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This week’s topics: custom wedding invitations, wedding website design, personalized paper goods, Los Angeles wedding designers, luxury wedding stationery, creative direction for weddings, wedding signage trends, how to plan a cohesive design experience, modern wedding branding, fashion-inspired wedding aesthetics, day-of wedding details, RSVP website tips, vendor collaboration in weddings, 2025 wedding invitation trends, unique escort display ideas
In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, Iron Diamond Media owner Sonja Babich and co-host Amanda Holder sit down with Kristeen Widmyer and Brian Larson, the dynamic duo behind Los Angeles-based design studio Strictly Personal Designs. Known for their imaginative, extra-personalized approach to wedding branding, the pair shares how their backgrounds in fashion, graphic design and planning fuel their work—creating everything from custom wedding invitations and signage to cohesive wedding websites.
Kristeen and Brian's creative partnership began with a Hellraiser-inspired save-the-date for Brian's nuptials and has since grown into a boutique business beloved for pushing the boundaries of traditional wedding paper goods. They walk us through how they approach client discovery—digging into each couple's personality, interests and even favorite restaurants and beyond—to translate those stories into unexpected, luxe designs. Whether a couple leans more classic or modern (and everything in between), the goal is always the same: no cookie-cutter designs, just stationery and signage that feel like an extension of the couple themselves.
They also discuss their role as informal creative directors, often pulling design inspiration from venues, attire, architecture or color palettes that might appear in a couture collection. From sketching beloved pets into invitation suites to creating menus that double as escort cards and conversation starters, they ensure no detail is overlooked. Their work lives at the intersection of aesthetic impact and intentional storytelling.
For couples considering custom wedding websites, Brian shares how the digital experience can match—and even enhance—the vibe of the printed suite. From hand-lettered calligraphy to seamless RSVP tracking, a well-designed website creates a cohesive guest experience while streamlining logistics for the couple and planner alike. "Your website is your second first impression," he notes, encouraging couples who invest in stationery to think of their site as part of the full wedding brand.
The conversation then moves to day-of signage. From bar menus and directional signage to large-scale seating displays and interactive escort card installations, the duo explains how these elements can uniquely blend beauty and function. Collaborating closely with planners and fabricators, they ensure the signage not only communicates clearly but elevates the guest experience with personalized, artful touches.
Kristeen and Brian close out the conversation by sharing their favorite wedding stationery trends on the horizon: bold color combinations, stylish palettes and bespoke illustrations that go beyond the ordinary. They encourage couples to embrace unexpected elements—whether through modern typography, art-inspired motifs or vivid wedding invitation designs that reflect their love stories.
This episode is powered by Strictly Personal Designs and 440 Elm. Special thanks to members Linen Effects, Continental Diamond, Warpaint International.
