It was glorious to work on a wedding stationery project in such a stunning location. Liverpool Cathedral, and Knowsley Hall, home to the bride’s parents—the Earl and Countess of Derby, framed the setting.

Setting the Scene: The Itinerary and Schedule

Overview of the Wedding Stationery Concept

To give guests a taste of the day ahead, I illustrated a custom itinerary header for Hetty & Sasha’s wedding website, featuring two key locations: Liverpool Cathedral and the stately Knowsley Hall (above). I used my signature watercolor and ink technique before converting them into website-friendly files. This wedding stationery approach blends artful visuals with practical details for a smooth day.

Navigating the Day: Bespoke Illustrated Maps

One of the most rewarding parts of this commission was creating two distinct maps to help guests navigate the sprawling beauty of the venue.

• The External Map: A zoomed-out perspective capturing the drive to Knowsley Hall on return from the wedding service; the surrounding gardens, and practical details such as parking at the Cricket Pitch and the scenic walk to the house.
• The Internal Map: A more intimate, zoomed-in look at the heart of the celebration. This map detailed the path from the yurts to the essential amenities, and featured interior vignettes of the dining and dancing areas. We also added two meerkats, one wearing a wedding veil! A joyful nod to the Knowsley Safari Park, on Hetty’s family estate.

A World of Locations: Table Name Vignettes

For the wedding breakfast, Hetty and Sasha chose to name their tables after locations and holiday spots that held special meaning for them. This resulted in a colorful series of location vignettes. Each table card featured a unique landscape, architectural or motif-based illustration.

Some of the featured locations included:

• International Escapes: Spetsis, Cordoba, Ronda, and La Donaira.
• Cultural Landmarks: The National Gallery.
• Sentimental Spots: Melrose, Yonder Tara, Picnicisco, Monte Cassino, Susch, Beauly, Zephyr, and Lorton.

We experimented with portrait and landscape orientations to ensure the illustrations sat perfectly alongside their custom text, creating a cohesive set that acted as both a seating guide and a fun, personal touch to the formalities!

Finding your Seat: Floral Escort Cards

To round out the stationery collection, we added a delicate floral banner to the place cards, providing a soft, botanical touch to the overall aesthetic. Hetty had a lovely idea to reuse the banner from the interior map, and to add each guest’s name within it. The guests found their cards at the Entrance Hall, as instructed by the Interior Map, which directed them to their assigned seats for dining and speeches.

The Party Continues: Cocktail Cards

We also designed six bespoke cocktail cards for later in the evening, each featuring a custom illustration. The couple’s choice of cocktails was unique and playful, including signature drinks for the bride and groom: ‘The Sasha’ and ‘The Hetty’.

This project was an example of how bespoke illustration can transform wedding stationery into a personalized narrative of a couple’s story. It was a joy to bring Hetty and Sasha’s vision to life through personal and light-hearted, hand-drawn elements.

To learn more about my wedding stationery designs, please read on.

If you want to inquire about your own upcoming celebrations, I can help.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.