Designing Belly + Conrad’s Dream Wedding Invitations
When it comes to stationery, I usually get to design for real couples. But every so often, a story captures my imagination so much that I can’t resist taking it to paper. Enter The Summer I Turned Pretty.
As soon as the idea of creating a wedding suite for Belly and Conrad popped into my head, I knew I had to text Brett of Brett Denfeld Photography. Her answer? One word: DUH. If you follow her, you know she posts about the show almost more than I do—so teaming up felt like a no-brainer.
And since Jenny Han (a fellow Richmonder!) gave us the gift of Cousins Beach, I wanted to make her proud by sparing no detail and layering in all the easter eggs—from infinity symbols to Taylor Swift lyrics.
Save the Date
Before we even got to the invitations, we knew we had to set the tone with a save the date that felt straight out of the show’s opening sequence. Think playful typography, nostalgic colors, and the same youthful, dreamy energy that defines every summer in Cousins. It was the perfect way to kick off the suite—like the first chapter in a story fans already know by heart. 💌🌸
Photography by Brett Denfeld Photography
The Invitations
This suite was never going to be just “pretty paper.” It had to be their love story, told in details:
Infinity Wax Seal → A nod to their necklace, but more than that: a reminder that Belly and Conrad’s love is infinite. ♾️
Wedding Date: 8.8.26 → Turn an eight on its side and you have infinity. Add 2 + 6 and you land back at 8. Numbers can be poetry, too.
RSVP Options → Because nothing says love (or heartbreak) quite like Taylor Swift lyrics. 🎶
RSVP By Date: July 4 → The date of their almost-first kiss, etched in the fandom forever. ❤️🔥
Address: Infinity Bay Road → Because honestly… where else would they live?
Location: Cousins Beach → The beating heart of the story. Every detail points back to it. 🌊✨
Photography by Brett Denfeld Photography
Photography by Brett Denfeld Photography
Photography by Brett Denfeld Photography
Photography by Brett Denfeld Photography
And one detail we had to include? The beach house where it all began. Our talented resident artist, Lena of Bristles and Design, knocked it out of the park with her watercolor. We made sure to feature the dock—where so many key moments went down—and the lush hydrangeas Susannah adored. 🏡💙
Styling the Flatlay
No stationery suite is complete without styling, and for Belly + Conrad’s invitations, the props had to be just as meaningful as the paper itself. Every item chosen added another layer to their story:
A hand-painted flatlay background that evoked coastal breezes and soft ocean hues. 🌊
The infinity necklace from Season 1, because their love is infinite. ♾️
Susannah’s ring, because of course it had to be there. 💍
Conrad’s infamous “slutty little watch”—an icon of Season 3 and a detail fans wouldn’t miss. ⌚️
Scattered tiny seashells, nodding to Cousins Beach and those heart-wrenching shoreline scenes. 🐚
Handlettered scallop shells by the talented Deirdre of Pencraft + Post
And finally, hydrangeas everywhere—Susannah’s favorite flower, woven into the entire suite as a symbol of love and memory. 🌸
The flatlay became more than a styled photo—it was a layered storytelling piece, weaving in nostalgia, symbolism, and visual Easter eggs that only TSITP fans would catch.
Why It Matters
Stationery sets the tone for a wedding. It’s the very first glimpse into the couple’s story. For Belly and Conrad, that meant nostalgia, symbolism, and a touch of Taylor Swift magic. It wasn’t just about invitations—it was about creating something that felt like it belonged in Cousins Beach, tucked between hydrangeas and jars of Sour Patch Kids.
And while this wedding may live in our imaginations (and flatlays), the details make it feel as real as any couple I’ve ever designed for. 💌
✨ Coming soon: Part 2 — The Wedding Day Paper
