In nooks and corners Cold remains: Flowers of the plum
- Yosa Buson
We are Genu & Elena, the creators of ElenaBerlo™ and OnceUponaPaper™, a husband and wife team with a mutual passion for art, painting, printmaking and illustration.
We want to take a moment to thank everyone who put their faith in our artistic heart and hands. It is with your support this journey into customized artwork was made possible.
We took small steps in giving our paintings a new purpose, each one specially requested by a new couple. And it all grew organically as we came to understand that capturing life’s precious moments in art helps us make sense of our presence and connects us to the past, present and future, and to beautiful new people.
Our artwork derives from our day to day experience. As an architect you always start with pencil on paper. You need to sketch your ideas and give form to many aspects of a building and it’s surroundings. Many times your space planning drawings start looking like a cluster of basic geometric shapes following a structure. From there, our pattern paintings surfaced, especially the Trees of Life. It clearly suited our trees to be part of such an important moment in people’s lives, as they are a symbol of new beginnings, shelter, support and endurance beyond our existence. So many stand now as a silent witness to the promises made and signed by the bride and groom on their handwritten and painted Ketubah.
All of our ketubah, guest books and albums start as a painting and they will continue to do so as we love the sensibility of the paintbrush that stands out no matter what the end medium is. We are still the only ones in the field offering a Woodcut Ketubah and painted guestbooks, and we are adding calligraphy and gold leaf as a special detail. With so many products being customizable, the large majority are made in-house. We continue to use museum quality materials for our artwork and for all that is born from it.
As seen on:
smashingtheglass.com
stylemepretty.com
theknot.com
brides.com
florenceandisabelle.com
emmalinebride.com
mazelmoments.com
interfaithfamily.com
annika.co.il
tcjewfolk.com
kateaspen.com
offbeatbride.com
vineyardbride.ca
weddingbells.ca
polkadotbride.com
bravobride.com
onewed.com
themerrybride.org
justalittlewedding.wordpress.com
amicodesign.blogspot.ro
beckysbrides.com
labellecouture.com.sg
creativemontage.com
crazyforus.com
rusticweddingchic.com
ohsobeautifulpaper.com
elizabethannedesigns.com
wedding.malotine.com
weddings.usabride.com
weddings.craftgossip.com
neweddingdayblog.com
hadassahmagazine.org
thedesignerpad.com
apartmenttherapy.com
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Announcement
Reviews
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Esta on May 26, 2026
5 out of 5 starsAbsolutely beautiful artwork! The quality and detail are amazing, and it looks even better in person. It arrived perfectly packaged, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. Highly recommend this shop!
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Rachel on Mar 23, 2026
5 out of 5 starsThis shop did such an amazing job with our Ketubah. They had great communication throughout the process as well! We can’t thank them enough.
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samdrunyon on Oct 27, 2025
5 out of 5 starsIt’s so gorgeous! And the customer service was incredible. They met our quick deadline and delivered a beautiful product that we will hang in our home forever.
About OnceUponaPaper
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CHERRY TREE BRANCHES Ketubah Commission watercolor painting with custom text calligraphy -
Gold leaf details on ACACIA TREE SUNRISE Ketubah watercolor painting with custom text calligraphy -
BELOVED GARDEN Ketubah woodcut - with custom text -
PEONIES Ketubah giclee print - after original watercolor painting - with custom text -
In our Studio - Ketubah, Guestbooks and Album are prepared for shipping
Shop about video description
Shop members
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Genu Berlo
Owner, Designer
Genu Berlo is fully involved in each project within the studio, and oversees all aspects of the concept, development and production. He also expands his interest beyond illustration into modern and contemporary art making. berlo.net
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Elena Berlo
Owner, Creator
With a bachelors in Architecture, color and fine arts education at FIT, and architectural practice in NYC firms, Elena Berlo is now a full time painter blending the family life with her endeavour in fine arts. elenaberlo.com
Production partners
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Atelier13
București, Romania
Our Laser Cutting Manufacturer delivers the papercut and woodcut components of our products with outstanding quality and attention to details.
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GicléeToday
Boyertown, PA
Professionally printed in America with only top quality materials that exceed the standards set forth by the Fine Art Trade Guild for pH and lightfastness.
Shop policies
Shipping
Customs and import taxes
Digital downloads
Payment options
Returns & exchanges
Cancellations
Cancellations: accepted
Request a cancellation: within 3 days of purchase
Privacy policy
Terms & Conditions and Right of Withdrawal
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