YOU A RE
C or di a l ly I nv i t e d. . .
When it comes to planning an event – especially a wedding – invitations are a necessity. Though they might seem like just a “piece of paper,” invitations not only inform your guests of specific event details, but also convey your personality and set the tone of your event through wording, color choices, and design aspects. Lindsey Stiegler, founder and creative director of Mobile’s Soirée Signatures, walks us through the various steps of designing the perfect invitation, and even gives us a crash course in “invitation etiquette.” By Caroline Edmondson // Photography Stevye Photography
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Makeup Courtney Mathews Makeup Artistry, YouNeedBlush@gmail.com // Hair Katherine Grant, Salon West 5400
ake one step into Lindsey Stiegler’s quaint store on Florida Street in Midtown and you are instantly filled with joy – an aura reflective of its owner’s sunny personality. From the walls covered in colorful paper flowers, to the sparkle and shine of the intricate invitations, wrapping paper, gift tags, keepsakes, and more, Soirée Signatures is overflowing with detail and love, with endless possibilities poised to bring your party to life. A full-service graphic design studio (meaning they design and produce all of the work they create for their clients), Soirée Signatures specializes in invitations for weddings and corporate events, gift tags and wrap, and custom party printables such as napkins, cups, and huggers. Though Soirée Signatures is relatively new (having opened its doors in 2015), Lindsey’s passion for graphic 42 ACCESS Magazine / November 2019
design and calligraphy dates back to her childhood. Gifted a calligraphy set by her parents for her ninth birthday, Lindsey worked tirelessly to teach herself the art, working on new styles and refining her writing over time – something she continues to do in her shop as she progresses and learns from other calligraphers. “Calligraphy really started out as just a hobby,” she says. “Growing up, I always thought I would work for an ad agency. I always felt that wedding invitations could use a little more personality, and the day-of could be a little more put-together. That’s where my focus shifted and calligraphy just happened to be a part of how the look all comes together,” she says. After working several years as a marketing director (while also freelancing as a calligrapher and graphic designer on the side), Lindsey decided to make designing her full-time gig. “I decided to open