Wedding invitations FAQ’s – Your ultimate guide

Wedding invitations FAQ’s – Your ultimate guide

Wedding invitations FAQ’s – Your ultimate guide

Oh the excitement when a deliciously tactile envelope lands on your doormat with your name beautifully inscribed on the front! Wedding invitations are the perfect platform to highlight your personality & set the tone for your Soirée.

Whether it’s ‘Save the Dates’ to give your delighted guests a glimpse of what’s to come or an invitations suite brimming with all the details of your day; a consistent stationery style throughout all areas of your wedding will truly elevate your overall wedding look & feel.

Wherever you are in your stationery planning I’m here to help so here’s a list of the most popular wedding invitation FAQ’s to ensure a stress-free stationery journey…  

Dorfold Hall cheshire wedding venue
Wedding invitation suite

WHEN TO SEND

 

 

12-14 Months

Save the dates

6-8 Months

Invitations

2-3 months

Thank you cards

Tip:  For international guests, consider sending earlier to give them time to arrange travel.

 

Wedding invitation suite

 ORDER QUANTITIES

 

 

One invitation per household unless:

Over 18’s live at home

House share guests

Tip:  Order extras for:

Guest list changes

Your photographer

keepsakes

 

 

BUDGET

As a guide, my clients spend an average of

4-8%  

on wedding invitations, wedding stationery & signage (based on their entire wedding budget).

Wedding invitation suite

 

WHEN TO ORDER

6-8 weeks before your stationery needs to be despatched. 

Turnaround time can fluctuate based on peak wedding season, length of time it takes to approve artworks & delivery of any specialist materials.

I also only take on a certain number of stationery projects per month & so booking well in advance is strongly advised. 

A wedding invitation displayed on a table.
modern wedding invitation design in black

WEDDING WEBSITES

 

I love them but…

Invitations set the scene for your wedding day & stop you from being pestered by guests who ‘don’t do emails’. 

 

modern wedding invitation design in black

NO KIDS ALLOWED

 

If you’re opting for a child free wedding & want to make the message clear…

Add a polite note to your invitations announcing that the venue isn’t suitable for children & also clearly address your invitations to the guest you only want to attend.

 

 

DRESS CODE

The design, style & colour palette you choose for your wedding invitations can give guests inspiration for their wedding attire without having to state a specific dress code.

 If you do want to enforce a dress code however, I strongly advise adding a little note on your invitations with the specifics e.g. black tie/cocktail attire. 

Luxury timeless wedding invitations

 

POSTAGE 

  

The weight of those tactile handmade papers, wax seals, clips & pins can sometimes add up…

Before you post your invitations to guests, be sure to get the Post Office to check the weight & size for you so you purchase the correct postage. 

Ok, now what?

I’m here to help you

Get in touch

Not too sure what wedding stationery you need? Let’s chat! 

To find out more, head to my contact page below or you can email me directly at hello@soireestudio.co.uk

Explore my services

Learn more about my Stationery services & how I can help

THE

dreamteam

Big love to these talented souls for being part of this blog post…

 

Safrina Smith Photography

Marta D Weddings

The McHendry’s 

Wrenbury Hall Editorial Shoot – Autumnal wedding elegance

Wrenbury Hall Editorial Shoot – Autumnal wedding elegance

Wrenbury Hall Editorial Shoot – Autumnal wedding elegance

With its magnificent sandstone exterior &  elegant historical features, Wrenbury Hall was the perfect setting for an editorial shoot to embrace opulence & showcase the sultry tones that define Autumn in its most elegant form.


Couples can often find Autumn wedding inspiration a little clichéd with the overabundance of bright orange pumpkins & an overwhelming rustic theme. ew!⁠

With a supplier dream team packed with passion, we united our skills to prove that Autumn weddings can be synonymous with sophistication & luxury, so enjoy this sumptuous photo shoot…without a pumpkin in sight! ⁠

 

A bride, holding a bouquet, and groom exiting a wedding ceremony with confetti thrown at them, with a row of wedding guests either side.
A wedding seating chart and table plan with flowers at the base.
A bride and groom exchange vows during their beautifully styled wedding ceremony adorned with stunning flowers.
A wooden table set up with wedding styling and place settings, candles and flowers.
A wedding seating chart and table plan on a thin black wrought iron stand with flowers at the base.
A black and white photo showcasing long wedding tables styled with place settings and flowers, set in a hall.
A white wedding cake surrounding with wedding flowers on a wooden table.
A black and white photo of a wedding table setting with a place card and personalised menu.
A black and white photo of a table plan with flowers in front of it, showcasing elegant wedding styling.
A black and white photo of a beautifully styled wedding table place setting with clear glass plate, wedding menu and silverware.
A colour photo showcasing long wedding tables styled with place settings and flowers, set in a hall.
A barn wedding featuring pink and white flowers and chairs arranged either side of the aisle and a wood stove at the front of the room on the right side.
A bride holding a bouquet of pink and white flowers.
A large bouquet of pink and white roses and greenery sitting behind a row of chairs for a barn wedding.
A table set up with white flowers and wedding styling.
A black and white photo of a white wedding cake surrounding with wedding flowers on a wooden table.
A beautifully styled long table with white flowers, candles and place settings and a table number card.
A table setting with wedding styling and silverware.
A beautifully styled wedding table set with white plates and candles.

DREAM TEAM

Design concept, venue styling, stationery & signage : Soirée Studio 
Floristry: Anna Flora
Cake: TSP Cake
Bridal Gowns: Bellissima Brides

Models: Oksana and Luke

 

 

Ok, now what?

I’m here to help you

Get in touch

Not too sure what level of Design & venue styling support you need? Let’s chat! 

To find out more, head to my contact page below or you can email me directly at hello@soireestudio.co.uk

Explore my services

Learn more about my Design & Venue Styling services & how I can help

A modern, chic wedding at Dorfold Hall

A modern, chic wedding at Dorfold Hall

A modern, chic wedding at Dorfold Hall

Nestled within 800 acres of picturesque English countryside, the L’Écurie venue at Dorfold Hall exudes a chic & atmospheric ambiance. Natural light streams through the space, accentuating its modern & contemporary features; the perfect setting for Sam & Lewis’s Black tie Soirée.  

When Sam & Lewis got in touch to discuss their design & styling at Dorfold Hall, I was instantly drawn by their desire to create a sleek, stylish look while still creating a laidback atmosphere for their guests.

A colour palette of champagne, almond & latte with accents of pitch black was the perfect colour combination to compliment their stylish springtime ‘black tie’ vibe.

When Sasha from Sassflower confirmed she was available to join forces & provide her floral expertise, I knew it was going to be a truly spectacular venue transformation! Sasha’s passion & unique floral designs continue to amaze me, not to mention her attention to detail & dedication to ensure every bloom looks flawless on the day.

Enjoy swooning over Sam & Lewis’s stunning photos which were expertly captured by Marta D Weddings & I hope their day provides you with some inspiration for your own Soirée! 

A bride, holding a bouquet, and groom exiting a wedding ceremony with confetti thrown at them, with a row of wedding guests either side.

” Corrie we could not thank you enough for getting the special little touches to shine out & recommend the best use of our space.

I 100% would recommend Corrie to anyone looking for someone to style an event or wedding! From the get go she was all ears, ideas and piecing together a display of us as a couple!

Corrie worked so closely with our other suppliers who truly seemed to make the dream team & our day will be one to go down in wedding history. Thank you so much for all your hard work x “

SAM & LEWIS 

A wedding seating chart and table plan with flowers at the base.
A bride and groom exchange vows during their beautifully styled wedding ceremony adorned with stunning flowers.
A wedding seating chart and table plan on a thin black wrought iron stand with flowers at the base.
A wooden table set up with wedding styling and place settings, candles and flowers.
A white wedding cake surrounding with wedding flowers on a wooden table.
A black and white photo of a wedding table setting with a place card and personalised menu.
A table setting with wedding styling and silverware.
A black and white photo of a beautifully styled wedding table place setting with clear glass plate, wedding menu and silverware.
A black and white photo showcasing long wedding tables styled with place settings and flowers, set in a hall.
A colour photo showcasing long wedding tables styled with place settings and flowers, set in a hall.
A barn wedding featuring pink and white flowers and chairs arranged either side of the aisle and a wood stove at the front of the room on the right side.
A bride holding a bouquet of pink and white flowers.
A large bouquet of pink and white roses and greenery sitting behind a row of chairs for a barn wedding.
A table set up with white flowers and wedding styling.
A black and white photo of a white wedding cake surrounding with wedding flowers on a wooden table.
A beautifully styled long table with white flowers, candles and place settings and a table number card.
A beautifully styled wedding table set with white plates and candles.
A black and white photo of a table plan with flowers in front of it, showcasing elegant wedding styling.
A beautifully styled long table with white flowers, candles and place settings and a table number card.

DREAM TEAM

Design concept, venue styling, stationery & signage : Soirée Studio 
Floristry: Sassflower
Photography: Marta D. Weddings

 

 

Ok, now what?

I’m here to help you

Get in touch

Not too sure what level of Design & venue styling support you need? Let’s chat! 

To find out more, head to my contact page below or you can email me directly at hello@soireestudio.co.uk

Explore my services

Learn more about my Design & Venue Styling services & how I can help

The Discovery Call – What to expect

The Discovery Call – What to expect

The Discovery Call – What to expect

The discovery call is an essential part of planning your design, venue styling & stationery and helps you to offload any styling stresses you may be experiencing.

 

We will chat through any initial inspiration you have, look at the products & services best suited to your specific needs and I ensure you end our call with all the answers you need!

 

Dorfold Hall cheshire wedding venue

First things first… I know you’re pretty snowed under with allllll the other wedding/life to-do’s so our call won’t take long! Typically our chat will last around 15 minutes & calls are available during evenings & weekends to work around your wonderfully busy world.

here's what to expect...

AN IMAGE OF SOIREE STUDIO FOUNDER CORRIE MCDONALD AT KING STREET TOWNHOUSE IN MANCHESTER

Brief Intro

 

I’m always excited to hear about your engagement story, where you met & what you do for fun! I’l also give you a brief background of my expertise & my passion for designing & styling fabulously creative Soirée’s! 

 

A beautifully styled wedding table set with white plates and candles.

Your Initial Ideas

  

You may be raring to go with a Pinterest board brimming with inspiration or have no clue where to begin with a vision for your day. We will use this time during our call to explore your styling thoughts & I can share some initial suggestions. No idea is too crazy so I’m keen to learn about your lightbulb moments but if you’re totally stuck for inspiration, I’m here to guide you through the all the styling possibilities. 

 

 

Service Suggestions

 

I will talk you through my services & suggest the right products to bring your vision to life! We will also chat through the investment you wish to make so I can be respectful of your budget when creating your proposal. 

Not sure where to start when it comes to budgeting? Click here for my ultimate wedding budgeting guide! 

 

My Process

 

I’ll give you a brief timeline of my seamless process that will guide you from booking confirmation to set-up on the day. Understanding my process ensures you know what’s around the corner at every stage of your booking… the perfect tool for keeping those wedding planning worries at bay!  

 

Neutral wedding table styling and floristry

Questions?

  

We will wrap up our call with any questions you may have or any parts of our call you wish for me to expand on. 

No question is too silly at this stage so feel free to ask away.  

 

 

A beautifully styled wedding table set with white plates and candles.

Next Steps

  

I’m now armed with all info needed to create your bespoke proposal which will be sent to your as a PDF via email within 5-7 working days. You will then have one week to review your proposal & I will be available on email or the phone to answer any additional questions you may have. As soon as your proposal is sent, your wedding date is provisional held while you take time to review the details. 

 

 

Book your Complimentary Discovery Call

Simply complete the enquiry form & a link to my calendar will be sent to you to choose a day/time that works best for you. 

 

 

THE

dreamteam

Big love to these talented souls for being part of this blog post…

Stansted Park

Sassflower

Rosaria Flowers

Millia London

The Two Hummingbirds

Safrina Smith Photography

Marta D Weddings

The McHendry’s 

Hawkstone Hall – editorial shoot

Hawkstone Hall – editorial shoot

Hawkstone Hall – editorial shoot

Nestled within the hills of the rolling Shropshire countryside, you will find the magnificent, Grade 1 listed, Hawkstone Hall & Gardens Estate; A truly sumptuous venue perfect for an editorial photo shoot with Charlotte Palazzo Photography & many more talented suppliers…

Ceilings gilded in gold, sweeping staircases, intricate detailed arched windows & breathtaking marbled floors; Hawkstone Hall offers a combination of heritage & modern luxury…a perfect space for Charlotte Palazzo to showcase her timeless photography style.

I was beyond excited when Charlotte invited me to be part of her editorial photo shoot aptly named “Petite Dauphine”. Her vision was to embrace the joys of romance in full bloom with a colourful yet delicate palette & a touch of French blue. Charlotte wanted to draw inspiration from the BBC TV drama Marie Antoinette but didn’t want to take anything literally from the drama, just little nods to the style & elegance. Overall the shoot  was to provide a dreamy yet bold hint of French romance & hues, working in harmony with Hawkstone’s impressive interior features. 

 

 

Dorfold Hall cheshire wedding venue
Wedding welcome sign
Wedding table numbers
bride and groom wryesdale park wedding
Wedding table numbers
Wedding table numbers
Wedding table numbers

DESIGN & STYLING

The bridal gowns were a huge inspiration for me during this entire shoot so I brought elements of the exquisite embroidery design through the table linens and crockery. Other styling elements were kept very clean & minimal to create a backdrop for the dreamy floristry by Sarah at Hope & Flora Style. Sarah is quite possibly one of the calmest people I’ve ever met & watching her gracefully go about her work on the day was quite inspiring!

 

 

Wedding welcome sign
Wedding table numbers
Luxury wedding invitations
Luxury wedding veil
bride and groom wryesdale park wedding
Wedding table numbers
Wedding table numbers
Wedding table numbers
Wedding table numbers
Luxury wedding invitations

STATIONERY

A sweeping, elegant typeface paired with bold botanical illustrations gave a timeless yet modern edge to the invitation suite & the exquisite bridal wear continued to spark my imagination!

For table stationery, I used a tactile linen cardstock for the menus to elevate the simplicity of the overall place setting.

 

 

Luxury wedding invitations with flowers
Luxury timeless wedding invitations

DREAM TEAM

Concept, planning & photography: Charlotte Palazzo

Design, Stylist & Stationer: moi ! 
Venue: Hawkstone Hall
Flowers: Hope & Flora Style

Cake: T S P Cake
MUA: hannahdoramakeup 
Hair: hairbyhollydaybell  
Model: @justalexroberts 

Dress Designers: 
Blue Dress Camille @millia.london 
Dress Mist with Bow Cape @Watters from @130atelierbridal
Ornate Dress with pearl Cape @wtoowatters from @130atelierbridal
Floral dress with sleeves from @dollybluebridalshrewsbury
Strapless dress with large bow on the back from @dollybluebridalshrewsbury
Accessories: Flower hair vine and flower earrings  @laurellimebridal
Accessories: All crowns and clay flower earrings @megantheresecouture 
Blue Shoes: @harrietwildeshoes 
Suit: Models Own
Assistant: @fran_macenroe

 

 

Ok, now what?

I’m here to help you

Get in touch

Not too sure what level of Design & venue styling support you need? Let’s chat! 

To find out more, head to my contact page below or you can email me directly at hello@soireestudio.co.uk

Explore my services

Learn more about my Design & Venue Styling services & how I can help

” How much does all this stuff cost?” – A guide to wedding budgeting

” How much does all this stuff cost?” – A guide to wedding budgeting

” How much does all this stuff cost?” – A guide to wedding budgeting

Wedding budgeting… let’s face it, it’s not the most exciting job during your wedding planning journey (unless you love a damn good pivot table…)

It’s one of those jobs however that needs attention (before you even step foot in a bridal boutique) & I assure you, spending some time putting your budget together will massively reduce those wedding planning stresses. 

Every couple will have their own specific priorities & will want to allocate different parts of their budget to certain areas of their day so there’s no generic rule, it’s your day!

Suppliers will also provide pricing based on their experience, talent, knowledge & quality of their work, so knowing your budget for each category can really help narrow down your supplier search. 

Below you will find my average breakdown for a wedding budget & some handy tips to kick off your budget planning.

Remember, this is just a guide; you may want to allocate more of your budget to those dreamy wedding heels/sumptuous invitations/billowing florals over a towering cake…or not!  

Starting with some averages will really help when you’re crunching those numbers so grab a glass of bubbly & pull up a chair! 

 

Dorfold Hall cheshire wedding venue
Neutral wedding table styling and floristry

TIP 01.

 

Pick your top 5 budget areas that spark the most joy & make them non-negotiable –

There’s a lot of choice out there so before shiny object syndrome creeps in, think about those absolute must haves for you both & keep them at the forefront of your wedding planning. 

 

Bridal gown at Stansted House

TIP 02. 

  

Set a budget before you start to shop around

Trust me on this one, there’s no worse feeling than trying on ‘the dress’ before setting a budget to then discover it’s out of your budget reach… I had to learn the hard way with this tip!

 

 

TIP 03. 

Add a miscellaneous fund of 5% to your budget

There will always be something that crops up such as hotel for the night before, beauty treatments, supplier meals… or your misc fund comes in handy if you decide to upgrade/invest a little more in other areas of your wedding that bring you joy.

 

 

TIP 04. 

  

Be honest with suppliers over your wedding budget

Most suppliers will ask about the investment you wish to make to help them put the right products/services in front of you – It saves you time too because you won’t end up with an inbox full of quotations that aren’t aligned with your budget. 

BUDGET breakdown

 

Venue, catering & bar – 40-50 %

Photography & videography – 10-15 %

Music & entertainment – 8-10 %

Wedding design & venue styling – 10-15 %

Floristry – 10-15 %

Wedding planner 8-10 %

Wedding attire – 8-10 %

Stationery & signage – 3-6 %

Cake – 2-4 %

Transport – 1-3 %

 

 

Ok, now what?

I’m here to help you

Get in touch

Not too sure what level of Design & venue styling support you need? Let’s chat! 

To find out more, head to my contact page below or you can email me directly at hello@soireestudio.co.uk

Explore my services

Learn more about my Design & Venue Styling services & how I can help