Stationary

Many couples are now choosing to make a night of making all their stationary, table plans are very easy to make with a piece of a3 card and some imagination. Feathers, gems, ribbon and glitter all help make your master piece a success.

Menu cards
Some hotels will include a menu card but they are really easy to just print them off yourself, you can decorate them with ribbon, feathers or gems to make them really stand out and relate to your theme.

Place names
These can be anything at all as long as the guest name is on there clearly, you could have stones, luggage labels, fruit, tea cups or even sweets.

Orders of service
Discuss the order of service with your ceremony official as they usually keep copies of past sheets for you to use as a guide.

Table plan
Big or small it should be clear & easy to read and in an area where it will not matter if there are large groups of people all gathered around trying to see where they are sat.

Maps to ceremony & reception
These are crucial as not everyone you invite will be as organized and this stop guests being lost and irritable on the way to the venue.

Local places to stay
Some guests budget may not stretch too a hotel so include local B&B’s as an
Alternative option. Including some places to visit could be a nice touch for guests
Who are have not visited the area before.

Invitations
Invitations are normally sent out six months in advance but save the date cards can be sent up to a year in advance, this lets people keep the date free.
Note down special requirements your guests may have i.e. vegetarian/ vegan/ allergies to food/ highchairs/ wheelchairs etc. think about infant will the parents need more room for the pushchair?
Due to the different family units today it can be hard to know what to write on your formal invitations, here a few ideas.

Family member as host

Mr & Mrs Michael Stevens requests

The pleasure of your company

At the marriage of their niece/etc……..

Divorced parents

Mr Jonathan Stevens & Mrs Lisa Stevens

Requests the pleasure of your company

At the marriage of their daughter

Holly Louise

To

David Smith

At

(Ceremony)

And afterwards at

(Reception)

Bridal couple as host

Miss Holly Stevens & Mr David smith

Request the pleasure of your company

At their marriage at…..

Widowed parent

Mr & Mrs Jonathan Stevens requests

The pleasure of your company

At the marriage…………..

Reception only

Mr and Mrs Stevens requests

The pleasure of your company

At an evening reception to follow the

Marriage of their daughter…….

Reply cards
Many brides send a self addressed envelope with the reply cards already
stamped. Others go a stage further and include a pen. This will contribute to
The guests sending their replies back to you,much faster than without those
little extras.

Save the date cards
These can be card, fridge magnets or bookmarks but they all do the same thing,
they let your guests know well in advance to keep that date free.

Thank you cards
please try and send these out within a month of the wedding

Order of the day

The order of the day is fast replacing the order of service. It tells guests more than just the wedding itself and lets guests plan their day. They know what is happening when so they wont miss out on entertainment later if they had planned to leave earlier. This is also great for knowing where to sit as everyone has a table plan with them. This OOTD can be changed to suit any wedding civil or religious.


page 1

Order of the day

The wedding of

L Merriman
To
J Langmead
At
2 o clock

Followed by the reception

Xxxxx House
Mount Sherb
Far away
Nxx 4xx


Page 2

Recessional

Song………………………….………….(artist)

Introduction by the registrar

Reading

By James smith

The civil declaration

Contracting words

Exchange of rings and declaration

Music

Ave Maria ………….……..Sung by J Stevens

Signing of the register


Processional


A special thank you to Janet Stevens for your beautiful voice and James smith for your inspiring words, we are very lucky to have such wonderful friends and family

Photos

Guests make their way to xxxxx room
Welcome drinks

Close up magic by Mr Carl Buck

Photos

Table plan

Top table (names)
Table 1 (names)
Table 2 (names)

Receiving line
Guests take seats for wedding breakfast

Mr. & Mrs. Langmead are introduced

Wedding breakfast

Menu

Melon medley
~
Beef Wellington with seasonal vegetables
(Vegetarian option)
~
Raspberry mouse
~
Coffee
Speeches
Cutting of the cake
First dance
Hero…………………………..(artist)

Evening entertainment

Hog roast & chocolate fountain

Disco

(11.00 A tribute to Madonna)



Bride & groom retire for the evening


Please check with your minister, clerk or priest for their wording of the ceremony.

Decoration

There are many ways we can use decoration to really lift a room, and incorporate our theme. Here are some examples of decoration used in different settings, let your imagination run free.


Tea cups... Floating candles... Rose petals scattered... Chair covers.... Draped fabric...Pillar candles..... Candelabras ......Topiary trees.... Jars & t-lights..... Fairy lights .....Christmas trees ..Vases.... baubles.... Sweets.... Flowers.... Sand....Fruit.... Pine cones..... Wishing tree.... Ice sculptures...... Tea pots ....Bunting..... Crystal bowls .....Butterflies ....Lanterns.... Parasols ....Stones.... favour boxes...... Watering cans..... Lamps.... Crackers....Bird cages.... Pearls ...Beads ....Flowers .....Confetti cones .....Baskets ....Glass bowls ....Cushions.... Bubbles ....Plant pots .....Wind chimes..... Fire bowls..... Water features..... Bird boxes...... Sea shells.....Ivy..... Diamantes....... Crystals....... Lace...... Candy canes....Throws..... Palm leaves..... Cameras..... Paintings...... Casino chips......Balloons

Themes

Every theme for a wedding can be indulged to the highest degree or just touched upon to give a flourish of colour or style. For many couples the word "theme" conjures up images of elephants and trapeze artists, fine if that’s the look you are after but others want more of a simple elegance to their wedding and that is fine as well. There is a theme to suit everyone’s taste and budget. Your chosen them will reflect in the feel of the day so choose wisely as a medieval banquet may not have a relaxing ambiance as say a tea party. Include your theme in the smaller details as well as the larger ones such as table names, umbrellas, transport, cake, outfits, poems, stationary, favours, entertainment, decoration, food and drink.

Colours

Red Green blue lilac silver white
Black orange pink yellow gold cream

This style of theme is very versatile and you can really do whatever you wish with your chosen colour or colours. You can incorporate set colours into other themes so the look of the day can flow easily. When choosing this theme make sure the colour of choice is a suitable one for every aspect of the day especially attendant’s outfits, will that shocking pink dress look suitable on a bridesmaid with red hair? Also check your reception venue; will your light blue decoration be lost in amongst the deep red decor of the room?



Countries

Japan China America England France Italy
Caribbean Thailand Australia Greece Kenya Iceland

These types of theme can be carried through in any season and can look fantastic when all the details are pieced together. Let guests know if a certain place was special to you by writing a few words in the order of the day or on the tables. The country could be special for any reason, was it where you met, proposed or even came from? Getting the details right can really make or break these themes as it is the smaller touches guests remember. Your transport could include a English taxi, a Japanese tuk tuk or even an American Cadillac. Food can easily be incorporated with these themes as can decoration. Entertainment can be as fun as you dare with belly dancers for turkey or even cheer leaders for America; the world really is your oyster on this one.

Seasons

Spring summer autumn winter

This theme is my personal favourite as you can really let your imagination go to town as there are so many possibilities; no two weddings are ever the same. Spring themes can be so beautiful when hosted by a lake or stream; everything is really relaxed with fresh country flowers and delicate pastel colours. Summer styles can be led by fresh produce and luxury foods such as champagne and strawberries. Using catering outside with seating areas through beautiful tendered gardens can really give the feel of a typical summer’s day. Autumn is full of deep red and orange colours and using fruit and vegetables in your decor can save you money. A pear or apple with guests names attached look are a feast for the eyes and cost very little. Winter wonderland themes can be the most romantic of all with music by candle light and fairy lights entwined with ivy really creates a fairy tale mood.

Entertainment led

Casino burlesque barn dance orchestra bagpipes Tribute act rock band fire breather
acrobats comedian

Why not let the entertainment you have always envisaged for your wedding take the lead. From the entertainment you hire a theme can be formed around it, having a casino in the evening just begs to be led by a James bond theme or an orchestra would call for a ball type event with beautiful ball gowns and tuxedos. Bagpipes can be the start of a Scottish theme and a comedy act works really well with caricatures and bouncy castles for a more relaxed and fun kind of day. Guests will look on amazed at a fire breather with a circus style theme as will rock fan enthusiasts at a concert type of reception. Sometimes we must look at every part of the day and from the things you really want to see at your wedding a theme will form as if from nowhere.

Beliefs & cause

Organic vegetarian Hindu humanist
Jewish Muslim Buddhist vegan

Tradition can be a big factor in many weddings and the theme will follow the usual order of the day. With many couples keeping family values firmly on the top of the agenda there are other types of weddings which have no set rules whatsoever. Humanist weddings although not legal can be anywhere. Your chosen place of ceremony may indeed structure the theme of the wedding. A woodland retreat may be the perfect place for this kind of wedding. Food and drink values may come into your theme perhaps you do not drink and would like a tea party to reflect this or you live off your own produce and would like this to show through in your wedding. Whatever helps you put a personal stamp on your wedding, keeping your values and beliefs can play a major part in the day.

Something different

Medieval 20’s Arabian nights 60’s
Sweet shop fantasy Hollywood Ice &Fire

The more flamboyant among us can appreciate the wow factor many themes can bring on even to the most reserved of guests. If done properly many of the ideas here should excite and astound with every sense accounted for. Hollywood and fantasy glamour may not be for the quieter bride as bold, sparkly and confident are words which spring to mind. The dress should be bigger than life and the reception full to the brim with sparkle. A true princess can only travel by coach and horses to the fairytale castle reception. Ice and fire ticks every box when it comes to style and pinash. Ice sculptures, an ice bar, frozen waterfalls, fire bowls and fire torches will make the exact statement you want. The sweet shop can be really fun to create at minimum cost, jars of sweets, candy canes and all our childhood favourite treats combine for a Charlie’s chocolate factory fantasy. Medieval and Arabian themes can really incorporate guests as fancy dress and jousting and belly dancing should keep guests amused all day long. Using time period can be a fun way to introduce guests to dancing and outfits of the era.