CHOOSING YOUR STATIONERY & SIGNAGE - Colours, materials and size?
- Clare Warren
- Jan 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 16
When you start your wedding planning it can often be overwhelming by the many, sometimes surprising, stationery options. What types, colours, or materials? What size? As an expert in wedding calligraphy, I can guide you through all of the options that would be the perfect addition to your wedding day. Here are some of the most useful questions that I ask to learn all about your vision and help suggest calligraphy details that would be perfect.
WHAT ARE YOUR WEDDING COLOURS?
You may already have a colour palette in mind. Maybe you’ve picked your favourite colours, you could take inspiration from the décor in your venue, or you may want to lean into seasonal traditions. The choice is all yours.
Knowing your colour pallet is the best place to start, as you’ll want your wedding stationery to tie in. I’ve colour-matched signs to bridesmaids’ dresses, table plans to focal flowers, and place cards to napkins. An especially stunning option is to have a mix of colours that all work together. Stationery that compliments rather than copies your core colours can be an effective way of adding interest or highlighting special details.
WHAT STYLE OF WEDDING ARE YOU HAVING?
When someone says ‘wedding,’ we may all think of a white dress and church but there are as many styles and themes as there are couples. Whether you’re walking down the aisle in a gown, kilt, or jeans, your overall theme will influence the materials that make your stationery play its part in style. For example, if your wedding is outdoors and has a natural, rustic theme, then stained wooden signs would be perfect. Place cards can be tied to your napkins or favours as you wouldn’t want anything that could be easily blown away.
If you’re going for a minimalist look, then clear or frosted acrylic may create a cleaner, sophisticated feel. Colours can be simple and discreet, allowing the glisten and shine of acrylic to bring the glamour.
Your wedding style will be a big part of your stationery choices, so make sure you’ve nailed this down before diving into the smaller details.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY STYLES YOU LIKE?
It helps to picture your perfect stationery if you have a few examples to work from. You might see the right style, shape, colour, or wording all in one, or you may want to combine details from a range of influences. Keep screenshots from social media or Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, even take pictures at friends’ weddings for inspiration. I would never copy anyone else’s work but if you can show me what you’ve liked, we can use those elements to create something totally unique that’s perfect for you.
WHAT SPACES DOES YOUR VENUE HAVE?
Stationery can make a statement or settle into the background, but it’s important to remember why it’s there. Do you need to guide your guests around an outdoor venue? Tell them when to expect the big moments? Do you just want to keep them in the right chair?
Every venue has different needs and opportunities for stationery. Smaller spaces may benefit from simple, small signs. Information could be combined for efficiency, for example a welcome sign and order of the day all in one instead of two separate pieces.
It can be handy to ask your venue whether they have easels that you can borrow as this can influence how many sign options there are.
You may have some huge spaces to fill, in which case something bigger and more striking may work best, or you might need more smaller signs. The style you choose can be carried across all your signs and table stationery to produce a cohesive feel that pulls everything together.
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY STYLES YOU LIKE?
It helps to picture your perfect stationery if you have a few examples to work from. You might see the right style, shape, colour, or wording all in one, or you may want to combine details from a range of influences. Keep screenshots from social media or Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, even take pictures at friends’ weddings for inspiration. I would never copy anyone else’s work but if you can show me what you’ve liked, we can use those elements to create something totally unique that’s perfect for you.
Nobody can tell you what’s right or wrong for your wedding; it all depends on what you want to say and how you want it to feel. Knowing your colours, style and venue first will help you to find stationery ideas that inspire you. I can help you as much or as little as you need to write the perfect wedding calligraphy details. It’s your big day, so whatever you choose, have fun planning it!
HELLO! I'M CLARE.
I am a calligrapher specialising in handwriting stationery and signage for your wedding day.
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There are so many other things that I can create for you, from thank you notes, chair reserve labels, personalised letters for your guests, favour tags, thank you tags and so much more.
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