Because stationery is such an important part of a wedding, we wanted an expert opinion on everything that it entails. We spoke with Alexa from Directional Designs about how she creates stationery for the couple and where you can save some bucks.

Some of these general components are:

• Save the date cards (optional)
• Invitations and envelopes
• RSVP cards
• Ceremony booklet
• Seating plan
• Place cards
• Table numbers
• Menu

Q: What do you need to know in order to help the couple choose their stationery style?

A: Colour scheme and theme is key for us to know in order for us to design the stationery for our clients. We also need to know exactly what they would like, as the list of items for event stationery is endless. For example, does the couple want menus per person or just per table? Do they want a seating board or are guests able to sit anywhere? What kind of table numbers would they like – perspex, paper, wooden etc? Our speciality is customisation. We want the couple’s stationery to be unique and different, therefore the more we get to know our clients, the better for us to understand their likes and dislikes

TIP: Don’t be shy about sitting with your stationer to go over all the items that you need and the elements that you like and dislike. The stationer wants to create something unique and so they would rather have too much information than too little.

Q: What are some tips to save costs on wedding stationery?

A: There are various ways to save on wedding stationery. This can be in terms of paper choice as well as quantity of items. For example, if you have an invitation or any other stationery on paper, then this is where a lot of the cost comes in. There are so many different paper options available that we can source so it can fall within your budget. You also don’t need to have an order of ceremony booklet for each guest that is attending the ceremony as some guests don’t take a booklet. You could also choose paper tent table numbers over laser cut numbers, which look just as beautiful. We have loads of ways of making your stationery fit within your budget and still look unique and beautiful.

TIP: Talk about your stationery budget with your stationer before anything else. This will help to establish which items are essential and which items you can leave out of your stationery. It will also help to determine what materials are available to you.

Information supplied by Alexa at Directional Designs: https://directionaldesigns.co.za/ 

Feature image: Gareth van Nelson