create harmony + elegance on your save the dates, invitations, envelopes, place cards, and/or reception signage.
📸 @samandcocalligraphy
💰 Fully-customized invitation designs (with a digital download) start at $50. Envelope calligraphy is priced per piece. Sam and Co. Calligraphy works with brides on a tight budget produce the “best value for the lowest price.”
💍 Featured on The Knot Best of Weddings 2018 List

Scotti Cline Designs

💌 Custom designs, including Charleston-themed invitations to match your wedding venue. Both flat + letterpress printing are available to fit your style + budget.
📸 @scotticlinedesigns
💰 Prices vary based on quantity, type of printing, and add-on items– such as calligraphy + corner rounding.

Island Haus Paperie

💌 Specialize in watercolor coastal prints. Ask your Maid of Honor with a bubbly print or thank your out-of-town guests with a seaside print that will inspire them to come to visit again soon.
📸 @islandhauspaperie
💰 $5 per card online. Also available in multiple retail locations.

Studio R Design

💌 Custom paper + stationery designers who are all about the small details to develop a unique look.
📸 @studiordesign
💰 Custom invitation designs start at $10/set for flat printing + $15/set for letterpress. A set includes 100 pieces with costs based on a $600 minimum order. Prices can vary based on add-ons.
💍 Featured on The Knot Best of Weddings 2015 List + many more.

Other vendors to consider: Justine Elizabeth Calligraphy, Emily Jordan, Dodeline Design, Tiny Shindigs, The Silver Starfish, SAS-E Ink Paper and Press, Mac & Murphy, The Scratch Pad, Blue Glass Design, Ink Meets Paper, Fancy Creative, Sideshow Press, Love Letter Gray Calligraphy, Calligraphy By Paige Tanenbaum, J.Lily Design, Charleston Tacky Toons

📸 Photographers

Unless you’re a professional model, this might just be your first time in front of a camera. When choosing your wedding photographer, you want to make sure to find someone who will capture your day exactly the way you remember it + who makes you (and your fiance) feel comfortable.

Here is who our readers would recommend:

Karmen Noel Photography

📷 Karmen aims to capture the moments in life when time seems to stand still. From proposals to engagements to weddings– Karmen will work with you to tell your story through the eyes of her lens.
📸 @karmennoelphotography
💰 Packages starting at $2,400 for seven hours, with a la care options– such as albums, canvas, + prints– available upon request.

Justin Falk Photography

📷 As an award-winning wedding + landscape photographer, Justin blends portraits + the surrounding scenery into unique pieces of art to memorialize your special day.
📸 @justinfalkphotography
💰 Packages start at $2,399 for eight hours of service and range to $5,999 for a full day of coverage with multiple photographers.

Sloan Photography

📷 Born + raised right here in the Lowcountry, Sloan is prepared to capture every detail of your quintessential Charleston nuptials. Knowing that not everyone was born with the photogenic gene, Sloan prides her business on making sure you at least look comfortable in front of the camera.
📸 @sloanphoto
💰 Packages start at $2,800– including two photographers + digital downloads.

Sacia Listenbee- Ivy Bee Photography

📷 Specializing in both wedding + boudoir photography, Sacia from Ivy Bee Photography doesn’t just book clients, she develops friendships with the couples she works with.
📸 @ ivybeephotography
💰 Packages start at $2,250 for up to six hours of coverage + up to 600 edited images.

Anne Rhett Photography

📷 Anne is a visual storyteller who will transform your magic moments into everlasting images. As a native of South Carolina, Anne has an eye for Lowcountry detail + charm.
📸 @annerhettphotography
💰 For inquiries about prices + availability, email anne.rhett@gmail.com.

Other photographers recommended by our readers: Charlie Mather Photography, Rachel Red Photography, Clay Austin Photography, Priscilla Thomas, Haley Jane Photographer, Evan Laettner, Caroline Howard, Liz Proto, Nicholas Gore, Dreampop Media, April Meachum Photography, April Meachum, Charles Merry, Taylor Rae Photography, LeeAnn Neumann - Chucktown Art, Dana Cubbage, Aaron & Jillian Photography, Sara Bee Photography, Carmen Ash Photography, Leslie Perkins, Lindsey Leigh

Disclaimer - This list is made up of reader recommendations + is not meant to be a comprehensive list. If we missed you, let us know by commenting below. Additionally, pricing varies depending on the services needed. We recommend contacting each business directly for a personalized quote.

It’s comforting to know that I am not the only person with an obsessive love for gold foil + hand-lettering. Now if only I could make a decision.

And my favorite part about choosing a photographer? Having the chance to meet new people who have even started to become new friends– like Karmen.

Karmen– from Karmen Noel Photography– drove to the Angel Oak Tree, disguised herself in sunglasses, + snuck around tree branches to help my fiancé surprise me with a perfect proposal. Although it is an extremely busy location, not one tourist can be seen in the background of the shot– an incredible capture of an intimate moment we can now relive forever.

Up next– I need to find a seamstress to alter my dress, my fiance needs to choose a suit, plus I still have to solidify my plans for my hair, makeup, + jewelry. 😱 Help! Which local businesses do you go to for your wedding attire + accessory needs?

Let me know in the comments below. 🙌

– Justine