HINTS & TIPS WHEN ORDERING YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION STATIONERY

Its that time of year when a lot of my work schedule is taken up with reception stationery items for couples who are getting married this summer.
My studio is currently filled with order of service, table plans and placecards to name but a few items. Its always lovely to see the culmination of my clients wedding planning in those last few items they need for 'on the day'.

So today I thought I'd go over some hints and tips for when ordering your reception stationery.

RSVP DATE

Try and set an RSVP date if you can which is 6 weeks to 2 months prior to your wedding date.
As a stationer I like to have your reception stationery with you at least 10 days before your wedding - just in case there is any error from either party which needs correcting before the day - therefore I'll start asking for information like your table plan layout, placecard names etc. approximately a month before the wedding.
If you set an RSVP date at least a couple of weeks before that it will give you those 2-3 weeks to chase any stragglers who haven't rsvp'd yet ( there will always be some!) and sit down and figure out where everyone is going to sit.
Setting an RSVP date well in advance if possible will avoid any last minute stresses with caterers and stationers on your back for information and numbers ... which is the last thing you need right before your wedding!

ORDER OF SERVICE

Remember if you are getting married in a Church or other religious establishment that the Priest / Vicar etc may want to look over your Order of Service before you go to print. Remember to factor some time in for this and try and persuade your vicar to set an appointment to go over the wording etc for your order of service in plenty of time.
In 6 years of experience printing Order of Service for clients for their weddings there is often a 'difference' shall we say in how vicars and priests think an Order of Service should look and how a designer thinks it should look so there might be a few tweaks!

TABLE PLANS

I offer table plans as either printed boards or rolled posters in either A1 or A2 size.
As a general rule I would say if you are having more than 70 guests or more than 9 tables you should probably consider a larger A1 Table Plan - just so the guests names stay nice and legible.
You should also check with your venue before ordering about whether they have an easel etc for you to display your table plan on and what size board that it will fit.
If you are ordering a rolled poster which you want to frame yourselves or pin to a board at your venue check out the dimensions of the board and frame before ordering.

TABLE NAMES

I'm often asked by clients what they should pick for their table names. Obviously if nothing immediate springs to mind then you can always go with just numbers for your tables, but generally I find clients try and pick something which is personal to them as a couple. In the past I've had names of trees, herbs, favourite sweets and chocolates, countries they have visited together or even significant dates. Its often a good idea to think of hobbies or pastimes you share together and go from there ... movies or film stars are also generally quite popular.

Also with Table Names think about how they are going to be displayed at your venue.
Many venues will provide table card holders but some don't so check first and if not think about if you can lean the card against your centrepieces or alternatively ask me your stationer to provide tented cards which will stand on their own.

Hopefully that gives you a few more ideas about what to expect when ordering your reception stationery but if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to drop me an email at info@knotsandkisses.co.uk

Nikki x

Hints & Tips - Wedding Invitation Styles

Choosing A Style For Your Wedding Invitations

Choosing your wedding stationery can be a bit of a minefield, so I wanted to give a bit of a guide into the various different styles and finishes of wedding stationery you can consider and what would work best for your wedding.

Of course the possibilities are endless, and no-one should feel constricted by existing designs as most stationers will offer a bespoke service, but here are my Top 4 Ideas and also a few hints and tips on Card Quality & Finish ….

1. Flat or Postcard Style

 

A simple flat printed invitation. This style of invitation is perfect for you if you don’t have too much information to pass onto your guests, and is also a great option for evening invitations which don’t need as much wording on them. They also make a great Save the Date card option.

A5 Flat or Postcard style invitations are great for last minute weddings or if you need invitations in a rush as they can be more easily printed quickly for you.

2. Flat Folded Style

 

A traditional square folded card can make a great wedding invitation, giving your guests a good insight into the style of your wedding on the front cover, and providing plenty of room inside to give your guests the basic details of the day and R.S.V.P information.

These are also often easier to make in a hurry if you order a pre-existing off the peg design.

3. Pocketfold Style

 

Pocketfolds are great if you have lots of guests coming from further afield or have lots of information you need to let your guests know about your day.

I often include a RSVP card and envelope for guests to fill in and return, plus an information card providing guests directions, hotel suggestions and details about your gift list. Maps can also be included.

4. Present Style
 

 

An alternative to a pocketfold, several invitations, information and rsvp cards can be layered up and wrapped in a co-ordinating band or tied in string. This can really work when you want to include numerous information cards, maps or rsvps, and can be a gorgeous little package or present for you guests to open when they receive their invitations!

Of course there are also several different types of printing and types of card to consider as well.

There are different types of printing for example. Some stationery comes with a digital print which will usually give you a smooth flat modern finish. I personally print a lot of my stationery designs on good heavyweight textured card – such as wove, laid or aquarello – which gives a more substantial feel and also works really well if you are looking for a vintage feel.

Another alternative is Letterpress. Quite a few companies now specialize in Letterpress style invitations which essentially is a technique that involves printing words or designs with ink while simultaneously ‘debossing’ the image into thick, soft paper.

Most professional stationers will make sure they are using a nice heavy weight card. I wouldn’t usually go for anything less than 300gsm, however you do need to take into account that different card types will feel differently at different weights and so 300gsm in one card will feel ‘less heavy’ than 300gsm in another.

What I’m essentially advocating is always make sure you get a physical sample from your stationer before buying! I personally always think its quite important to hold stationery in your hand to get a really good idea of what its quality is, and most stationers will offer a sample order service.

 

You can order samples of all my wedding stationery designs via my website http://knotsandkisses.co.uk

 

Nikki x

Hints & Tips For Ordering Wedding Stationery

I’m not a fan of the word etiquette when it comes to weddings! I firmly believe you should be able to have the wedding you want regardless of tradition.

However, ordering Wedding Stationery can be a bit of a minefield, and it’s useful to know a few hints & tips to make ordering your Wedding Stationery that little bit easier ….


(All Stationery Images featured are property of  www.knotsandkisses.co.uk)


1. When To Send Your Stationery

Generally the advice is to send your wedding invitations to your guests approximately 3 months before the date of your wedding. I personally think with people's busy lifes these days that 4-6 months is more appropriate so people have time to book off holiday etc.
This can however depend on your wedding … you may be having a wedding abroad and in this case you will need to send out your invitations much further in advance as your guests may need to book flights etc.

If you’d like your guests to know the date of your wedding much further in advance I’d advise sending out Save The Date cards. This can give your guests advance warning so they don’t book holidays that clash with your wedding and can book time off work if needed.

2. When To Order Your Stationery

This can depend on your stationer, but I generally advise my clients to start the booking process at least 2 months prior to the date you need to receive your invitations. This is especially necessary if you are ordering handmade stationery, as it allows time for proofs to be sent and changes to be made. You also need to take into account many stationers will only be able to take on so many orders a month so it may be worth putting a deposit down much earlier to secure the services of the stationer you really want.
Also allow extra time if you require a bespoke service as you need to allow a little bit longer for the design process.

3. R.S.V.P’s

I often have to advise couples on their RSVP dates, as sometimes they will put a date which is far too close to the wedding.
You need to allow time to chase up stragglers! No matter how well you think you know your guests there will always be a few who will reply to you weeks after your RSVP date... or not at all!
Also take into account the date your caterers and venue will need to know final numbers by, and if you are ordering reception stationery allow a month for this to be made.

A great idea is to provide a rsvp postcard in with your stationery .. I often create postcard style ones for my clients ... making it as easy as possible for your guests to RSVP quickly and in the correct way.
Many people these days will think sending you a message on facebook or by text is enough ... and if you are ok with that and can keep track of all the different types of reply you are getting that's fine! However I'd definately advise trying to keep all of your rsvps in one format if possible .. it will make it much easier for you.

4. Children

You may love to have children at your wedding, but there are many couples out there who could think of nothing worse! There are ways of wording this on your stationery so you don’t end up offending any of your guests who are parents!

Generally I advise not having a short sharp line stating “Children Not Allowed” … the text I usually use is something like … “We would love you to enjoy a day off and so respectfully ask that there are no children at our wedding”.

5. Extra Information

I’d always advise a separate information card to be included with your stationery. These days there is often so much extra information you would like to let your guests know about your day.

This can include directions, maps, guest information, food requests or even asking your guests to bring something with them to your wedding.

A lot of my stationery ranges include an information card and RSVP card as a pack price, which can save you some money.

6. Wording

When it comes to wording, I personally don’t think the rules are as strict as they used to be, but generally invitation wording will be either Formal or Informal.

Formal invitations are generally for weddings being hosted by the parents of the couple and will be addressed as such … “Mr. & Mrs. G Robinson request the pleasure of the company of Mr. & Mrs. Joe Bloggs at the marriage of their daughter Jessica Anne to Mr. James Smith ….”.

Many couples, however, now host their own weddings and so an informal wording is more appropriate … “Jessica & James would love the pleasure of the company of Jane & Joe Bloggs at their wedding …”.

I personally feel these days anything goes! Be as informal or as humorous as you want depending on the style of your wedding!

7. Final advice … Have fun with your wedding stationery and remember to order a few extra just in case!

Choosing A Format For Your Wedding Stationery

Choosing your wedding stationery can be a bit of a minefield, so I wanted to give a bit of a guide into the various different styles of wedding stationery you can consider and what would work best for your wedding.

Of course the possibilities are endless, and no-one should feel constricted by existing designs as most stationers will offer a bespoke service, but here are my Top 5 Ideas ….

1. Postcard Style

A simple flat printed invitation. This style of invitation is perfect for you if you don’t have too much information to pass onto your guests, and is also a great option for evening invitations which don’t need as much wording on them. They also make a great Save the Date card option.
Postcard style invitations are great for last minute weddings or if you need invitations in a rush as they can be more easily printed quickly for you.

Vintage Travel Stationery from http://knotsandkisses.co.uk

2. Flat Folded Style

A traditional square folded card can make a great wedding invitation, giving your guests a good insight into the style of your wedding on the front cover, and providing plenty of room inside to give your guests the basic details of the day and R.S.V.P information.
These are also often easier to make in a hurry if you order a pre-existing off the peg design.

Storybook Stationery from http://knotsandkisses.co.uk

3. Pocketfold Style

Pocketfolds are great if you have lots of guests coming from further afield or have lots of information you need to let your guests know about your day.
I often include a RSVP card and envelope for guests to fill in and return, plus an information card providing guests directions, hotel suggestions and details about your gift list. Maps can also be included.

Candy Stripe stationery from http://knotsandkisses.co.uk

4. Present Style

An alternative to a pocketfold, several invitation, information and rsvp cards can be layered up and wrapped in a co-ordinating band or tied in string. This can really work when you want to include numerous information cards, maps or rsvps, and can be a gorgeous little package or present for you guests to open when they receive their invitations!

Rose Cottage Stationery from http://knotsandkisses.co.uk

Sketch stationery from http://knotsandkisses.co.uk

5. Concertina Style

I’ve started creating a lot more of these styles of invitations recently, which are great as they encompass everything you need to give your guests in one card.
A pre-addressed RSVP postcard with a space for a stamp can be torn off the end, filled in by your guests and posted straight back to you. Anything which makes it easier for your guests will mean you getting much better response and less chasing people!
There is also plenty of room for maps and information.

I hope this has given you an idea of what you could order for your wedding. Check out all my ranges of stationery on the website http://knotsandkisses.co.uk or contact me for a completely bespoke design at info@knotsandkisses.co.uk

What Stationery To Order For Your Reception & Wedding Day?

I’m asked by a lot of couples these days .. many of whom are on a tight budget … where they could make savings with their reception stationery and what is essential.
So here are my tips for what to include on your stationery order…

1.Order of Service

I think these days Order of Service and whether you need them can be very dependent on your point of view and what type of wedding you are having.
A church wedding is almost certainly going to require some form of order of service. This can range from a brief layout of the service with pages to refer to in Hymn and Prayer books, to a full order of service where the hymns and prayers and any wording the congregation needs to say detailed.
If you aren’t having a Church or Religious ceremony, it may be an option to dispense with an Order of Service, or alternatively have a very simple ‘Order of Day’ card which gives your guests an idea of what they can expect throughout the day.

2. Menus

I have plenty of Brides who like to have one menu per person at their wedding .. using the menu as part of a place setting for each guest. However if you are on a budget perhaps it’s worth considering just one menu per table. Alternatively have a menu poster or board framed at the entrance to your reception, or incorporated into the table plan, for your guests to look at as they come in.

3. Placecards

I have to say I think this is the one thing you can’t dispense with for most weddings. Although I have been to a few weddings where the couple have wanted all their guests to mingle and therefore no-one has been given a specific place to sit, most Brides & Grooms will want to make sure certain people are sat on certain tables and placecards are a must.

4. Table Plan

As above, if you do want your guests to sit in a specific place, a table plan is a must.

I offer several options to couples, from fully mounted and even framed table plans, to a rolled poster which they can display as they wish, and even just the artwork … to really suit any budget.
Often a flat printed table plan will be cheaper than one which is heavily embellished to match your stationery .. although check beforehand as this may not always be the case as printing costs are high compared to the cost of layered card.

How To Choose The Right Style Of Wedding Stationery

I wanted to offer another post with advice for you this week on how to go about choosing your wedding stationery.

When it comes to choosing your wedding stationer I think the best thing to do is find someone who’s work you love ... hopefully mine lol ;-) If you love their existing designs but none are quite right for your wedding, the chances are they will come up with a design you like when you contact them for a bespoke service.

Many couples contact me with very little idea of where they want to go with their wedding and the stationery can be a great starting point for a whole scheme. When it comes to style I usually advise one of two things. Generally the easiest option for many people is to pick a colour scheme they like and let the style of their wedding build from there … often certain colours lend themselves very well to a certain style and you will find yourself naturally going down this route. Pinks & Greens are great for garden party style weddings whereas Blues & Whites often feel more beachy or wintery.

Alternatively often the style of the venue can lead you to the right decisions to how you want your stationery and wedding to look. If a bride contacts me with little idea of what she wants but I know she’s getting married in a barn in a relaxed and casual ceremony I will naturally go down a more rustic route with her stationery … perhaps tied in string.

There are so many ideas out there these days and so many styles of wedding … Festival, Classic Hotel Glamour, Fifties Rock And Roll … and there will always be a style of stationery out there to suit.

Provide your stationer with as much information as possible and they will generally be able to evoke the style of your wedding. This can be information in photo form … we love inspiration photos to get a really good idea of the look you are going for … pictures of your venue are also great, and providing swatches of your bridesmaids dresses fabric means we can try and get the best colour match possible when it comes to make your stationery.

Big Tip though : Try not to send stationers pictures of other peoples stationery as inspiration! We’ll always feel uncomfortable and like we’re copying anothers work, which is incredibly unethical, and you’ll never get the best work from us if we’re not basing our ideas on other inspirations and you as a client.

Hints And Tips For Ordering Wedding Stationery!

It's been a while now since I've offered some advice on the blog on when and how to order your wedding stationery. I know many people find it confusing so here goes ....

I’m not a fan of the word etiquette when it comes to weddings! I firmly believe you should be able to have the wedding you want regardless of tradition.

However, ordering Wedding Stationery can be a bit of a minefield, and it’s useful to know a few hints & tips to make ordering your Wedding Stationery that little bit easier ….

1. When To Send Your Stationery

Generally the advice is to send your wedding invitations to your guests approximately 3 months before the date of your wedding.
This can however depend on your wedding … you may be having a wedding abroad and in this case you will need to send out your invitations much further in advance as your guests may need to book flights etc.
If you’d like your guests to know the date of your wedding much further in advance I’d advise sending out Save The Date cards. This can give your guests advance warning so they don’t book holidays that clash with your wedding and can book time off work if needed.

2. When To Order Your Stationery

This can depend on your stationer, but I generally advise my clients to start the booking process at least 2 months prior to the date you need to receive your invitations. This is especially necessary if you are ordering handmade stationery, as it allows time for proofs to be sent and changes to be made. You also need to take into account many stationers will only be able to take on so many orders a month so it may be worth putting a deposit down much earlier to secure the services of the stationer you really want. I’ve had several people contact me in the last couple of weeks wanting stationery for next month, and unfortunately I’ve had to send them elsewhere as I’m fully booked.

Also allow extra time if you require a bespoke service as you need to allow a little bit longer for the design process.

3. R.S.V.P’s

I often have to advise couples on their RSVP dates, as sometimes they will put a date which is far too close to the wedding.
You need to allow time to chase up stragglers! No matter how well you think you know your guests there will always be a few who will reply to you weeks after your RSVP date... or not at all!
Also take into account the date your caterers and venue will need to know final numbers by, and if you are ordering reception stationery allow a month for this to be made.

4. Children

You may love to have children at your wedding, but there are many couples out there who could think of nothing worse! There are ways of wording this on your stationery so you don’t end up offending any of your guests who are parents!
Generally I advise not having a short sharp line stating “Children Not Allowed” … the text I usually use is something like … “We would love you to enjoy a day off and so respectfully ask that there are no children at our wedding”.

5. Extra Information

I’d always advise a separate information card to be included with your stationery. These days there is often so much extra information you would like to let your guests know about your day.
This can include directions, maps, guest information, food requests or even asking your guests to bring something with them to your wedding.
A lot of my stationery ranges include an information card and RSVP card as a pack price, which can save you some money.

6. Wording

When it comes to wording, I personally don’t think the rules are as strict as they used to be, but generally invitation wording will be either Formal or Informal.
Formal invitations are generally for weddings being hosted by the parents of the couple and will be addressed as such … “Mr. & Mrs. G Robinson request the pleasure of the company of Mr. & Mrs. Joe Bloggs at the marriage of their daughter Jessica Anne to Mr. James Smith ….”.
Many couples, however, now host their own weddings and so an informal wording is more appropriate … “Jessica & James would love the pleasure of the company of Jane & Joe Bloggs at their wedding …”.
I personally feel these days anything goes! Be as informal or as humorous as you want depending on the style of your wedding!

7. Final advice … Have fun with your wedding stationery and remember to order a few extra just in case!