Wedding stationery includes invitations, save the dates, ceremony programmes, table seating charts, menus, table numbers, favour ideas, name tags and thank you cards.

Follow these pointers:

If you don’t have a clear idea of your wedding stationery, you can page through wedding books, magazines and search the web to look for colours, flowers and décor that inspire you. Bring along these clippings or pictures of stationery that you like. This will enable the designer to get a feel for your wedding style as well as your colour scheme. To make sure you get the precise shade of your colour, it is helpful to bring along a swatch of fabric of the bridesmaids dresses.

Decide on the basic wording and all the information you want included in the invitation: your parent’s names, directions and map to your venue, accommodation suggestions, gift registry etc.

Take your wedding style and theme into consideration (antique, formal, rustic, vintage, DIY, classic, playful etc.). Determine what colours you would like to incorporate into your wedding. Make sure that your stationery complements the venue’s look and feel.

Determine how many invites you need as most stationers prices are quantity sensitive. Also discuss any other stationery you might need on the wedding day itself, such as runners, menus, gift packaging, etc.

When do you need the invitations by? Plan well in advance and take into consideration the time and venue of the wedding. Do people need to make travel arrangements? Keep in mind that your designer needs a certain time frame to complete your order.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to stationery design. Whether you like laser cut table numbers or something plain and elegant, your stationery designer will help you bring your ideas to life. Anything is possible.

Compiled by Black Coco Design and Lezanne’s Designs

Wonderful stationery designs by our top suppliers: Six Ways To Sunday, Love-Peace-Joy, Noo-can-do!, Susan Brand Design, Lezanne’s Designs, Good Letter Press, Secret Diary Creative Concepts and Designs and Creatus Design.

To view some previous Tips:

Tips: Choosing your Wedding Photographer

Tips: Décor and Florist Consultation

]]> http://www.littlepinkbook.co.za/2012/05/tracey-jeanclaudes-wedding-askari/feed/ 0 http://www.littlepinkbook.co.za/2012/05/real-wedding-alexander-smith-photography-2/ http://www.littlepinkbook.co.za/2012/05/real-wedding-alexander-smith-photography-2/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 14:55:51 +0000 littlepinkbook http://www.littlepinkbook.co.za/?p=33785  ]]> Today’s real wedding is by the talented Johannesburg Photographer, Alexander Smith. When I received the photos of this wedding from Alexander and saw the picture of this wedding dress for the first time, I instantly fell in love with it. It’s different, fun, unique and oh so extravagant!! I absolutely love the detail and the fact that it is refreshingly unique.

As far as rock stars go, Ross and Claire Butt have got to be right up there with the coolest! And they definitely know how to “bring it”! Their awesome wedding was held in the little town of White River at the Casterbridge Hollow Hotel and Magnolia Restaurant. To close the weekend off, Claire decided to have a Trash-the-dress shoot.

Enjoy this wonderful Real Wedding.

What made you choose your wedding venue? What was your venue short list?

We wanted our wedding to be an extraordinary, different and festive occasion for all.  After exhausting all possible venues within Gauteng, we decided on an all weekend destination wedding. The obvious choice for us was Magnolia Restaurant at Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre in Whiteriver, as we had been there before and it completely fits all of the above. The food at Magnolia is exceptional, the service and staff at Casterbridge Hollow Boutique Hotel is superb and Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre just has such character and old world charm.

Choosing your photographer is always a tricky part in the wedding planning process, how did you decide on Alexander Smith as your photographer?

I did a lot of research and had many photographers shortlisted. However, once we found Alexander Smith we booked him immediately! His photos are exquisite, so different and creative which brings a whole new dynamic to the end result.

Oh, and that fabulous dress!! Tell us more about it! The designer, the fit, your favourites etc.

My dress I must admit… I loved! It was imported and made to my specifications. In fact I loved it so much and was highly impressed by the service delivery that I have starting importing these fabulous dresses. Our entire wedding was planned and executed by my mother and myself.

What made you choose to have a Trash-the-Dress Shoot? Did you enjoy it and would you choose to do it again?

I had considered “Trashing-the-dress” but no further thought was given. On the Sunday morning after the wedding Alexander suggested I get into my dress and climb into the pool. I must say it was great fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it and love the photos. Ross and I were very open to getting creative which I think resulted in some great pics.

Where did you go for your Honeymoon?

We went to Cape Town on honeymoon. Kept it close!

Service Providers:

Venue: Casterbridge Boutique Hotel & Magnolia Restaurant Whiteriver

Catering: Jamie Watt Magnolia Restaurant

Entertainment: Billgracefull – Amazing

Décor: Ruby Rain Johannesburg, Mercia- Summerfields Florist @ Casterbridge

Stationery: Everything made by myself, I created a website as our invite. www.rossandclaire.co.za

Wedding Dress: Imported by Myself. Shoes from small boutique in Franschhoek

Hair: Nicole Plaxton-Harrison (personal friend)

Make-up: Dene Booyens make-up artist for Bobby Brown Sandton

Shoes: A little boutique in Franschhoek

Bridesmaid Dress: Dresses bought in Cape Town

Cake: My mother and I

Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss

Take the following tips into account for your décor and flower consultation:

•    Know what you want for your wedding in terms of colour scheme, estimated amount of guests and venue.

•     Establish the style or feel of your wedding before the meeting. Gather images of floral decorations that appeal to you from websites, bridal magazines and wedding planning books. Include a fabric swatch of your bridesmaids’ dresses and a photo of your wedding dress.

•    Make sure your personalities do not clash as this will make the process more difficult.

•    Although this can be a touchy subject, tell your consultants what your estimated budget is. This makes your life and theirs much easier and will ensure that your florist quotes on flowers that you can afford.

•    If possible, try and get the specifications from the venue as to what is available regarding tables and chairs and their sizes. This will assist the consultant in quoting more accurately.

•    Familiarise yourself with floral and décor prices. Acquire basic quotes from at least 3 décor/florist companies.•    Book your florist at least six months to a year in advance.

•    Ask for references and go through their entire portfolio.  Have a look at a variety of weddings to ensure they are able to meet your requirements.

•   Ensure the florist is up to date with current trends and know what’s going on in the industry.

•    The florist should be familiar with your ceremony and reception venue.

•   Avoid days close to holidays, Valentines Day or Mother’s Day as prices can be high due to demand.

•    Ask for a Floral Mock Set-up – there might be a charge for this, but it will be well worth it.

Compiled by The Aleit Group

Images courtesy of Inecke Photography, ZaraZoo, Cari, Design by Marcel and Annemari Ruthven

Next week we will be bringing you tips on Invitations and Stationery.

Click here for more of our outstanding Flowers and Décor Suppliers.

When ZaraZoo started in London in 2003, our bread and butter jobs were Asian weddings.  We ended up becoming specialist Indian Wedding Photographers, but when we moved back to South Africa in 2006 it all changed back to traditional white weddings.

In July, I am shooting two Hindu Weddings in Durban back-to-back – our first in quite a while.  Can’t wait!  Very elaborate & bling – grand entrances and over the top Indian wedding dresses with very shiny and sparkly jewellery…. Yes I missed shooting these…

Avani & Vir traveled down to Cape Town for their pre-wedding photos at Val de Vie.  Avani’s dress, one of three she will be wearing at various wedding events over the course of a few days.  The dress is so heavily embroided with chrystals, it weighs in at 7 KG’s!!!  Wow – and then the main wedding dress is probably even heavier – good luck for the wedding day girl!

Love the colours and moody skies of Autumn weddings!  Jorik and Sune’s wedding at Damas (Worcester) started off rainy – the heavens cleared and gave just enough time to do the couple photos – then all hell let loose with torrential rain!  Whoever provided the stretch tent for this wedding should get a big pat on the back!  It is definitely waterproof!

The 2 of them will get married in September and we have been planning their engagement session since February I believe. I have always wanted to do a train trip photo session and these 2 were the perfect couple for such an adventure

We met at Surfer’s Corner in Muizenberg, did a couple of pics at the Muizenberg Station, hopped on the train, stopped in Kalk Bay, walked along the harbour, had an early lunch at The Brass Bell, hopped back on the train and if I think back now, it all feels like a dream

It was absolutely fabulous spending time with the 2 of you – can not wait for the wedding day on the farm in the middle of nowhere, outside De Rust !!!! Woooooohoooooo !!!!!!

See you in September

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