Aristotle
"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.
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 hours of receiving your email during the week, so there’s no need to worry!
meet kathy.
lover of dogs, good food, and intentional details.
we're a perfect fit if...
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.
get your estimate
you value a stress-free experience
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.
heartfelt details are
important to you
you can find me at
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.
the farmer's market
i live for
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.
handcrafted touches
my drink of choice is
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 Riesling or Pinot Grigio! Every now and then I'll get a wild hair and go for a Moscow Mule or sparkling rosé.
white wine
my favorite place is
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!
maui, hawaii
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 family...they're my best friends! My sweet 13-year-old pup's name is Chevy, and she makes me smile every day. Doggos are the best, am I right?
cook, be with family, & cuddle my sweet pup
in my spare time i love to
“I was brought to tears, as was my dad. In my dad’s words, ‘CLASSY, mom would approve no doubt.’ SO overwhelmed with how beautiful these [invitations] are. You are seriously talented, girlfriend! Feeling so lucky that we get to work with you...”
- O.L. 2019 -
"I truly couldn’t say enough good things about my experience working with Kathy. She brought my vision to life in the form of watercolor venue illustrations, a classic and beautiful invitation suite, and her incredible calligraphy. She came up with amazing ideas...Her work made our wedding so unique and personal."
- K.H. 2019 -
"Kathy is so talented at what she does so when it came time to create and order my wedding invites I didn't even shop around! I went directly to her. She was very accommodating for us with our budget in mind and still made them so beautiful and unique! We just mailed out our invites and have received several compliments already! I would highly recommend her."
- A.T. 2020 -
"You have been so amazing to work with! I'm going to sing your name from the rafters...I'll be sure to share your name and refer you to anyone who is wanting custom projects done...And then once they start working with you and find out how accommodating and responsive you are, well...get ready!"
- P.V. 2021 -
