Mackinac Island is an undeniably charming wedding location. Over 80% of the island is a state park, there are no cars and it boasts gorgeous views of Lake Huron. When I was approached to design wedding stationery for a Mackinac Island wedding, I knew this was going to be something special!
Sometimes I deal with the couple directly, but on this occasion, my main point of contact was the bride’s aunty Lisa, who had such a clear vision for the stationery and knew exactly what Katrina and Brandon (now the Hargroves) wanted. The couple had already worked with another designer to create their wedding crest and a custom map, so it was important that everything I designed felt beautifully in keeping with that existing artwork.
From the very beginning, the brief was full of personality - bold, joyful colours in hot pink, vibrant green and touches of pastel pink and pale blue, capturing that unmistakable Mackinac Island wedding energy. The aim was to celebrate not just the wedding, but the island itself - its charm, romance and a few coastal influences. It was important that lots of extra design details were included to make the stationery feel truly bespoke and unique to the couple.
Bespoke Wedding Invitation Design Service
So, what was included in this bespoke invitation package?
Katrina and Brandon fully embraced my hand painted wedding illustrations, and their package included 2 x venue illustrations - one for the envelope liner and one for the main invitation, plus extra scenery to wrap around the back of the invitation. The cover featured a hand-painted illustration of the gazebo where the couple would say their vows, framed by hot pink flowers which tied in with the wedding flowers (pink peonies, ranunculus, astilbe and white delphiniums). The venue was the magnificent Mission Point Resort and the envelope liner featured a scene outside on the lawn, with the iconic Adirondack chairs which offer a prime spot for relaxing and star gazing!
Extra nautical-inspired illustrations were commissioned for the welcome party invitation too including sail boats, light houses, a sailor’s hat, compass, life ring and ship wheel.
The invitation design was playful mixing up stripes and floral patterns with hand painted illustrations. The folded invitation was sealed with a striped belly band and custom wax seals with a bicycle stamp - a subtle nod to the car-free destination that is Mackinac Island.
Wedding Day Stationery
I also assisted with the design of some ‘day-of’ wedding stationery including an illustrated menu and shaped place card. Now, it was a little tricky to get the menu just right, as the couple had commissioned bespoke napkins with a floral all-over-print, teamed with light pink scalloped charger plates and a green patterned place mat. There were several shapes, colours and patterns to consider and it was important that it all blended together well. I offered 3 different design options and the couple chose round menus with a green border and illustrated ingredients around the edge.
For the place cards, I used the gazebo illustration that I had already created, which was cut out at the top. The cards featured the guest name and a coloured heart, which signalled to the servers which entree each guest was having.
Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island
Katrina and Brandon’s wedding was at Mission Point Resort, one of the island’s most iconic and romantic venues that provides a full weekend experience, has on-site accommodation and spa facilities. Set along the shores of Lake Huron, you can enjoy sweeping lake views, beautifully kept lawns and a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. The couple exchanged vows at the resort’s much-loved gazebo, close to the water which provided a picturesque backdrop for wedding photos. The Hargroves chose Lindsay Elaine as their photographer, her work is rooted in the idea that wedding photos are more than just images - they are lasting heirlooms that preserve a couple’s legacy and memories for years to come. I was in love with the gallery as soon as I saw the photos!
More About my Bespoke Design Service
At Splendid Swan, my bespoke design service is all about creating stationery that feels deeply personal to each couple and their story. For this suite, that meant carefully working with the existing crest, building a colour palette that felt bold and joyful, playing with patterns, incorporating nautical influences and hand-painting illustrations that reflected the location and couple’s personalities. Every element is thoughtfully considered, from layout and typography to decorative borders, resulting in bespoke wedding stationery that not only sets the tone for the day, but becomes a meaningful keepsake long after the wedding has passed.