Being Southern myself and having many Southern clients, monograms are a reoccurring theme for our wedding design. I do post on monograms a few times a year especially when we’ve used some recent pretty ones, but mostly just because I like them! For a wedding we did in Texas Hill Country, antlers framed an intricate and modern monogram, which we used on pillows in the lounge tent, aprons for the servers, and on the printed materials.
For a couple with names both starting with “J”, an intertwined J&J monogram was a the perfect look. Floral J’s were hung from the ceremony church doors. Jim Smeal used the J&J monogram to decorate the couple’s wedding cake. We also did an amazing dance floor with J&J in the center…
One of my favorite uses for monograms at a wedding is on the dinner or cocktail napkins. We then collect and dry clean for the couple after the event, and they have a collection for their new home! Sometimes, just doing the head table is enough, other clients do the entire dinner and have a large collection for loss and stains.
At our New Year’s Oklahoma wedding, a modern L S monogram was created by Lettered Olive. We had the velvet ribbon on the bridal bouquet embroidered with it, along with chair backs for the head table at dinner. Monogram drink stirrers make a nice touch at cocktail hour, and for the shoe check during dancing, they provide a simple detail somewhere unexpected.
We find a way to use monograms in floral design more often. Monogram tags fill the center of wreaths hung on the church doors. And, for the posies carried by the Mothers of the Bride and Groom, the embroidered ribbon notes their special roles.
Printed materials are also a great place to use monograms. I love the colorful watercolor ones Lettered Olive designed for our recent floral and fauna bride, and a classically elegant monogram emblazons the front of ceremony programs.