 |
|
We know how important it is that your wedding is perfect, from the bridal wear to the flowers, everything needs to be meticulously planned, because your wedding is unique to you.
Stationery and accessories play an important role, not least because when you send out your wedding invitations, they set the scene for your wonderful day,
Planning your wedding it vitally important to you and family, you want to be sure that everything is right. Here is a little bit of helpful advice that may help you with your arrangements.
Matching Stationery
Order a sample
Timing your Order
Invitations
Reply Cards
Orders of Service
Table Plans
Menus
Place Cards
Favour Boxes
Thank you Cards
Guest Book & Photographic Albums
Bespoke
Stationery is one of the most important elements to your special day, receiving an invitation is often the first time your guests become aware of your celebration. But 'Invitations' are not the only item of stationery you will need for your big day, you may want 'Orders of Service', 'Menu's' or even 'Thank You cards'.
In our main range you can choose from square or oblong shaped designs. We also have a range of boxed scrolls, which have become popular in recent years. Each item is handmade individually, exclusively for you, with quality materials and heavy weight card, so you can be sure that the finished product is one that you will be proud to send to your friends and relatives.
You can simply choose from our extensive range of stylish, contemporary designs whether you prefer traditional stationery or scrolls…making your choice will be the most difficult part. And if you can't find what you are looking for in our range, then why not take a look at our Bespoke service.
For each design in our range of cards and scrolls, we offer a matching set of stationery to complement your occasion and to help you with have put together some helpful advice for planning your stationery requirements. Simply click on the links below, for help and advice on planning specific items of stationery and accessories.
.jpg)
It is often difficult to make your mind up, and equally as difficult to really see the quality and true colours of the finished product from a photograph. So why not order a sample to help you make your mind up? We know, how important it is, that you make the right choice.
If you wish to order a sample, it is simple, just click on the link on the item you require and follow the instructions. Invitation samples are sent out using the colour shown in the main photograph of each design. Please indicate if you require an alternative colour and we will also send a sample flower or swatch in the colour option that you prefer.
If you are interested in a scroll design, we will send you the handmade embellishment wrapped around the parchment paper of your choice, but due to the cost of the scroll boxes, we can only send out colour swatches for these.
We do have a high demand for samples, therefore, it is necessary for us to make charge for each sample ordered. However, should you order one of the samples we will refund the cost of that sample..
We recommend that you place your order, at least 4-5 months before the date of your special occasion, this not only allows you time to send out your invitations and receive your responses but takes into consideration delivery timings.
As every one of our invitations is handmade individually, you will need to consider the lead time for delivery in your timings. If your wedding falls during the Christmas Period, you will need to allow a longer lead time to take account of the Christmas postage. Once ordered and delivered this will give you time to send out your Invitations - at least 12 weeks before your event.
Order Invitations: At least 4 - 5 months before event.
Delivery: 3-4 months prior to event
Despatch: 3 months (12 weeks prior to event)
RSVP by: 2 - 4 weeks prior to event
Design
It is worth spending some time considering the style and tone you wish to create for your event, and how your stationery can help you achieve the image you want to convey. Do you have a theme? A colour scheme or do you prefer a simple but stylish neutral colour ? Do you want your stationery to be personalised? Do you want something quite traditional or more contemporary?
Choosing a design is often the most difficult part…would you like a traditional invitation or perhaps you would prefer an elegant scroll? Making your choice will be the most difficult part and is something that is really down to you to decide.
.jpg)
Invitation Enclosures
Whether guests are travelling from abroad or a nearby town, it's a good idea to include some additional information to help them on the day.
Directions & Maps: Send guests travel information well in advance, especially if they have to book tickets on rail or air. Suggestions of the nearest airport or cheapest way to obtain tickets are very welcome, as are numbers of local taxi firms. Remember, out of town guests may not have a car available to them. It is a nice thought to arrange for a coach or minibus to collect them from the hotel and take them to the ceremony venue, and then on to the reception. You should be able to print out a map from a website such as www.streetmap.co.uk and include a colour copy in each invitation.
Accommodation Details : Many guests will wish to stay overnight after your evening reception, and possibly even the night before the wedding, so a list of local hotels and guesthouses is helpful. The names and addresses should be given and a range of budget options should be included.
Gift List: This should be a very discreet mention of where your gift list is held and how guests can access the details, should they wish to.
Dress Code: It is not correct to refer to morning dress on an invitation. However, you could include 'black tie' if you wish your guests to wear evening dress. Or, you might have an alternative, themed dress code
Reply Cards: It is customary now to inlcude reply cards and envelopes (self-addressed if possible) in your invitations, this helps your guests to reply promptly.
Invitation Quantities
You should allow one invitation per family including a courtesy one for the groom's parents and the minister. Don't forget to order at least five extra invitations for any extra guests you may decide to ask at a later date.
Back to the top
It is becoming commonplace now to send ready printed reply cards out you're your invitations, you can stamp and address, thus making it easier for your guests to make timely replies regarding their intentions to attend.
Reply Card Quantities
You should allow one reply card per invitation sent, If you are not ordering pre-addressed envelopes, don't forget to order at least five extra reply cards to allow for addressing errors.
Standard Reply Card
.jpg)
Dietary Reply Card
Orders of Service are usually handed out to guests on arrival at the church and provide an overview of the wedding service. They usually include details of the music during the ceremony, hymns, prayers, the marriage ceremony, blessing and any readings you may have. They can be an overview or include the whole service.
Music for your Ceremony
Music is an important part of your occasion, the music for the entrance for the bride and for the bridal party to depart to, are all part of the ambience of your day. You may have your own idea of what you wish to include, however, here are some popular choices:-
- The Bridal March by Wagner
- Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
- Trumpet and Air by Purcell
- Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke
- Grand March from Aida
- Toccatta in F minor - Fifth Symphony
- Fantasia in G Minor
- Wedding March by Medelssohn
Hymns
Music can make a wedding special, it creates an atmosphere and enables everyone to join in with the celebration of your marriage. Most wedding services usually include one or two hymns. However, there is no set rule as to how many hymns can be sung during your service
If you know what hymns you would like at your service, it is always best to check with your minister that their hymn books include your selections. If you are not sure what hymns you would like, then talk to your minister, who may well be able to lend you some hymn books or make recommendations.
Popular Wedding Hymns
Some popular hymns for weddings include:-
- All things bright and beautiful
- Amazing Grace
- At the Name of Jesus
- Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
- Father hear the prayer we offer
- Give me Joy in my heart
- God of All Living
- I vow to thee my country
- Immortal Invisible
- Jerusalem
- Lead us Heavenly Father Lead Us
- Lord of All Hopefulness
- Lord of the Dance
- Love Divine All Loves Excelling
- Make me a Channel of thy Peace
- Now Thank we all our God
- Jesus I have Promised
- Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
- The King of Love My Shepherd Is
- We Plough the Fields and Scatter
Number of Verses
Once you have decided on which hymns you require, you will then need to agree with your minister how many verses to be sung. If you plan to print a hymn's words in your Order of Service, you will need to consider the size of type and font used, so that the words are easy to read. You will also need to be aware of the copyright laws.
Copyright
Copyright exists for 70 years after the death of the writer, therefore many hymns are out of copyright due to their age, and you will have no problem reproducing them.
However, if the hymn you choose is still within copyright it is illegal to reproduce the works in any form without the permission of the copyright holder (or their appointed agent). Therefore, should you wish to reproduce the text of a hymn in your order of service, you will need the permission of the copyright holder for which a charge of between £10 and £25 is usually made.
Readings
Readings are an important part of your wedding day, they can reinforce your feelings, create and encourage thought and create meaning to your important occasion. You can choose from readings from the bible or non-religeous readings many people choose love poems or words to their favourite song. Some ideas for readings include:-
Bible Readings
- Colossians 3:12-19
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
- Corinthians 13: 4-8
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
- Ephesians 3: 14-19
- Genesis 2 20-24
- 1 John 4: 7-8,12
- John 2: 1-12
- Mark 10: 6-9
- Romans 12: 9-12
Non-Religious Readings
- Love's Philosophy - Percy Shelley
- How do I love thee? - Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- Eskimo Love Song
- Why Marriage? - Mari Nichols
- Irish Blessing
- I Ching
- Fidelity - D H Lawrence
- Hamlet - William Shakespeare
- Sonnett 116 - William Shakespeare
Order of Service - Quantities
You would normally need 1 Order of Service per guest, then one for the minister and choir.
Guests are always interested in which table they are sitting on and who they are seated with. A table plan prominently placed in the reception area will ensure that guests can immediately see where they will be sitting. When planning your seating arrangements, it is best to try to consider whether or not your guests have something in common with the other guests on their table, this will aid the conversation and make your guests feel more relaxed.
An example of a traditional top table layout would be:-
Bridesmaid(s), Groom's Father; Bride's Mother; Groom, Bride, Bride's Father; Groom's Mother; Best Man.
Menu 's provide your guests with details of what they will be served. when dining at your function. Menu cards should include each course, wine, and aperitifs.
Menu Quantities
It is entirely you choice, many of our customers order one menu per guest and place them on/next to their place setting, others order one to two per table that can be positioned centrally on the tables for guests to read at their leisure.
.jpg)
Used at the reception to indicate to the guests where they are to sit at the table. Place cards can also provide a beautiful keepsake for your guests.
Place Card Quantities
One per guest.
(Please note: due to small parts used in our designs, these place cards are not suitable for children under the age of 3 years old).
Simple keepsakes placed by your guests table setting, add the finishing touches to your table decorations. It is customary to provide favours for the ladies only, but it is entirely your choice (we do some tuxedo and bow tie favour boxes for men too).
We offer a range of favour boxes and favour bags that complement your stationery range.
(Please note: due to small parts used in our designs, these favour boxes should be kept out of reach of children under the age of 3 years old).
Simply saying 'Thank You' to your guests for attending your wedding and for their thoughtful presents always leaves your friends and relatives feeling special and by keeping your 'thank you' cards in theme they may a nice keepsake for your guest of your special day. A added touch is that you can order thank you cards and add a photograph of you on your special day using our 'Personalise with a Picture' option when you order.
Back to the top
Guest Book
A lovely momentum for any occasion is to keep a guest book in a prominent position with a pen, in which your guests can write their thoughts and feelings about your special occasion. This creates a lasting momentum of the day.
Photograph Album
What better way to keep your images but in a hand-finished photograph album which complements the design of you stationery and continues your theme right through to you memories of the day.
We find that some of our customers have very specific ideas for the theme and style of their occasion. If you can't find what you are looking for in our main range, of if you have an idea in mind for your stationery, whatever your requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01923 353335 and we will be happy to help you find the perfect stationery solution for your occasion.
We are happy also to consider corporate events, such as company parties, product launches, marketing initiatives, that require invitations.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |