Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily DeMeo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I originally began Of Light & Letters as just a calligrapher. I had started off learning the basic strokes through hand-lettering long before I ever picked up my first pointed pen. The internet is an amazing place full of resources, and through social media, youtube videos, and Skillshare, I quickly found myself falling in love with the art of modern calligraphy. There was definitely a learning curve involved- what types of nibs work best on handmade paper, testing inks and determining just the right consistency. While I adored calligraphy (and still do!), I also felt the pull toward the world of design and printed paper goods.

In shifting more in the direction of stationery design, I found myself intimidated by the mountain of questions in front of me. Learning the Adobe suite and each of their specific nuances, where to find print vendors, how to prepare files for various print methods, whether to offer full custom vs. semi-custom invitations, it all felt insurmountable. The biggest obstacles for myself in this season, were my own limiting thoughts. At this time, I found myself in a season where I had the additional time to dedicate to education, and I decided to take full advantage. Each day I spent even just one hour working toward answering some of these questions. I was welcomed into Facebook groups of other designers, learning from their questions. I found established stationers with educational resources specifically made for what I was seeking. Slowly over time, I established my own style and method of operating my business that felt right.

As I took in this new knowledge of the stationery world, I decided I was going to be super intentional about investing in actual print samples. I took my three initial collection designs and strategically had them printed on three different paper types, in three different print methods. I was committed to having a quality example of everything I wanted to offer. I designed suites with one of each type of embellishment I wanted to offer, and spent a few hours with my friend Madison on some brand photos.

The most essential skill for me in these early days was consistency. It honestly still is. I think people are capable of learning most skills, if they are willing to dedicate the time and effort to it. Like any artist, I can look back on photos of my early work and cringe at some of the decisions that were made. But over time, through consistent refining of my skill, I saw growth. My calligraphy and design style continues to evolve through showing up consistently, as that is the only way we grow and improve.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I am a fine art stationer and calligrapher, primarily in the wedding industry. I adore light-filled celebrations and believe in the value of physical, tangible artwork in this digital world.

I offer a collection of semi-custom wedding invitations and calligraphy services, such as envelope addressing and name cards. While the core designs of my collection are semi-custom, the process of working together is highly customized. Rather than just plugging in your information and purchasing without interaction, I dedicate the time to get to know my clients, their styles, and tie in personalized details from their wedding day into their stationery. Maintaining the same core components, each suite can be personalized with color palettes, paper types, print methods, and embellishments to create a detailed work of art, as unique as the couple it represents.

Wedding invitations are such a valuable component of your wedding day. From the moment they arrive in your guest’s mailbox, they are giving a glimpse into what to expect for your big day. They sit on refrigerators for months, creating anticipation and excitement for the day to come. I aim to tell my clients’ stories through stationery, and it is an honor to be entrusted with the most special paper goods.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

The year 2020, while full of all uncertainty, felt like a true beginning for Of Light & Letters. In May of that year, I had completed graduate school with my degree in higher education. I had plans to get a job at a college and continue offering calligraphy as a side hustle. However, once graduating, the job market did not look anything like what I expected. Colleges had spent half the semester sending their students home, pivoting to remote methods of working and learning, and adapting to what student success could look like virtually. No one knew what the fall semester was going to look like. As a result, colleges were hiring very few positions for people like myself. During that season of applying and interviewing for several months, I decided to dedicate my newfound capacity to learning as much as I could about stationery design.

Each day I spent time taking in as much as I could. Coming out of grad school, one of my top strengths was input, meaning I enjoyed collecting new knowledge and information. I spent the days sketching out potential collection designs on paper before learning how to create them in Illustrator. I was doing calligraphy on my iPad, watching and rewatching tutorials on how to vectorize it for print. I joined Facebook groups full of other well-established stationers, taking note of the questions they asked as well as the responses from the other members. While this time was a challenging in-between of unknowns and not-quite-yets, I look back on that season with so much gratitude for the faithful persistence I had to show up each day. This season, while not the formal beginning, felt like a fresh start for the business in a lot of ways. It was the time that I shifted from hobby to really taking it seriously. Currently I am still part-time with both Of Light & Letters and my job in higher education, and I love the balance it provides between my two passions.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am endlessly inspired by Scripture and the beauty of God’s Word. The name Of Light & Letters originates from Matthew 5:16, an influential verse in my faith journey and one I abide by in my work. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” I aim to live this out through maintaining encouraging client relationships, from the moment you inquire until even after the big day.

Client relationships are the most valuable part of the process for me. It is not just about the pretty paper, but it’s about the people. The beauty of the gospel is seeing God’s heart for his people. So much so, that Jesus was willing to give his life for us. He sacrificed himself in order to have a relationship with his people, and that is what drives my approach to business as well. For this reason, I desired to have a client process that is focused on getting to know your unique story, and telling that story in an authentic way.

Of course while I adore my clients, to some degree, it is about the pretty paper as well. Creating beauty is something that I believe is honoring to God. One of my favorite examples of this is from Exodus, when God is giving instructions on how to build the tabernacle. For multiple pages, he describes in precise detail how it is to be constructed. The materials are all of high quality: beautiful and made to last. This passage has been a large influence in how I approach my work. Creating wedding invitations is a slow and intentional process. Each step of the way involves the paper passing through my hands. From envelope calligraphy to tying ribbons, melting wax to adhering stamps, there is so much care poured into every detail. I source materials of high quality to ensure that my couples are getting a finished work of art that is not only beautiful, but heirloom quality and made to last.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oflightandletters.com/
• Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/oflightandletters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oflightandletters
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilydemeo/

Image Credits
Madison Rae Photography Emma Christine Creative Stephanie Lanni Photography