Guests will love our homemade DIY wedding favour ideas which are ideal for the bride and grooms guests on the wedding day. What’s more, as they can be made in advance you can enlist friends and family to help!
Here are some unique wedding favour ideas we’ve created for you to make all your own:
Decorating a Wedding Favour Box
These are so simple to assemble; there’s no glueing or sticking as the boxes hold themselves together once folded.
The boxes can be decorated in a style to suit your wedding theme and your wedding invitations or stationery on the day.
DIY Wedding Favour Ideas - Decorating with Ribbon, Hemp or String
Tie your wedding favour box with ribbon or hemp cord and label with a tag
This is so easy to do, if you only use ribbon around the lid of the box, then you hardly need any at all. The easiest method is to tie a simple knot, but bows are pretty easy to do too, just choose a style that suits you.
Using the ribbon in this way means that your guests don’t have to untie the ribbon to open the box itself.
With the lid flat stick a length of ribbon on the inside lid. In the case of hemp cord using a simple sticker will hold it in place,
Assemble the lid so that the ribbon lengths are free and can be tied in the way that you wish.
An Heirloom Wedding Favour
A really unique wedding favour. You may not want to make these for everyone at the wedding, but as wedding favours for the bridal party, mums and bridesmaids or little gift boxes they’re perfect.
Simply assemble your wedding favour box and using a glue gun attach your favourite embellishments to the lid. If you have time, use Gem-tac adhesive as this creates a really good bond once the glue is dry.
Fill with your chosen wedding favour sweets; retro love hearts are perfect!
Ornate heirloom style wedding favours using one type or a mixture of embellishments are perfect for luxury wedding favours
Add Glitter, Patterned Papers and embellishments for the 'Wow Factor'
Simple cut pieces of glitter card or patterned A4 paper not only go a long way in terms of budget but add the wow factor to wedding favours. For even more glamour add glitter tags or a diamante embellishment, it’s so easy to do you just need a little time!
Use combinations of wedding ribbon, diamante embellishments and patterned paper to create a wedding favour to match your wedding theme
Lottery Ticket Wedding Favours
Our Enfolio mini wallets are perfect for giving scratch card wedding favours to your guests. They can be decorated to match your wedding stationery on the big day and can be simple or elaborate depending upon your wedding theme.
Our mini wallets or scratch card wallets are ideal for lottery ticket wedding favours on the big day
Glassine Bag Wedding Favours
Perfect for homemade wedding favours and so easy to make with glassine paper bags.
Print and cut out your tag using our free downloadable template. This can be the name of the guest or a special message from the bride and groom.
Fill your bag with your wedding favour gift, homemade wedding favour biscuits are ideal then simply attach your label to the bag. With universal appeal these are ideal for both ladies and as wedding favours for men.
Guests will love our homemade DIY wedding favour ideas which are ideal for the bride and grooms guests on the wedding day. What’s more, as they can be made in advance you can enlist friends and family to help! Here are some unique wedding favour ideas we’ve created for you to make all your own: […]
Our free wedding invitation template downloads are ideal when making DIY wedding invitations for the Bride and Groom’s big day as you need the process to be as easy as possible. The fun part of creating an invitation is the creative side and putting the design together.
Equally important is ensuring that the text for the invitation is correct and isn’t omitting crucial details. We have a specific guide for wedding wording advice and wedding invitation wording templates, but the essential information you will need to include are :
who is hosting the wedding
name of the bride and groom
the wedding venue, i.e. location of the wedding ceremony and reception
date, time
dress code whether smart casual or a casual dress code
Pocketfold Invitation
DIY Pocketfold templates
Save The Date Cards
Make your own save the date cards
RSVP Card Templates
Create your own RSVP cards
Making DIY Wedding Invitations Easy
If you’re making DIY wedding invites, to save you time, we have a wide range of printable wedding invitation templates available. These include free invitation templates for word to fit the card blanks and pocketfold invites that we supply.
These word templates set out the text for you that you can amend them to suit your wedding details.
When downloading our free wedding templates, please note :
Most are editable templates for you to adjust to a suitable font that you have installed on your computer (we’ve written some advice about installing fonts for you if you need it)
Some have set text (mainly any calligraphy invitations) or design elements that you cannot change apart from sections of the text
When printing you will need to adjust your printer settings and change the page size within the printer driver to match that of the template
Once downloaded, save the word document regularly
The Microsoft Word Templates we have available:
Wedding Save the Date Cards (you can create save the date magnets by using adhesive magnets)
Blank Wedding Invitation Templates, e.g. Pocketfold Templates and wedding invitation card templates
Wedding Evening Invitation Templates
Our templates are free of charge and are available to download after checking out. If this is the only item in your basket, then you will not be charged.
If you love neutral, nude, beige tones, then champagne is the key! Complement pale, soft champagne with accents of soft pinks, blues, apricots, and lavender or let warmer champagne provide the link between white/ivory through to bolder colours like navy, red, sage green or deeper pinks.
Champagne is a contemporary, elegant and sophisticated wedding colour whatever colour you team with it, and it will be a magical day.
Use our pre cut card blanks which are a real time saver
Our free wedding invitation template downloads are ideal when making DIY wedding invitations for the Bride and Groom’s big day as you need the process to be as easy as possible. The fun part of creating an invitation is the creative side and putting the design together. Equally important is ensuring that the text for […]
When you’re thinking about your wedding envelopes and designing DIY wedding invitations it’s so exciting to consider lots of wedding ideas in your wedding planning. When planning your invites view all the card making supplies available, choose matching ribbons, find a suitable A4 card stock, will you choose pocketfolds or make laser cut invites? It’s all too easy to get carried away and design your dream wedding invite to discover that it doesn’t fit any of the wedding envelopes you can buy.
If you’re faced with this situation you may well have to learn how to make an envelope out of a paper that coordinates with the invitation you’ve designed. To make an envelope for most wedding invitation designs will require a paper size that is larger than an A4 piece of paper. While it’s perfectly possible to make your own envelopes it can be a daunting prospect when you’re pressed for time or simply want to get your invitation out to your guests.
It is possible to have bespoke envelopes made but this can be incredibly costly and rarely available for orders of less than a few thousand. Envelopes are created using a die cutting process and it may be that the size you need isn’t available and the costs will spiral out of control, not ideal for your wedding DIY!
The solution to this when designing your wedding invitations is to consider the shape of the invitation you prefer and choose your envelope first from standard sizes and papers. Then you can get onto all the other exciting elements knowing that you have your wedding envelope sorted already.
We offer a wide variety of wedding envelopes to suit the A4 card stocks that we offer. Our ‘ivory’ envelopes are made from 120gsm, high-quality paper stock, perfect for luxury wedding stationery and greeting cards and coordinate perfectly with our Silkweave Ivory card.
Our white envelopes, 130gsm, have a luxurious feeling of quality; smooth to touch they are a traditional choice of wedding envelope for stylish wedding stationery.
Here’s a summary of the types, shapes and styles of quality envelopes that we recommend :
Square Envelopes
155mm Square Envelopes
The most appropriate size for your wedding invitation is an envelope that is 155mm square. These are available as a standard size and are available in many colours and qualitites.
We offer several types of square wedding envelope, many of which match the A4 card and paper that we supply.
This size is perfect for pocketfold wedding invitations, laser cut pocketfolds and invites and our large square blank cards and flat postcard styles.
130mm Square Envelopes
Sometimes used for evening or reception invitations but more commonly used for ‘Save the Date’ cards and RSVP Cards or ‘response’ cards. This size easily sits well with the 155mm square envelopes.
155mm Square Envelopes
Our 155mm envleopes are available in a wide variety of colours including a super quality white and ivory perfect for your main wedding invitation.
130mm Square Envelopes.
Smaller 130mm square envelopes are ideal for smaller invites like wedding reception invitations as well as ‘Save the Date’ cards and RSVP cards.
Portrait Envelopes
C5 Envelopes
These are often referred to as A5 envelopes or ‘A5 envelope size’ as they fit a sheet of A4 paper that is folded in half. They’re ideal for large flat, postcard style invitations and would fit order of service booklets too.
Unless you’re making a design that is heavily decorated or embellished then they can feel slightly too large for half of an A4 sheet or blank card so we also provide:
Small C5 Envelopes 152 x 216mm
Our ‘Small C5’ envelope provides the perfect fit for an A5 invitation. If you’ve chosen a flat-board style invitation or a creased A5 card design this is the best envelope to use.
DL Envelopes 110 x 220 mm
DL envelopes are most probably mostly recognised as ‘business envelopes’ as an A4 piece of paper folded into three fits neatly into one.
They’re ideal for DL wallets, DL pocketfold invitations and flat postcard style wedding stationery.
Classic Portrait Envelopes 133 X 184mm
This classic envelope suits the contemporary trend for portrait flat postcard wedding invitations. It’s also the perfect size for classic pocketfolds and invitations.
Portrait 125 x 175mm Envelopes
Our 125 x 175mm envelopes are perfect for luxury wedding stationery and greeting cards and are a truly multipurpose size. It’s an ideal envelope for pocketfold invites, evening invitations, party RSVP cards, ‘thank you’ cards and greeting cards.
C6 Envelopes
A popular size of envelopes that everyone recognises as a standard greeting card envelope. It’s ideal for a range of wedding invitations, party invitations and greeting cards.
C7 Envelopes 82 x 133mm
Our C7 is the perfect envelope for wedding or party RSVPs, ‘thank you’ cards, wedding escort cards or cute greeting cards. It will team up with any of the larger envelopes for these smaller enclsoures but is particularly ideal to pair with Classic 133 x 184mm, Small C5 envelopes and C6 envelopes.
C5 Envelopes
C5 will take a sheet of A4 folded in half so are perfect for presenting your Order of Service booklets .
Small C5 Envelopes
Small C5 are perfect when there’s less embellishment on your invite and you’re looking for a better fit.
DL Envelopes
Most recognised as business envelopes but ideal for DL wallets and pocketfold invites.
133 X 184mm Classic Envelopes
Our 5 x 7 envelopes are perfect for postcard style wedding invitations and diy pocketfolds.
Portrait Envelopes 125 x 175mm
Our 125 x 175mm are ideal envelopes for DIY wedding invitations and handmade cards.
C6 Envelopes
C6 envelopes are multipurpose and very versatile. Use them for invites, RSVP cards and Save the Dates.
C7 Envelopes
C6 envelopes are such a cute size and are perfect for RSVP cards
Envelope Extras
Envelope Wax Seals
Sealing your wedding envelope with a wax seal is on-trend in wedding stationery design.
Most glue gun waxes are flexible enough to be posted but if you’re hand delivering your invitations then it’s a beautiful additional extra.
Envelope Liners
Envelope liners are on-trend in wedding stationery design. They can coordinate with the wedding invitation itself but they also have the advantage of adding additional protection to the invitation inside.
It’s really easy to learn how to make your own envelope liners and you can then make them from a matching paper. We have a variety of options that you can choose from that are precut for you such as vellum envelope liners and rose gold glitter envelope liners which are incredibly popular.
If you’d like to line your envelopes then all you need to do is create an envelope liner template, this can be done from using thick grey card or f you have a spare envelope then from the envelope itself.
Handmade paper liners are best cut by hand because there can be so much variation between the papers.
Adding the liners to your envelopes is really easy to do as we demonstrate in the video tutorial below:
Envelope liners add a touch of luxury to your wedding invitations
Wedding Invitation Boxes
If your wedding stationery is embellished you may find it is too large to fit in an envelope and that it would be protected better in an invitation box. We have boxes to replace 155mm square envelops and DL envelopes in both white and ivory to give maximum flexibility.
Whichever style of envelope you choose to use for your wedding stationery make sure that you’re careful with your initial planning and you can then look forward to your special day.
If you’re not posting your invitations then the boxes can be decorated too with ribbon and name tags. They make a beautiful invitation presentation.
Remember always to check the postage rate for mailing your wedding invitations. If your invites are a large letter this can add significantly to your postage costs. Check on the Royal Mail website for accurate posting costs.
Wedding invitation boxes can be used for posting or decorated in their own right
When you’re thinking about your wedding envelopes and designing DIY wedding invitations it’s so exciting to consider lots of wedding ideas in your wedding planning. When planning your invites view all the card making supplies available, choose matching ribbons, find a suitable A4 card stock, will you choose pocketfolds or make laser cut invites? It’s […]
Choosing the Right Type of Wedding Ribbon
Wedding ribbons, lace and trims are a very cost-effective and colourful way to decorate wedding invitations, decorating handmade cards, embellishing gifts, clothing and many craft projects.
There are many different types, but probably the most popular is satin and organza ribbon. Organza is widely used as it’s a sheer and delicate fabric so colours are less deep than with satins and it is very soft.
Satins can be either single and double-faced satin. Single-sided has a silky feel to one side and a less smooth side or ‘unfinished’ to the reverse, double-sided is silky smooth and the same on both sides.
For a rustic style wedding invitations use hemp cord, twine, hessian, hopsack, burlap or linen trims.
Silk for Luxury
Make DIY wedding invitations with sumptuous, gorgeous and luxurious silks in muted shades
Satins for Colour
Satins offer a massive colour range and with so many widths they’re ideal for making your wedding invitations
Organzas for Romance
Organzas are romantic, soft and etheral, simply perfect for romantic and fairytale wedding themes
Tying the Perfect Bow for Gifts, Wedding Cakes and Stationery
How to tie a bow with ribbon is one of the most popular questions we’re asked. Double-sided satin ribbon makes beautiful bows and is also an ideal wedding cake ribbon.
Here’s a tutorial for tying a classic bow;
Single-sided ribbons with the finish on one side can be more tricky to use for bows, but some bow making methods create a bow with just the shiny side showing. This is often seen with Christmas tree bows where two bow loops are secured with wire and then attached to the tree. This method of tying bows will also suit printed ribbons that have decoration on one side only.
This tutorial demonstrates how to make a beautiful double bow with a single-sided or a ribbon with the pattern on one side only which keeps the silky side or patterned side facing upwards.
Wire edged ribbon is particularly useful for large, statement bows for decorating Christmas trees with ribbon, gift wrapping, cakes or wedding cake decoration. You can bend the wire to shape the bow and the tails. Any wider trim could easily collapse and create a floppy bow, but wired trims will keep everything in shape.
The Best Place to Buy
Purchase from good haberdashery stores for reliable craft supplies. If it’s simply ribbons that you want to order online, it’s best to refine your search, for example; Christmas ribbon, personalised ribbon, blue-ribbon or red ribbon? If your search is too general, you may feel overwhelmed!
Patterned styles are a very pretty way to decorate gifts and can be tied with a knot for ease or a bow. At Christmas consider black watch tartan or other tartans and checks, teamed with brown paper, for a rustic festive feel for your gift wrapping. Tartans are especially good as they are woven, so the pattern is on both sides.
We’ve created various videos and tutorials on how to tie a bow. An online search for ‘how to make a bow with ribbon’ and there’s a wealth of tutorials and ideas for tying different types of bows.
Here’s a video showing a really pretty way to decorate a wedding invitation.
Glitter satin
Add some sparkle with stunning glitter satins in sumptuous colours that coordinate with your big day
Tie Satin Bows
Stunning satins create beautiful bows and add colour and luxury to wedding invitations
Pre-tied Bows
If you’re pushed for time pre-tied bows save valuable time and are really easy to use with a suitable adhesive
How Much Do I Need For My Project and Budget?
Silk ribbon is high quality, luxurious and perfect for all types of wedding stationery or wrapping around a special gift. Hand-dyed raw silk takes on natural dyes beautifully; the colour blends are often muted and natural in tone.
Polyester ribbons are a cost-effective option with many colours available. They’re often used for wedding car ribbons and bows as they’re much more weather-resistant due to the synthetic fibres. They have more body so they make formed bows that will hold their shape well.
The most versatile wedding ribbon is satin, and it’s perfect for wedding stationery it creates beautiful bows and is available in a huge range of gorgeous colours and on ribbon reels. We stock Shindo and Berisfords ribbon
Satin Ribbons are available in a variety of widths
All You Need to Know About Printed Ribbons
Pull bows when pulled, creates a bundle of loops that you can pull into position make a pretty bow. These are widely used in the florist industry and are great for gift wrapping if you have a lot to wrap and are short on time.
For weddings or other special occasions, it’s possible to arrange a personalised printed ribbon, which is traditional wedding car decorations. Polyester and satins are ideal for this. It can be expensive or require a high minimum order, but recent advances in digital technology mean that it’s becoming a more affordable option.
Companies who print ribbon will also be able to supply bridal sashes, personalised trims and bespoke options for your hen do right through to the big day. You can often order in very small quantities and also buy foiled designs. Just be aware that you may be restricted by choice of fonts and designs available. It’s important to check though as new technology is making personalised trims more and more accessible.
Remember printed ribbon is one-sided so, if making bows, or decorating with it, choose the right method for using it and tying bows.
All The Colours of The Rainbow
Colour is a fantastic way to introduce colour to wedding stationery, wedding favours, card making or paper craft project. By keeping a neutral background, for example, white or ivory colour can be introduced with a big, hand-tied bow, a wrap, a ribbon belly band or a delicate 3mm ribbon that bundles your invitation together with all your enclosures, RSVP card, directions, accommodation suggestions, gift list etc.
Silk ribbons can be used sparingly to great effect
'A Few of My Favourite Things'
Trims are so versatile from tying paper packed packages up with string to using an array of satins or organzas. Opening a beautiful gift, tying sumptuous of bows, Making Christmas tree bows and so much more,! Who knew fabric trims could have so many uses!
Christmas Gift Wrapping
Stunning gifts tied with red ribbon bows make a statement Christmas gift.
Narrow Fabrics
Narrow ribbons are ideal for wedding favours.
Natural Silk
The softest most beautiful ribbon for your luxury wedding stationery.
Choosing the Right Type of Wedding Ribbon Wedding ribbons, lace and trims are a very cost-effective and colourful way to decorate wedding invitations, decorating handmade cards, embellishing gifts, clothing and many craft projects. There are many different types, but probably the most popular is satin and organza ribbon. Organza is widely used as it’s a […]
Save the Date Ideas
Once the date of your wedding is decided, send out save the date cards to the friends and family who will be invited to your wedding for the whole day. They don’t need to be detailed they need to inform your guests of the date, your names and that an invitation will be in the post, ‘invitation to follow’ is a nice phrase.
Something that is very important, is to make it clear who is invited to your big day and, if possible, where it will take place. If parents need to make arrangements for childcare they will need lots of warning and if a passport is required that it will be in date!
Once the date of your wedding is decided, send out save the date cards to the friends and family who will be invited to your wedding for the whole day. They don’t need to be detailed they need to inform your guests of the date, your names and that an invitation will be in the post, ‘invitation to follow’ is a nice phrase.
Something to clarify is to make clear who is invited to your big day and, if possible, where it will take place. If parents need to make arrangements for childcare they will need lots of warning and if a passport is required that it will be in date!
You can order personalised save the date cards online, have them made for you or make them yourself. Save the date fridge magnets, scratch-off cards, balloons or photo booth style cards are a fun idea, it doesn’t mean you have to follow on with quirky wedding stationery.
Sending 'Save the Date' cards to your guests will give advance notice for them to keep the date free
Thinking About Employing a Wedding Stationer?
When it comes to your wedding stationery design, you may decide to choose bespoke wedding invitations created for you by a professional wedding stationer. Searching online for the best wedding stationery websites, you will find a huge amount of choices and nothing can beat handmade wedding invitations.
Search for ‘wedding stationery near me’ or ‘wedding invitations UK’ the bride and groom can arrange to meet with stationers who will be more than happy to talk through wedding invitation ideas and luxury wedding invitations. Stationers will have examples of rsvp cards, ‘on the day’ stationery, evening invitations and the wedding invitation stationery suites they offer. You will usually be able to see examples of their work and other stationery items you will need like orders of service, guest books and table plans.
Working with a stationer will mean you benefit from their experience and enthusiasm, they will arrange all the wedding stationery printing and advise you on wedding stationery wording. If you have a colour or wedding theme in mind, they will show you how to achieve this involving you in every step along the way.
A wedding stationer will create beautiful, personalised wedding stationery for you and, once the day and evening wedding invitations are completed, they will adapt your chosen design to the remaining on the day stationery.
A bespoke invitation design service can vary in cost so contact several stationers and websites so you can gauge the average prices for wedding stationery before deciding how you wish to proceed. Most stationers provide sample wedding invitations and have a portfolio of designs that will cater to different budgets; they may also encourage you to share your own ideas. Their reviews, social media platforms and testimonials will tell you lots about them and will help you choose the right stationer for you.
Wedding Stationers are Experts
A stationer will work with you and your wish list to marry the colours together for your stationery.
Making it an Easy Process
Stationers will have a variety of designs ready for you to select or most likely be able to create a bespoke design.
On the Day Stationery
A stationer will be able to provide your on the day stationery, as some has to be organised close to the big day.
Should I Order My Stationery Online?
You may choose to order your personalised wedding invitations online, this is still creative and fun but can be organised quickly, and you will still be guided through step by step. There will likely be a wedding stationery checklist pdf to download, and then, once you know what you want, you will be guided through.
You will be able to choose the colours of the cardstock, the design you’d like, the font style plus additional extras like belly bands or lined envelopes. You can choose a simple wedding invitation or a wedding invitation package with additional enclosures and printed items. Most online wedding stationery printers will offer personalised free wedding samples so you can see and feel the finished wedding stationery. Wedding invitation proofs will allow you to be confident all the correct information will be printed.
There are usually fewer embellishment options offered online, perhaps a choice of ribbon with the emphasis usually on the artwork and fonts used. If you’re looking for cheap wedding stationery, a printed wedding invitation card with quality wedding invitation envelopes, that can be delivered swiftly this option might be perfect for you and you can often take advantage of free samples.
Beautiful wedding stationery can be acheived, it's all about fiding the best solution for you
Choosing Your Wedding Stationery
Contemporary wedding stationery can be minimal or simple in design. If you want your wedding stationery to follow modern wedding invitation design trends, then search for ‘2020 wedding design trends’ and ask yourself if they would suit your wedding.
If you struggle to find your favourite pure invitations online, or a wedding stationer can’t quite make your personal style of wedding invitation stationery then don’t be afraid to design your own wedding invitations and imagine DIY as a real option.
If you search online, look in magazines or go to wedding fairs you’ll soon appreciate what is included in wedding stationery suites. Going DIY can save the pennies too and is the best way to have your own bespoke design.
Contemporary wedding stationery that you can make yourself
Making DIY Wedding Invitations Easy
If you have been considering making homemade wedding invitations, you will want to create something special. You may think you have to be really good at crafting or be very artistic, but all you do need is to have an idea and space and time to create your own elegant wedding invitations.
It is possible that someone you know may offer to make your wedding stationery for you, possibly as a wedding present! You will still have complete design control and, therefore, you will create unique wedding invitations.
Making DIY invitations is a wonderful opportunity for you to bring friends or family together on a project where everyone has a job and, together, you create something wonderful! It really helps if you have the following:
For your wedding invitation printing access to a desktop printer is perfectly fine, particularly if it’s a laser printer. One of your friends may have access to a works printer that they are permitted to use for personal work.
Quality cardmaking products. Many companies, like wowvow.co.uk, for example, cater especially for the DIY wedding market and carry all the products and tools you need. Our experience means we can offer tailored advice and can guide you through what you need for your job.
A space you can all meet with room to work, and tea and coffee making facilities!
Find online craft supplies from a reliable supplier
Do It Yourself Wedding Stationery
You might prefer to make your wedding stationery yourself, on your own, and have been looking forward to this special job.
If your wedding is small or your beach wedding is abroad, wedding invites can be something you can easily create yourself, especially if you don’t have many to make.
The key is good planning and preparation. Make lots of samples, do lots of testing find the best DIY supplies before you buy your A4 card, laser cuts, ribbons, envelopes and embellishments in bulk and ask suppliers for advice if needed.
You may find, at this practice stage, your vision doesn’t quite work or just wasn’t what you expected. This shouldn’t be disheartening; it’s a positive as you haven’t wasted card or time and a few small changes may be all that’s needed.
Start with your wedding envelopes or presentation box first and work backwards, so you know everything will fit nicely together when your invitations are finished!
The sense of achievement from making your own wedding stationery will be huge and, if made with friends and family, a lot of fun will have been had and memories created. Making your wedding stationery thank you cards will be a fun project in the weeks ahead.
Lasercut Invitations
Create your dream stationery by choosing a laser cut invitation that matches your wedding colours
Create a Sample Invitation
Create a mood board and create a sample invitation, this will save you time when it comes to making your invites.
Wedding Wording
Pay attention to the wording of your wedding invitation, it’s crucial to make sure ths is correct.
Do Your Wedding Stationery Research
You might prefer to make your wedding stationery yourself, on your own, and have been looking forward to this special job.
If your wedding is small or your beach wedding is abroad, wedding invites can be something you can easily create yourself, especially if you don’t have many to make.
The key is good planning and preparation. Make lots of samples, do lots of testing find the best DIY supplies before you buy your A4 card, laser cuts, ribbons, envelopes and embellishments in bulk and ask suppliers for advice if needed.
You may find, at this practice stage, your vision doesn’t quite work or just wasn’t what you expected. This shouldn’t be disheartening; it’s a positive as you haven’t wasted card or time and a few small changes may be all that’s needed.
Start with your wedding envelopes or presentation box first and work backwards, so you know everything will fit nicely together when your invitations are finished!
The sense of achievement from making your own wedding stationery will be huge and, if made with friends and family, a lot of fun will have been had and memories created. Making your wedding stationery thank you cards will be a fun project in the weeks ahead.
Do your research and take time to find wedding stationery that suits you best
Save the Date Ideas Once the date of your wedding is decided, send out save the date cards to the friends and family who will be invited to your wedding for the whole day. They don’t need to be detailed they need to inform your guests of the date, your names and that an invitation […]
Personalised Wedding Invitations
For some couples, planning your wedding stationery is almost as exciting as getting married! The opportunity to create stunning, personalised DIY wedding invitations has never been greater. You don’t need to be a crafting expert or a designer by trade, all the help you want or need is out there waiting to be discovered. You can save a lot of money and have a lot of fun!
If you want to make your invitations, but fear it will be hard or they will look amateurish, have faith and don’t worry! Talk to people who’ve been in the same situation and listen to their advice. Join forums and chat online about how to get started, read wedding blogs on the subject, like this one!
You can get so much inspiration from searching online, Google and Pinterest, for example, also wedding magazines and wedding fairs and shows. Explore these first, and you’ll begin to recognise styles and designs that keep catching your eye.
Wedding Invitation Ideas
Planning your wedding stationery is an exciting time! You can create your own stunning, personalised DIY wedding invitations that are unique and special to you. You don’t need to be a crafting expert or a designer to learn how to make wedding invitations, all the help you want or need is out there waiting to be discovered. You can save a lot of money and have a lot of fun at the same time!
If you want to design your own wedding invitations but fear it will be too difficult or the results will look amateurish, have faith, don’t worry, we have all the advice and guidance you need. Make your own unique wedding invitations and make sure that they’re truly unique.
Firstly gather your wedding inspiration online and from wedding magazines, wedding fairs and shows. Explore and look at wedding invitation examples to formulate the ideas for the style of stationery that will suit you best.
There are many styles of wedding stationery from elegant calligraphy style invites and sparkling glittery embellished stationery to intricate laser cuts. Once you’ve found the style you like collate all your ideas together and produce a sample wedding invitation, it will save you a lot of time later, and you’ll iron out any niggles at this stage. Investing time in the planning stage will pay dividends when you come to make your invitations. Always test your design out before buying everything you need, so you feel confident about making your invitations. Don’t be afraid to change your idea at this stage, that what practice runs are for!
Make DIY wedding invitations unique and special to you
Custom Wedding Invitations
DIY Wedding Invitation Kits
The beauty of a stationery kit is that everything is planned for you so if you’re not confident in designing the invitation yourself, it takes away this worry. There are many wedding stationery kits to choose from, and they can be a quick and economical way to make your own stationery.
Pocket cards, pocket folds and wallets are ideal for anyone new to crafting as they’re really easy to put together. The wedding invitation along with all the other items like details, information and the RSVP card is simply added inside, and the outer can be simple or elaborately decorated.
Lasercut Wedding Invitations
Laser cuts are decorative in their own right so they can be left just as they are if you’re pressed for time, or you can add ribbon, belly bands and embellishments to make them completely unique to you. They come in a wallet, pocketfold and gatefold styles so are super easy!
Perhaps the most simple of wedding invitations to create. This style depends mainly on the graphics or typography of the invite design or in the case of floral wedding invitations the imagery. This style of stationery can be simply printed or gathered with ribbon ties or even embellished.
For a simple wedding invitation then a printed card and quality envelope is beautiful. There are some fabulous free fonts that you can download, including script and calligraphic styles.
For a simple, printed card, choose a nice quality card, it might be coloured or slightly textured. Heavily embossed board stocks look fabulous, but you may not get a crisp print so think ‘less is more’ when printing. You can always mount a printed card onto a larger piece of embossed card to give a decorative border. A good rule of thumb is to use cardstock that is, ideally, 250-300gsm. A good supplier will show the ‘weight’ of the card stock.
Handmade Wedding Invitations
If you’re making your own invitations, then they’re handmade, so we include all style of stationery in this category!
Wedding Stationery
What to Include in Your Wedding Invitation
The critical things to get right in your wedding card design is the wording of the invitation (make sure the date and time are included) and who’s invited, essentially everything else is there to aid in the planning (for example the RSVP card helps your guests to respond easily).
Including an RSVP card helps your guests to respond easily
Wedding Invitation Wording
One of the most popular questions we’re asked is ‘how to word wedding invitations’, ‘ what to write on wedding invitations?’ or ‘what to put on wedding invitations?’
Whether you’re looking for traditional wedding invitation wording or informal wedding invitation wording, you can easily determine the type of wording you need by consulting our wedding invitation wording templates and our dedicated page.
This covers all the major topics such as evening wedding invitation wording and gift wording which can be a delicate issue.
Getting your wedding invitation wording right is crucial
Tips and Tricks for DIY Wedding Invitations
Printing Your DIY Invitations
If you have a desktop printer, you can print your own invitations. Always run some test sheets through your printer to check that you’re happy with the quality of the print. Most pearlescent stocks are best printed using a laser printer which fuses toner onto the sheet. If your planning to use a card, for example, 300gsm then check that your printer will print on this first.
If not, a high street or online printer will be able to print and cut inserts or printed mounts for you; most commercial printers will want to print on a sheet that is SRA3 in size.
Elegant Wedding Invitations
Elegant wedding invitations with silk ribbon
If you make elegant wedding invitations, don’t forget your day stationery. If the style and theme of stationery remain the same, you’ll probably want your day stationery to suit the venue as well so imagine wax seals with vellum for a wedding at a castle or floral themes and pretty twine at a garden party reception.
If you have a colour theme in mind, then you can use this as your starting point and develop your wedding invitation ideas from this.
You can make invitations with very few products and tools so, if crafting hasn’t been a hobby before, don’t be put off. Don’t be afraid to phone wedding craft suppliers for advice, wowvow has great customer service, product knowledge and years of experience.
By purchasing all your supplies together, it will save multiple postage costs and time. Wowvow specialises in wedding crafting, supplying all the A4 card, paper, ribbon, envelopes and embellishments you will need as well as the tools!
While we’re talking about invitations sending ‘Save the Date’ or ‘Save the Day’ cards to your guests is a thoughtful idea. If your ‘big day’ is in the middle of the summer or around Christmas and the New Year, announcing your wedding date well in advance will allow guests to plan holidays around your special day.
A ‘Save the Date’ card will also be the perfect opportunity to make your first DIY stationery and will give you confidence. Traditionally a ‘Save the Date’ card will be a smaller flat card in an envelope, but you might decide to get printed magnets, scratch and reveal cards, all sorts of fun ideas! If you want to keep it simple and cost-effective, then a simple print with the promise of an invitation to follow is all it needs to be.
When making your invitations always ‘start with the envelope’. The envelope is probably the last thing you think about but, if your carefully made invitations don’t fit a standard envelope, it can be a real problem as bespoke sizes are very expensive.
Standard envelopes sizes are 130mm square, 155mm square, DL and a classic 5 x 7” envelope, design your invitation to fit one of these sizes, and you won’t have any problems.
The envelope cand become part of the design by adding an envelope liner. If you’re using glitter card in the design, then why not add a matching glitter envelope liner? You can use pre-cut liners, or make them yourself using a template. Decorative patterned A4 papers like pebble paper or floral prints look fabulous too.
Adding Special Touches
When it comes to decorating your invitations, there are lots of ‘how-to’ guides and videos to help you online. Make your own wax seals or learn to tie the perfect bow for your invitations. If you like a bit of sparkle, you can add beautiful diamante, pearl or diamante and pearl embellishments. These can be attached with ease with a suitable glue, like Gem-tac, or a hot glue gun for larger embellishments.
Baroque pocketfold lasercut wedding invitations with crystal diamantes for that special finishing touch
Making Your Invitations
Invite your family members or friends to get involved! Set up a production line, so each person has a single job to repeat.
If you’re making your invitations on your own follow this principle too. Write down each stage, make sure it all works and you’ve got the order correct then create a production line. You can concentrate on one stage at a time rather than go through several stages and different tools or materials with each, individual invitation.
The more organised you are, the easier it will be to make your own DIY stationery and you, plus any of your helpers, can enjoy a great, exciting shared experience.
Enjoy browsing our wowvow website for all the latest products as well as the essentials we know you love. Our blogs will keep you updated with all the exciting things going on at wowvow as well as the hot topics we want to discuss!
Personalised Wedding Invitations For some couples, planning your wedding stationery is almost as exciting as getting married! The opportunity to create stunning, personalised DIY wedding invitations has never been greater. You don’t need to be a crafting expert or a designer by trade, all the help you want or need is out there waiting to […]
The types of card stock, such as A4 coloured card, you choose for making your wedding invitations is such a personal choice. The type of board stock you select will be determined by things like the invitation design, print processes, the wedding colour theme and your ethos, for example, you may prefer to use a recycled card.
While there’s an array of different A4 coloured card the types fall into these main categories;
Paper and Card
The type of card stock you choose whether it’s A4 coloured card, card squares, matt or pearlescent card is part of the design process for your wedding invitations. Also choosing the right paper and card supplier uk is also important.
Pearlescent Card and Paper
This type of stock has a subtle sheen to the surface which can be on both sides (double-sided pearlescent card) or one single side with the reverse being a plain colour, most usually white.
One of the most frequent questions asked is ‘Can you print on pearlescent card?’ The answer is of course, yes, but the print quality might be quite as good as you’d hope.
In most cases, with a few exceptions, pearl card requires a laser printer or ‘toner-based’ print for a good quality print. Often with an inkjet printer, the ink bleeds into the surface, making the print look slightly blurry.
If you’re looking to print on card, then you will need to check your laser printer will take 300gsm card, this type of printer usually has a straight paper path.
It’s ideal for card making supplies, wedding cards and DIY wedding invitations as it has a luxury finish.
Our beautiful lasercut wedding invitations are available in pearlescent and matt boardstocks
Matt Card and Paper
Sometimes referred to as ‘plain card’ this type of card has no sheen and can be either smooth to touch or have a textured surface. The natural textured finish is as a result of the papermaking itself.
With a wide colour range, this type of card is popular for blank wedding invitations, and hand made cards.
While it’s more likely you will achieve a good print result with an inkjet printer; it’s always wise to do a test print as the ink can look fuzzy if the stock is very absorbent.
Plain matt card is perfect for contemporary wedding invitations
Decorative Card
Decorative card usually adds colour, pattern and sparkle to your design. Choose from glitter card, patterned card stocks with embossing, highly reflective mirror card and much more.
Glitter Card
The most common types of glitter card and paper are created by coating a plain craft card with glitter on one side. The critical thing to look out for with glitter card and paper is that its low shedding or ‘no shed’.
No glitter card will be completely non-shedding, if you cut it with a paper trimmer little flakes of glitter will fall, and in the conversion of the big sheets the cut edges will always have a few glitter particles, but it is quite minimal.
Most of us love some glitz and sparkle, and glitter card is ideal for Christmas card crafts, glitter Christmas cards and luxury glitter wedding invitations.
We have many colours available from gold glitter card, silver glitter card through to rose gold glitter card and we’re the only retailer to supply glitter pocket wedding invitations from our Enfolio range.
We would not advise trying to print on glitter card; however, if you do want to print on a glittery surface, then there is a smooth glitter card available. This is made by adding a glitter film to a white base card, here the glitter is encapsulated, and it is possible to print with a toner-based printer.
Our final type of glitter card is ‘sparkle card’ where the glitter appears sprinkled over the surface. It is stunning and ideal for papercrafts, where you need a hint of sparkle. It’s to advisable to print on this type of card even though it may look printable.
Glitter card can be used on its own or with other stocks to add a hint of sparkle.
Recycled Card
There are several types of sustainable, recycled card stocks and it can be made from various items such as recycled coffee cups and waste from crushed citrus fruit, coffee, nuts, olives, kiwi and corn.
These card stocks tend to be very tactile with muted colours with a subtle fleck or grain. Some, though certainly not all, can vary in colour and this is something to bear in mind although for many this is part of the charm.
Eco-friendly Kraft card is one of our most popular stocks, and it’s ideal for rustic wedding invitations and is 100% recycled post-consumer waste.
Other recycled card stocks we have are Colorset which is Blue Angel certified. This is a German accreditation which sets high standards for environmentally friendly product designs and more sustainable consumption.
Often customers believe recycled card should be a cheaper option. Unfortunately, this is not the case as manufacturing and processing are usually more expensive.
As a recycled card is often more absorbent, it’s wise to conduct a test print to see if you’re happy with the results. We’d recommend using a toner-based laser printer.
Beautiful recycled A4 card is ideal for those looking for eco-friendly wedding invitations
Mirror Card or 'Mirri' Card
Mirror card stock is highly reflective, almost so shiny you can see yourself! It’s created by adding film to a base white card.
It can be printed on using a laser printer, but we’d recommend checking the compatibility with your printer or trialling it first.
There are several types of mirror card with the one we supply being genuine ‘Mirri’ board. Available with a real reflective shiny finish like silver mirror card and a silk finish it’s ideal for craft projects, wedding stationery and making your own cards.
Mirror like A4 'Mirri' card is highly reflective
Craft Paper
Paper was invented around 100 BC in China and created from plant fibres. Handmade paper and card are made in much the same way now. Pulp made from cellulose fibres and water is laid on screens, the water is then pressed out and the resulting paper sheet dried.
It’s very much a handmade process, and these papers have a beautiful, unique quality. Their natural flaws are adding to their appeal.
Paper for Crafts
Handmade papers can add a unique element to your card making and papercrafts
Embossed Paper and Card
Embossing is a finish that’s applied to any sheet card stock to achieve a patterned finish. It’s usually done at the paper making stage where the paper is passed between embossing rollers that have the pattern engraved on their surface. Rather like a washing mangle, the pressure from the rollers applies the embossing pattern to the paper sheet.
Embossed papers can be combined with other stocks
Embossed silk card
Embossed handmade pebble paper in eau de nil
Vellum Paper
Originally vellum was made from stretched goat or calfskin and to date, the laws of the UK are still written or printed on traditional vellum.
However, we now refer to vellum paper as a translucent or semi-opaque paper allowing some light to pass through it. Tracing paper which is almost transparent or ‘see-through’ is extremely lightweight vellum with the higher the paperweight (or gsm), the more page or less translucent the paper will be.
Vellum paper can be printed on with both inkjet and laser printers although for inkjet printing you may find you need more drying time between printing the sheets as the print takes a longer time to dry. We’d always recommend testing your printer and your print settings to achieve the best results.
It’s a beautiful paper, perfect for card making, paper crafts and wedding invitations. Ideal for elegant wedding stationery it’s often used for vellum belly bands and vellum jackets or wraps so that the invitation is slightly obscured.
Vellum paper adds an air of luxury and mystery to your wedding invitation
Our Love for Paper
The more you work with paper and card, the more you appreciate its subtleties and variations.
Paper mills will keep a standard sheet for colour reference and, during the making samples will be compared to this.
As paper is a natural product with a directional grain, it is susceptible to temperature change and subtle variations that are within the accepted standard or tolerances. We must remember this when we compare paper batches or match it to a wedding or bridesmaid gown.
We love paper for all its variations, imperfections and subtleties.
The types of card stock, such as A4 coloured card, you choose for making your wedding invitations is such a personal choice. The type of board stock you select will be determined by things like the invitation design, print processes, the wedding colour theme and your ethos, for example, you may prefer to use a […]
A blush pink and grey wedding theme is always a favourite when it comes to choosing wedding colours and of course, it’s ideal for a spring or summer wedding.
Of course, there are infinite shades of pink from pale, pastel blush pinks and dusky pinks right through to hot fuchsias and shocking pinks. Each of these shades can be teamed with a complementary or contrasting colour to complete your wedding look.
Here we run through the classic colour combinations for a pink wedding themes including blush and navy which is also popular.
Blush Pink and Grey Wedding Theme
Blush pink and grey are classic wedding colours, and both can be pale or a darker tone, for example, blush pink and pale grey or dusky pink and slate or charcoal grey. Both combinations are sophisticated and elegant.
A pale pink wedding dress is ideal for those who’d like a hint of colour, and there’s a vast choice when it comes to a blush pink wedding dress.
If you’d prefer an ivory or white wedding gown then blush pink wedding shoes can be a nod to your theme and bridesmaids can wear pink dresses with matching pink shoes.
The groom and groomsmen can wear soft pale grey or charcoal providing the contrast yet keeping in with the theme.
There are lots to choose from when it comes to pink wedding flowers such as sumptuous pink roses and peonies, both of which can feature in the bridal bouquet. These are stunning when matched with whites or ivories and the soft silvery greens of eucalyptus or eryngium. Equally dark hunter green foliage offers a bold and dramatic contrast and is stunning.
Pink and grey wedding cakes are festooned with sugar flowers, buttercream or semi-naked cake designs, all of which are swoon-worthy.
Pink and grey wedding invitations will give your guests a hint of the big day to come. Your invitation can use pearlescent cardstock or matt cardstock to create stunning invitations to coordinate with your day.
Colorset, a recycled matt board stock, with a beautiful blush pink and several greys that will fit perfectly with a grey and pink wedding theme.
Pink and grey are a classic colour pairing for weddings
GMund Cement Grey Matt A4Card
Beautiful GMund Cement Grey A4 card is ideal for grey themed wedding invitations and stationery.
Pink and Grey Is An Elegant Colour Pairing
Combine A4 cardstock in greys and pinks with ribbon for beautiful wedding invitations.
Grey Glue Gun Sealing Wax
Sealing wax is ideal for incorporating your wedding colour scheme. Use on invites, favours & gifts.
Frayed Edge Silk Ribbon
Our gorgeous frayed edge silk ribbon can be used on your wedding invites and even on dresses.
Pale Pink Pure Silk Ribbon
Luxurious silk ribbon is perfect for sumptuous bows on wedding cakes and invitations.
Pale Pink Pearlescent A4 Cardstock
Pale pink pearlescent boardstock is ideal for DIY wedding invitations.
A Pale Pink Wedding
Pale pink is such an elegant, soft, beautiful and ethereal colour and is a perfect choice for your wedding colour, especially for a spring wedding.
Dresses can be the palest pink hue and teamed with blush pink wedding cakes adorned with the faded pink sugar roses or ruffles for romance.
With an abundance of pale pink flowers, be sure to incorporate scented varieties like fragrant sweet peas for a romantic, fairytale heady scent in the air.
Blush pink wedding invitations exude romance and can be gathered with blush silk or satin ribbons to keep within the theme.
At the wedding venue, blush pink can be fairytale-like with crisp white linen, silver cutlery and the glint of crystal champagne glasses.
Pale Pink Sparkling A4 Glitter Card
Add some fairytale sparkle to your wedding invitations with pale pink glitter card.
Pale Pink Satin Ribbon
The palest pink satin ribbon can be used for bouquet ribbon and on the ‘on the day’ stationery.
Pale Pink Sealing Wax
Sealing wax is ideal for incorporating your wedding colour scheme. Use on invites, favours & gifts.
Pale Pink Marabou Feathers
Marabou feathers can be used in floral arrangements, on your wedding invites and even on dresses!
Pale Pink Silk Ribbon
Luxurious silk ribbon is perfect for sumptuous bows on wedding cakes and invitations.
Pale Pink Matt A4 Cardstock
Sirio Color Nude is a pale matt card stock that is ideal for DIY wedding invitations.
Navy Blue and Blush Pink Wedding
A navy blue and blush pink wedding theme is the perfect way to add a touch of elegance to your big day. These two colours compliment each other beautifully and will make your wedding stand out from the crowd. Your wedding colour scheme should reflect your personal style and the overall mood you want to create on your big day
Wedding invitations are the first impression your guests will have of your special day, so it’s important to choose a design that reflects your wedding’s theme. Navy blue and blush pink wedding invitations are the perfect way to set the tone and have an understated elegance perfect for the modern couple.
Your wedding cake is a showstopper centrepiece and should be chosen carefully to reflect your navy blue and blush pink wedding theme.
When it comes to your wedding flowers, navy blue and blush pink is the perfect colour combination. Blush pink roses are a classic choice that will never go out of style.
If you’re looking for something a little different, consider using navy blue hydrangeas and blush pink peonies in your bouquet and centrepieces.
Navy blue and blush pink is the perfect colour scheme for a summer or spring wedding.
Colorplan Imperial Blue Card
This beautiful matt navy A4 card stock is made in the UK and is perfect for wedding invitations.
Colorset Blush Pink Envelopes
Wedding guests see the envelope first so make sure that the impression is perfect with a quality wedding envelope.
Light Pink Silk Ribbon
Stunning silk ribbons add luxury and elegance to you wedding stationery and invitations.
A Pale Pink and Duck Egg Blue Wedding
If you’d like your wedding theme to be mainly pale pink, but you’d like to embrace other colours, then incorporating duck egg blue, peppermint greens or icy blues is a stunning colour combination. Such a pretty pastels wedding colour palette is ideally suited to a summer wedding.
There’s a wealth of wedding ideas around this colour theme from Bridesmaids in ice-cream shades to vintage-inspired crockery and pastel flowers.
Aqua Mist Pebble Paper
Add texture to your wedding invitations with embossed pebble paper in aquamarine.
Stardream Aquamarine A4 Cardstock
Pearlescent cardstock has a subtle sheen perfect for elegant wedding invitations.
Aquamarine Sealing Wax
Use aquamarine glue gun sealing wax to adorn your DIY wedding invitations.
A Fucshia, 'Shocking Pink' Wedding
Bright and bold fuchsia is a popular colour choice for weddings. While it would have to be a very bold bride to wear a fuchsia pink dress for her wedding, although not unknown, it’s perfect for Bridesmaids. If you want to be subtle, then fuchsia pink sashes or belts are accessories that will bring the theme together.
Flowers can be hot pink gerberas, fuchsia pink roses and calla lillies which can also cascade over your wedding cake. Use a fuchsia satin ribbon on your wedding cake and match it to your wedding invitations.
A blush pink and grey wedding theme is always a favourite when it comes to choosing wedding colours and of course, it’s ideal for a spring or summer wedding. Of course, there are infinite shades of pink from pale, pastel blush pinks and dusky pinks right through to hot fuchsias and shocking pinks. Each of […]
Wedding Stationer Tracey Clarke
Thank goodness Tracey’s friends needed help with their wedding planning or Tracey Clarke, our next, very special wedding stationer, may never have launched Tiggity Boo!
Tracey has stepped into the ‘Spotlight’ to share with us her Tiggity Boo story.
Tracey runs ‘Tiggity Boo’ in St Albans, Hertfordshire
wowvow: What were you doing just before we stopped you?
Tracey: Deep in the middle of the chaos that is wedding season!
wowvow: Tell us a little about the journey you made to launching your business.
Tracey: Although I have always been in creative industries, joining the wedding industry was never on my radar. However, having been dragged around various wedding fairs by friends planning their weddings, I noticed there was nothing in the way of stationery being offered. Certainly there was no one offering a truly personalized service which would allow couples to express their individuality in their stationery. The more I looked in to it, the more I realized that there was huge potential to create stunning designs using beautiful materials that would be exclusive to each couple. Everything else we found was either something on-line or from a card shop which was so impersonal. Since I was in between jobs at the time, it was the perfect opportunity to work on my idea and in 2014, Tiggity Boo was launched.
wowvow: What were some of your biggest challenges in starting your business?
Tracey: Probably the biggest challenge was sourcing the right materials. I knew that I wanted everything I created to be high end, luxurious and exceptional quality. There’s no point creating beautiful designs and then cutting costs on materials as it will ruin the finished product. I spent ages trying samples of everything from card weights to ribbon qualities and even glue options to make sure I could achieve the finished result I wanted.
wowvow: What advice would you give to any stationery designers setting up?
Tracey: Don’t give up. If you have a vision, go for it! It takes time to build a client base, especially as this is an industry where you don’t really get repeat clients – after all, once they’re married, hopefully they’re not going to come back to you! This makes it more difficult but it can be done with perseverance and by offering exceptional service.
wowvow: How do you differentiate yourself from other wedding suppliers?
Tracey: Now that a good question! I have no idea! In fact, I’m not sure that I do! There are so many elements which come together to create a wedding and these elements are so diverse that it’s difficult to compare. Most suppliers will put everything they have into helping their clients have a memorable day and I’m no different. All I can do is offer the best service I can and the best product possible and hope that to my clients at least, that it makes a positive difference to them.
Beautiful Wedding Invites with Satin Ribbon
Texture, contemporary design and gorgeous satin ribbon combine for this wedding invitation.
Elegant Wedding Inviations
Intricate laser-cut design with sparkling glitter wrap, personalised for the bride and groom.
Woodland Themed Invitations
Tailored to seasons or colour themes, Tracey can bring your wedding invitation dreams to reality.
wowvow: What is your favourite craft tool?
Tracey: My Fabric Master. I use it constantly as it gives such a neat finish. In fact I use one of the interchangeable tips so much that the heat has welded it all together so its no longer interchangeable! I suppose really I should get another one but its certainly one tool that I couldn’t be without.
wowvow: What’s your favourite wowvow product?
Tracey: Can I say everything? The embellishments are absolutely exquisite and most of my clients have huge problems in choosing their favourite – I gave up a long time ago trying to choose a personal fave! I also love the ribbon – there are so many colours to choose from and I love the quality of them – particularly those by Shindo and Satab. The new silk range is also gorgeous!
wowvow: Why do you like to shop with wowvow?
Tracey: wowvow has virtually everything I need and an unparalleled choice which means I can offer my clients the variety and service which was my vision when I first set up the business. With the choice of embellishments and ribbon, it gives my clients so many more options when we work them to create their designs.
Their service is always excellent and it’s because of this that Tiggity Boo is able to provide the service we do. When we deal with our clients, nothing is too much trouble and we go above and beyond to give the best service we can. Because Wowvow shares this ethos with their clients, it means that in turn, we can continue to give the best service we can to our clients. Plus the fact, it’s always nice to have a good chat with Wendy or Gillian when I phone about something!
Beautiful Wedding Theme Colour Pairings
Elegant pocketfold invitations to keep all the wedding information safely together.
Wax Seal Wedding Invitations
Contemporary flat-board style with luxe marbled gold-leaf edging
Stunning Diamante Embellishments
Incredible detail with embossing, hand-applied diamantes and dramatic jewel on a pocketfold.
wowvow: Do you have a favourite design?
Tracey: I create every look from understated to elegant and from rustic to full on bling depending on what my clients want. Because everything is bespoke I never create the same thing twice which makes it very hard to choose. I suppose if anything, I have a current favourite technique which is gilding my stationery with gold leaf to create a beautifully sumptuous look. At least, it’s my favourite until I dream up my next idea!
wowvow: Where do you take your inspiration from?
Tracey: More from my clients than anything. Because I offer each couple a one-to-one consultation, it means I get to know them and can get a good idea of the vision they have for their wedding. They will have a picture in their minds of what they want to achieve and it’s my job to interpret it on to their stationery. Some are more unusual ideas, some are more of a challenge but everything they describe or tell me, inspires me. That said, my brain never stops and I’m always dreaming up new ways to do something or a different way create something a bit different!
A fabulous opportunity to view beautiful and original stationery
Bespoke, beautiful stationery and a truly personalised service
For up to date news, stunning stationery and wedding planning suggestions
wowvow: What is your proudest personal and/or professional accomplishment over the last year?
Tracey: I have to confess it’s not over the last year, but my proudest professional moment was winning the Stationer of the Year 2017 at the Four Counties Wedding Awards
wowvow: What do you most enjoy about your job?
Tracey: I love design and colour so being able to work full time with these components is just heaven! More than anything though, it’s seeing the pleasure my work give couples when they see the finished design for the first time. I have lost count of how many times I have been hugged and kissed by clients just because they are so happy. To know I have achieved their dream and their vision, and added something special to their big day means more to me than anything
Thank you from all of us at wowvow:
Dear Tracey, it’s fascinating to read about how any business has come about, the story behind it and the driving force within it; it’s especially interesting when the owner is one of our much loved customers!
Thank you so much for taking part and for your inspirational words.
Delicate and beautiful wedding stationery designs and fantastic service from from 'Tiggity Boo'
Need Help Or Guidance When It Comes To DIY Wedding Stationery?
Here at wowvow we have years of experience of DIY wedding stationery makes, as well as creating stunning bespoke wedding stationery and we’re always here to help if you have any enquiries or need advice XXX
Wedding Stationer Tracey Clarke Thank goodness Tracey’s friends needed help with their wedding planning or Tracey Clarke, our next, very special wedding stationer, may never have launched Tiggity Boo! Tracey has stepped into the ‘Spotlight’ to share with us her Tiggity Boo story. Tracey runs ‘Tiggity Boo’ in St Albans, Hertfordshire wowvow: What were you doing […]
Wedding Stationer Zara
Here’s a very special wedding stationer, Zara, who agreed to go ‘under the spotlight!’ We know loads about our customers shopping choices but so little about them and their lives.
Enjoy this window into Zara’s life, we know we did!
Zara runs ‘Handmade by Zara’ located near Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway – here’s Zara’s story:
wowvow: Tell us a little about the journey you made to launching your business.
Zara: The idea for my business actually started when I made my own wedding stationery nearly 8 years ago! I wanted monochrome Art Deco style invites with black envelopes, and a fully matching On the Day Suite, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for from one supplier or at an affordable price. So I made them myself: designed and sourced from scratch. During this time I started to notice that there were some fabulous designs out there but they were invariably in cream or white with only a hint of colour.
I wanted bold colours and strong designs with an entire suite of wedding stationery available in a range of colours, as standard. From my research I knew this could be possible but I stored up all my ideas as I had a ‘proper’ job working in Art Galleries and Museums.
My opportunity to start my own business came when I had to give up my job to follow my Royal Navy Submariner husband on his new draft 500 miles away in order to keep our family together! Handmade by Zara started as a working title but it just stuck! In between looking after my 2 kids I used my time to work out my designs, find great suppliers (wowvow, obvs), and build my website. It was slow to start and it took a little longer to get my business going than I would have liked, largely because I wasn’t sure where and when we would be sent next. When the draft order finally came in I took the decision not to move on with him, but to move back home so that I could properly throw myself into my wedding stationery. He still doesn’t move back to Scotland for another few months but it was the best decision for me and I haven’t looked back since!
wowvow: How do you differentiate yourself from other wedding suppliers?
Zara: I’m all about the colour! All of my designs are available in over 70 different pearlescent colours, 40 pebble papers, and 70 satin ribbons! So I know that I can find a colour combo to match any wedding colour scheme! Brides can go as bold and bright, or as neutral as they choose. I allow brides to personalise their fonts and wordings so that their Invitations are a natural extensions of themselves. I don’t have set packages so my brides can pick and choose what items of stationery they want, making them and their budget happy. I also try to be as transparent as possible when it comes to costs, nothing is hidden as wedding budgets can be too tight to get a surprise extra cost.
Colourful Pocketfold Wedding Invitations
All things Bright and Beautiful! Customers love Zara’s vibrant stationery
Embellished with Diamante and Pearl
Dramatic pocketfold invitations with many colour combinations
Stunning Embellished Invitations
Zara loves to create a color palette just for you
wowvow: What is your favourite craft tool?
Zara: As weird as this sounds, my favourite craft tool is my bone smoother that I use for getting a sharp crease on my folded stationery. The reason being I used to use this exact tool when I was doing my Archaeological Conservation degree at uni! Back in the day I used it for smoothing the fill on a reconstructed Pre Dynastic Egyptian ceramic pot (many of the tools used in the lab come from other walks of life, including dentistry)! I stress that this smoother has been well cleaned since then! It reminds me that I have the skills for fine and delicate details and I have endless patience for small fiddly tasks (the absolute opposite when it comes to technology!)
wowvow: What’s your favourite wowvow product?
Zara: My favourite wowvow product has to be the pebble paper! I love the size of the range that wowvow stock: a full rainbow of colours! It fits perfectly with my ethos of offering a wide range of colours. I also love that you can order a swatch pack of these papers so that my brides can get the opportunity to feel the quality and see the shimmery colours for themselves. I’m also looking forward to trying out the new range of sealing waxes! It’s been perfect timing in the launch of these for me as I have a bespoke order and I was struggling to find a UK supplier.
wowvow: Why do you like to shop with wowvow?
The website is so easy to use and you can see what you are buying! That sounds stupid but it makes such a difference when the product images are crystal clear and you can see what’s in stock. The delivery is speedy and, I’m not going to lie, the little sweet that comes with it usually eaten in nanoseconds!
wowvow: Where do you take your inspiration from?
Zara: I take my inspiration from anything and everything but particularly from colours! I love making up colour combos and see which work best. I love subtle elegance and the total opposite of bright, bold and brash! I also take inspiration from my brides! I’ve been asked to create stationery in certain colours that I might not have put together initially but the finished product always works! I’m also working on bespoke Save the Date cards at the moment, where the bride has given me her ideas and now I get to have a play around. As part of this I’m looking to introduce foil to my stationery, which is quite exciting for me!
wowvow: Who is your design hero?
Zara: One of my design hero’s is Ingvar Kamprad, the man who founded Ikea! We all have a piece of Ikea furniture somewhere (my office is the unofficial show room), as it’s well designed and affordable. Again I like the availability of things in different colours, and how you can mix and match what you want. Maybe I’m the Ikea of wedding stationery? I also like Victoria Beckham’s style. I’m no way a fan of her personally but I love the clean lines and non-patterned colour palette of her clothing designs. They are bold but also are elegance and style personified.
Wedding Invites in Gold
Gorgeous stationery with luxurious ribbon and pearlescent pebble paper
Wallet Style Wedding Invitations
You can literally ‘feel’ the quality of Zara’s stunning wedding stationery
Open Pockets and Enclosures
Include all the details with beautifully mounted enclosures
wowvow: What is your proudest personal/and or professional accomplishment over the last year?
Zara: I think this would be exhibiting my stationery at the Scottish Wedding Show. I have come a long way from researching my ideas when I was living on the south coast of England, to setting the business up, moving back to Scotland and running it well enough to ‘play with the big boys’ in the industry! To discuss all things Wedding Stationery with so many brides was fantastic but the best bit was when they said that they hadn’t seen stationery as colourful as mine! And to see my diary fill up with brides who loved my work was fantastic!
wowvow: What do you imagine you’d be doing if you didn’t have your business?
Zara: I’d still be in the Museums and Galleries world. I love all things old and learning something from every piece you handle, and knowing that you are just the custodian for future generations. It really was a privilege to be up close and personal with some of the finest artworks in the world! I’ll admit that I miss flying (in First Class!) to bring an artwork back from a far-flung destination, but being my own boss is way better (apart from the First Class bit). If I put the hard work in, I get the rewards; it’s not lost in a big chain of management. I also love being part of the world of weddings, who wouldn’t be?
Inspirational quotes and gorgeous stationery
Planning your stationery with Zara is as easy as 1,2,3!
Updates, information and insights into ‘Handmade by Zara’
wowvow: What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
Zara: Hands down this is my xmas present from my husband: the entire Agatha Christie collection of hardback books! It had been a challenge I’d set myself to find this particular set in second hand books shops and I’d found others but they didn’t match the ones I already had. My fabulous husband then hit the mother-load and got me 90+ in one go! And they all matched! I’m all about the ‘matchy matchy’ in my personal life as well as in my stationery.
wowvow: What are your pet hates?
Zara: I think number one at the moment is the miss spelling of stationery! And I don’t mean from brides! Everybody makes mistakes but for large companies who should know better it drives me nuts! Rant over!
wowvow: What was the last photograph you took with your phone?
Zara: I mainly use my phone for my business as it’s one of the stupid extra large ones and it doesn’t fit in my pocket when I go out with the kids. So the last photo was one of my ‘Colour Combos’ series for my Instagram, which shows the mix of pearlescent and pebble paper and matching ribbon in a colour theme of the day! The photo before that was a screen shot for my daughter’s gymnastic club! Think that sums up a working mums life!
wowvow: What is your personal mantra?
Zara: It’s not a catchy one but ‘take 2 minutes now, to save 2 hours later’. I’m all about doing any job properly the first time, and not having to comeback and fix it later. I take the 2 minutes extra to put my cutlery back in the correct place in the kitchen drawer, so when I’m in hurry I know I can just grab the knife to make my sons packed lunch. This principle applies to my business too: I use Trello for my workflow and I make sure that my brides’ paperwork is all there for us both to see. This way I’m not scrolling through hundreds of emails trying to find the proofs I’d sent. I’m far from being Marie Kondo but I like to be organised!
wowvow: How does your day start?
Zara: Coffee, school run, coffee. I’d love to say that I start it off with a yoga session, but bending over to find missing school shoes is about it! Once I have peace and quiet I can get into work mode and double check my plan for the day is. Some days it’s mainly admin whilst others can be a marathon bow making session.
wowvow: What are you reading at the Moment?
Zara: Of course I’m readying an Agatha Christie: A Pocketful of Rye. I love them as I love Art Deco and the snapshot of the time it was written. I always have a stack of books on the go, mainly Sci-fi and fantasy, never really any other crime writers. Terry Pratchett is my other all time favourite, and the only other author whose books fill my shelves!
wowvow: Tell us something we don’t already know about you!
Zara: I have an HGV licence! As part of my job in my previous life I used to drive very, very, expensive artwork around for a very well known Art Gallery. Even though people had seen me climb out of the driver’s seat they still asked which one of other 5 men on my team was the driver! I still have my licence so if I was to get a massive wedding stationery order I’d have no problems delivering it!
Thank you from all of us at wowvow:
Dear Zara, we really enjoyed reading your ‘Stationer Spotlight’ especially about the yoga!! Businesses don’t just ‘happen’ and your story sends an inspirational message about the big decisions involved, the commitment required and how planning makes everything perfect! We are so happy for you that your family will all be together again soon!
Stunning embellishments, beautiful card and paperstock, luxurious ribbons and a whole lot of love goes into the stationery from 'Handmade by Zara'
Wedding Stationer Zara Here’s a very special wedding stationer, Zara, who agreed to go ‘under the spotlight!’ We know loads about our customers shopping choices but so little about them and their lives. Enjoy this window into Zara’s life, we know we did! Zara runs ‘Handmade by Zara’ located near Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway – […]
