Here is a selection of Q&As from Your North West Wedding magazine whether it be about flowers, hair and makeup, fashion, wedding themes, health & beauty, cakes, stationery, legal advice. If you would like your question answered by our experts, please email it to editor@yournorthwest.wedding
To view more expert advice on a different topic, please select one from the list below.
My type on paper
Q. My hubby-to-be and I are on a tight budget, but still want beautiful stationery on our big day. How can we spend our money wisely?
A. Laura Luhrs says: You can still achieve beautiful wedding stationery on a budget! A lot of stationery designers will have a portfolio of 'house' designs you can choose from, which are personalised with your details, but the design side of things is already done.
Remember, anything bespoke is going to cost more, but you can save money by utilising space. For example, instead of adding extra cards with details such as menus and transport, why not add it to the back of the main invite?
When it comes to on-the-day stationery, keep it simple. Does every guest need a menu at their place setting, or could you have one menu per table, perhaps in a photo frame? When thinking about welcome signs or table plans, consider having them printed like a poster or onto card to save the cost of printed boards, this also means they are recyclable too!
Laura Luhrs, LL Creative Designs
www.llcreativedesign.co.uk
The write stuff
Q. We're having an autumn wedding and want to incorporate our theme into our stationery. Do you have any ideas of how we can achieve this?
A. Laura Luhrs says: Think about what is going to convey the theme on your big day and make a moodboard to help you. Is it a particular flower in your bouquet, the colour of your bridesmaids' dresses, or maybe it's a pumpkin centrepiece? You can use these as inspiration for your stationery designs.
A colour palette of rich oranges and deep reds is a brilliant starting point for autumnal invitations, but don't forget you can also add texture for a more luxurious finish. Use a lightly textured card or finish with rustic twine and recycled envelopes.
Consider looking for a stationery designer who offers a bespoke service so you can create something truly special.
Laura Luhrs, Forever Begins Paper Studio
www.foreverbegins.co.uk
The write stuff
Q. What style of stationery should we go for, and what should we ask companies?
A. Lucy McSpirit says: Creating a style and theme is one of my favourite parts of wedding stationery. Start by looking for inspiration and ideas on Pinterest and Instagram. Create a moodboard of colours, wedding day styles and flowers you like to help narrow down your theme, and you can then use this to send to suppliers for reference. This will also help you source companies that offer those types of products.
If you send a moodboard to a stationer like myself, it will help them get to know you, understand your tastes and guide you to stationery that will complement your day. The invitations will give your guests a subtle hint of what they can expect on the day and get the excitement going.
If you love the designs they offer but want something a bit different to make it your own, you could opt for a bespoke service where you have a range designed just for you. Just keep in mind a personal design takes longer, which will be reflected in the cost. I also offer contemporary stationery that can be customised at no extra charge, which is a great way to make your stationery personal without going outside your budget.
Lucy McSpirit, Lucy McSpirit Design
www.lucymcspiritdesign.com
