stationery guide

When you send out your wedding invitations, you are setting the tone for the whole day;

formal or casual
traditional or modern
low-key family gathering
full on party - the choice is yours. 

When your guests receive their invitation in the post, it will be the first glimpse they get into what lies ahead so you want it to hit the right note.  Read through the following guide that I have put together to help you plan what items of stationery you will need and don't be afraid to ask for help or advice.

ITEMS AVAILABLE

SAVE THE DATE CARDS
Sent to guests up to 1 year (or sometimes more) in advance to let them know you have set the date for your wedding and allows them to get it in their diary.  Particularly useful for weddings in the summer months or if guests will need to make travel or accommodation arrangements.

DAY INVITATIONS
Sent to guests that you are inviting to both the Marriage Ceremony and the Evening Reception.  Remember it's one per couple / household not one per guest.

EVENING INVITATIONS
Sent to guests that you are inviting to the Evening Reception only.  Again, one per couple / household not one per guest.

GUEST INFORMATION CARDS
Included with the invitation, this provides useful information such as church/hotel/venue addresses, accommodation recommendations, menu selections, transport arrangements, dress code, wedding websites, gift lists etc.

R.S.V.P. CARDS / REPLY CARDS
Included with the invitation to encourage a quick response from your guests.  Can also be adapted to ask for any special dietary requirements / seats required on bus.  Etiquette dictates that you should put a stamp on the RSVP envelope.

ORDER OF SERVICE
Typically for a religious service and given to guests at the church, this will contain the entrance and exit music, hymns / songs and readings etc.  An order of service may also be appropriate for a Humanist ceremony.

ORDER OF THE DAY
For non religious marriage ceremony, this contains a running order of the entire day from marriage cremony right the way through to the evening reception.  The marriage ceremony part may also be expanded to include the music and readings etc.

For both religious and non religious services, it is now becoming popular to detail the bridal party, the details of the celebrant performing the marriage and any muscial contributors e.g. string quartet, piper, organist.

THANK YOU CARDS
Sent to guests after the wedding to say thank you for attending and for any gifts given.

TABLE PLAN / SEATING PLAN
Placed somewhere prominent at the reception for people to find out which table they are seated at.

TABLE NAMES / NUMBERS
Used to identify the tables in the reception room.  Double sided so they can be seen from anywhere in the room.

PLACE CARDS
Placed on the tables at the reception meal so guests know where they are seated at the table.

STATIONERY SHAPE & SIZE OPTIONS

(Please note, some shapes & sizes are only be available as part of the bespoke design package. 
Please get in touch if you're in any doubt)

FOLDED CARDS WITH PRINTED INSERTS
Available in many different sizes, suitable for day and evening invitations, menus, order of service, order of the day and thank you cards.  All the cards come with matching insert paper and envelopes where appropriate.

POCKETFOLDS
These open up like a little booklet and typically contain the invitation, one or more guest information cards, an R.S.V.P. card and a self addressed reply envelope for your guests to return the response card back to you (you should put a stamp on the envelope).  They can be designed to open both landscape (opens like a book) and portrait style (opens from the top).

PULL OUT WALLETS
Similar to a Pocketfold but the invitation sheet is pulled out from the inside of a wallet.  Come in square, large and tall sizes.  Wallets do not include RSVP cards or guest information cards as standard.  An RSVP card can be purchased as an additional extra, but it is not recommended to add an information card as well, as a Pocketfold is more suited to presenting these in the best manner.

FLAT STYLE INVITATIONS
A slightly more informal or casual style of invitation, very popular as an evening invitation.  Can also be used as an order of the day card.  All my flat invitations have at least 3 layers of card, some have 4 layers, which makes them feel weighty and extra luxurious.  There are two sizes available - square and large.

A NOTE ABOUT CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS
Most of my designs are made from gorgeous "pearlescent" or "shimmer" style card and paper which is superior quality from only the best paper mills.  Most colours come with matching insert paper and many come with matching envelopes for the ultimate co-ordination of your invitations.  I often have offcuts left from making my orders so please feel free to get in touch to request some swatches so you can check out the colours and quality for yourself.  This really is where you must consider using the best materials available as a flimsy card will "cheapen" the look and feel.