Today we’d like to introduce you to Elyse Stokes.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Elyse. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The idea for E Stokes Creations began about two years ago, around September of 2018. My husband, Harrison, and I had gotten married in June of 2018, and I had an amazing time creating all of our wedding stationery, from Invitations to Programs, and all of the signage on our big day. I had so much fun before our wedding while I put my creative brain to work, and I was really proud of what I was able to create! When our wedding day and honeymoon came to and end, I found that I really missed using my creative energy, and I really wanted to return to the excitement and passion I had felt at the time!
I sat down with my husband and we talked about our dreams for the next several years. I told him that I was really inspired by some other wedding stationers and calligraphers I had found online, and I felt like I really wanted to give it a try and see whether I could hone my skills and potentially begin a successful business. My husband honestly blew me away with the amount of confidence he had in me. I decided to invest in some calligraphy supplies, some watercolor supplies, a desk that we crammed into our bedroom (our first apartment was just a one-bedroom, one-bathroom!), and a bookshelf that would serve as my storage for all of my supplies.
Over time, I really honed in my current calligraphy style, as well as gained confidence in my watercolor art. I’ve been so grateful for opportunities to partner with incredible wedding vendors in Atlanta and across the South, and to have worked directly with brides from all across the United States!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Things started really slowly for my business, and there were many times that I questioned whether I had the talent or the drive to really be able to take my dreams to the places I wanted to go.
I really had a lot to learn about what my particular style would be, as well as how to set myself apart within my field. It’s so easy as a small business owner to see the successes of others and compare myself and my business to what I see on Instagram. It’s been a challenge within myself to stay focused on my own work, on building my own style, and on building my own client-focused experience. I’ve been able to gain a lot more traction within the last several months of my business, and I am so excited for what 2021 will hold for my wedding clients and my business as a whole!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about E Stokes Creations – what should we know?
E Stokes Creations specializes in luxury wedding invitations that feature beautiful watercolor artwork and hand-lettered calligraphy. We also create custom wedding watercolor portraits, watercolor venue portraits, watercolor pet portraits, as well as custom hand-lettered wedding vows in my unique style of calligraphy. We have created many day-of items for brides and grooms, such as welcome signs, seating charts, and linen banners that feature the couple’s favorite scripture. At E Stokes Creations, we specialize in partnering with couples to create one-of-a-kind wedding stationery that will impress each guest and are heirloom-quality pieces that can be enjoyed for years and years to come.
I believe that what sets E Stokes Creations apart from online options like Minted where a bride or groom can choose from pre-selected options for their wedding stationery, is the fact that the entire focus is on the couple themselves, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. With E Stokes Creations, everything begins with an initial phone or video consultation where I sit down with the bride or groom and chat through all of the exciting details for their upcoming wedding. We chat about color palettes, florals, the aesthetic for the wedding, as well as the sweet story of how they got together, what happened during their proposal, and what they’re most excited about for their wedding.
Every single couple receives a hand-tailored custom concept sketch and a mood board or lookbook that gives an overall feel for what the couple’s wedding stationery will look like, completely based on what they communicated they were looking for during that initial consultation call. From there, every single detail of the suite is created by hand, within my studio. Each watercolor art piece is then digitized and input into a mockup that each client accesses within their own special online portal where they can view and approve each design element before printing begins. Embellishments such as wax seals, vintage postage, silk ribbon, envelope liners, and other fun additions are curated and suggested along the way to build a more cohesive, beautiful overall suite.
Once each design has been approved, the printing begins! I partner with different vendors across the country to curate the most high-quality paper sources, perfectly-colored envelopes, beautiful custom wax seal stamps, and overall to ensure that each client receives the best possible final product. Once everything arrives in house, I also provide white-glove assembly and mailout service to ensure that every single suite is alike and perfect for mailing out!
From beginning to end, I ensure that I walk alongside each and every client to remove stress, include fun, and make the entire process as seamless and exciting as possible. I have told almost every client I have worked with that my goal in creating custom work for my clients is to put the amount of heart and passion into each project as if I were designing for my own wedding. By the time I release the final project to my clients, I have truly put a piece of myself into the work, and I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
If I could present a trophy for “most supportive husband,” I would unquestionably choose the love of my life, Harrison. He has been my best friend and biggest advocate for my business all along the way. In my most down moments where I felt like I couldn’t make things happen for my business, he was always there to listen and inspire me forward. He’s supported different investments I’ve needed to make within my business and he has been my most consistent cheerleader along this exciting and sometimes scary ride. I’m so grateful for him choosing to dream with me and dream for me, and he has told me countless times that he continuously prays for me and my business. I’m endlessly grateful, lucky, and blessed to have such a wonderful man as my partner in life!
Pricing:
- Couples that invest in Custom Wedding Invitations typically spend around $1500 for a standard suite of 100 invitations – Payment Plans are available
- A 7”x10” watercolor portrait begins at $130
- Custom calligraphy projects begin around $60; pricing varies based on size of project and word count
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.estokescreations.com
- Email: elyse@estokescreations.com
Image Credit:
Bella Noche Photography
12 Gage Photography
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