Made For: Braxton Haugen
A love letter to letters.
Bespoke has always been central to the Smythson story, combining time-honoured craftsmanship with considered design. From the choice of paper to the meticulous finishing touches, each commission reflects its client’s vision. Made For invites you behind the scenes of this process, exploring the personal stories and artistry that bring each creation to life. Our first edition celebrates the bespoke wedding stationery of content creator Holly Ramsay and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Adam Peaty OBE.
From the outset, Holly and Adam were drawn to Smythson. As Holly reflects, they wanted “something timeless with a strong sense of British heritage. Smythson’s rich history, craftsmanship, and attention to detail immediately stood out to us, and it felt like the perfect fit for our celebration".
With a winter wedding just after Christmas, the couple was drawn to “rich, dark, earthy tones,” softened with subtle gold accents to add lightness and warmth. Their custom wedding invitations played a key role in setting the overall aesthetic of the celebration. “We chose a deep green for the font colour and envelope lining, and carried this through into the décor. The tablecloths and taper candles were also dark green to complement the menus, while our floral arrangements featured abundant leafy greenery".
Every element was carefully thought through. “Both Adam and I were certain we wanted a landscape-format invitation featuring a platemark and a gold gilt edge,” Holly notes, while tissue-lined envelopes added an extra layer of detail. The bespoke motif, inspired by their reception venue’s logo, referenced the couple’s connection to the sea, “we’ve always loved shells, especially with Adam spending so much time in the water,” while remaining distinctively personal.
The full suite of stationery, from invitations to orders of service, escort cards, and menus, was tied together seamlessly. By maintaining a consistent typeface and colour palette of dark green ink on White Wove paper, the design “created a sense of storytelling that carried through from the very beginning of the day to the end,” ensuring that each piece felt considered.
When it came to designing their bespoke stationery, Holly and Adam began with an abundance of inspiration, much of it gathered online. As Holly recalls, she “admittedly became a little carried away with different ideas and elements,” but working with our Bespoke Stationery Consultants helped to refine their ideas. Together, they developed designs that felt elegant and timeless, while maintaining the playful, personal touches so important to the couple.
The process revealed the meticulous details and traditional handwork of our craftsmanship, including engraved motifs and gold gilding, which Holly was particularly delighted to discover was applied entirely by hand, leaving a subtle shimmer across the surface of each piece. Each tissue-lined envelope was also hand-finished, a delicate and precise process that adds depth and texture. These techniques ensured that even the smallest details – from the edge of an invitation to the lining of an envelope – carried a sense of precision and care.
Visiting the Sloane Street store added another element to the experience. Holly describes the bespoke suite downstairs as “calming” and “a haven of memories,” where examples of previous couples’ designs provided inspiration that could inform their own choices. A wander upstairs offered a glimpse of Smythson’s signature craft in action, as artisans hand-stamped notebooks and other personalised pieces.
The final bespoke stationery brought the couple’s ideas to life, combining elegance with personal touches. “It captured our vision perfectly, bringing together every element we had hoped for in a way that felt cohesive and timeless,” Holly reflects. From rich wintry tones to hand-applied gilding and tissue-lined envelopes, every detail was carefully considered. Looking back, Holly is particularly glad they included the gilding, which “caught the light beautifully and brought a subtle sense of magic to the entire suite.” Seeing the finished pieces for the first time was, as Holly put it, “a dream come true,” marking the moment their ideas became tangible.
DESIGN YOUR OWN BESPOKE STATIONERY
From bespoke wedding stationery to personal correspondence, bring your ideas to life with a personal consultation at our Sloane Street store. During your appointment, our Bespoke Stationery Consultants will guide you through papers, finishes, inks, and design options, helping you refine your vision into a finished creation that’s uniquely yours. To begin, book your consultation online or visit us in-store.
Alternatively, our curated collection of signature templates offers a simpler way to personalise wedding invitations with your own details, while retaining the classic Smythson finish.
