For many couples, their wedding day is the most important day of their life. It’s a time when they can get all their friends and family together to celebrate their union.

Remembering this special day in years to come is paramount, and the best and most popular way to do this is with wedding photo albums and wedding guest books.

More couples are deciding to choose the option of having their wedding photo albums and wedding guest books handmade in a beautifully constructed way. Being attracted by the fact that many companies now offer personalised touches and can combine them with the rest of the decor from the wedding, future brides and grooms choose to use these services.

Working in conjunction with couples, many businesses make the wedding photo albums and wedding guest books with their clients in mind, catering to their exact needs and requirements.

A wedding photo album can be decorated using a number of different styles, from floral designs including Triple Rose and Two Lilies, to Shells and Twisted Hearts. Each is elegantly put together into a book, which will include around 40 pages to put your photographs in and 20 tissue-like paper sheets to preserve them.

The wedding photo albums usually come in several sizes; small (around 16cm x 23cm), medium (around 20cm x 25cm) and large (around 28cm x 32cm).

Brides and grooms can choose from a number of different colours, to match the theme of their wedding. They can choose everything from the colour of the book itself to the text included within it.

Wedding guest books are not necessarily an item most couples will instantly remember to purchase, but they are a fantastic way of remembering the day.

They are, traditionally, a way for guests to voice their well wishes to the couple and also for the bride and groom to look back over for years to come.

Again, wedding guest books can often be tailored to match the wedding decoration, and come in a variety of styles, such as Romance Circle, Rose Bud and Kris Kross. All are stunningly and carefully handcrafted to ensure the very best service.

The wedding guest books often come in a variety of sizes to match the needs of the customers and the colour scheme can be chosen to match that of the wedding.

They also usually include around 40 pages, so that every guest has the room to write their personal messages.

Using the same company to cater for all your wedding stationery needs is advisable, as they can incorporate your wedding theme into all the products they make. It can also be a very cost effective option, which of course is something vital when planning a wedding.

Sending out handmade wedding invitations gives the bridal couple the opportunity to treat their guests to a totally unique and one-of-a-kind invite.

How handmade wedding invitations make a fabulous first impression

A once-in-a-lifetime affair, every bridal couple takes great pains to make sure everything is just picture-perfect on their wedding day. There are so many things to be attended to and preparations are started several months ahead. There’s the bridal gown, the venue, decoration for the venue, the guest list, caterers, bartenders; the list is endless. No matter how elaborate the plans are or no matter how early the preparations are started, the action till now is still all behind-the-scenes and involves only family and close friends.

The first real inkling the rest of the guests have about the wedding will be from the wedding invitation. It is essentially the first point of contact between guest and the wedding and offers the wedding guests a ’sneak-peak’ at what’s coming up.

Handmade invitations are customized to suit the wedding theme as well as the couple’s style; they set the tone for the wedding. A guest who looks at the wedding invite will immediately form an impression of what to expect at the wedding and customized hand-made wedding invitations create the most fabulous first impression of all.

Significance of Handmade Wedding Invitations

Giving a guest a handmade invitation creates a powerful impact on the guest. It says that despite all the other preparations, the bridal couple had taken time out to create a special invite for every guest. A handmade wedding invite makes every guest feel special.

A handmade wedding invitation to every guest is a way of saying you care for each and every guest individually and you’d feel honored to have them grace your special occasion.

Most bridal couples realize the impact handmade wedding invites can create and despite hectic schedules, more and more couples are taking the time to make handmade invitations for a fabulous first-impression.

Handmade Wedding Invitations as Keepsakes

Every handmade wedding invite is like a miniature work of art. With several personalizing options available including custom types of paper, styles of ribbon, shapes, fonts and graphic designs there are endless possibilities for reflecting the couple’s creativity and their personal styles.

When you give out unique handmade wedding invites, your guests are not going to toss it away like they do most store-bought invites. Handmade wedding invites are more likely to be treasured and given a place of honor among other memorabilia in the guest’s home. More and more bridal couples feel it’s surely worth taking the time and trouble over something that they know is going to last forever.

Handmade Photo Wedding Invitations

Handmade photo wedding invitations are not just unique; they are ‘You-nique’. Most bridal couples love the idea of photo wedding invitations because they are the most unique idea of all. Guests are unlikely to ever find a similar invite anywhere else; no matter where they look. Handmade photo wedding invitations can be customized using the chosen photograph and wordings as well as the chosen font. The picture type could be black-and-white, colored, sepia or antique and the color of the card could be taken from the wedding colors or from the photograph itself. The end-result- a handmade wedding invite like no other!

It is the ultra- uniqueness of handmade wedding invitations as well as the powerful message it conveys that make them far more popular than any store bought wedding invite.

Alongside your wedding invitations and place settings, wedding menu cards are a key item, not to be forgotten when organising the stationery for your big day.

Wedding menu booklets promise to be a tasteful addition to the rest of your carefully selected stationary and table decorations.

Wedding menu cards give guests an idea of what is going to be served on the day and they then have the chance to decide beforehand, which option they want to choose. It can also inform guests if vegetarian or gluten free alternatives will be available.

Couples often order their wedding menu stationery at the same time as their invitations, place names cards and other stationery items required. This will often ensure that all your wedding stationery items will arrive together at the same time, leaving you one less thing to worry about.

When ordered together, you are guaranteed that all the stationery will all feature the same designs.

Many people choose their wedding menu stationery to reflect the style and theme of their wedding. Whether it will be a formal or casual affair, the perfect wedding menu stationery can be tailored to your individual needs, to reflect and accent the nature of your ceremony.

Choosing a sturdy, card-based material is a wise choice when deciding on a style for your wedding menu stationery as it will hold up better and they will stand up on their own when placed on the tables.

Standard wedding menu booklets are usually A5 in size, with a three page insert and can include personalised printing on the front cover. They are decorated with your chosen design to co-ordinate with the rest of your chosen stationery.

It may also be a good idea to frame the menu cards after use and they can be used as extra wedding favours for guests.

For that extra personal touch, DIY kits are available from most wedding stationery companies.

These kits contain all you need to recreate the stationery design of your choice by hand whilst holding onto that professional finish.

This time saving and innovative method takes the hard work out of making your own stationery whilst still being affordable.

Wedding invitations and stationery packs can be organised and ordered quickly and easily online.

Sending out handmade wedding invitations gives the bridal couple the opportunity to treat their guests to a totally unique and one-of-a-kind invite.

How handmade wedding invitations make a fabulous first impression

A once-in-a-lifetime affair, every bridal couple takes great pains to make sure everything is just picture-perfect on their wedding day. There are so many things to be attended to and preparations are started several months ahead. There’s the bridal gown, the venue, decoration for the venue, the guest list, caterers, bartenders; the list is endless. No matter how elaborate the plans are or no matter how early the preparations are started, the action till now is still all behind-the-scenes and involves only family and close friends.

The first real inkling the rest of the guests have about the wedding will be from the wedding invitation. It is essentially the first point of contact between guest and the wedding and offers the wedding guests a ’sneak-peak’ at what’s coming up.

Handmade invitations are customized to suit the wedding theme as well as the couple’s style; they set the tone for the wedding. A guest who looks at the wedding invite will immediately form an impression of what to expect at the wedding and customized hand-made wedding invitations create the most fabulous first impression of all.

Every bridal couple wants their wedding day to be special and unique. They go to great lengths to ensure that their wedding is like no other and that everything, from the bridal gown to the reception décor is one-of-a-kind. In making a wedding a successful affair, every detail counts, including the wedding stationery.

While the wedding stationery may not be as highly visible as the bridal gown or the wedding cake or the reception décor, it creates a subtle influence on the tone of the wedding and its importance should not be underestimated. Wedding stationery silently but definitely ties in all the elements of the wedding and portrays the image you want to set.

Personalized wedding stationery is sophisticated and elegant and is a strong indication of the bridal couple’s eye for detail.

The Wedding Stationery

Here are some of the more popular wedding stationery options. You can choose to have some or all of them for your wedding.

Before the wedding you’ll need:

• Save the date cards
• Wedding invitations
• R.S.V.P. cards

On the day of the wedding you’ll need:

• Place cards
• Table numbers
• Paper napkins

After the wedding you’ll need:

• Thank you cards

If you’d like go all out and impress your guests you can personalize a few more items, including:

• Favor boxes
• Menus
• Confetti cones
• Cake boxes
• Napkin rings

Matching your Wedding Stationery to everything else

While it is not absolutely compulsory to have everything matching, having a distinctly common element linking all the aspects of the wedding does make the wedding look well put together.

Trying to impress your guests with exotic peacock themed invitations could very well put you in a quandary as you try to match the color scheme to all your other stationery as well as everything else. When designing your wedding invitations, look ahead and decide whether or not the same theme can be carried on throughout the wedding. Better to keep it simple rather than give up half way because the whole idea has suddenly become too troublesome.

Impressing your guests with personalized wedding stationery

Along with the other wedding décor, personalized wedding stationery offers bridal couples yet another way to display their creativity. With beads, sequins, shells and an endless assortment of fonts and graphics, the possibilities are endless.

Personalized wedding stationery designed with real dried flowers are perfect for outdoor weddings or if flowers are the main décor theme. A spray of silk flowers as a wedding favor would be a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Planning on having a beach wedding? Beach-themed personalized wedding stationery in the shapes of starfish, seashells, dolphins or sailboats are easy and fun and go well with the theme. Guests are sure to be impressed with the detailed planning and will look forward to their beach-themed wedding favor.

There are plenty of options for Christmas themed personalized wedding stationery if the wedding date is around Christmas time. To create an unforgettable impression, put each Christmas themed invite into a tiny sled and send to the invitee. It’s sensational!

Origami wedding stationery is perfect for a Japanese themed wedding. The look on the faces of your guests when they see it is well worth all the months of painstaking paper-folding.

Keep in mind however that is no need to get tied up in knots trying to create complex personalized wedding stationery. Guests are just as likely to get impressed with personalized wedding stationery that is simple, neat and elegant.

Every bridal couple has their own distinct vision of what their perfect wedding day would look like and the style of wedding invitations they would like to send out to their guests.   Some bridal couples want handmade invitations that are exceptionally elegant and sophisticated to match their similarly planned wedding reception whereas others prefer traditional all-white handmade wedding invitations as an introduction to their traditional all-white wedding reception.

Other handmade invitation styles run the gamut from elaborate and artsy to contemporary and casual; each style unique and distinctive, unlike run-of-the-mill store-bought wedding invitations where the only difference likes in the details of the wedding.

What makes handmade wedding invitations so special?

Anyone can go to a store and buy ready-made wedding invitations; the only deciding factor being the budget. A bridal couple with a higher wedding budget can go ahead and buy the most expensive invitations they can find whereas a bridal couple with a more restricted budget would have to spend some extra time looking for something cheaper. However, no matter how much you may spend on ready-made wedding invitations there is always something missing- that personal touch.

Having handmade wedding invitations reflects your commitment to creating an ambiance that is fitting for your wedding. They reveal your creativity, thoughtfulness and attention to detail and are sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests. More importantly, handmade wedding invitations give your wedding that distinctly personal touch that can never be bought or replicated.

Do you have to make handmade wedding invitations yourself?

Making homemade wedding invitations yourself can be a marvelous thought and you can certainly pull it off with élan if you have a limited guest list and plenty of time at your disposal. However, if you have a large guest list and limited time, you are better off getting homemade wedding invitations done by more professional hands.

Advantages of ordering handmade wedding invitations

Ordering handmade wedding invitations can save you time and money.

Professionally done handmade wedding invitations have a distinctly handmade look and this is because they are hand-made; the only difference being, they are made by hands other than yours.  Besides looking sophisticated and elegant, getting handmade wedding invitations professionally done has other benefits as well.  For a bridal couple who have set their heart on sending out customized handmade wedding invites, getting them done professionally frees up a lot of their time; time that could now be spent on the many other aspects of wedding planning.

Another huge advantage of ordering handmade wedding invites is that most professional wedding card makers would have everything they require right at their disposal. Trying to achieve the same effect yourself may involve having to buy special equipment and tools that could be a considerable expense.

Being able to order handmade wedding invites can also be a big boon to bridal couples who have the idea in their head but are not adept at executing it. It is important to make sure you explain your idea well and see the finished sample before ordering your handmade wedding invites en masse.

If you’re feeling creative, or have a friend who is, why not have a go at making your own wedding stationery.

We have put together a selection of diy invitation items available to purchase on-line.

We are happy to give advice and assistance to help you on your way.  If you are trying to source a particular craft item or card blank please feel free to email helen@rednell.com for free advice.

Timescale

Plan well ahead as you will have so many other things to do.  Decide when you would like to send your invitations out and allow time to prepare your design, source your materials plus you may need several weeks to make them. There are so many craft outlets selling all sorts of items for card making.   We supply a range of d-i-y items including card blanks and envelopes to make your life easier.

Decide what stationery items you will be making and what size card blank you want for each.  If you decide you want an unusual shaped card, make sure you can find an envelope to fit it first!

You may want to consider card blanks and sizes for: Save the Date, Wedding Invitation, Evening Invitation, RSVP, Order of Service, Place Setting, Menu, Table Number, Thank You Card and Table Plans.

The Design

Experimentation is the key.  Don’t be afraid to use a range of materials - beads, wire, feathers, flowers and so on.  Avoid putting too many different elements on your design, sometimes less is more.  Practice your design on folded plain paper or old card scraps first.  Use coloured papers, ribbons, wording or inserts to incorporate your wedding colour.

Plan how your design will be incorporated into each stationery item.  Will all your design elements fit on a smaller thank you card, for example.   How will it look on a table plan.  Consider using one particular element, a paper flower for example, which can be used with other items on some of your stationery and on its own on other items. This will give your stationery a themed look.   Make sure your design is not too time consuming, difficult or fiddly.

Budget

Decide how much you want to spend on your diy stationery, either a cost per item or total budget.  It’s very easy to get carried away with all the craft items available.

Glue

Avoid using water-based glues for paper elements on your design. They tend to soak into the paper making creases and indentation.  Use pva for your card embellishments (but only sparingly). Glue sticks are ideal for sticking papers to card or for inserts.  Try using glue dots or stick foam pads.  Allow time for glues to dry.

Production

Get some sort of production line going.  Make up each element from your design ready to place on your card rather than doing one card at a time.  Make sure you are well away from anything that can spill or stain your invitations.  Store away from heat and sources of smell.  Make sure your hands are clean.  If you are doing lots of gluing, keep washing your hands as it tends to get everywhere.

Inserts

Inserts can be handwritten, printed on an inkjet printer, photocopied, or you could have them professionally printed.

Always remember, DIY stationery can be time-consuming, but the end results will be worth you while.

Almost 90% of brides to be, start to look for their wedding invitations once a date has been set. The one thing we normally find is the complete wedding stationery range can sometimes be forgotten. The most popular stationery item is obviously the invitation shortly followed by the name cards used to identify the seating location of the bride and grooms guests.

Wedding Invitations / Evening Invitations

The invitations are by far the most popular item of stationery for today’s modern bride.  The invitation is the most personal way of inviting your guests to the wedding. It can be tailored as much as needed to provide the relevant information about the wedding and the events throughout the day.

Thank you Cards

Thank you cards are the perfect way to let your guests know how grateful you are of their special gifts they bought you, or even just for joining you on your big day. Your thank you stationery is normally customised with your personal message for you to pass onto your guests and usually provided for you by the same company that made your wedding invitations so that the design can be carried through.

Order of Service Booklets

Your order of service booklets are an essential part of your wedding service. Whether you are marring in a church or opting for a civil ceremony, the order of service or order of the day for civil ceremonies, gives your guests that essential layout of events for the service or ceremony. When marring in a church most couples use the order of service booklets to print hymn words and list prayers or readings. Most churches will ask you to provide your guests an order of service booklet and will give you a copy of their version of hymns.

Place Cards

Your guests will need to know where to sit when they arrive at your wedding reception, so a place card is an essential when planning your stationery needs. Many stationery companies will be able to make these for you to match your wedding invitations, and most will also print your guest’s names on them for an extra cost. It is also popular for brides or bride’s families to handwrite the place cards to save money and add that personal touch.

Menus

If you are having a wedding reception then you will need to inform your guests of what they will be eating. Whether it is a simple reminder of the meals they have already chosen or an insight into the delights ahead.

RSVP Cards

When sending out your wedding invitations, you will need a way for your guests to inform you whether they are able to make it or not. The easiest way to do this is the send out RSVP cards with your wedding invitations. Most stationery companies will be able to provide these to match your wedding stationery. Blissful Designs offers these for free with your wedding invitations.

Direction Cards

When your guests need to travel to a venue they are not familiar with, the sending direction cards out with your wedding invitations is really the easiest way to get this information across. Most companies will print both a map and directions and any other details you need.

Always begin your thank you card by offering the correct greeting like “Dear Clare & Paul”. Many people forget to properly address this when writing the cards.

I would then personalize your thank you by mentioning the gift you received and maybe say how you would put the gift to good use. It is always nice to hear that your gift was kindly received.

To finish the thank you card, I would then maybe mention a past visit such as “I enjoyed seeing you last Christmas at mums birthday party, I was so happy to share our wedding day with you and hope to see you again very soon.” If you do not have frequent contact with the sender, a simple “I think of you often and hope you are well” will suffice.

Say “thanks” once more, “Thanks again for the gift.”

Wrap it up with a pleasant closing that uses words like “Love,” “Warmly,” Yours truly” or whatever suits you.

Review the letter for spelling errors and be sure to attach the correct postage.

Your wedding invitations are a vital part of your wedding plans.The invitations can control a lot, primarily is the list of guests you want to attend but they also determine the overall cost of your big day.They are a great way to trim your guest list and keep the numbers down.Remember, you can invite a lot more to the evening ceremony.

The stationery you use reflects on the kind of wedding you are planning.A simple invite will give the opposite effect to an elegant invitation which will tell your guests to expect a formal affair.The colours used on the stationery will also give your guests an idea of what to expect.

Take the following as an idea of what you should consider when choosing your invitations:

The first thing you need to do is analyse your guest list, go over it several times.It is very easy to get carried away and invite everyone you know, but you have to be realistic.Find out how many guests the reception can cater for and use that as a starting figure.Then work out the cost per head and find out what the overall cost will be for the full list.Now you can decide how much you want to spend on your guests and how many you can invite.

Once you have decided on the number of guests you can have, you can now begin to filter your guest list starting with immediate family members and your closest friends.You have to always remember this is your day and you don’t need to invite a whole family.They may have four children who aren’t really interested in attending and it will only cost you more.Remember to only invite the ‘key’ people.

Choosing your wedding invitations will now be a lot easier, you will know how many you need so you can work out how much you will spend per invite.Why not call the stationery supplier and ask them what they can offer for your budget.You may be surprised; you may now be able to afford additional stationery like a table plan or guest book.

The wording of the invitation is very important.The standard practice is to include the date, venue and time. Why not include more details that you may need to give your guests.Directions to the venue or contact numbers if there are special dietary requirements.This is normally included on RSVP cards, but they are your initiations with your wording so include what you want.

While we are on the subject of RSVP cards, why not state on the RSVP to call rather than posting, this will save money to both parties.It’s just as easy to pick up the phone and accept the invitation as it is to respond with the RSVP card.

Finally, if you are feeling creative, why not make the invitations yourself.DIY wedding stationery is becoming very popular; it just takes a little bit of time and patience.Good companies can offer you DIY kits to make your life easier and it is almost certainly cheaper doing this than it is to buy the craft items individually.With DIY, you get exactly what you ask for rather than having to buy in bulk.Personalise your wedding invitations with you own character and flare.