Your wedding invitation is the first opportunity you have for setting the tone of your wedding and giving a hint of what the guests might expect. Will it be a vintage wedding, a rustic day, a country feel or a more elegant wedding? It is almost like a taster for the guests and gets them looking forward to the day. The best wedding stationery is very personal to the couple and guests who know the couple should recognise them from the style of the stationery.
What should you think about when choosing your stationery?
Try to think of ways to make it personal, and don’t forget the words, they should reflect you as a couple as strongly as the images.
Gather lots of images of things you like. Pinterest is great for getting ideas and seeing what is possible. Don’t just look at other invitations or stationery for inspiration, but items, images or words that you like or reflect your personality and style. If you decide on a bespoke design route these will really help the designer get an idea of your style and what you like. The images might be a picture of your favourite city, your favourite decade, the place you met, your secret love of Eurovision, or Coronation Street, a favourite poem, or a song, or even a joke… Maybe there is an item from your childhood that you feel reflects you and your personality. All will help the designer create the design that reflects you, your personality and style.
How can we keep stationery costs down?
Any sort of folds, dicuts, embossing or gold foils cost more. Keeping it simple will keep the printing costs down. I think a beautiful design that is personal to the couple has far more of an impact than fancy papers and printing processes.
Usually, if you get the designer to produce all your stationary needs you will get better value, and obviously a more unified style for your wedding. I would always do a deal for a couple who wants me to design everything, from the invitation to menus, place names and thank your cards.
Smaller ceremony booklets will also minimise your costs. The last few I have designed are more like menu cards, or a running order than a full booklet. Not only does this save time, and money, it also means guests don’t have their faces stuck in a pamphlet, but are looking at the ceremony, taking part, reacting more spontaneously.
What's the most important thing to bear in mind?
Time! Especially if you are going for a bespoke design. Unique stationery will not happen overnight. And the printer won’t necessarily be at your beck and call. Assembling and addressing also takes time. Don’t rush your designer, it will save both your sanity. You should leave about five weeks to get your stationery designed and printed and then leave plenty of time after that to make them up, address them and post them. I would recommend sending them out three months before the wedding.
- Rachel Foley from lillyloves.ie
Images: Courtesy of Lilly Loves