Say "I Do" With Your Furry (or Feathered!) Friend: Creative Ways to Include Pets in Your Wedding

Here is a guide to adding your pet or favourite animals into your wedding stationery, along with a few other ideas to make your day special to you as a couple.

Photo by Rob Tarren Photography

Whether you have a pet, big or small, furry or not, you’ll know they are an integral part of the family. And a wedding is a time for family. Wanting to include your pets in your big day is only natural; fortunately, there are many ways to do so.

Depending on their size and sociability, your pets could make a guest appearance on the day itself, performing key roles such as bearing the rings or starring in the photos, all with careful consideration to keep everyone calm and happy.

With your wedding stationery, however, there are no limits to how your animals can be included. Creating bespoke illustrations of a couple’s favourite friend/s is something I love to do, as it adds a truly personal, welcoming touch to any design. Here are some ideas to help inspire you.

Photo by Rich Howman

Before the Day ~ Save the Dates & Invitations

Your save-the-dates and invitations are essential in helping your guests know what’s in store for them. Adding a bespoke illustration of the venue helps you do this in a way that words can’t, and including your pets adds a unique link to you as a couple.

Depending on your theme, these illustrations can be in full watercolour or more minimal line drawings. Both can look stunning. Adding animals can be done subtly, with smaller pets peeking out of the flowers, or just their paw prints. They can also be front and centre of the design. I’m here to work with you to find the right balance.

All I need from you is a few pictures of your furry friends, to help me get started with your designs.

On the Day ~ at your wedding

With your printed items for the day itself, animals can play a more central role; there is also the opportunity to be more playful. Once you have the illustration of your pets, they can be incorporated into some or all of the designs that will help your guests navigate your celebrations.

Photo by Rob Tarren Photography

Beautiful designs and the silhouettes of our dogs as place names we're absolutely brilliant - a really personal touch for us which added a bit of fun ot the tables. Holly & Tim

Possibilities for showing your pets in print include:

·      Watercolour or line-drawn illustrations on your welcome sign.

·      The order of service can follow the theme of your invitations with flowers and glimpses of your pets, or just the light touch of their paw prints.

·      Cocktail time - in honour of the day, create your own cocktail and name it after your pets, with a printed sign to share the story with your guests.

·      Your seating plan and table themes are a prime place to honour the animals in your life. Each table can be dedicated to an individual pet with their illustrations on the plan and table signs.

·      One of my favourite sets of place names I’ve made was on cards in the shape of a couple’s dog, with each guest’s name written in hand-calligraphy.

·      Your pets can even be with you on top of your cake.

Photo by Tayla & Co Photography

Finally, you can set up a dog/cat treat station with printed bags for your guest to go home with, so they can share the love with their pets.

Your bespoke illustrations don’t need to be limited to paper either - they could be turned into stickers, printed onto napkins, edible cocktail wafers, or embroidered onto pocket squares or veils. The options are endless. The important thing is ensuring the people and animals you love are included in your day, and I am fortunate to have worked with some of the loveliest pets over the years. It is always a pleasure.

To see how I can include your gorgeous pets in your wedding stationery you can get in touch via my contact form here.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Fran x

Your Journey Begins Here: Unique Stationery for Your Destination Wedding Adventure

Tips for creating the best wedding stationery for Destination Weddings

Weddings are the ultimate occasion to bring all your favourite people together, and a destination wedding has the great advantage of allowing you to celebrate at your own pace by not limiting yourself to a single day.

 There are many other benefits, too; a destination wedding greatly improves your chances of celebrating in the sun (or weather of your choosing), lets you share a place that holds a significant meaning for you, and allows for a more intimate guest list, which can be easier on your budget.  It’s no surprise that destination weddings are growing in popularity.

The timeline for planning your dream celebration abroad needs careful consideration. To help you, here are a few essentials from my time designing stationery for couples.

Lucie Watson Photography

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Save the Dates

The first connection you make with your guest is the save-the-date card, a crucial element that ideally needs to land on their doorsteps 12-18 months before the wedding —giving them plenty of time to book annual leave and plan flights and accommodation. This is where the anticipation and excitement truly begin!

Extra tip: When choosing your dates, check for any public holidays at home and abroad so these can be factored into your planning.

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Wedding Invitations

When the key details are all finalised, the invitations can follow. Like the save the dates, these need to go out earlier than usual, around 8-12 months beforehand.

This gives your guests the best chance to book flights and accommodation while still reasonably priced.

For a destination wedding, your guests will need to put in some extra effort. Your invitation isn’t just a formality—it’s your opportunity to make their planning easy and exciting, showing them your care and attention to detail.

Helpful information to include:

·      The wedding location and details of the local area.

·      The main dates and more detailed timing of the key events.

·      Transport, including what’s being provided and what individuals may need to arrange themselves.

·      Dress code – and any cultural/religious considerations to observe

·      Language – are you a bilingual couple? This is a chance to include the languages important to you.

·      Link to your wedding website (if using one) – on your site, you can curate all the links your guests might need to information on the area, accommodation, transport, etc.

I’m here to help you present all these details elegantly and in a way that is genuinely unique to your wedding. I love adding personal touches through bespoke watercolour illustrations. Whether of your chosen venue or the local flora and fauna, these details elevate your invitations and begin to set the scene for your celebration.

On the wedding day stationery items

Now, on to the main event itself. The theme of your wedding stationery can extend to all the items that will help your guests navigate the festivities, keeping in mind that they will need to be transported with you.

And my tips here are:

·      Seating plan – can be designed as individual cards that are smaller and easier to pack.

·      Fabric signs can be folded or rolled and ironed at your destination.

·      Keep favours and place names small and flat, so they’re easily packed.

·      Consider if your venue can print items for you – My designs can be shared digitally.

Lucie Watson Photography

Finally, once all the planning and preparations are done, the only item left on the list is to enjoy your wedding. Knowing you have bought yourself and your partner valuable extra time to celebrate your new life together along with all your family and friends.

I have a range of house collections that you can choose from or you can opt for a bespoke design where we can design and create the magic for your destination wedding.

If you want to book in a video call or ask any questions, use the enquiry form on my contact page here.

Love Fran xxx

Decoding the Invite Count: How Many Wedding Invitations Do You Really Need?

As a wedding stationer, one of the most common questions I get asked is how many save the dates or invitations should we order?

It seems simple, but it can actually be a bit of a tricky calculation and take some consideration. Getting it wrong can mean either a frantic last-minute reprint (ouch, your budget!) or a mountain of beautiful, unused stationery (and nobody wants that!).

So here are my top 6 suggestions when it comes to working out how many you need.

1. Your Guest List is Your Guide:

This seems obvious, but it's the most crucial step. Before you even think about invitations, finalise your guest list as much as possible. I know, I know, easier said than done! But the more accurate your list, the more accurate your invitation count will be.

2. The Household Math:

Think in terms of addresses, not individual names.

You do not need one save the date or invitation per guest.

A family of four living at the same address only needs one invitation. The same goes for couples, whether they're married, engaged, or just happily in a relationship. One invitation per household is the golden rule.

3. Don't Forget the "Plus Ones":

Are you allowing guests to bring a plus one? Factor these into your household count. If you're unsure about specific plus ones, it's always better to overestimate slightly than underestimate.

4. Keep a Few Keepsakes:

You'll want to keep a few invitations for yourselves! Trust me, you'll cherish these mementos of your special day. I recommend ordering at least 2-3 extra invitations for this purpose. You might want to get your photographer to do some flat lay shots on your wedding day, with some of the other touches from your getting ready set up, like earrings, perfume, jewellery your something blue. They also make lovely additions to wedding albums or scrapbooks.

5. The "Oops" Factor:

Things happen. Typos sneak in (even with the most meticulous proofreading!), invitations can get lost in the mail, or you might decide to add a few last-minute guests. It's wise to order an extra 10-15 invitations to cover these unforeseen circumstances. This buffer can save you from the stress and expense of a rush reprint.

6. Working with Your Stationer:

A good stationer (like me!) will guide you through this process. I'll help you refine your count and ensure you have enough invitations for all your needs.

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In short:

• Finalise your guest list. This is the foundation of your invitation count.

• Count households, not individuals. One invitation per address.

• Factor in plus ones. Even if they're tentative.

• Keep a few for yourselves. You'll thank me later!

• Add a buffer for errors and last-minute changes. 10-15 extra is a good rule of thumb.

• Communicate with your stationer! I’m here to help.

  
  

Ordering the right number of wedding invitations is a balancing act. You want to have enough to cover all your guests, but you also don't want to end up with a surplus. By following these tips and working closely with me, you can ensure that your invitations are not only beautiful but also perfectly practical. Now, let's get designing!

I have a range of house collections that you can choose from that are available in all of the formats above or you can opt for a bespoke design where we can choose what works best for you.

If you want to book in a video call or ask any questions, use the enquiry form on my contact page here.

Love Fran xxx