Wedding Stationery – Getting This Important Part of your Wedding Right

Robert Paulson asked:

Planning a wedding is not easy and aside from the location, that stunning dress you need to track down and your guest list, perhaps the biggest challenge is your wedding stationery. Your wedding stationery is not only your chance to make a first impression on your guests, it is also the item that is most often saved by guests to remember your special occasion. Below are some tips to help you when creating your wedding stationery set.

Wedding Stationery Must Have’s

• Wedding Announcements/Save the Date Cards – Sending out a wedding announcement letting your guests know of your wedding date and location is the first step in getting an idea of how many guests will be attending (Be sure to include an RSVP card with return envelope and postage). Though you want your wedding stationery to be consistent, it is sometimes a good idea to avoid excessive decoration on these initial mailings. Things like envelope liners and seals can usually be reserved for your wedding invitations. This is a good way to save a bit on your wedding stationery overall.

• Your Wedding Invitations – Being the centerpiece of your wedding stationery, your invitations is where you will likely want to spend the bulk of your wedding stationery budget and pay close attention to detail. Wedding invitations are your chance to let your guests know how formal (or informal) your event will be and are an important element in setting the overall tone for your entire wedding. As mentioned above this is also the item of wedding stationery most guests will save in order to remember your big event so take time to make sure you’re making the impression that you want. Envelope liners, envelope seals, ribbon, floral accents and multi-layered designs are a few things to consider.

• Reception Cards/Directions – These wedding stationery items should be included with your wedding invitations and though you want them to be consistent with the style of your wedding stationery, single sheet cards with little to no adornments. It is important that your directions to the wedding/reception are printed clearly. Poor printing quality to lead to maps that are hard to read and you don’t want your guests getting lost.

• Menus and Table Cards – These reception and dinner items should also match the overall feel of your wedding stationery. Table cards can usually be made with a single folded card and nothing too fancy in the way of design. Something to consider with menus is a two layer design that matches your invitations. This is an easy way to add consistency with your wedding stationery since most guests will not bring their invitations with them.

Wedding Stationery – Important Details

There are many details that you can include that can make sure your wedding stationery is as perfect as your event. Paying attention to the following suggestions can go a long way in adding additional quality and a lasting impression.

• Return Postage – Make sure you include return envelopes and postage. Making your guests pay for a stamp is poor wedding stationery etiquette and should be avoided at all costs.

• Use Calligraphy Fonts – When printing the text for your wedding stationery a calligraphy (cursive) font style is highly recommended to add elegance.

• Your Requests – If you prefer to not have children at your ceremony, make sure to let your guests know. Be as clear as you can here to avoid any confusion.

• Double Envelopes – When delivering your wedding invitations, place them, envelope and all, into a cheaper outer envelope to ensure that they are not smudged during postal delivery.

• Envelope Seals – Adding these to the envelopes of your wedding stationery add a high degree of quality for minimal extra cost. Wax seals and paper seals work equally as well here.

These are just a few things that go into the making of a quality wedding stationery set. Like most bride’s to be, I’m sure that your wedding stationery is something that is not only important to you, but something you want to make sure you get right. Keeping in mind the things above can hopefully help you to achieve this.

5 Tips to Plan for the Wedding Stationery

TM Lung asked:

You will only have a wedding once in your life. It will be worth spending some time to plan for the event such that you will have a perfect big day. Of course you will take care of all the small details related to the event. However, one of the parts brides and grooms may overlook is the wedding stationery.

As a matter of fact, the wedding stationery is very important. This is especially true when it comes to the wedding invitations. You do not want to give a bad impression about your event to your guests. To this end, it will be natural for you to get the best invitation cards.

Yet, the invitation card is only one of the items when you are planning for your wedding stationery. You will need to take care of all the other items so that you can create a consistent set of stationery.

#1 Wedding Invitations

As mentioned, this is the first impress your guests will get about the big day. In most cases, you will want to make this item match the main theme of your event. It will not be difficult for you to do so at the end of the day.

Besides, there are also some practical issues to be considered. All the necessary information about your event should be included in the invitation card. Be sure to include the basic information such as the date and location of your event.

#2 Save the Date Card

In fact, you may not want to include this items when you are considering your wedding stationery. Yet, it will be useful if you are going to have a destination wedding. You will ask your guests to save the date so that they can attend your event. In most cases, you will need to send this item 6 months to 12 months before your big day.

#3 RSVP Card

Your guests will need to reply if they will come or not after they receive your invitation. This is why you will need to have the RSVP card. Normally, you will ask your guests to reply you at least a month before your wedding so that you can have a better planning for the catering. Yet, there are some brides and grooms who will not include this item for the wedding stationery. Instead, they will put the email addresses on the invitation and let the guests reply via emails. This can be a good idea when environmental protection is concerned.

#4 Map Card

You may need to include a driving map if you believe that your guests may not really know the ways to the wedding location. Of course this is not a must. For example, if you will be preparing transportation for all the guests, you may not really need to print this card.

#5 Other items

There are also other items that can be included when it comes to the wedding stationery. For example, you can print a menu for the reception. Some couples will need to print the order of services. If you have guests coming from other countries, it will also be a good idea to include some information sheets about the accommodation and points of interest around your wedding location!

Stationery Trends From Top American Fashion Designers

SuzanneBradley1 asked:

There are many top fashion designers and they are now offering their own brand of stationery designs. You can display these unique styles with every piece of stationery that you use to write notes, send announcements or exchange cards. This stationery trend has largely grown out of customer demand to match up their written correspondence with the overall theme of big events such as weddings, bridal showers and baby showers. This allows one to plan their event with a matching theme.

It has long been fashionable to discretely announce the designers that you choose to use for major events. When you use big name fashions in various aspects of your life, it can show the impeccable taste that you possess in putting your best foot forward. One of the best-known fashion designers, famous for sweeping styles of wedding gowns and other formal wear is Vera Wang. Vera Wang now produces high-end wedding invitations and announcements so that you can extend the style you are using for your wedding party’s appearance to the stationery that announces your joyous day to friends and family.

Vera Wang stationery comes in many different designs – how else can you use fashionable stationery unless you have plenty of options to choose between? Similarly, you can choose between extremely fancy designs and motifs that are more low-key. Vera Wang wedding stationery includes options not only for formal invitations but also for coordinated pieces such as envelopes, save the date cards, blank notes that can be used for thank you cards, and reply cards.

Some stationery trends have nothing at all to do with the designers who developed them, but with their popularity with consumers. For instance, one of the top trends in today’s stationary is the use of bold colors. Gone are the days when demure colors were used for any possible event. Instead, today’s consumers have followed the trends used by American fashion designers for bright and striking colors. Some of the most popular bold colors that are commonly used in stationery are pinks, purples and blues.

Another popular stationery trend to consider is the use of well-known design patterns. Some of America’s top fashion designers are best known for the patterns that they continuously use in the products that they design and this carries into the realm of stationery. Some stationers offer similar patterns to those used by well-known designers, but just different enough that they can be marketed under another brand name. This allows the designed stationery to be sold at considerably less cost than a brand name would demand.

A third popular stationery trend is to coordinate all types of stationery used. In times past, only the primary paper in a stationery set would be designed, and any coordinating pieces would be a plain coordinating color. Today, it is popular for all pieces of a stationery set to follow the same design. This level of continuity has made this trend extremely popular. In fact, it is now often more common to buy all coordinated stationery than to use plain envelopes and secondary sheets of paper.

You should keep some important considerations in mind next time you are beginning to plan for a wedding or another type of celebration. First, you should not purchase a stationery design if you are doing so simply because of the designer who created it. You should always pick your stationery based upon your desire to use the colors or patterns represented. What the stationery is being used for is also an important aspect to consider because you may have a theme already planned.

Another important consideration is to think about what you are going to be using the stationery whether it is a wedding invitation or thank you card. For every day events, bold colors or designs may be an appropriate choice. If you are going to be using your stationery for a special event, however, you may want to select stationery that is in some way tied to the event. For instance, some of the popular designs by top fashion designers include pictures or other symbols associated with certain celebrations.

Most importantly, consider several options before you make your final decision on stationery. Evaluate different fashion designers and the offering they have provided for you to ponder. When you have given this careful consideration, you are sure to make a decision you may not regret! Many fashion designers are well known for a specific design pattern and these patterns are used on their brand of stationery. Stationery is important whether you are sending a thank your card or a wedding invitation and the design of these correspondence cards should match your overall theme of the event. When planning an event, remember that you should not choose a card based on the designer, but you should check for a design that fits with your theme.

Understanding Wedding Stationery

Louise Keeling asked:

Understanding Wedding Stationery

 

When choosing your wedding invitations you can often become baffled by the large choice of stationery items on offer. First of all you think you will only need Invitations, Table Plan, Thank You Card and Menu’s, but then you start looking at stationers websites where there is a vast range of items on offer and each wedding stationer claiming that every item is a must! The problem is you aren’t that clear on what each item actually is!

Below there is a large list containing many wedding stationery items available along with a description:

Save the Date Cards: Small cards that are sent out once you know your wedding date. Especially if it is more than one year in advance or it falls on a national holiday weekend.

Invitations: The most obvious stationery item.  Both wedding and evening invitations are on offer, the first being sent to the guests that are attending the full wedding and the second for the guests who will be attending the evening party but not the ceremony or reception

RSVP Card: Often a smaller card that is put inside the invitation. It is already printed for your guests to just write their name and send it back to you in the printed envelope provided.

Guest Information Card:  A flat card that is inserted in the invitation along with the RSVP card containing all the essential information about the wedding day. I.e. Directions, Local Hotels, Parking etc

Order of Service: Usually in a booklet style which contains all the information needed for your guests for a church wedding. It will contain the order of the ceremony including the hymns, readings and prayers.

Order of the Day: Can be used for church weddings or civil ceremonies. It is often a flat card which states the timings of the day so your guests will know what to expect when.

Menu: Couples normally provide at least one Menu per reception table so their guests will know what they will be eating during the reception meal.

Table Numbers/Name Cards: If you are having a table plan then these are essential as they link together to tell your guests where to sit. They can be either in a ‘card’ style or flat so they can be slipped into a stand.

Table Plan: Most commonly a table plan is on a mount board and will give an overview of your reception layout. Guests will be able to look, find their name and head towards the correct table.

Place Cards: These are small cards and there is one for each guest with their name on. If you have meticulously planned seating arrangements then these are a must.

Guest Book: A small book similar to a photo album. Guests can write their own message to the newly married couple. Lovely to have as a keepsake.

Photo Album: Often created to match the stationery theme. Print off your own wedding pictures and create your perfect album

Keepsake Box: A sterdy box which is decorated to match your stationery. You can keep your wedding cards, tiara and any other keepsakes from your wedding day.

Card Postal Box: A large letterbox where your guests can put your wedding cards and vouchers if you are having them. This way they don’t get lost.

Thank You Cards: These are essential. Most of your guests will make the effort to attend your wedding and will usually bring you a gift and of course you must thank them for this. These are usually left blank for you to write your own personal message.

This list doesn’t cover every single item of wedding stationery, but it’s a good start!

 

Louise

www.bubblycreations.co.uk

Make Your Anniversary Special With Personalized Stationery

Brian Jenkins asked:

Whether celebrated privately or more publicly with friends and family, anniversaries are very special occasions. Wedding anniversaries are commemorated, celebrated and enjoyed as few other important events are! Personalized stationery can really enhance the event.

Anniversary celebrations enhance special occasions

Because a wedding anniversary is an occasion that celebrates a very sacred commitment and close bond between two people, it is specifically planned with that thought in mind. It is usually celebrated on the day the original wedding took place or at a time when it is suitable and convenient for all the guests to attend.

The married years that are earmarked and celebrated are the 1st, 7th, 10th, 25th and 50th years. Couples send out special wedding anniversary invitations, and whenever possible, you should try to invite those who were present at the original wedding ceremony. The occasion is a very emotional as well as spiritual affair as it helps the couple to remember their original commitments and vows. It also helps to maintain a level of honor and respect for each other no matter how trying the times may be.

Personalized Stationery: Highlights Special Events

For a 1st year wedding anniversary celebration the appropriate invitation has to be sent out. The specific type and style of the invitation must enhance the occasion and give the invited guest an idea as to what kind of event can be expected. It is only the first event but it can be the most important. You may want to consider an embossed emblem of wedding rings on the invitation and this may be a good idea if it is going to be an elaborate affair. The color selection is entirely personal. For a smaller affair, the personalized invitations can be classy without being overbearing depending on the theme. There are endless varieties available at prominent stationery stores. Bordered paper that has been personalized in matching color as well as a variety of ensembles can be used.

7th Year wedding anniversary celebrations are on the whole a lot less enthusiastic than the first. This is the stage in married life that is generally the most trying for many couples! Depending on the mood and financial situation personalized invitations to a few close friends may raise the spirits and set the trend for a successful event. Expect to receive gifts made from either copper or wool from invited guests.

10th Year wedding anniversary celebrations mark a whole decade of married life, and this is considered quite an achievement and a worthy cause for celebrating. As the daffodil is the symbol of ten years of marriage it is appropriate to have it placed on a personalized invitation. The cheerful yellow symbolizes happiness and this is exactly what is being highlighted at the anniversary celebrations. The traditional color for tenth anniversaries is blue or silver and these may also be first color choices for invitations. For a more lavish affair these would be ideal. As the traditional gifts for tenth anniversaries include any article with diamonds, sapphires, tin or aluminum you may receive gifts of this nature. A diamond given to a spouse can most definitely give cause to greater commitments for a life long marriage.

25th Year wedding anniversary celebrations cannot be passed without leaving a memorable mark behind. This is the first of the truly special landmark anniversary dates reached in married life and every reason to simply splash out is justified. Send out the most beautiful embossed personalized invitations to all closest as well as not so close friends and relatives to build up enthusiasm and anticipation for what is to come.

As this is traditionally known as the ‘Silver Anniversary’ it is appropriate to use silver as the basic color scheme for the event. It can also be the dominant color on the invitations as it signifies a very classy social event that may require formal attire. The traditional flower associated with this anniversary is the iris. Making it part of décor trimmings can be a good idea, and is a perfect accent color for a silver theme, too. Putting it on personalized ‘thank you notes’ adds a nice touch at the end of special day. Be prepared to receive silver articles as gifts.

A 50thYear wedding anniversary celebration is where the married couple deserves to wear golden crowns to symbolize this wonderful achievement! Gold is symbolic to beauty, class and endurance and this is what these couples have achieved. The couple’s children usually plan the event. Gold is the ideal color to use on personalized invitations and ‘thank you’ cards. It not only advertises the significance of the event but it also enhances the ambience as well.

Wedding anniversaries are important celebrations, which signify a new milestone for the married couple. The 1st, 7th, 10th, 25th and 50th wedding anniversary is the most celebrated aspects of a marriage and there are many great choices for personalized stationery.

All About Stationery

Darla Goberstein asked:

Stationery can be used in a lot of places, including the home, offices, businesses, and school.  The stationery industry is very lucrative, as there is always a high demand for such supplies.  Stationery supplies used in the home can be things like wedding invitations, birth announcements, notepads for personal letters, greeting cards, moving notices, and more.  Businesses and schools usually use stationery supplies such as calenders, envelopes, desktop accessories, and other paper products. 

To cater for such high demands, stores that sell stationery supplies must keep up with all the latest designs and trends.  Some shops even cater to a specific stationery need, including events such as weddings, births, holidays, and more. Everybody loves fancy fountain pens, colorful invitations, neat note paper, unique envelopes, etc., so suppliers of such products need to keep up with all of these products.

Stationery can also be used to promote business and events.  A new business that’s just starting out may want to give out advertisements printed on special stationery paper.  An organizer of an upcoming event will want to pass out stationery invitations.  Thank you cards are also popular stationery products, so they can be sent out to everyone that attended a special celebration or event.

If you would like to order stationery supplies for any reason, then you can order them online.  You can browse online for many different designs, colors, and themes.  Some stationery is even printed out on recycled paper, so you can help the environment by ordering them as well. Don’t forget that the holidays are almost here, so you can order cards.  You can even order special holiday photo cards to frame around family photos!  This will be a creative way to ensure that your friends and family will receive something with meaning this year.  In addition to order invitations, announcements, and cards, you can order pretty, stylish fountain pens too!