Written By Melissa Reardon
Photographs By Lucy Cuneo
A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...
After reciting her self-written wedding vows in 2016, Charleston’s Markey Haselden had an idea: “I wanted to write them in calligraphy so they could be a constant reminder of the bond I created with my husband,” she says. The self-taught artist married her two favorite hobbies—calligraphy and watercolors—for the project, resulting in a keepsakes that are as pretty as they are personal. In 2015, she launched Hatch Cove Designs (843/833-1267) on Etsy.
By day, the CofC grad is an occupational therapist; off the clock, she’s at her studio in Redux creating maps, invitation suites, escort cards, signage, and even photo-booth backdrops for brides and ab-fab planners like Tara Guérard Soirée and Intrigue Design & Events. Want to learn the skills for yourself? Check out one of Markey’s calligraphy or watercolor classes at West Elm; find upcoming workshops by following her on Instagram (@hatchcovedesigns).
Her paintings—featuring bouquets, home portraits (starting at $80), and on—make for sweet wedding gifts, too. Floral "portraits" run $40 and up, while watercolor calligraphed escort cardslike those here are $2.25 per card. Vow “paintings” start at $40.
