Why Couples Are Hiring Typewriter Poets for Their Weddings
From DJs to photo booths to live painters, the guest experience is one area couples continue to invest in, allowing their guests to feel just as special on their day as they do.
One of my friends performs live painting for weddings, and it adds depth to cocktail hour: a piece of personalized art to take home.
Typewriter poetry is not necessarily the next stage in that guest-experience evolution. Rather—it exists alongside it, adding more dimension to reception gifts than candles and mass-produced mason jars. Yet, typewriter poetry brings a unique twist.
Typewriter poetry is tactile and human.
Shot by Laura Kathleen Photography at Heron Hill Venue (August 2026)
Not only is a poem tactile and human—written on a page right in front of your guests—but no two poems are alike. Your guest gives the poet a short prompt, and within minutes the poet makes a personalized poem for them, something they can hold in their hand, bring home, frame for their nightstand or gallery wall, re-read and feel. A reminder, a proverb, an encouragement, a playful verse. Whatever it is, a good poet makes a poem that’s worth re-reading. A meticulous, yet imperfect, piece of spontaneous word art overflowing with language and meaning.
Furthermore, typewriter poetry is a lost art that is currently being revived.
According to the NEA’s Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, poetry readership among U.S. adults increased 76% between 2012 and 2017. And according to HTF Market Intelligence, the global typewriter market is expected to see a growth rate of 6% this year.
Typewriters. Poems. People want more of both.
In the Pinterest Predicts 2026 lineup, “Poetcore” was stated as one of Pinterest’s anticipated style trends that would dominate social media this year, citing the key phrase “the poet aesthetic” grew in search volume +175% in 2025.
And anecdotally, I see typewriter poets appearing in more or more pockets of social media. Entire communities of typewriter poets, like Ars Poetica with whom I have been fortunate to connect, have grown in the last few years.
It’s a movement that is growing.
The Biltmore Estate (October 2026)
So what does a typewriter poet do at your wedding?
A live poet will set up a typewriter booth at your cocktail hour and reception where guests will be invited to stop by and leave a request. As I am a typewriter poet myself, I set up the Novel Wonder booth with vintage items, like all wood and metal decor with darker tones, a vintage scallop lamp, and wax-seal envelopes my guests can package their poems in.
Guests’ requests are what inspire the poet to write. Some poets take prompts in a notebook or have guests fill out an order book in line. Personally, I keep a wooden chest at my booth where guests stop by, write a simple one-or-two word prompt on a linen card, and drop it in. I draw the cards from the chest throughout the evening and write away. I also enjoy writing the couple a specialized poem about their own love story.
Often, by the end of the night, guests leave before grabbing their poems. And sometimes I have a few requests leftover which I finish later. In both cases, I give those poems with the couple to include in their thank-you notes to their guests as a small gift.
Shot by Laura Kathleen Photography (August 2026)
Why poetry?
Why poetry over photo booths, drink bars, live painting?
First, poetry complements each of those guest experiences wonderfully; I’ve seen it work well as a package deal. But there are reasons why this may be the right investment for a couple.
Poetry is deeply meaningful, on a day defined by words—the covenantal promises of two people. The right live poet has the ability to conjure up inspired words within minutes and type them for you on the spot.
Poetry is the language of romance. There is something magical at weddings—the emotion, the community, the memories, the excitement—that just works with poetry.
Shot by Micah Cook at the Biltmore Estate (October 2025)
Should you include typewriter poetry at your wedding?
This is question that depends largely on your expectations.
What is your style? What is your desired guest experience? What is your budget?
If your wedding’s aesthetic is vintage, garden-inspired, or old-world, then live poetry for your evening celebration might be the perfect fit. Another reason to choose poetry is if you want your guests to have a high-end experience after grabbing a drink or conversing with each other.
If your budget is on the lower end and you want to prioritize intimacy over experience, then it may not be the right fit for you. A coordinator, a caterer, and a photographer are arguably the most important vendors. (I can handle that last role as well; I’ve been doing wedding photography for nearly a decade.)
But couples who have more budget to allocate towards guest experience and appreciate a more thoughtful after-ceremony period will love the typewriter poetry experience and talk about it for a long time.
Let’s have a conversation.
If you’re planning a wedding and are curious about live poetry, I would love to see how it can fit the vision of your wedding day. I have absolutely loved the weddings I’ve been blessed to write at. To listen to guests share their minds and hearts—and turn their prompts into art pieces for them to take home.
My style has been described as spontaneous, warm, whimsical, and inspired. I see poetry as the perfect cornerpiece to a beautiful evening. I write every poem on deckle-edged 5×7 cotton paper, like a missing page from a novel. Each work is infused with humanity and depth, and I’ve written in every tone from playful to heartfelt.
Simply fill out the contact form here and I’ll be in touch shortly.