Wedding Services for the UK
Choosing Your Wedding Stationery
Your invitations play a vital role in setting the scene for your big day as they will be the first official point of contact between you and your guests and you know what they say about first impressions. So to give a good first impression on what type of an event it is going to be here are some useful tips:
Choosing a style
Handmade stationery adds that extra special, personal touch to your wedding; even if you have not personally made them yourself. If you do go down the DIY road try keep it simple - less is more- and make sure your card will fit standard size envelopes. Be aware that all that fancy paper, embellishments, glues etc can all add up. If you are doing it yourself to budget just make sure that it does work out that way.
Your invitations should reflect you and your partner’s personalities. Shop around and keep a note of the styles and designs that you both like and any good stationer will be able to come up with a design using all the key elements you liked. Or to really add a personal touch you could use old baby photos of you and your fiancé. If you are too camera shy for that idea maybe simple, but very striking, monogram initials as your stationery theme.
Choosing a style
Handmade stationery adds that extra special, personal touch to your wedding; even if you have not personally made them yourself. If you do go down the DIY road try keep it simple - less is more- and make sure your card will fit standard size envelopes. Be aware that all that fancy paper, embellishments, glues etc can all add up. If you are doing it yourself to budget just make sure that it does work out that way.
Your invitations should reflect you and your partner’s personalities. Shop around and keep a note of the styles and designs that you both like and any good stationer will be able to come up with a design using all the key elements you liked. Or to really add a personal touch you could use old baby photos of you and your fiancé. If you are too camera shy for that idea maybe simple, but very striking, monogram initials as your stationery theme.
If you are having a themed wedding this is the perfect way to platform your idea and this is one of the good things about handmade stationery, every style and design can be easily adjusted to suit your taste and style, you are not restricted to what you see.
Try keeping the colour theme in your stationery the same as that in your flowers and bridesmaid dresses.
Stationery Available
Save the date: These inform your guests that you have your wedding date set and to save that date as a formal invitation will be sent to them closer to the time. Save The Date cards are great for a number of reasons for instance if your wedding is on a week day your guests will have plenty of time to arrange holidays from work. Your over-seas guests will also benefit as they have the advantage of booking their flights that bit earlier which will work out cheaper for them in some cases.
Wedding Invitations
Day and Evening: To work out the number of invitations to order you should divide the total number of guests by 2 and add 10 this should provide you with enough invitations plus spares which are handy in case of last minute guests or if you make a mistake or two while writing them. This rule of thumb will also apply to your Save the Date cards, Thank You cards, and reply cards.
Try keeping the colour theme in your stationery the same as that in your flowers and bridesmaid dresses.
Stationery Available
Save the date: These inform your guests that you have your wedding date set and to save that date as a formal invitation will be sent to them closer to the time. Save The Date cards are great for a number of reasons for instance if your wedding is on a week day your guests will have plenty of time to arrange holidays from work. Your over-seas guests will also benefit as they have the advantage of booking their flights that bit earlier which will work out cheaper for them in some cases.
Wedding Invitations
Day and Evening: To work out the number of invitations to order you should divide the total number of guests by 2 and add 10 this should provide you with enough invitations plus spares which are handy in case of last minute guests or if you make a mistake or two while writing them. This rule of thumb will also apply to your Save the Date cards, Thank You cards, and reply cards.
Reply Cards: These may seem unimportant and are usually the first things to go when budgeting but they do pay off in the long run. People are more likely to reply when the card is supplied to them in an addressed envelope. An alternative is to put an email address or phone number at the bottom of the invitation.
Order of Service: You would need at least one between 2 guests plus extras for the priest, musicians and off course the bride and groom. Always get your priest to okay the contents before going a head with printing. A cost saver is to print these up yourself at home and ask your stationer to make your covers only.
Place Names: You will only need place names if you are doing a seating plan. You can make a saving by doing a 2in1 and make your place name a keepsake also. A lovely example would be an artificial rose with the guests name on the tag and bride and grooms name and date of wedding on the back.
Thank You Card: A lovely personal touch to your thank you cards is if you use one of your favourite photo’s from the wedding or even the Hen/Stag (if suitable!).
If you are ordering your stationery from a website I would recommend that you take the time to phone because it is good to get one to one contact with the person making your stationery. It will give them some idea of your personality and you get a chance to discuss any ideas you have. You should always request a sample before ordering and once you order ask for a proof to be sent to you for your approval before beginning the order. This will rule out any misfortunate typos or design errors.
Be careful if you are going for a very extravagant invitation like one that comes in a box because the postage for these may cost you just as much as the invitation did!
Written by Donna Maguire Maguire and Daughters © 2006
Order of Service: You would need at least one between 2 guests plus extras for the priest, musicians and off course the bride and groom. Always get your priest to okay the contents before going a head with printing. A cost saver is to print these up yourself at home and ask your stationer to make your covers only.
Place Names: You will only need place names if you are doing a seating plan. You can make a saving by doing a 2in1 and make your place name a keepsake also. A lovely example would be an artificial rose with the guests name on the tag and bride and grooms name and date of wedding on the back.
Thank You Card: A lovely personal touch to your thank you cards is if you use one of your favourite photo’s from the wedding or even the Hen/Stag (if suitable!).
If you are ordering your stationery from a website I would recommend that you take the time to phone because it is good to get one to one contact with the person making your stationery. It will give them some idea of your personality and you get a chance to discuss any ideas you have. You should always request a sample before ordering and once you order ask for a proof to be sent to you for your approval before beginning the order. This will rule out any misfortunate typos or design errors.
Be careful if you are going for a very extravagant invitation like one that comes in a box because the postage for these may cost you just as much as the invitation did!
Written by Donna Maguire Maguire and Daughters © 2006