Unique Wedding Gift Idea for the Couple that has EVERYTHING!

Invitation Addressed in Italic Calligraphy

Many of your friends or relative's weddings that you are invited to are second or even third marriages. Or maybe you are getting remarried, and don't know what to have on your bridal registry. What do you buy for the couple that has EVERYTHING from prior marriages?

One of my client couples had another great original idea for a wedding gift that they could really use. They had everything they needed in their combined homes.  The couple was planning on going to Hawaii for their honeymoon. They had many ideas of things that they wanted to do while there: helicopter rides, surfing lessons, guided tours, etc... They set up their itinerary, and made it available to all of their guests. It allowed the guests to contribute to the activity during their honeymoon - and pay only a portion of the expense, so people could allocate whatever amount they wanted to gift the couple. What a great idea?!!  And the couple could naturally take lots of photos of them during the activity and send it with their  thank you note!

Apache Wedding Blessing Personalized in Calligraphy

Here's another unique gift idea. Naturally, being a calligrapher, I will tell you that personalized calligraphy love poems that have the new couple's name and date of the wedding is something that you know they won't have!  You can even choose a poem or scripture that was recited at the wedding to make it even more personal for the new couple.

Another gift idea is to use the invitation from your couple. The bride has put a lot of effort into picking the perfect invitation. Most of the time it just gets put into the photo book, and never seen again. When you personalize it and decorate around it, and with framing, the wedding invitation becomes a really beautiful and unique gift that the couple will enjoy whenever the see it.

Wedding Invitation Framed with Decorated Calligraphy

Custom calligraphy is a really unique wedding gift option for the couple who has everything!  Please check out my website for either custom and personalized calligraphy ideas, or my store for less expensive great gift options. They are great for any occasion!

Spring Weddings & Calligraphy

Spring is in the air! With spring comes the perfect time to get married! I'm busy writing custom marriage vows in calligraphy, custom invitations and addressing envelopes.


I'm particularly happy with a design for a wedding scroll. The groom contributed the beginning concept of incorporating a tree (he's a woodworker, among other interests). In order to keep the costs down, instead of writing out the vows in calligraphy, it was done in type (a computer font). I did the monogram in with calligraphy letters, and some other touches. Then it was printed on canvas, to allow it to be displayed as a scroll.


Be original with ideas for your wedding vows! Incorporate your interests into the design, and you'll have a memento you will always treasure!

Art Preferences, Opinion and Personal Responsibility

"You're the artist, you decide", some of my clients tell me. I can certainly make decisions about a calligraphy layout that can fit many people's preferences, but I think that everyone must realize that they DO have a preference. Even little children know what colors and kinds of clothes they like to wear. Within any decision, there is room for your personal preference.

It's not about being right or wrong. It's about honoring your unique view of the world. Yes, art can be expressed in countless ways, and to give over that choice to someone else is negating the importance of your vision. Many people say to me "I'm not creative, I don't know what's the best decision; I don't know what I like." But just think about it, if you are buying something for yourself, unless you will not be using or seeing your purchase, it will be part of your life. You might as well put some of yourself into that decision and LEARN about your preferences.

An unexamined life is not worth living.

Socrates, in Plato

Personal choice is one of the most important characteristics of our lives as human beings. Unlike animals that live primarily by instincts, we get to choose our path through life. Whether the choice works out the way we had envisioned or not, and what we tell ourselves about our choices is a determining factor as to how we define our lives: happy, successful, or whatever terms we use. People who have strong self-esteem are willing to take personal responsibility and make choices; and accept and deal with the consequences.

Getting back to art and calligraphy, many times the choice that you are being asked to make is about a decision for a gift. Oftentimes I find people making a choice based upon their own preferences rather than the preference of the person receiving a gift! That's probably not the best way to make a choice for your recipient. Think about THEIR preferences instead! If you don't know, maybe that's an indication you need to learn more about that person! Think about the clothes they wear, the colors they prefer, even their food choices can tell you something about them! You can also ask them questions and find out things about them that make you feel closer to them! It's a great opportunity. And if you get them a gift that really fits their preferences, they will appreciate it even more! (that's why I have custom gift choices available on my website)

So here's my latest calligraphy border that I would describe as "Contemporary and Colorful". See if that's something that you like, or get to know your preferences - do you like something more traditional, historical, muted colors, or pastels? Honor your opinions, but don't get stuck and stubborn. Being open to considering other choices is a sign of healthy flexibility. And please, realize that there is no right or wrong - If someone doesn't like this border design, I know, it is THEIR opinion, not a statement about my self-worth! How much better we could all get along if we realized that statements from others are simply their opinion and no reason for disagreement or anger!

So, those are my Words To Live By for now!