Wedding Planning Tips - Invitations

Photo from The Knot

We regularly help couples with sourcing and designing beautiful and unique wedding invitations.

Here are a couple of tips when arranging your invitations:

- Try to enclose an RSVP card with a stamp and ensure there is a date for guests to reply by. This will help to encourage guests to reply on time or at least make it easier for them to reply.

- Consider including an email address for RSVPs as again this will make it easier for your guests.

- Its useful to include an information sheet that can accompany the invitations. This can be created in lots of different formats. See below for a fan type invitation (from The Knot) with different inserts.

Photo from The Knot

- In the information sheet include details such as a map, directions, local taxi numbers and local hotel details. If the venue is in the countryside or difficult to find location, it is a good idea to check that the postcode works for Sat navs and Tom Toms as you don't want your guests to get lost.

- If guests are travelling a long way or staying for a weekend, it is helpful to include details of things they can do locally. Especially useful if the wedding is late on the Saturday afternoon and they have the morning to themselves.

- If you are having a more than one ceremony during the day or different parts to the wedding, it is useful to include details of when the wedding breakfast or reception dinner will be served so that guests can make arrangements to eat accordingly.

If you are creative and fancy adding a personal touch to your invitations, think about using a company such as Bridemaid created by established wedding stationer Borrowed Blue Press. They have some beautiful designs.

An Essex Wedding - Bridesmaids Bliss

Look out for the July/August edition of An Essex Wedding where on page 40 you can see our suggestions for keeping all your bridesmaids happy and picking their outfits. There is also a feature on outdoor weddings.

Photographer Focus - Eastern Elegance

Last year we worked with photographers Riz and Hussein of Eastern Elegance Photography on a client's wedding and we are delighted to be working with them again later on in the summer. They really are a pleasure to work with and capture the couples perfectly as well the beautiful wedding venues. They also do videography.

Here are some of their photos:

Stunning Stationery

If you are looking for stationery with the wow factor to set the tone straight away for your wedding, then check out Rani Deshpande Unique Creations. They create invitations in lots of different styles and designs and all come with matching stationery like order of ceremonies. They also do gifts and favours and special occassion cards and have a studio in Wimbeldon.

Here are a few of my favourites:

They also do plantable wedding favours - an unusual and unique wedding favour that your guests can plant in their garden

Ethically Sourced & Beautiful Gift Lists

Lots of couples are trying to have weddings using ethically sourced products using local suppliers and trying to be as green as possible.

Last year, I met Brian Walmsley who runs a social enterprise called Fairgift, the fair trade gift & wedding list service. Fairgift works with artists & craftspeople in Africa, Asia & Latin America to create stylish & quality homeware for couples in the UK.

The products are predominantly handmade in small quantities, so it makes a highly original wedding list. And because the products are made by skilled artisans who have a real stake in what they are doing, it is also a great way to ensure superior quality. They have a showroom near Henley-on-Thames.

Here are some photos of their products:

Mother of the Bride Outfits

I recently came across the designer, Claire Thorogood who designs beautiful occasion wear. Ideal for the mother of the bride or for wedding guests looking to have that perfect outfit.

Here are some more photos:

New Covent Garden Market Wedding Inspiration Event

Yesterday morning, I went to the Summer Wedding Inspiration Event at the New Covent Garden Market. It was a great event with lots of florists showcasing their work with wedding inspired displays throughout the flower market. There were also talks and tips from some of the florists. Robbie Honey, Hayford & Rhodes, Paula Pryke and Flower Power were some of the florists at the event. The market is a great place for inspiration - not only to see flowers and foilage but also see a large range of vases, containers and props they have available.

Bouquet by Flower Power

Table arrangements by Hayford & Rhodes

Australian Inspiration

I recently discovered some beautiful post wedding shoots by Jason Cole, an Australian wedding photographer. He helped a couple who were still waiting two years on for their photos after using a budget photographer and also did some Trash the Dress photos. More of his work is also available on his blog.

Here are some more of his photos: