CRAFTING LOVE STORIES ON PAPER
Meet Hélène, wedding stationery designer
Hi, I’m Hélène and I am the founder and creative force behind Smitten with Ink, a wedding stationery design & letterpress studio.
With a background in International Law & Diplomacy, followed by a stint as a chartered accountant, it should have been quite predictable that I would end up running a luxury wedding stationery business. “How did that come about?”, one might ask. In short, with two children and the realisation that I was a creative person at heart, an avid learner of artisan skills and someone oddly fascinated by antique pieces of machinery.
I am self-taught in pretty much everything I do as a wedding stationer and it took me years to acquire and refine my skills as a designer, a letterpress printer and a calligrapher. And I am still learning every day which is something that I find truly exciting.
I have a genuine passion for capturing the essence of people and translating it onto beautiful textured paper, awakening their senses and telling their love story with style.
With a keen eye for exquisite colour palettes and typographies combined with my paper and letterpress expertise, I help my couples set the tone for their sophisticated wedding day with bespoke high end contemporary stationery. From the design conception to the handmade production, the highest level of care and attention to details are at the core of my work, with all stationery meticulously printed & assembled in the studio.
If you want to discover what I could do for you as your wedding invitation designer, please visit my Bespoke Luxury Wedding Invitations or have a look through my previous weddings’ gallery for inspiration.
You can also find more details about the collaborative approach by reading all about my bespoke design process.
Smitten with Ink
Based in South West London, Smitten with Ink is where innovative design meets the old world of letterpress printing.
Originally centred on calligraphy, the studio welcomed a vintage hot foil press in 2020 - affectionately called Betty - which completely shifted the focus to handmade, luxurious, textured wedding stationery. You can read more about hot foil printing on here.
With an ever-growing love for the craftmanship of hand printing, I acquired an antique 1890 Cropperette press at the beginning of 2023. Printing on it is a real workout and you can find out why by heading to the letterpress page.
By combining traditional printing methods with a contemporary design aesthetic, my aim with Smitten with Ink is to create truly bespoke wedding stationery crafted with intention and rich in textures.
QUICK FACTS
I am French and moved to London in 2006.
I love the city life but I do miss the mountains and the ocean air so I make sure to go back to the French Basque Country every summer.
I am a sociable introvert.
I’ve always wanted a dog and we finally welcomed Willow, a Boston terrier, in Dec. 2021. She hangs around the studio a lot, not doing much more than snoring loudly, and has forever won the Best Employee of the Month title.
FAVOURITES
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walk: South Bank, London
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museum: the V&A
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film: Rear Window
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trip: Japan
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colour: black
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hot drink: latte
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flower: dahlia (they remind me of my paternal grandmother)
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candle scent: winter cinnamon
If you're enamoured with exquisite textured stationery and feel our personalities align, I might just be the stationer you're looking for. Get in touch and let's chat!