Soolip

Soolip sells many a quirky greeting cards ("May I suggest a mint?"), but the stationery store is best known for its wedding invitations. Owner Wanda Wen opened the shop because of her love of paper and cards, but it has expanded to a mini-empire. Strolling shoppers amble upon the Floracopia (where flowers are arranged), the Bungalow (where Kai beauty products are displayed), and the custom press office, where envy-inducing wedding invitations are birthed. Samples in binders include layered dried flowers, freshwater-pearl beadings, tea-stained paper and waxed banana-leaf envelopes affixed with vintage stamps. The store also makes invitations delivered in a tube (with a mini-tube for RSVPs, of course). Such unique and hand-crafted services cost a pretty penny, but budget brides need not despair. Wen recently opened the Card Caf, which provides inkjet-printed invitations and limited design capabilities; even Wen's "low-end" work is pretty fancy. As for the stores name? Soolip, which in Chinese means "one's life destiny is to seek wisdom," is Wen's middle name.—Lien Ta

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