Clarissa Dulaney admits she was always the kid in school doodling in the margins of her notebooks, and she got her first calligraphy kit when she was in high school. But it wasn’t until she got engaged that she began taking her love of handwriting seriously.
“I wanted to calligraph my own envelopes and signage, so I finally took a class, practiced obsessively, and fell completely in love with the art,” Dulaney says. “After our wedding, my husband encouraged me to turn it into a business, and that’s how Inkwell Scripted was born.”
The Louisa-based calligrapher works nationwide and says she has a simple mission: “helping wedding planners, couples, and brands create swoon-worthy, personalized details that feel as chic and unforgettable as their celebrations.” That means putting her stamp (read: artful handwriting) on everything from invitations and place cards to glassware and leather luggage tags. She gravitates toward traditional script, but loves how even small tweaks to letterforms can change the entire mood of her work.
In 2021, Dulaney added live-event calligraphy and engraving to her offerings. Part entertainment, part gifting, and “100 percent memorable,” she says there’s something magical about watching calligraphy happen in front of you.
“It’s such a fun way to add a personalized, luxe touch to an event, and for weddings, it makes for an unforgettable guest experience,” she says. “It turns meaningful details into keepsakes that last long after the celebration ends.”
She’s inked a garden spade, pizza peels, ribbons, champagne bottles, and ornaments. If it can hold ink, be engraved, or take foil, she’ll find a way, she says.
“Whether it’s hand-addressed invitations that set the tone or keepsake pieces that guests will treasure long after the wedding, I make sure the experience is seamless and stress-free,” she says. “My approach blends timeless artistry with a modern edge and playful charm, ensuring every detail feels just as special as the event itself.”
