Event Planning

It’s her parents who do the inviting!

But they don’t have to!

When it comes to planning a wedding palette, there's nothing quite like pastel colours! Gentle sunshine and blooming flowers provide soft pastel inspiration that's guaranteed to give your special day a wonderfully whimsical vibe. Here are our top picks for a dreamy pastel wedding colour theme...

Pastel Pink

Pastel pink is a wedding favourite all year round, but we think bright summer weather really makes this shade shine. This colour is perfect for your wedding reception, too - just think how sweet pink decorations would look when paired with berry cocktails and a floral wedding cake! Featured Design: 'Watercolour Roses Wedding Menu'

Pastel Blue

This hue brings the crystal clear blue beauty of the sky to your pastel wedding theme. Perfect for a relaxed wedding in the city or the country, it can easily be paired with whimsical bridesmaid dresses and plenty of soft powder blue lace embellishments. Featured Design: 'Bohemian Love Birds Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP'

Pastel Purple

Pantone's Ultra Violet is the 2018 colour of the year. But, if you prefer more gentle tones, why not opt for a more subtle shade of purple? A gentle pastel purple will look stunning when represented through wildflowers. And, just like the pastel pink shade, you can even theme your reception refreshments with purple fruits, cakes, and drinks. Featured Design: 'Royal Botanical Boutique Wedding Invitation & RSVP'

Pastel Yellow

When we think the colour yellow, we think daffodils, daisies, and plenty of sun. If that sounds like your idea of heaven, pastel yellow is the wedding colour for you! Blend softer yellow hues with brilliant white to give your wedding an effortlessly light and airy style. Whether your theme is traditional or quirky, this palette will look gorgeous. Source: Martha Stewart Weddings | Cake: Ron Ben-Israel Cakes

Pastel Wedding Mix

Can't pick your favourite colour? Why not use a mix of pastel colours to give your wedding a unique and colourful look? Use subtle hints of pastel shades against a neutral tone to stop your palette from becoming overcrowded. A rustic brown is a great choice, as it really captures a natural earthy vibe that complements brighter floral colours. Definitely one for a woodland venue! Featured Design: 'Rustic Pastel Butterflies Invitation & RSVP Card'

Wedding evening invitation wording etiquette rules are much the same as day invitations, but with a few differences. Evening invitations are sent to guests who will only be coming to the latter part of your wedding celebrations. These invitations tell guests the time and location of your evening reception. They can have similar wording to the wedding invitations, and contain some of the same key information, like the date. Make sure it is clear that it’s an evening reception invitation, separate from the day invitation.

Most people will expect food to be served at an evening reception. If you are only serving light snacks, canapés, or no refreshments at all, then it’s a good idea to mention this. It is generally not acceptable to include a gift list; wait for your guests to ask.

We recommend you send your evening invitations at the same time as your day invitations. That way, people won’t be left wondering if they’ve been sent an invite at all.

 

Evening Invitation Wording Examples

The following wording examples will help to provide some inspiration for you.

Parents Hosting

Mr & Mrs Jones

Request the pleasure of the company of

……………………………………………

at an Evening Reception to celebrate

The marriage of their daughter

Nicola

To

James Owen

at The Ramada Hotel, Bewdley

on Saturday 2^nd May 2020

at 8.00pm

~~~

Mr & Mrs Jones

would like you to join them

at The Ramada Hotel, Bewdley

on Saturday 2^nd May 2020

at 8.00pm

to celebrate the marriage of their daughter

Nicola with James Owen

~~~

Nicola & James

have pleasure in inviting

……………………………………………

to an Evening Reception

to celebrate their wedding at

at The Ramada Hotel, Bewdley

on Saturday 2^nd May 2020

at 8.00pm

Shop our Evening Invitations

Bride and Groom Hosting

……………………………………………

We invite you to join us to

celebrate our marriage

at an Evening Reception

on Saturday 2^nd May 2020

at

at 8.00pm

The Ramada Hotel, Bewdley

~~~

Nicola & James

have pleasure in inviting

……………………………………………

to an Evening Reception

to celebrate their wedding at

The Ramada Hotel, Bewdley

On Saturday 2^nd May 2020

at 8.00pm

~~~

Nicola & James Owen

invite you to celebrate with them

at an Evening Reception to be held at

The Ramada Hotel, Bewdley

on Saturday 2^nd May 2020

at 8.00pm

Shop the matching collection!

Now you have sent out your invitations it's time to start thinking about the stationery you will need on the day. All our invitations are part of matching collections and our designers will happily work with you to create something that extra bit special if you don't see what you are looking for! Browse our collections today and get everything perfect for your big day - it will be here before you know it!

• Order of Service
• Table Plans
• Place Cards

 

When you are planning your wedding we always recommend you set a budget for all aspects of the wedding: wedding stationery is no exception. There is obviously a range of prices for any wedding stationery, ranging from the cheap and cheerful to expensive deluxe designs. In this blog we will give you some tips on how to get the best value for your money, allowing you to purchase high quality stationery without breaking your budget. 1. Think about what you really need. For example do you need both save the date and wedding invitations? Do you need an RSVP card or can you put a reply email address on the invitation? Can you put guest information and present list online? On the day, do you need individual place cards or can you just put the names on the table card. Look at the numbers you need too – Orders of Service can be shared one per family, rather than ordering one per guest. 2. Look at different options for the stationery. For example, we have a range of ready-to-write invitations. These are less than ½ the price of our personalised printed cards and are a great way to match your invitations with other wedding stationery. You can also opt for postcards or magnets instead of regular open-out cards, both of them are a lower cost option. 3. Check what is included in the price – some apparently cheaper cards do not include envelopes, free delivery or free samples. These can all add up if you do not check before you order. 4. Card size and weight. Check that your invitations can fit in a regular envelope and can be posted via standard letter: if the envelope is larger than 240x165mm, thicker than 5mm or heavier that 100g your invitations will have to be posted as a large letter meaning that the stamps will be more expensive. 5. Check for offers. Whether you buy your stationery from a shop or online, it is worth searching for offers. If you bulk order your stationery you may get a discount and there will probably also be end of line sales or seasonal sales.

It might seem a little strange to talk about choosing a theme for your wedding stationery, but if you want a coordinated theme throughout your wedding it may be something you will have to think about early in the wedding planning process. One of the first things you will do is to send out save the date information, whether it be on a formal save the date cards or the more informal save the date magnet. This card/magnet is the ideal way to give your guests a little taste of what your wedding day will be like. The design you choose will not necessarily be the same as the stationery you will require nearer the date, but you should be looking at something that reflects the style of your wedding. This article lists 10 things you may wish to consider when choosing a theme for your wedding stationery and of course they will help you choose your overall theme and colour too. Your Own Style Make sure you choose a wedding theme that reflects your own style. This will mean you are comfortable on the day and your guests will recognise it as your wedding. Not sure what your style is? Look around you: how do you decorate? What do you wear? Where are you happiest? If your home is all clean lines and modern furniture you should probably select a modern theme. If you love making and baking perhaps shabby chic is more you. What Defines You as a Couple? Sit down together and look at what you have in common. What are your shared interests and passions? Write down words and places that define you as a couple. If you are drawn together by a love of travel this can be a great stationery theme, incorporating luggage labels on the invitations and place names on your table plan. Your Wedding Venue You will probably have chosen and booked your venue before you send out your save the date cards. Your choice of venue will play a major role in your wedding style. A wedding in a stately home may lend itself to a vintage Downton Abbey style wedding, whereas booking a Tipi leans more towards a festival theme. The venue may also have an influence on the colours you choose. Some hotels may have strong colour themes and you may have to be careful about colour clashes. Time of Year The season of your wedding day needs to be considered. If you are having a winter wedding you might like to go with warm and opulent or you might prefer a white and blue Frozen-themed colour scheme. Pastels work well in spring for a romantic wedding and summer is perfect for bright colours. If flowers are important in your plans talk with a florist to see what is in season and this will help you with your colours too. Your Dreams When you close your eyes and imagine your wedding, what do you see? Is it pink and pretty or do you see smart sophistication. Did you always want to be a princess for the day or a glamourous bride? This is your day. Choose a theme that can make it yours. On-line Inspiration Pinterest and Etsy treasury boards will bring up ideas for weddings that you could not have dreamed of. Have fun pinning and sharing what you like. Set up different boards or treasuries for different styles and colours. You can have a board just for stationery ideas and another for food. It can be inspiring, but all the options can be overwhelming too. In fact so many ideas can make it really hard to choose, so make sure you don’t get too carried away. Close Friends and Family Ask for help in choosing a theme and colours, but don’t be bullied in to something you don’t want. If you are not very good at coordinating colours, ask someone who is. You should also consider your bridesmaids when choosing colours and styles - be willing to go for a spectrum of colours that will suit them all and, potentially different dress styles if necessary. Your Budget Remember to set a budget early and stick to it. Your budget is a vital part of wedding planning and gives you an amount to spend on the theme and colour palette. Sometimes the simple things are the most effective. Just use the colours you want as spot colours on the stationery and ribbon in the flowers. If you are on a limited budget pick a theme that is easy to pull off. Your friends might love helping make bunting or putting together informal flowers, if so the rest of your wedding will need to reflect that cosy feel. Mood of the Wedding What mood do you want to put over at your wedding? Fun, informal, romantic, sophisticated or traditional? The choice is yours. The mood you want will have an effect on everything – the venue, the colour and the theme. How do you want to remember your wedding day? You probably will consider all the above as you plan your wedding theme. It will be an exciting time and you will have plenty of ideas. At the end of the day, our advice would be to keep the theme and the colour palette simple but then go with it from start to finish. Make sure everything is beautifully coordinated and fits the theme and your wedding day will look stunning and be amazing.

When you order any of our invitations or stationery we always send you the proof to approve. This is so that you can check that all the details on the invitation are correct – only you know the spellings of names, the time of your celebration, your ‘phone number etc. But, proof-reading isn’t easy. I know. I’m the person who sent out invitations for the “Unveiling of the plague” to all the great and good at the local hospital. Amusing maybe, but a lesson I have never forgotten. You read what you think you will see – and I obviously thought the invitation would say “Unveiling of the plaque.” So here are my top tips to proof read your invitations:

1. Get someone else to read them – choose someone who is good a spelling and a bit pedantic. They will not know what they should be reading, so are more likely to spot mistakes.
2. Check the calendar - probably the most common mistake on invitations – you will often get the right day “Saturday” but the wrong date 12^th. Make sure you get out the calendar, find the right year and check that the 12^th May really is a Saturday.
3. Check the time – we’ve all heard horror stories of some of the wedding party turning up late because the time is wrong on the invitation. This is a good excuse to phone up the venue(s) to check they have your booking and that you agree times and then double-check it on the invitation.
4. Check the venue – there maybe two similarly named Hotels in a town or the name of it might have changed. Put the postcode into Google or the satnav and check the correct place comes up.
5. Check the spelling of the family names – don’t get your future in-laws names wrong, your other half should know the correct spelling.
6. Check the RSVP details – phone the phone number that is written on the card or send a test email to the response email address – it is so easy to get one number or letter wrong and then all your best plans go awry.
7. Finally.... read each line from right to left. In effect this makes you read each word individually and not as part of a pattern. When you read sentences your eye sees a pattern, your brain makes sense of the pattern. Reading from right to left breaks this up.

As a stationer we always try to spot typo mistakes too – but much of the information on an invitation is personal to you, so we don’t know what is right or wrong. By spending 10 to 15 minutes proof-reading your invitation, you can save yourself a lot of time and re-print costs in the future.

A traditional wedding in a Church includes a blessing in the ceremony, but, as weddings move away from the traditional church venue, many couples are opting for a wedding blessing in addition to the wedding ceremony.

A wedding blessing is not legally binding – instead it is a ceremony designed for couples to express their love and commitment to each other. It can be religious or non-religious and can be held at any venue.

Here are 9 reasons why you might choose a wedding blessing:

1. You eloped to get married and now feel you want to confirm your commitment to each other in front of family and friends.

2. You got married abroad and had to have a small wedding party. A wedding blessing is the perfect opportunity for you to show your commitment to each other and celebrate with your wider family and friends.

3. You decided to marry quite quickly due to certain circumstances, for instance imminent deployment in the forces. You now want time to plan and enjoy a larger ceremony.

4. You are both of different faiths and so come to a compromise of marrying in one church and having a blessing in the other.

5. One of you is a Catholic who has been married before and therefore cannot be married in your Church. You might, therefore, have a civil wedding and then be blessed in the Church.

6. You like the freedom and settings a civil ceremony allows but still want to have a religious aspect to your wedding.

7. You are either atheist or agnostic and don’t want a Church wedding, but you do want some kind of spiritual blessing, for instance from a humanist celebrant.

8. You want an outdoor ceremony at a site that is not registered for weddings. You will have the legal marriage in the Registry office and then the main ceremony will be a blessing at the location of your choice.

9. You want a civil ceremony, but your parents are adamant it should be in a Church – having the blessing in a church is a great compromise. Very often the blessing is either on the same day as the wedding ceremony itself or is the main event after a quiet Registry Office ceremony a day or so earlier. Because it is not a legal part of your marriage, a blessing will often be quite informal and will certainly be meaningful to the couple. You should discuss the format of the blessing with the celebrant well in advance of the ceremony. Wording on your wedding blessing invitations will reflect the less formal approach. We can advise you on appropriate wording As always use your invitations and your order of service as a communication tool to ensure your guests know what to expect on the day.

Lots of our wedding couples tell us they don't know where to start with their wedding table plan and working out who is to sit where. To help, we've put together this infographic to give you some ideas on your top table layout and some hints and tips for the rest of your tables. Should you have any queries, please get in touch or visit our website for more tips and advice. This infographic was designed by https://www.dottyaboutpaper.co.uk/

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You were delighted to be asked to be chief bridesmaid/matron-of-honour at your friend’s wedding. After all it is a chance to dress up and, other than helping the bride with her dress, how hard can it be? Or so you thought – until you realise that traditionally the chief bridesmaid organises the hen party. Now, we know that some people will relish the challenge, but we know plenty of others will throw their hands up in horror. But, whichever camp you are in, we have pulled together a list of points you need to consider when organising a hen party that should make your life much easier. 1. This is the bride’s party – you should know the bride well, so make sure what you organise is what she would like, don’t plan activities that might make her uncomfortable or embarrassed. 2. Who are you inviting – discuss the guest list with the bride, you won’t know everyone she wants on the list. There might be some people she feels are “must haves” at the hen do and others whom she feels are “should haves.” If you agree who are on these two lists it really helps with setting the date, the budget and the activity. 3. Setting the date – if there is a bride’s “must have” list give them a call to find out a couple of dates when they are available. Set the final date around them, making sure it is at least 1 week before the wedding date. In general 3 to 4 weeks before is ideal as the bride and her mother will probably be really busy in the two weeks up to the wedding. 4. Budget – People attending a hen party are expected to pay for themselves and often cover the bride’s cost too. Have a chat with your bride to find out whether any of the people on the “must have” list are on a tight budget eg unemployed or students. Bear in mind that some of the hens may have to travel and find accommodation for both the hen party and the wedding, making it an expensive commitment. Once you have ascertained a budget, tell the people who are coming the cost of the event (include an extra amount to cover the bride’s cost) and stick to it. Remember you will need food and drink and state whether this is included or not. 5. Activities – there are plenty of group activities available for hen parties and what you choose will depend on the four points above. Think about what the bride would like; who you are inviting (Granny might not be able to cope with an assault course, but will probably love a strip show!); what is available on the agreed date; what the budget is. Popular activities are: cocktail making classes; day at the races; burlesque nights; spa days and 4x4 driving, but the choice really is endless. 6. Invitations – once you have finalised the date and destination, you need to send out formal invitations. In these invitations you need to put date, time, where you are meeting (remember some hens may not be familiar with where you are going) and, if necessary, what to wear. If you are organising an event that requires up-front payment, you should also include how to pay and by when (this could be in instalments.) Even if you are organising something relatively simple like a meal or theatre tickets you will want to get payment up front to make sure people are committed to coming and that you are not out of pocket. 7. Organise an Itinerary – if the hen party is a full day or over a weekend provide everyone with an itinerary so they know where they should be and when. You don’t need to frog march them from place to place, but a timetable will help make sure that no-one misses the activities. Make sure there is plenty of time just to chat – hen parties are a great time to catch up with old school and Uni friends. Make sure you have everyone’s mobile number. If you are away for a weekend, make sure everyone has the details of where you are staying in case you get split up at the club. 8. Delegate – you don’t have to do all this yourself - ask for help from the other hens in areas that you are not so good at.

Favour Boxes Wedding favours are often the only thing that guests will take home at the end of your wedding so it’s something to bear in mind when choosing yours. When buying your wedding favours you may wonder why we have them and what is the history behind them? Well … Wedding favours have been around for hundreds of years, with aristocrats from Europe, Italy and France providing their guests with a small gift known as a bonbonniere. Weddings were seen as a lucky time so by passing on a small gift was a way of passing on their luck. The favour box traditionally contained five sugared almonds which stood for health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity. Today wedding favours are still seen as an important part of your wedding day. It is still considered good manners to leave your guests a small token at their place setting to show your appreciation for attending your special day. Modern wedding favours come in a wide range of different shapes and styles and are often filled with chocolate or fun sweets like jelly love hearts or marshmallows. Another alternative favour idea is a single lottery ticket, these can bring fun and excitement to your evening especially if someone wins! Cake Boxes Wedding cake boxes come in a range of different shapes and sizes and make handing out a slice of wedding cake at the end of the evening that little bit easier! Wedding cakes can be cut in 2 different ways, as a rectangular slice or as a triangular wedge so make sure you cut your cake to fit your box otherwise you may be left in a messy situation at the end of the night! Cupcakes have also been increasingly popular over recent years, they look pretty and are quick and easy to dish out at the end of the evening - if you've brought an appropiate box! If you are sending your guests home with a beautifully decorated cupcake from your big day you will need to ensure it arrives home in tact and not as a mushy mess! Cupcake boxes can be purchased fairly cheaply and contain an insert with a cut out in which your cake will sit in preventing it from moving about – thus keeping it in tact! Wedding Favour Boxes and Wedding Cake Boxes can be purchased from The Card Gallery and are available non-personalised or personalised. And if you fancy the idea of gifting a lottery ticket then why not take a look at our Lottery Ticket Holders, at just £1 each they come with personalisation and free delivery - you really can't go wrong!

The Best Man Role

The best man role is typically given to the groom’s brother, close family member, or best friend. The best man is usually the chief attendant of the groom at the wedding. His job is taking some of the stress off the groom. The best man is involved in the wedding preparations right from the start. He is required to carry out important jobs such as booking the transport for the entire day, carrying the rings, arranging the stag party, and delivering a good speech at the wedding!

How to Ask Someone to Be Your Best Man

‘Will you be my best man?’ wedding cards are a great way of asking someone to be part of your special day. They make a great keepsake, plus you can customise the cards with your own wording. Here are some examples of the wording you could use:

‘A special request – will you do me the honour of being my best man?’

‘I only get to make one decision in this wedding, so I had to choose carefully. Will you be my best man?’

‘I would be honoured if you would be my best man. Would you?’

‘You’re important to me, so I need you by my side on the most important day of my life. Will you be my best man?’

‘My wedding day wouldn’t be the same without you; will you be my best man?’

These best man cards are available from The Card Gallery. They can be fully personalised both inside and out. They come with free delivery too! Featured Design: ‘Will You Be My Groomsman Card 3 (Personalised)’

The Usher Role

The ushers are chosen by the groom and his best man. They are usually brothers, close relatives, or friends of the bride and groom. The best man is responsible for ensuring the ushers know their duties. As a general guide, you should have one usher per every fifty guests attending. Wedding ushers are generally in charge of seating guests and directing them to parking spaces, bathrooms, and dining rooms.

How to Ask Someone to Be Your Usher

Ask someone to be your usher with a ‘Will you be my Usher?’ card. You can play on the best man wording examples listed above when asking someone to be your usher. You can match the message with a small gift – a fun idea you can use with your best man-to-be, as well. There’s a lot of choice, from tankards to cufflinks! Featured Designs: ‘Will You Be My Groomsman Cards 1 and 2 (Personalised)’ Don’t forget the other important wedding roles! The Card Gallery has a wide range of personalised wedding party cards to suit bridesmaids, page boys, maids of honour, and groomsmen. Thank you cards are also available, so you can let them know how grateful you are for their hard work! If you didn’t send them a gift with their invite, now is the perfect time for a present. Featured Designs: 'Flower Girl Thank You Card and Page Boy Thank You Card'