Weddings by Lanie Design

Weddings by Lanie Design

Hollie Delany’s wedding stationery business gives her a window into modern Irish relationships. Between the butterflies and the to-do lists, she’s documenting how people really talk about love.


When Hollie Delany’s friends started getting engaged, she did what any designer would do - she offered to create their wedding stationery. What began as thoughtful gifts turned into a front-row seat to how modern Irish couples talk about commitment when they’re not performing for an audience.

“I’ve always been a bit obsessed with stationery and packaging,” says Hollie, who runs Weddings by Lanie Design alongside her broader design agency, Lanie Design. “There’s something so special about opening something that’s been beautifully designed, crafted and packaged.”

Before launching her own business in October 2021, Hollie spent five years as an in-house designer with PR agency Wilson Hartnell, working across branding, motion graphics, and social media. Today, her skillset spans everything from video editing to packaging design, but it’s the wedding stationery work that gets her away from the screen. “The graphic design side of my business is about 90% screen-based, so it felt amazing to do something more hands-on, like cutting paper, tying ribbons, drawing, and stamping wax seals,” she explains.

Personal Preferences

In her Dublin studio, Hollie creates everything from save-the-dates to thank-you cards, working closely with printers to ensure every detail meets exacting standards. But the real work happens in those initial conversations where couples try to articulate what they actually want versus what they think a wedding should look like.

“There’s still a very traditional style associated with weddings, and because we see it so often it’s easy to assume that’s what you want,” says Hollie. “Instead, I like to explore couples’ broader personal preferences for colours, fonts, and design styles they’re naturally drawn to in their everyday lives.”

What emerges from these conversations is revealing. “I think couples really like having stationery that feels truly theirs,” she says. “They’re very mindful of being real and authentic. If they’re a playful or goofy couple, for example, they want that personality to shine through in their invitations, whether that’s through playful doodles, unexpected shapes, or fun colours. There’s really no limit to what you can create, which makes designing something uniquely personal so enjoyable.”

Special Memories

When couples come to Weddings by Lanie, they often arrive with visual references and Pinterest boards. What Hollie pays attention to are the stories about the moments and places that have shaped the relationship. “People often talk about special memories. It might be where they first met, where they got engaged, or somewhere that holds a lot of meaning for them. These are the kinds of details couples love to represent in their stationery through illustrations or drawings. I love when couples include small motifs that quietly tell the story of their love.”

Hollie recently spoke with a bride who wanted butterfly motifs in her stationery. “She explained that she and her partner have known each other for twelve years and been together for six. She told she still gets butterflies every time she sees her. She said that feeling made her completely sure that she was the person she should marry, and I thought it was such a simple and sweet reason.”

Wedding Teamwork

Hollie also sees the everyday reality of long-term relationships reflected in the way couples navigate wedding planning together. “Couples fit their wedding planning around work, parenting, and other commitments, finding pockets of time wherever they can. As the wedding day approaches and the to-do list grows, you see them take turns stepping up, sharing responsibilities and supporting each other. It’s a powerful demonstration of partnership - balancing busy lives while working toward a shared goal. These moments reveal the practical, day-to-day teamwork that underpins a strong, long-term relationship.”

In Hollie’s opinion, there is a broader change in how couples approach weddings. “I think the idea of what a wedding should look like has changed a lot,” Hollie says. “Couples are increasingly doing what feels right for them. I meet so many couples who are aware of what a ‘traditional’ wedding looks like but know in their hearts that it doesn’t truly represent them.

“Weddings have become much more personal, with couples bringing in what really matters to them, whether that’s their pets, meaningful details, or elements that reflect their everyday lives. More than anything, they want their day to feel authentic, because above all the wedding is for them.”

Weddings by Lanie Design creates bespoke and pre-designed wedding stationery in Dublin. See www.weddingsbylanie.com. The An Post Love stamp launches this month, celebrating love in all its forms.