S T U D I O B E L L E blog | diary of a papersmith

Packed with love

2010-08-02T21:34:00.003+01:00

The Studio Belle info packs have had a little make over.

They contain everything you need to know in order to obtain your own personalised quotation for your wedding stationery.

Get yours today by emailing with your details.

Love in a southern town

2010-07-30T18:57:00.006+01:00

Imagine not letting your friends and family know you are getting married – until the actual day you are getting married. Crazy right? Wrong! (Well maybe a little.)

But this unique approach is exactly what two of my lovely customers are doing.

Here's the story in pictures so far...

The fold up invitation is also a poster – designed as a keepsake. And their guests will also get a 'ticket to ride' for the post-wedding fairground rides.

I have to hand it to them...they are very trusting of their friends!
But what a charming and refreshing idea.

We are not done yet – more things to add to this project soon so watch this blog.

If you would like your very own bespoke wedding stationery designed especially for you just get in touch.

Get wedding organised {#2}

2010-07-26T18:00:00.002+01:00

It's Monday which means list day.
This week – Studio Belle's wedding stationery worksheet. Download it here.

Helpful to get some ideas down on paper, and to get your ideas across to your stationery designer. So print it out and start making some notes to build a picture of what you are looking for in your wedding stationery.

Studio Belle can turn your notes from your worksheet into a beautiful stationery design. For details of how to submit it just get in touch.

Look out for more lists and stationery help to download over the coming weeks, including wording help, when to order & when to send, and an rsvp tracker. Watch this space...

You might also be interested in Studio Belle's wedding stationery checklist.

Sunny delight

2010-07-25T17:34:00.004+01:00

It's not so sunny outside today, so here's a summery design in yellow and blue...

Here, the crisp brown paper envelopes and brown string matched the rustic barn venue perfectly, and yellow and blue made for a beautifully summery feel.

If you are planning a rustic wedding then think about the textures in your stationery – and use them to show off your wedding style.

For a bespoke wedding stationery design of your own simply get in touch.

Yay or nay?

2010-07-23T13:32:00.008+01:00

You'd be amazed how many people don't get round to replying to a wedding invite on time. You know what it's like – you keep meaning to go out and buy a card...

Did you know your guests are more likely to reply to your wedding invite, and to do it on time, if you provide them with a reply card?

Here's a two in one reply postcard. The recipient can simply snip in half and return the appropriate response, adding a message on the reverse.

Studio Belle can design your reply cards to match with your stationery.

You decide how much info you want to add, from a simple 'Yes', and a space to include a message, to a tick box form that tells you everything you need to know about your guest[s], their diet needs, their all-time favourite song, and their shoe size. [Well maybe not the last one, but you get the idea.]

It's entirely up to you and what suits your wedding!

A little facebook discount...

2010-07-22T12:33:00.005+01:00

Head on over to the Studio Belle facebook page for a little facebook discount to show our appreciation.

You'll find the link on the right a bit further down the page. That's right, down a bit...

'Like' Studio Belle and you'll 'Love' the discount voucher we will send you.

Know someone who is looking for wedding stationery? Then send them over too. Post a question on the wall, or drop us a line.

Getting personal

2010-07-21T21:12:00.010+01:00

How lovely is it when you receive a surprise in the mail? It just makes your day doesn't it? And it's that fuzzy feeling you get from something nice in the post you can give your guests with a unique and personal wedding invitation.

Buying wedding stationery 'off the rack' as it were, is great if you have found a design that totally works for your theme/interests/personalities, but more often than not it's tricky to find something that screams 'you'. Add to this the fact that you probably don't want what someone else has – you want something that your guests open and say "Awwww–that is so them!".

If you are not so crafty yourself, then the best way to achieve this is to enlist a designer to help you create your papery things.

To get you started, here are some things to think about...

Write your invitation wording and your wedding programs in a style that matches you and your partner
Choose elements to add that are personal, whimsical, or humourous (or all of the above)
A typeface conveys a lot too – so again, choose something that suits
Think about your format, and how to make it exciting to open. An invite doesn't have to be just a card...
And finally, if you have a theme, then don't be shy...let it shine through all your printed material from your invitations to your wine labels.

Remember...it's so easy to get caught up in wedding traditions, and following the norm, but don't stray from who you are. Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your partner. It doesn't matter how wonderfully weird it might be – if it's you you you then your guests will just love it.

For help with all of the above, and anything from polishing your own sketched out ideas, to coming up with a design just for you Studio Belle can help. Simply get in touch for advise, suggestions and a quotation.

Dreamy designs for long summer days

2010-07-20T20:11:00.023+01:00

The weather couldn't be better for weddings at present. Long summer days and wonderfully high temperatures are the perfect accompaniments to celebrations, particularly if they are being held outdoors.

What ever kind of outdoor festivities you might be planning, let you stationery mirror the dreamy summer time and relaxed nature of your special day.

Here are three of my favourite outdoor celebration designs from the Studio Belle back catalogue...

Get in touch for your very own bespoke stationery design for your wedding day.

Get wedding organised {#1}

2010-07-19T16:16:00.014+01:00

What better way to start the week than getting a little bit wedding organised?
I often get asked by my brides for a stationery checklist so they can make sure they have thought about everything. So here's one I made earlier...

There is sure to be extra items to add to your list that will give your day a unique touch, but it makes a great starting point for thinking about all the papery things you might need for your wedding. Once you know what you need then you can think about the 'how' – the fun bit!

Why not turn your checklist into a quotation request?
Print it out, fill in your rough numbers and any notes.
Then email Studio Belle for details of how to return it. [Or take a picture and send it over if you have one of those super snazzy i phones things.]

Look out for more lists and stationery help to download over the coming weeks, including an invitation worksheet, wording help, when to order & when to send, and an rsvp tracker. Watch this space...

Scissor happy

2010-07-18T14:00:00.015+01:00

So....you're engaged! Congratulations!

"Now what the hell do I do?" I hear you ask.

You could book a venue, you could go dress shopping. You could go to the newsagents and buy every bridal magazine they have on the shelves. However you start, it won't be long before you have a head full of 'wedding wants'.

Why not start a scrapbook and build your own wedding ideas bible?
Here's a picture of mine...

What you'll need...

A largeish notebook or a folder with paper
Scissors and glue/sellotape
Snippings from magazines/print outs from the web/swatches and samples

Divide your scrapbook or folder into sections such as flowers, colour ideas, dresses, shoes, photos, etc..

Now you are ready to stick your pictures into the appropriate sections.

Don't worry about making sure it all co-ordinates. After a few months of collecting ideas you will start to build a picture of your wedding and you can begin to rule some things out and do further research on specific items.

By the time you get round to meeting with your stationery designer, your hairdresser or your photographer, you'll have a bible of ideas and inspirations that you can share with them. Easy.

And we're off...

2010-07-15T12:34:00.011+01:00

Phew!
It's taken about 6 months to get Belle's Blog up and running. But better late than never hey? Mustn't grumble – there is a reason – plenty of wedding stationery orders from lots of lovely brides and grooms that have kept me very very busy. And this means plenty more designs to add to the ever growing gallery of bespoke designs. Hurrah.
Another invite order from Studio Belle ready to post

So, if you are a bride looking for something a little different from your wedding stationery then get in touch. Maybe you can't find what you are looking for in the shops in your town. Maybe you have a bundle of sketches and you need a designer to bring them to life. Or maybe you don't know what you want, but you like what you see and would like some suggestions. Whatever category you fall in to Studio Belle can help you.

Follow Belle's Blog to keep up to date with new additions to the gallery. New designs coming soon!