Our new ribbon gate-fold invitations will be launched soon but we are so excited about the range that we couldn’t wait to give you a sneak preview.  I quickly snapped these shots outside our studio before the professional photos are taken next week.  It will probably take a couple of weeks to get this range online because it will be available in a total of 37 different colours and, as with all our designs, we do our best to coordinate the whole range of products.  This means that with so many colours and so many coordinating items there will be a lot of photography to process.

The gentle floral pattern is another feature that coordinates on all the items in this range; its delicate emboss and pealescent reflection catches the light beautifully with understated sophistication.  The texture of the emboss is best seen in the flesh and you can do this by requesting a free sample when the range is online but this is one important element that we hope to capture with the photography.

I have a list of available colours to share with you and these will all be available to view online soon.

• Black
• Silver Grey
• Navy
• Dusky Blue
• Cornflower
• New Tuquoise
• Aqua
• Petrol
• Peacock
• Orchid
• Helio
• Dusky Pink
• Shocking Pink
• Pink Azalea
• Pale Pink
• Red
• Scarlet Berry
• Burgundy
• Plum
• Blackberry
• Purple
• Moss
• Khaki
• Hunter Green
• Jade
• Cuban
• Dark Brown
• Marigold
• Gold
• Yellow
• Lemon
• Orange Delight
• Rust
• Sable
• Honey Gold
• Cream
• White

Lilac Rose Tree by Paper Hello

When wedding stationery suppliers talk about their designs being bespoke or customisable then that usually means that they come in different colours or maybe even let you add the bride and groom’s name on the front.  Paper Hello have taken the concept to a new level and I was impressed at the attention to detail that they extend to their customers.

The design above is called Rose Tree and, yes, you can have a different colour theme (A rather fetching duck egg alternative viewable on the Paper Hello site transforms this design into a traditional English country house style reminiscent of a 1950′s inspired Cath Kidston creation).  The bride and grooms names too can of course be changed (The only Kiki I know sang that infamous duet with Elton John).  That’s where most wedding suppliers would draw a line on customisation.  After all, changing the colour or standard text of a design can usually achieved with a few clicks of the mouse.    Now, how about changing the two characters so that they look more like the bride and groom or what about the mode of transport…. horse and carriage perhaps rather than bicycle ?  What about the card itself ?  How about an A6 Postcard style rather than the square format shown.  These are the types of changes that Paper Hello invite you to make when they talk about bespoke wedding stationery.  There are extra charges to be made for having your stationery so personal to you but with base prices starting at just £1.99 per invitation there is plenty of room for manoeuvre for such a personal service.

These wedding invitations from artist Rebecca Stidson are truly unique, not just because they are all individually hand painted by her, but on each card the insert is printed parchment that is then sewn into the card with metallic thread for a really unusual look.  As she says, each card is a mini piece of art!  Because they are handmade, you can choose colours to suit you and she can design something especially for you.  What amazes me most though is the cost, I would expect to pay a premium for such time consuming work, but her invitations are priced at £2.20, with Orders of Service costing £2.50 and place cards just 80p. 

This interesting watercolour design is available from Pink Wedding Stationery (dedicated to Gay and Lesbian Wedding invites) or Muse Wedding Stationery.  Both sites are owned by Muse design studio so I guess your pick depends on whether you are straight or gay.  The design is called ‘moon’ and featured a watercolour impression of the full moon and its reflection in a very striking blend of midnight blue and purple.  It reminds me of a silk watercolour card that I bought for my wife when we first courting.

I have to say after five minutes of writing that opening paragraph I am now of the view that it looks more like a lone sperm in search of the egg.  If you hadn’t spotted the similarities yourself then I hope I havent spoilt this design for you.  Perhaps it is better to know now than to have one of your guests comment on the fact that the image looks like it has been lifted from a school sex education manual.   There are lots of other beautiful watercolour design from Muse Design Studio and I recommend you take a look.  We will feature more designs in coming articles and I promise to let more imagination run its course before typing the next post.

Capture your guests thoughts and good wishes in style with this handmade lilac leather guest book from Aspinal of London.  It’s bound in leather and lined in contrasting cream silk with a double ribbon page marker.  The front is embossed with GUESTS in either gold or silver and you have a choice of plain pages or lines and columns.  It costs £95 and can be gift wrapped and boxed for an additional £5 or £10 for deluxe.  There’s a choice of six colours but if you’re looking for some funkier colours there’s a lovely range of soft suede guest books in vibrant colours that cost £40 or a pastel leather range that cost £47.  Whatever you are looking for, you will find something to suit your theme.