Since its premiere seven seasons ago, the Netflix reality show Love is Blind has only tightened its grasp on pop culture. According to Nielsen, Americans watched over 1.1 billion million minutes of the most recent season of this will-they or won’t-they get married show, set in Washington, D.C. — and that doesn’t include infinite video discussions and gossip on social media. While those can get somewhat seamy, the season’s fan favorite couple, Taylor and Garrett, put an enormous national spotlight on how stationery, correspondence and calligraphy can connect, capture and elevate a relationship, now and forever — with a little help from their local paper nerd friends, that is!
In episode 10, the engaged couple had a televised calligraphy lesson at Old Alexandria’s Penny Post, owned by Amy Rutherford and taught by Michele Hatty Fritz of Meant to Be Calligraphy. Predictably, the segment detailed the gorgeous art of calligraphy, presented through Michele’s most capable hands.
Surprisingly, the discussion delved into how Taylor and Garrett’s practice of leaving notes for one another not only keeps them connected to each other, but also honors departed family members who did the same thing. The concept was so meaningful to them, they decided during filming to actually have what is perhaps the world’s first letter-writing station at their wedding — and of course, only Michele could run it!
Both Amy and Michele take listeners behind the scenes of this larger-than-life experience. From prepping the cozy shop for shooting, to stuffing crew members in its ADA accessible bathroom, from selling the crew stationery after shooting ended for the day, to that nuptial letter-writing station viewers were never shown, they spill it all! It all begs the larger question, are we seeing a resurgence in stationery?
