Brides, we’re all for DIY wedding details. One-of-a-kind bridesmaid gifts, homemade cakes and handmade favors are all great ways to save some serious coin, and add personalized touches to your big day.

That said, we also offer this piece of advice: not everything can or should be DIYed. Case in point: calligraphy.

You’ve probably seen videos on Instagram of expert calligraphers seemingly effortlessly turn out dozens of stunning place cards, or a “foolproof” tutorial for a gorgeous hand lettered font. Trust us when we say that calligraphy is absolutely not as easy as it looks, and when it comes to weddings especially, it’s a task best left to the experts.

Whether you’re looking for breathtaking, one-of-a-kind wedding invites or oh-so fancy escort cards, these eight Etsy shops are perfect for all of your wedding calligraphy needs.

Papercasestudio‘s sleek, elegant hand lettering is sure to impress your guests.

From oyster shells to sea glass, LoveAlwaysCards’ nautical-inspired escort card options are sea-riously pretty.

Specializing in wooden and acrylic wedding signs with beautiful design elements, WoodlandCustomDesign is one of our go-tos for custom wedding signage. 

Add whimsical touches to your wedding decor with Mantequillaco‘s stunning custom hand lettered wedding details.

Set the tone of your wedding day with stunningly detailed hand-illustrated wedding invitations from WideEyesPaperCo.

We’re seriously smitten with Maggiesneedle’s whimsical and elegant illustration style.

CreativeFeel’s hand lettering style is simply lovely.

According to countless reviewers, MillieStoneUK is an absolute dream to work with. We’re swooning over her unique (and beautiful, obvs.) calligraphy style.

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links.

Wedding cake toppers are a godsend for the bride on a budget. Seriously, the right cake topper can transform a rustic DIY layer cake into a wedding-worthy masterpiece.

From sleek monogram cake toppers to cute cake banners, any one of these eight cake toppers from Etsy would be a perfect choice for your nuptials.

All of your guests will be wondering where you found this beautiful modern cake topper from herestousUK.

This initial wedding cake topper from CottageWedding will complement any cake shape or style.

Your fairy tale wedding would not be complete without this glittery cake topper from aketothetop.

This campfire cake topper from MorganTheCreator is simply adorable, and a perfect choice for the outdoorsy couple.

We’re all for quirky wedding details, and this cake topper from caketothetop is no exception. It’s sure to be a big hit with your guests!

For a rustic chic look, opt for this personalized wedding cake topper from BestWeddEver.

Instantly elevate even the simplest of wedding cakes with this monogram wedding cake topper from BestWeddEver.

We solemnly swear that you’ll love this “always” Harry Potter cake topper from LoveWedStudio.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Whether you’re eloping at a city hall or tying the knot in a luxurious (and intimate) Paris wedding ceremony, an epic bridal bouquet is a must-have.

To determine your bouquet style, draw inspiration from your wedding season and setting. An all-white wedding bouquet is the perfect match for a minimalist bridal ensemble, and a wildflower bridal bouquet is a must-have for the boho bride.

We’ve curated a selection of bridal bouquet ideas for every bridal style, and trust us; these bouquets are so beautiful that you may just want to scrap the traditional bouquet toss!

This wildly wonderful wedding bouquet from Christian and Josh’s Elegant Michigan Wedding (hosted at one of our favorite Michigan wedding venues,  Zingerman’s Cornman Farms) beautifully matched the bride’s floral lace-adorned wedding dress.

Photo by Dayna Mae Photography // Florals by Gnome Grown Flower Farm

Oh la la! This all-white wedding bouquet from Hannah and Kirby’s Sweet Georgia Elopement is simply marvelous.

Photo by Brittany Martorella Photography // Florals by The Joy Company

These sophisticated bridal bouquet from Justine and Kyle’s Enchanting Restaurant Wedding in Philadelphia has been making waves on Pinterest lately, and it’s easy to see why. Justine’s bouquet and dress combo single handedly makes the case for the minimalist bridal look.

Photo by Peach Plum Pear Photo // Florals by RAM Floral

We still haven’t gotten over the fact that this breathtaking fall bouquet from PineandPetalWeddings is made with wooden flowers.

Add a burst of color to your bridal ensemble with a vibrant wildflower bouquet like this one.

Coordination is key when it comes to wedding details. Match your wedding bouquet to your wedding color palette for a sophisticated look.

Succulent fans, this one’s for you! Sneak succulents, cabbage or kale into your bridal bouquet for a whimsical and modern look.

For a foolproof DIY wedding bouquet, stick with one lush flower type.

Ombre bridal bouquets are timeless option perfect for any wedding season or theme.

Lush greenery is a must for a chic, modern bridal bouquet.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Looking for the perfect mother-of-the-bride gift? From personalized jewelry to pretty perfumes, this gift guide includes the only options you need to see.

If she has a bold and bright sense of style (and a love of all things vintage) this floral clutch from boejackdesigns is a perfect choice!

These unique hoop earrings from Atrio are positively gorgeous! She’s sure to wear them time and time again.

Remind your mom that she is an absolute QUEEN with this darling crown-adorned heart necklace from TedandMag.

With its stunning visual appeal and gorgeous natural bourbon rose scent, this ‘The Secret Garden’ candle from My Weekend is Booked is a perfect gift option.

She’ll swoon over the bright floral scent of this lovely Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau de Toilette Spray.

Your mom will treasure the lovely message on this beautiful printed handkerchief from ThePolkaDottedBee.

Personalize these bracelets from ZennedOut with meaningful messages for your mom.

This gift from DearAvaGifts may incite a few tears from your mom. We love an oh-so gorgeous gift that’s sweet and sentimental too!

*This post contains affiliate links.

You may have thought about running away to a romantic destination to elope; this Florence wedding just might seal the deal!

Angela and Daniel both love travelling and dreamed of having an outdoor wedding in a romantic setting. The couple decided to keep their wedding simple and let the breathtaking scenery work its magic.

“We are both very simple people and wanted classic tones such as white and pale pink for our wedding. As we were blessed with the beautiful setting already, we did minimal decorations during ceremony and reception. Our flower vendor was awesome and created such beautiful arch for our ceremony and the bridal bouquet of my dreams. We also both kept our attire pretty traditional which I feel matched the gorgeous classic charm of our venue,” says Angela.

Planning their wedding from afar took a leap of faith, but the result couldn’t have been more magical.

“Although planning an overseas wedding was scary at first, I was so fortunate to meet awesome vendors who helped tremendously through our planning process,” says Angela.

Kudos to Paris Photographer Pierre Torset for capturing this wedding so beautifully!

Angela & Daniel

Location: Florence, Italy

Wedding Date: March 19, 2018

Number of Guests: 5

Wedding Cost: ~ $16,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Villa La Vedetta – terrace overlooking the city of Florence

Wedding Reception Location: Villa La Vedetta – indoors (it was pretty cold that day)

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We both love traveling and always wanted to elope/ have an intimate destination wedding and get married in a beautiful setting. It was both of our forever dreams to have the ceremony outdoors and our venue being top of the hill overlooking Florence was just perfect.

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

I luckily did not experience any horrible moments during our wedding planning. Although planning an overseas wedding was scary at first, I was so fortunate to meet awesome vendors who helped tremendously through our planning process. I would recommend doing a lot of research, which has become so much easier with Internet nowadays and to have fun while planning!

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

Our families and loved ones who could not join due to it being a destination wedding. Also because the date mostly was set due to Daniel’s school schedule. I know they were still sending happy thoughts our way and we are truly thankful for having them in our lives.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them? 

Our families were understanding. And we were celebrating with them back home. Our closest friends were able to join and it was great to spend some time traveling together.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Although our wedding day started off rainy, it miraculously cleared up just in time allowing us to be married outside at sunset. It was magical! And of course exchanging our personal vows was very special.

What were the highlights of the reception?

We did not have a big and long reception and also had to check out rather early the next morning to get to our next destination. So just spending time with our best friends, sharing a great meal and celebrating together was awesome.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

We literally love doing anything and everything together, but if I had to pick, traveling together is at the top of the list. We are big foodies so we love trying out new places together. We already got engaged in Prague & Paris, we love Europe. So that we were able to travel back to Europe and discover Italy for our wedding was the best.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

I would say there is not one way to plan an intimate wedding. It’s about what you want your special day to look like to make your dream come alive. It is not about a long guest list.

Vendors:

Event Venue: villa la vedetta hotel

Jewelry: Ethan Lord Jewelers

Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Dress Store: Pronovias

Officiant: The Paris Officiant

Photographer: Paris Photographer Pierre Torset