Lauren Buck Lauren Buck

Caroline & Erkin | Newtown Square, PA | 9.27.2024

Caroline and Erkin’s colorful wedding at Ellis Preserve was a true reflection of their vibrant personalities and love for the little details. From a custom invitation suite featuring roses to thoughtfully designed day-of items, every piece was crafted to celebrate their unique story.

This past September, I had the absolute pleasure of working with Caroline and Erkin on their beautiful wedding in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. I’ve known Caroline and Erkin for almost a decade, and from the moment they were engaged, I couldn’t wait to bring their wedding dreams to life. 

Caroline and Erkin’s love story began in Philadelphia in early 2015, when they bonded over their love of great food and good drinks. They’ve remained close to the city, settling in Phoenixville, where they stay up to date on the latest bars and restaurants. Caroline is unmatched in her ability to recommend the best dishes at any restaurant! It’s no surprise that great food was a non-negotiable in their venue search. Ultimately, they chose Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square, where Finley Catering, one of their favorites, handled the culinary experience. 

When I asked Caroline about her wedding aesthetic, the word she repeated over and over was “colorful.” It was clear her favorite roses—orange crush—would be featured prominently. Knowing Erkin’s Bulgarian heritage, where the rose is the national flower, I was inspired to make roses a key element of their stationery. We chose a color palette of peachy-orange and mid-green and combined digital and letterpress printing to create a suite that perfectly reflected their style. 

For their save-the-dates, Caroline and Erkin gave me a fun photo from a local theater with their names on the marquee. I used a romantic photo on the front and attached a printed vellum overlay with a gold eyelet. The marquee photo graced the back of the card, reminding everyone just how entertaining these two are. With a floral envelope liner and a custom monogram featuring a rose on the back flap, the save-the-dates set the tone for what was to come. 

The invitation suite was one of my most intricate designs. We used double-thick cotton paper with a digitally printed floral border. I letterpressed the text in a custom blended mid-green ink to match the other elements of their suite. The invitations were beautiful, but my favorite piece was the details card. Inspired by the places Caroline and Erkin love, I created a map to help out-of-towners get the lay of the land. On mid-green cardstock, I began with a blind press of the Schuylkill River, a nod to the many bike rides Caroline and Erkin have shared along its banks. The map highlighted their venue, Ellis Preserve, and other meaningful locations like Phoenixville, Philadelphia, and Valley Forge Park. 

Since I wanted a deep impression for the map, printing on the reverse side of the cardstock wasn’t an option. Instead, I printed the details separately and duplexed each card by hand. It was time-consuming and intricate, but the result was absolutely worth it. 

Each invitation suite was wrapped in peach ribbon and sealed with a custom wax seal in sequoia green. The inner envelopes featured a fun photo from their engagement shoot and their monogram in white ink, with matching floral liners in the outer envelope. Every detail was considered to make this suite perfect. 

On the day of the wedding, welcome signs, programs, seat tags, and menus were all designed to match their invitation suite, creating a cohesive look from start to finish. The menus, which also served as place cards, were letterpressed on double-thick cotton paper, echoing the invitation’s design. We added vellum overlays attached with gold eyelets as a nod to the save-the-dates. 

Photos by Josiah and Steph Photography

Everything came together beautifully on the big day. From the heartfelt ceremony to the lively Bulgarian dancing, it was a true reflection of their love. 

I’m honored to have been part of Caroline and Erkin’s wedding journey. Their trust in my vision made the process so rewarding, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I wish them all the love and happiness in the years ahead! 

Caroline & Erkin’s Wedding Team:

Photography & Videography - Josiah and Steph Photography
Venue - The Ballroom at Ellis Preserve
Coordinator - Megan Rodano
Floral Design - Accents by Michele
DJ - DJ Joe Bene
Make up - Kendall Marie
Hair Styling - Hair by Donna Marie
Cake - The Master’s Bakers
Flower Wall - Nicol Floral Design
Seating Chart - Hillary Carr Caligraphy
Violinist - Brian Fitzy
Wedding Dress - Made with Love Bridal
Rings - Gabriel Co

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