"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."
about
dear kathryn
Established in 2013 as Ocean & Coral Creative, Dear Kathryn was started solely on calligraphy. After a year or two of calligraphing envelopes, welcome signs, and place cards, I discovered my love of designing wedding invitations, painting with watercolor, and telling love stories through paper.
meet kathy.
lover of dogs, good food, and intentional details.
I’m passionate about creating the invitations you’ve dreamed of your entire life. It’s not just about sending an invitation on pretty paper. It’s about creating an intentional, meaningful invitation experience that brings your guests along on your greatest adventure yet.
I know ordering your wedding invitations can seem like an intimidating task. But it doesn’t need to be! I love making the invitation design process simple, stress-free, and meaningful for you.
I truly enjoy incorporating calligraphy and custom watercolor illustrations into each new design. That’s how I make it 100% yours!
I value communication, and pour every ounce of my attention and care into crafting your invitations. You will never be left wondering what the next step is or when you’ll hear back from me. Most of my email responses will be within 24-48 hours of receiving your email during the week, so there’s no need to worry!
we're a perfect fit if...
heartfelt details are
important to you
I’m head over heels in love with including even the smallest of details that are important to you as a couple. Throughout the design process, I really get to know you, your favorite things to do as a couple, and what’s most important to you as you plan your wedding.
you value a stress-free experience
There’s no need to add more onto your To Do list while you plan your perfect wedding. I’ll handle everything from beginning to end, only presenting you with options that fit your desires, budget, and aesthetic.
you can find me at
the farmer's market
I love going to the farmer's market. There's just something about the hundreds of tables of locally made, freshly harvested food that gets me every time! Charlotte has a few different markets, and my favorite one sells whole coconuts that they open for you with a machete and serve it with a straw.
i live for
handcrafted touches
There's something about handmade products that just seems so personal to me. When you can tell that an item is made with love by a person rather than a machine, I'm all in. There's a story behind handcrafted items and I love supporting those makers who are willing to tell their story.
my drink of choice is
white wine
Doesn't matter what time of year, what it's paired with, or if everyone else is drinking cocktails or red wine. I love a good Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc! Every now and then I'll get a wild hair and go for a Moscow Mule or sparkling rosé.
my favorite place is
maui, hawaii
I've had the amazing opportunity to live in Lahaina, Maui twice. It's absolutely my favorite place in the world. The lifestyle is laid back, the fresh poké is amazing, and the friends there are ones you'll have for life. Planning your honeymoon on Maui? I'm happy to give you some recommendations!
in my spare time i love to
cook, be with family, & cuddle my sweet pup
I love being creative in the kitchen! One of my favorite dishes to make is beef bourguignon, which takes hours...but my mom and I only make it once a year for Christmas, so it's a lot of fun. I love spending time with my husband and my family...they're my best friends! My sweet 15.5-year-old pup's name is Chevy, and she makes me smile every day. Doggos are the best, am I right?
kind words
Kathy you are amazing! After receiving the beautiful Save The Date invitation for my son and his fiancé’s wedding I contacted you about creating a rehearsal dinner invitation. At first I was concerned about creating an invitation all via email transactions. However, that concern immediately vanished as your personal interaction from day one and throughout the process has been so special. You made the invitation development process from creation to mailing so easy and smooth. My endless questions were answered quickly. I am going to miss our emails. Your artistic talents are fabulous. You captured the feeling I wanted with the wedding theme for the rehearsal dinner invitation while still making it a unique invitation. I have had multiple compliments on the invitation. I truly appreciate your help to make our rehearsal dinner special with such a beautiful invitation. Thank you!
Nina Rorke, Mother of the Groom, 2024
Kathy you are amazing! After receiving the beautiful Save The Date invitation for my son and his fiancé’s wedding I contacted you about creating a rehearsal dinner invitation. At first I was concerned about creating an invitation all via email transactions. However, that concern immediately vanished as your personal interaction from day one and throughout the process has been so special. You made the invitation development process from creation to mailing so easy and smooth. My endless questions were answered quickly. I am going to miss our emails. Your artistic talents are fabulous. You captured the feeling I wanted with the wedding theme for the rehearsal dinner invitation while still making it a unique invitation. I have had multiple compliments on the invitation. I truly appreciate your help to make our rehearsal dinner special with such a beautiful invitation. Thank you!
Nina Rorke, Mother of the Groom, 2024
kind words
Kathy is a rock star! She brought my wedding invitation ideas to life in the most unique and timeless way. She was very professional to work with...and was open to comments/edits and as many proofs as needed until we got the invitations suite perfect (which did not take long, all her art was wonderful). She provided many personal touches throughout the process and was extremely responsive, timely, and enthusiastic...Kathy is the best in the business and worth every penny to have the entire invitations process in such good hands!
- C & J, 2023 -
Kathy is a rock star! She brought my wedding invitation ideas to life in the most unique and timeless way. She was very professional to work with, has an easy-to-navigate user interface portal, and was open to comments/edits and as many proofs as needed until we got the invitations suite perfect (which did not take long, all her art was wonderful). She provided many personal touches throughout the process and was extremely responsive, timely, and enthusiastic. We loved our invitations so much, we decided to do rehearsal dinner invites...as well and they are so beautiful and personal, too. I would recommend Dear Kathryn to anyone who wants quality and personal work. Kathy is the best in the business and worth every penny to have the entire invitations process in such good hands!
"You found a treasure" - My mom
"Kathy is so great to work with, she already has artwork in my inbox." - My mother in law
"We LOVED your invitations!" - All my guests
- C & J 2023 -
Kathy is an incredibly talented, kind, and thoughtful designer - I would highly recommend working with her! Everyone loved our invitations and all her designs at the wedding as well - someone said they wanted to frame our envelope if that says anything! I’ve already worked with her one more time since our wedding and I'm eager to again - don’t miss the chance to work with Kathy!
- S & C, 2022 -
kind words
I couldn't be happier with my wedding reception invitations from Dear Kathryn! Kathy was a delight to collaborate with—she provided excellent recommendations that perfectly matched our vision. The watercolor of our venue was breathtaking, and the way she integrated the intricate details of the old church's ceiling showed her exceptional talent. She even took care of assembly and mailing, which was one less thing to worry about. If you're looking for custom invitations that will wow your guests, stop looking—this is the place.
- K & J, 2025 -
kind words
Kathy was an absolute dream to work with in the planning of our save the dates and invitations. She explained the process thoroughly, helped us with options at every step, and kept us in the loop as things were being completed. If we had to do it all again we’d go with Kathy. Thank you!!
- J & M, 2022 -
kind words
I loved working with Dear Kathryn and truly cannot say enough good things. From attention to detail to incredible artistic to talent to patience with brides and planners and all the input that goes along with it, she is the very best. You will not be disappointed and you will be so pleased with anything you and Kathy create.
- J & R, 2021 -
