Winter Inspired Wedding Invitations and Stationery- Karen & Tony

Planning a winter/Christmas wedding is probably the most challenging.

Instead of fighting it, Karen & Tony decided to embrace it.

All the ideas are Karen's... I was merely the person

who executed her ideas.

"Your ideas are our inspiration!" 

For the Invitations, Karen went along with a Holly theme....

She liked a previous design I had done, so we simply added Holly Leaves

instead of the plain leaves......

Once all the R.S.V.P's are in.... 

we can concentrate on the 'On the Day' details,

which help to enhance and personalise the Wedding reception.

The 'Order of the Day' Cards

were the same border as used in the Invitations.

We used Red and Green inside

The table names too had the same border...

this time without the heavy line above and below the design

as this would have made the border too overpowering

and the letters to light-weight,

it's all about balance.....

Rather than place cards, Karen wanted Holly leaves

with holes, to tie onto the wedding favours, 

which are to be Cumbrian Gingerbread in little gold chests 

And.... voila! 

Here they are 78 cut out holly leaves

With consultation I decided that Gold just had to be used for the calligraphy,

not only will to compliment the gold box... but looks pretty classy too!

I don't get to do as much calligraphy these days as I used to...

so it's nice to get my fingers covered in paint and keep my hand in.

Instead of our usual Wishing Tree Tags,

Karen suggested we make some red and green foiled baubles

Here they are before the holes are punched and the ribbon added...

And along with a poem seen at the centre/top....

the order is complete.

A few days earlier, I'd been playing with some doodles

and made them into tags to add to my mail order packages.

Just something a little different and quirky.

A little bit of fun brightens everyones day

and we just can't help those creative juices coming out to play :-)

I'd love to make a selection of designs, directed at the December/Christmas couples... but for once, apart from Holly and Snowflakes, my idea pot is empty.

Anyone got any bright ideas? 

Did you get married in December?

If so... what was your theme? 

Leave a comment or email me at 

inspiredbyscript@yahoo.co.uk

I'd love to hear from you!

Sue x

Get creative and save money on favour boxes!

Get creative and save money on favour boxes!

I've made tons of these boxes in the past...

and they really are easy!

Ivy Themed, Personalised Wedding Invitations - Rebecca & Graham

I love making something, just that little bit different....

The Ivy themed wedding postbox was the starting point.

Made some time ago for my late husbands, cousins wedding

and long before I bought the foiling machine. 

Ivy symbolises eternal fidelity & wedded bliss. 

A popular Victorian tradition was for a bride to plant the ivy in her bouquet after the wedding and watch it grow through the years, passing down sprigs from the same plant for her daughters & granddaughters to use in their weddings.

The couple chose to have their Evening Invitations

 and Money Request cards in a lush green foil....

And the Daytime, gate folded 

Daytime Invitations in Silver Foil 

so as to not over power the green ribbon.

Have you ever wondered about the traditions and customs

 attached to weddings?I found this an interesting read

Wedding Traditions - Wedding Custom

Another great article, this time covering flower traditions 

around the world is this one, by 'The Knot'

Wedding Flowers: Customs & Traditions

"It's not HOW MUCH you spend on the day... It's how you SPEND the day!"

My partner Steve found and read out THIS ARTICLE, claiming that up to a quarter of a million couples will get married this year and with an average budget of... £21,000!

The article 

Hold the bubbly:  

How to have a wedding on a budget 

It's well worth a read!

While I agree with a lot of the article... I have to say... I've never met a couple in North Yorkshire or for that matter, Cleveland, County Durham and Cumbria, who are prepared to spend anywhere near as much as that! Most of my couples are spending between £7,000 & £10,000 ... making the 'average' £8,500.

I understand why suppliers of services hike their prices (and for the record we charge the same, whatever the occasion). It takes far longer to consult with a couple... often many time and with many changes, than it does for all other events. Couples can help themselves more by being clear right from the start and only agree to something once they have firmly made up their minds.

While we don't charge extra for Invitations, no matter what the occasion, we are having to consider a charge which will be incurred if the couple (usually the Bride I'm sorry to say) changes her mind and wants changes to the original consultation.

For a supplier of services, it can be a daunting task when dealing with many, many, emails backwards and forwards and often with days and sometimes weeks in between getting an answer. All this takes time, time that could be better spent producing items for a decisive bride.
In my opinion... why should a couple who come for a consultation (these often take an hour) pay the same as one who changes her mind, before (or even worse after) you've sent her idea for approval. Keeping track of brides emails can be a nightmare.... especially if they are slow to respond to any questions/concerns you may have.


What I don't agree with

£21,000 seems to me to be a ridiculous amount of money to be spending on one day! Certainly in North Yorkshire the budget is far lower. Do you think that the Brides have any less of a 'perfect day'? Absolutely not! I swear that these are London prices! Perhaps the Yorkshire couples are just a bit more savvy with their money and know a bargain when they see one. Hopefully they have more sense. Set a budget and know how to work through it by shopping local.

According to Wedding Budget Planners, Wedding Stationers get the lowest cut of the cake, just 4%.
Now if this is right... that means I get £840 per wedding! Ohhhh YES PLEASE! If this is true then I'm not pricing my work right. Even on an £8,5000 budget I do not get 4%.

If I leave you with nothing else...

it's with this thought....

"It's not HOW MUCH you spend on the day...

It's how you SPEND the day!" 

There's something you should know about me....

And if my Brides and Grooms are Creative People too...

It all helps to make a magical mix! 

What the world needs ....

is MORE creative people! 

Saying goodbye is hard to do!

I love this place... I really do, but the big being a one-man-band... (ok 2 man if you count the Fridays and Saturdays when Steve's here to help) makes it a military exercise to organise.

Brides and Grooms getting married in the week leading up to and the week after the holidays need to be sorted. They rely on me to get their 'on the day' items finished in time to be collected BEFORE the wedding... it's not much use afterwards.

Then there's another issue....being away from my creative space! All those pen, pencils, ink, card, glue, foil.... yes let's not forget the foil.... and you can bet your bottom dollar the minute I step away and close the door, the idea fairy will wave her magic wand and sprinkle a ton of inspiration dust on my head.

I'm sure only other creative's will understand how hard it is to walk away. Our art materials are our crutch... both emotional and spiritual. Being creative is both a joy and a pain. If you are away for any length of time it's like someone has chopped your arms off. Itching to do something... anything.... but not just sit and relax.

I know, I know, we're only shutting up shop for a week.... but honestly it will feel like a lifetime. I'll remind myself that no-one will die because I am not open, all orders to date have been done and any new couples will still be waiting for me on my return.

Whether it rains or shines.... we'll be having a well earned rest. 

We'' be back on Friday 1st August 

with a spring in our step and hopefully not too spaced out. 

Now..... where's that bell tent!

30 MORE Creative Ideas for Alternative Wedding Seating Plans

After writing THIS POST about 

15 Creative Ideas for 

Alternative Wedding Seating Plans

I sort of got the bug to have a look around and see what other wonderful and creative ideas people came up with... here's what I found. 

Some great ideas eh?

You can find many, many, more ideas on PINTEREST!

If you haven't joined yet... I suggest you do!

It's a great sharing platform to source ideas, share your own and generally, build up idea boards which truly represent you! Creative people and couples about to get married, especially love it! 

And so do we!

CLICK HERE

Follow us to see some great ideas!

FREE - Easy Peasy way to plan your WEDDING BUDGET

I can't believe it's over a year since I wrote this! So I'm reposting for those of you who are struggling while trying to work out a budget.

If you find it useful... please SHARE on social media. There's a link just after the end of the post.... on a little bar. And please LEAVE US A COMMENT! We love hearing from you!

I deal with a regular flow of Brides and Grooms to the studio, to make and create their wedding stationery. I try to offer a service to fit ALL budgets. One thing that always amazes me is the answer to my question 

"OK.... so what's your budget?"  

At this point I usually get one of 2 answers.

1) "We haven't got one"

or 2) "We don't really know"

When probing further I realise that most couples 

have no idea where to start. 

I've promised to write this article for some time and today I feel I really MUST get round to it.... I hope it helps in some small way.

Couples would do best to see what they can afford and work from there, instead of working on what they want, costing it all out and then having to postpone their wedding when the harsh reality of EVERYTHING COSTS kicks in.

Remember: £35 a meal can sound like a bargain, but it can be a real eye opener when you times it by the number of guests you have coming!  And that's just the 'food side' of things. 

Far better to work out a final budget and work it like this, then at least you will know where to cut back if you need to and f you save money on one thing you have more to spend on another.... SIMPLES :-) 

So.... to make it easy for me to work it out for you.... lets say you have £10,000 to spend.

Reception 45% (£4.500)

Your food and beverages will eat up the largest percentage of your budget. This category includes:

• Site fee, if applicable
• Catering costs 
• Bar and non-alcoholic drinks, punch, shots, etc.
• Drinks for toasts
• Wedding cake and sweets

*Don't forget to haggle on price here. If you don't ask, you don't get! You have nothing to loose. If you find that the cost is far more than your budget and you are determined the venue is the absolute place you want to get married and there's no way you are going to shop around for somewhere cheaper.... consider 1 of 2 things.

1) Cut down on your daytime Guest list
2) Have a late Wedding and 1 buffet evening reception 

Transportation 5% (£500)

If you are on a strict budget, this is one place you can save. Transportation should be one of the smallest percentages of your budget. This category includes the following:

• Limousines
• Speciality cars, etc.

If your Wedding is at a venue and you are staying there over night, there's no reason why you shouldn't get ready at the venue itself. If the venue is 50 yards down the road, it's quite a saving if you get a friend with a posh car, to add ribbons and get you to the Church on time. Do you really NEED this?

Entertainment 10% (£1000)

This category includes the following:

• Ceremony music 
• Evening reception buffet
• Reception Music (DJ or band)

Flowers 10% (£1000)

Be very careful. It is easy to get "carried away" ordering the most "visual" aspect of your wedding. This category includes:

• Ceremony - site flowers
• Bridal bouquet
• Wedding party flowers
• Parent's flowers
• Reception centrepieces and floral displays

Attire 10%  (£1000)

This is another category that is really easy to go wild on. While selecting your "gown" keep your "bottom line" in mind. This category includes:

• Dress
• Headpiece/veil
• Lingerie
• Jewelry
• Shoes/wrap/gloves
• Hair and makeup
• Grooms tux or suit

Photography 10% (£1000)

Your memories will eat up another 10% of your budget. This category includes:

• Photography
• Videography
• Engagement portrait
• Wedding - album package

Stationery 4% (£400)

This is another category in which you can save by choosing a simple invitation. This category includes:

• Daytime and Evening Invitations
• R.S.V.P and other enclosures)
• Announcements
• Menus
• Order of Service
• Guest Book or Wishing Tree Tags
• Seating Plan
• Wedding Post Box
• Place Cards 
• Thank You Cards

You can cut down a little on this budget, like having only 1 Order of Service per couple for instance. Talk to the person who is designing and making all your Invitations and On the Day stuff and negotiate a discount.
We at Inspired by Script give our customers a whopping 15% discount on our couples ' On the Day' items IF they have come to us for their Invitations. It's our way of saying a big THANK YOU for choosing us in the first place :-) 

Talk to whoever is making your Wedding Stationery

and see how they can help!

Extras 6% (£600)

This is where you put all the miscellaneous items that can really add up to BIG MONEY!! If you choose all of the little extra touches, you will go way over your allotted 6%. You need to make a choice on how important each category is to you and "borrow" percentage points from other categories which may be less important to you. Items usually needed:

• Attendants gifts
• Wedding gifts for each other
• Favours
• Wedding rings
• Rehearsal Dinner (not usually included in budget)
• Marriage license
• Church/ceremony site fees
• Officiant fees
• Speciality linens
• Chair covers
• Other reception or ceremony decorations

I hope you have found this budget planner useful.

If you have, please share with your friends...

if you haven't or need to know more,

contact us... we can only improve with your help :-)

http://inspiredbyscript.co.uk

Don't forget.....

You can FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

CLICK HERE!

If you need any help or advice 

regarding your Wedding Stationery

Email Us

or phone the studio on 01609 776 866

We're always happy to give advice :-)

(c) Sue Simpson x 

Have you any useful hints and tips on saving money? 

We'd love you to share them with us.

Leave a comment by clicking the comment box below :-)