St. Louis Duo Handwrites 100 Custom Santa Letters Per Season

Courtney Essner and Addie Morgester have spent the last five years handwriting personalized letters from Santa for families across the country. The two St. Louis-based creators operate a small business that produces custom correspondence for children, a service they launched in 2022. For the 2026 holiday season, they are offering letters at a price of $35 per child, plus $6 for shipping. Orders are available through December 12, with delivery scheduled to arrive before Christmas Eve.

The business began with a simple goal of creating a unique holiday tradition. Early customers who ordered single letters in the first year are now requesting letters for multiple children. Essner noted that some of their original clients are now growing with the service. The pair aims to create items that serve as long-term keepsakes, allowing children to recall specific milestones and moments years later. The service is also available for infants, with letters focusing on themes of kindness and future holidays.

The creation process is strictly manual. Parents submit their child’s name and up to three specific details, such as a recent achievement or a favorite activity. Essner incorporates these facts into a letter written in the voice of Santa. Morgester, a professional stationer, designs the accompanying stationery. For 2026, the theme is a winter ski lodge featuring animals on the slopes. This design was inspired by an illustration of a skiing bear that Essner saw on Pinterest. The pair worked with an artist to create custom graphics, including a goose on skis named after Essner’s new puppy, Goose.

Each package includes the handwritten letter, a Nice List certificate, a personalized envelope with a custom liner, and a name tag featuring a gondola design. The tag includes the child’s name and the year. Morgester selects thick paper for the project, while Essner uses traditional ink and lettering techniques to address each envelope. The duo estimates the entire process takes between 30 and 45 minutes per letter. This includes reading the parent’s notes, handwriting the message, completing the certificate, and assembling the final package.

Last year, the pair produced approximately 100 letters. Demand has increased since then, but the team has not scaled up production to mass-production levels. Essner stated that the business remains a labor of love that requires significant time. Rising material costs led to the recent price increase. The duo is using community events to reach new customers rather than cutting corners on quality. Essner described receiving a handcrafted item as a modern luxury, explaining that this is why they continue to use the current method.

To mark their fifth year of operation, Essner and Morgester are hosting an event at Little’s Loft Play Café in Kirkwood. The gathering is scheduled for December 11. The event will feature a visit from Santa and a station where children can write their own messages to the North Pole. Each ticket for the event includes a personalized letter that parents can collect in a welcome gift bag. The event serves as a way to introduce the tradition to new families.

Once the letters are complete, they are placed in a discreet outer mailer addressed to the parent or guardian. Families decide when to reveal the contents, either under the tree or in the mailbox. The duo has no plans to expand beyond this intimate scale. Essner hopes the tradition will continue for generations and that families will look forward to the letters annually.

The service is currently open for orders on their website. Each child requires a separate order. The team is focused on maintaining the personal nature of the product, ensuring that the time spent on each letter translates into a meaningful gift for the recipient.