Wedding stationery, a little detail that can make a big impact at your wedding. But what is it exactly and how do you go about getting it right? This month, we hear from Micklefield’s favourite wedding stationer Louise Ralphs.
An overview to wedding stationery
“Stationery covers any paper involved in your wedding day and is something, I hope, that will be cherished forever. It should be a visual representation of your love story, reflecting your own tastes and personalities. I design for the modern couple, adding hand lettered touches, fine details and tactile finishes to create extra special stationery for your big day.
Remember your save the dates and invites are the first things your guests see, so it’s the perfect opportunity to make a big first impression and give them a little taste of what’s to come.
On the day, stationery brings your wedding day to life, adding colour and style to your venue. From table plans and place cards to orders of service, wedding signage and menus, make sure your wedding stationery captures the unique style of your day.
I love working with Micklefield couples as they have such gorgeous ideas, and the venue itself is a stunning starting point for any wedding. There are so many opportunities to style and dress the venue with stationery and I’ve done a whole host of styles including gorgeous emerald and golds for a winter wedding, bright colour bursts for a multi-cultured vibe and subtle watercolour hues for a late summer theme.”
How you work out a theme or colour scheme?
“Typically, most wedding colour palettes and themes are chosen to reflect the season your wedding is taking place in. I strive to create something that’s truly unique to each of my couples, reflecting your personality and interests, complimenting the theme, styling and colours of your big day. Fundamentally, your wedding is a celebration of who you are as a couple, so it should be filled with everything that makes you, you! Because of this, I strive to create designs that are truly unique and reflect my couple into paper.”
Different materials you can print or write on – pallets, programs, goody bags, perspex, etc
“For something contemporary, Perspex and vellum are both great materials to use on your big day to bring a modern, minimalist vibe. If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, try using handmade paper and gold leaf to bring opulence and a tactile quality to your stationery. Always think about your stationery as a whole, rather than individual items, so they fit perfectly together through to the big day and reflect the theme and styling you’ve chosen.”
A little bit about me and creating wedding stationery!
“I founded LouPaper back in 2015, merging my degree in graphic design with over a decade of experience in the wedding industry. Starting with designing for friends and colleagues, the business grew and I went full time last year. My wedding journey started at the age of 15, when I worked as a Saturday girl in a local wedding shop and I’ve loved weddings ever since!
After going to a calligraphy course 4 years ago, I knew that hand lettering was going to play a big part in my designs. All my calligraphy is totally bespoke with everything being written by hand. I get asked so much what font I use, but it’s just me and my handwriting. I adore how it brings quirks and personality to each of the designs I create.”
What do I enjoy the most about creating wedding stationery?
“Being able to call my hobby, my job! I’m so lucky that I get to design every day and share my passion and love for weddings. I get to work with such wonderful clients, each bringing their own personality, theme and ideas to my design process which keeps me motivated to push my creative boundaries. I’m honoured to be a small part of my couples’ big days and I wouldn’t change it for the world!”
