DIY: Paper Flower Escort Cards / Name Settings

Nella from www.lostmykitty.etsy.com has generously shared more of her creative DIY wisdom with us in the form of these delicate paper flowers to use as escort cards or name settings.

They are such a pretty decoration, I am planning on giving these a go over the weekend- would love to see yours if you try them to. Have fun! xxx

And over to Nella....

What you will need:

• Craft paper 4” square
• Fabric leaves 2”
• Skeleton Leaves 2”
• Adhesive Glue
• Scissors
• Needle and Thread

Instructions:

Step 1: Draw a spiral on a 4 inch square. I’ve used 90 weight paper purchased at Jarrold’s though regular coloured craft paper would work equally well.

Step 2: Cut out the spiral along the lines you’ve drawn. If you’re really clever, cut out the spiral freehand. It will keep you from hunting down an eraser as I forced my husband to do for me.

Step 3: Roll the spiral from the outside.

Step 4: Use a spot of adhesive to glue the body of the flower onto the round bit left.

Now you’re finished with the flower!

Step 5: Use a pencil to faintly write your guests’ names in a pretty cursive. I’ve used pen for emphasis and don’t forget the table number for escort cards.

Step 6: Follow the lines using small stitches. You could also use paper if you are not so keen on sewing.

Step 7: Attach the skeleton leaf and your personalised leaf to the flower.

Martha Stewart may be able to make 100 of these in 15 minutes but for us mere mortals make a party of it with a bottle of champagne and a few friends – nothing like the promise of food and a mimosa to corale some slave labour - or you can always contact me through Etsy (Nella, www.lostmykitty.etsy.com).

Balloon Save the Date

Found on FPO via Green Wedding Shoes

This is an incredibly fun and creative idea for a Save the Date.
"After ten years together, Jen + Kevin got engaged in Paris – a location they subtly acknowledged in a nod to Albert Lamorisse’s short film The Red Balloon when designing their save the date announcement. Wanting to treat their wedding as a big party more so than a traditional event, each guest received a deflated, red balloon tied to a letterpress printed card reading: “Hello! Please inflate the balloon.” Once inflated, the piece reveals all relevant information and sets the desired tone with humor and playfulness."

Photo credit: http://www.underconsideration.com/

DIY: Bridal Party Invites

Anna of Rifle Design has created a fantastically simple step-by-step DIY guide on Oncewed.com, it is such a fun and special way to ask your bridesmaids- click here to view. Enjoy! x

Photo credit: Anna @ www.rifledesign.com for www.oncewed.com

Photo style 'Save the Dates'

Opting for a photo of the two of you as your Save the Date is a memorable and unique way to announce your approaching wedding day. It is a fun way to express yourselves; whether you choose to have a card, fridge magnet, book mark, postcard or any other format!

Image credits:

1. A Cup of Jo

2. Save-the-Date by Lucky Luxe with photography by Wiljax Photography

3. Breathe Pictures

Martha Stewart has the Dreamiest Wedding Ideas…

We have just spent five fun packed days in Toronto- it is such a hip city with a relaxed vibe, we would definitely recommend it. Anyhow, no holiday would be complete without purchasing a whole heap of wedding magazines for fresh ideas on alternative traditions and styling. What we have just discovered, and I am so eager to share, is Martha Stewart Weddings, mentioned repeatedly in the magazines for a very good reason- she is a wedding guru with absolutely exceptional taste. All of the pictures on this blog are from her site, but the best bit is they are all DIY projects you can make yourself. Visit here to become as equally addicted as us!

A Modern Alternative to Table Plans- Escort Cards

We are not being disloyal to our love of table plans in anyway, but today is the day to announce that we have also been admiring escort cards on American websites from afar and feel like showing off some of our favourite finds to raise the profile of them a little more over in the UK. If you are having designated seating you will need a table plan, or the popular American alternative of escort cards, to let your guests know what table they will be sitting at.

The most popular designs are either tent folded so they stand easily - you simply write your guest name on the front and their table name/number inside, or a card tucked into a miniature envelope with the guest's name written on the outside.

You can make a pretty display with escort cards by arranging them on a table in rows separated by flowers or by hanging or pegging them over a length of ribbon.

These save the normal crush at the table plan and also let your wedding planner or a bridesmaid make any adjustments that may be needed on the day.

Displaying the escort cards hanging from a ‘tree’ (or multiple trees) is stunning:

Wishing rocks are an alternative idea, simply place a rock on, or near, each escort card, along with a sign instructing guests to make a wish for the couple on their respective rock and then place it in a large vase. After the wedding you can keep it at home, a container filled with good wishes:

Picture credits: Meg Smith, Paperdolls, Style Me Pretty and The Knot

Inspiring Invites with a 2009 Preview

If invitations could walk many would be worthy of their own high fashion catwalk shows- here in the UK we have some of the most amazing designers and today we are lucky enough to showcase some of their work. The invites below are new for 2009 from Kelly Geeson Designs

(http://www.kellygeesondesigns.co.uk/):

Big thank you to Kelly Geeson Designs for this exclusive sneak preview to SugarBlossom blog readers before the invites appear in any magazines.

Kelly Geeson Designs also has some top tips for choosing your invitations:

• Don't be afraid to use colour. An elegant and stylish look can easily be achieved without sticking to ivory and cream
• Make sure you allow plenty of time to have your stationery designed and printed
• If you are stuck for a theme or idea for your stationery make a list of ideas that you are using throughout the rest of your day, such as your choice of flowers, the style of your dress, any jewellery you have chosen, etc, and a bespoke design can be created to match.

Another designer we are besotted with is Sugalily (http://www.sugalily.co.uk/)- they have a stunning range of invites, we particularly adore the ‘Vintage Glitz & Glamour’ and ‘Country Garden’ ranges shown below:

It is not only us mere SugarBlossom wedding planners that have fallen for Sugalily’s charms- A list couple Pearl Lowe and Danny Goffey, part of the famous Primrose Hill set, have recently picked Sugarlily to design all of the stationery for their vintage inspired wedding.

Whilst it may seem the purpose of invites is to gaze at their beauty, there are some fundamental pieces of information to remember to include:

1. Reply card with any dietary requirements
2. Directions and map
3. Local hotels/guesthouses/B&Bs for people needing to stay over. If the hotel is providing a special rate for guests at your wedding, make sure to mention it.
4. An optional gift list there are mixed views on whether this should be included or only made available if people request a copy, although it is becoming more and more common to pop in with the invite.
5. Transport options to get to the area - train, bus, airports.
6. Information about Car Parking if required
7. Local Taxi numbers for the evening or those without cars
8. Any other details that may be useful if people are staying for a weekend; such as local attractions, taxi numbers, restaurants…

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Launch Your Wedding Style with Save the Dates

We had considered blogging on stationery as a whole, but the topic is too immense and too much fun to sum up that simply!

And why would we want to… so first up, Save the Dates- announcing upcoming weddings, the first opportunity to set the style and expectations of your big day.

I must admit for my wedding I initially saw these as a good excuse to start getting creative and shouting about our wedding as early as possible! But the response we got to them was great and made us realise how valuable they are.

The early broadcast of planned nuptials meant guests who lived abroad were able to start planning their trips to the UK and for our friends and family at home it made sure they kept their diaries clear and had plenty of notice for travel arrangements.

This is why we encourage our clients to embrace the start of the stationery frenzy with Save the Dates- whether cards, fridge magnets, book marks, theatre style tickets or even paperweights they are a great way to maximize the number of guests that will be able to make your wedding.

Subscribe to our blog to make sure you don’t miss our future blogs on invites, order of the day and table plans, menus and thank you cards.