With Love From NOLA: How I Transform Chalk Pastels into Meaningful Memories
When it comes to your wedding invitations, every detail matters. They’re your guests’ first glimpse into your celebration — a reflection of your story, your style, and the feeling you want everyone to remember.
As a New Orleans artist, I use chalk pastel art to help couples create invitations that are more than just pretty paper. They become keepsakes — personal, meaningful, and unmistakably yours. Here are a few ways custom artwork can make your invitations unforgettable.
Venue Illustrations
Wedding invitation featuring Race & Religious, a popular New Orleans venue.
Your wedding venue is the heart of your celebration. It’s where your story unfolds, and it deserves to be part of your invitation.
New Orleans is full of architectural gems — from grand historic mansions to charming courtyards tucked behind wrought iron gates. When I create venue illustrations, I use chalk pastels to highlight the texture, color, and warmth that make each space so unique.
Take Elms Mansion, for instance — a 19th-century icon on St. Charles Avenue that’s perfect for an elegant, romantic wedding. Or Race + Religious, with its tropical palms, pool, and rustic-chic charm that feels both historical and effortlessly on trend. Including your venue in your invitation suite not only sets the tone for your day but gives you a piece of New Orleans art to frame and keep forever.
Pet Portraits
LeeRoy & Scout couldn’t attend their parents’ wedding, so we illustrated their portraits so they could sit at either side of the aisle. They also appeared on the bar sign with their own signature drinks!
If your pet is part of your family, why not include them in your wedding story? A custom chalk pastel pet portrait is a sweet and meaningful way to do just that — especially if your furry friend can’t be there in person.
You’ll receive the original portrait to frame at home, and many couples love to use their pets’ artwork on bar signs or specialty drink menus. Guests always love it, and it adds a personal and playful touch to your celebration. It’s one of those details that feels small but makes a big impact.
Wedding Monograms
Wedding invitation featuring a custom magnolia floral crest.
Your wedding monogram is your personal emblem — a symbol of the two of you coming together. I design custom monograms using chalk pastel art to bring warmth, color, and a hand-drawn elegance that stands out from the standard digital designs.
The best part? You can use your crest everywhere. Beyond your invitations, it can appear on your dance floor, napkins, welcome sign, favors — even as a guest book print that turns into wall art after the wedding. It’s a beautiful way to carry your design throughout your day and your home for years to come.
Personal Photos Turned into Artwork
This destination wedding invitation featured both a venue illustration and a personal photo of the Smokey Mountains from the couple’s first vacation together there.
Every couple has a photo that’s meaningful to them— maybe it’s where you got engaged or a place you visit often. But sometimes, the photo isn’t quite perfect for print. That’s where I come in.
Using chalk pastel art, I reimagine your photo as a handcrafted piece that removes distractions and enhances what’s most important: you and your story. This approach gives you a completely unique concept for your invitation — one that’s both meaningful and polished, ready to become part of your keepsakes.
Turn Your Story Into Art
Your wedding invitations should feel like they belong only to you. Whether it’s a New Orleans venue illustration, a pet portrait, or a personalized monogram, every piece I create is designed to capture the heart of your wedding day and preserve it forever.
Ready to create a truly meaningful wedding invitation?