Your stationery is an ideal way to set the scene for your big day
and capture the mood of this very special occasion.

It sends messages about you and your style… traditional, romantic, contemporary,
fun, formal, to convey your chosen colour scheme or theme – whatever you desire!
The hard part is choosing from the hundreds of beautiful designs available!

We offer all the major albums such as CCA, Collisons, Fine Impressions and Cherish,
but we also have albums from smaller stationery suppliers – printed and handmade,
local, national or international – all under one roof so you can browse at your leisure.

Of course, if you can’t find exactly what you want, we can have a design created just for you – perhaps combining elements from other cards you like, or creating something just for you based on a theme e.g. butterflies or a particular flower – something special to you.

Once you’ve found a design there are a number of elements
available to create a co-ordinated look for your day.

‘Save the date’ cards
These can be sent to your guests as soon as you set the date for your wedding, to advise
your family and friends to keep the special day free. Ideal for those who have very hectic
lives with diaries booked months in advance!

Wedding Invitations
These should be sent to each guest or family. Recommendations for timing vary from 3 months before to 6 weeks before the wedding date - to allow plenty of time for replies to arrive and the number of guests to be finalised. The wordings can be formal or informal.
Please see examples below.

You may be able to have the invitations personalised, or we can write them
(Neat hand-writing or Calligraphy Style) for you if you’re pressed for time.
We can also mail them for you and monitor the replies if required.

Evening Invitations
If you are unable to invite all of your family and friends to the ceremony, or after a wedding abroad, you may wish to invite a wider circle of friends and relatives to join your celebrations for the evening reception. Aim to send these out around 6 weeks before the wedding to allow plenty of time for replies.

Wedding Announcements
Following a small private wedding or a wedding abroad, to inform a wider circle of
friends or relatives of your marriage a Wedding Announcement may be sent.

Orders of Service
If you are getting married in a church you will require an Order of Service. The recommendation is one copy per guest plus some for the clergy, choir and last minute guests.
(If the budget is tight you may manage with one per couple.)

Please check all aspects of the Order of Service with your minister or priest before ordering. You will need to provide clear, full copy of wording. These should be ordered around six weeks before your wedding day.

Orders of the Day
These provide a special memento, guiding your family and friends through the events you have planned for your special day.
If you’d like your wedding to incorporate unusual activities e.g. from different customs or countries - this is a good way to inform people of what will happen and if / how they should participate!

Orders of the day can be placed on each seat, or they can be handed to your guests as they arrive at the ceremony venue.

These should be ordered around six weeks before your wedding day.

Blessing of the Marriage
For weddings which have not taken place in a church, but are to be blessed formally, you may choose to have your Order of Service with specific wording for a blessing.

Acceptance / Reply cards
These are supplied with their own co-ordinating envelopes printed with your name and address, making it easy for guests to reply promptly to your invitation.

Don’t forget – Abracadabra can monitor and chase your replies for you if required.

Place Cards
These are useful for guests to find their places at the wedding reception. They are ideal for continuing your stationery theme on the big day. They can be personalised with the bride and grooms name as well as the guests’ name.

Place ‘cards’ can also be used as favours – for instance enclosed in delicate photo frames, personalized chocolate bars etc.
The only limit is your imagination!

Table Plans
Please ask about matching or co-ordinating Seating Plans – usually placed at the entrance to your reception room, they direct your guests to the appropriate table.

Consider using names for your tables instead of numbers – this is a nice way to incorporate your theme or shared interests as a couple.

Menus
These provide details of the menu but also of the order of events such as toasts and speeches.

If you’d like your wedding to incorporate unusual activities e.g. from different customs or countries - this is a good way to inform people of what will happen and if / how they should participate!

Serviette Rings / Napkins / Matchbooks
These add finishing touches to your table decoration. They can be printed with the names of the bridal couple and the wedding date.

Scrolls
These are placed by each table setting and are an original way to welcome or thank your guests, as well as being a memento of the occasion.

Favours
These are perfect for thanking your guests for sharing your special day. Some may be edible such as luxury chocolates, or the traditional sugared almonds, but some may be small gifts to act as a special reminder.

From traditional to unusual, to match or compliment your wedding stationery - we can offer you a vast selection of ideas for wedding favours.

Cake boxes
These allow you guests to take away their piece of wedding cake safely, or you may wish to send a piece to people who were unable to attend your wedding. Again they make a nice memento of the day.

Thank You Cards and Bridal Notepapers
These can be used to thank your guests, as well as inform people of your new address if you are moving home after marriage.

CHOOSING THE WORDING

Once you have selected a design, choosing the wording for your invitations can be simple.

There are only four key questions you need to answer to create the perfect tone for your special day….

1. Who is issuing the invitations?

Sometimes family circumstances require different wording. For suggestions please see the guide which follows.

2. What level of formality do you wish to convey?

• A formal invitation would use the words: ‘request the pleasure of’ and show the bridal couple’s names including the grooms title.
  (see opposite

3. What type of ceremony is it?

4. What additional information do you want to include?
It may be a good idea to include as much information as possible on the invitation to
enable guests to plan their day.

A dress code will help to eliminate concerns
about what to wear on the day.

You may decide to hold another family celebration at the same time as your wedding
– see our suggested wording in the examples which follow.

WORDING ETIQUETTE

Below are a few examples of wording etiquette, using a standard wording style.
(You will be able to select from different typefaces)

DAY INVITATION WORDING

The wordings shown below can be used for religious ceremonies or civil ceremonies
taking place in a registry office or at approved premises
(the exact wording may be changed according to etiquette guidelines shown on previous page). Please note that typeface styles and colours may be selected from albums.

You can usually supply your own wording if you prefer.

MR. & MRS. PETER DAVIES

request the pleasure of the company of etc…

at the marriage of their daughter

SARAH JANE

MR. PETER DAVIES

and

MRS. MARK JORDAN

request the pleasure of the company of etc…
at the marriage of their daughter

MRS. PETER DAVIES

requests the pleasure of the company of etc…
at the marriage of her daughter
SARAH JANE
or
SARAH JANE DAVIES
(daughter of Mrs. Susan Davies and the late Mr. Peter Davies)

and
JAMES ROBERT HARRIS
(Son of Mr. & Mrs. B. Harris)
request etc.

MR. & MRS. STEPHEN MITCHELL

request the pleasure of the company of etc…

at the marriage of her/ their goddaughter

MISS SARAH JANE DAVIES

MRS. SUSAN DAVIES

requests the pleasure of the company of etc…
at the marriage of her daughter

SARAH JANE

MRS. G. PICKERING

requests the pleasure of the company of etc…
at the marriage of

INFORMAL

…………………………….………….
Shall be pleased to accept/unable to accept

your kind invitation

to the wedding of Sarah and James
on Saturday, 23 rd June, 2007

Please indicate below if you have any special dietary requirements

ORDERS OF SERVICE

Please see stationery albums for examples of layouts and typeface choices.

The first page of the insert will be personalised with your names, the date, the time and church details.

The service details will include the popular Bridal and Wedding Marches with their composers unless you instruct otherwise.

In order to help you to choose hymns for your wedding, many stationery albums contain a selection of the hymns most frequently requested, in which case you can simply quote the appropriate references on your stationery order. However – before ordering you should agree your selections with the church.

Orders requiring more than four printed pages, one for the marriage details and three for the service, will be quoted for upon receipt of the order.

If you select stationery from a smaller supplier, e.g. handmade items, it is advisable to attach full copies of the hymns and psalms you require.

ORDER OF THE DAY

COPYRIGHT
This information is subject to copyright and may be used only for information and reference.
It must not be reproduced in whole or in part without our written permission.
While every care is taken, the author cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions
- the aim is simply to act as a guide.