We've been itching to bring something a little different to the blog, and when Pen & Paper's new wedding cards landed in our inbox we were over the moon.

We would never expect anything less than super snazzy stylishness from Pen & Paper, but these cards still wowed us! In a range of designs, Pen & Paper's cards include cheery bright colours, snazzy geometric designs and iridescent typography.

Whether bright and bold, pretty pastels or sleek marble are your vibe, you will absolutely find the perfect card for your happy couple on the shop. These are the definition of unique and are created locally in Buckinghamshire (you know we love to champion local folk!)

With happy couple, Mr & Mr, Mrs & Mrs and Mr & Mrs cards available this range is completely inclusive and we LOVE it. You don't have to ask for bespoke designs with Pen & Paper.

We know your high street favourites have some gorgeous options for wedding cards, but why not shop small and support your local artists and designers? We know we will!!

Images courtesy of the wonderful Adam Whitlock!

Your invitations are your guests’ first sneak peak into the wedding day and that can be a little daunting! You want to set things off to a flying start, but with so many options and ideas out there it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s why we’re sharing this agony aunt Q&A with the wonderful Laura at Pen & Paper; not long ago a budding bride herself, the wedding world whisked Laura up and has kept her there ever since, creating bespoke stationery. Having been on both sides of the industry, Laura is a great helping hand every step of the way.

1) There seem to be endless options of items your stationer can make!? Save the dates, venue cards, directions and dietary RSVP’s… Which ones are most important?

Your essentials are your invitations and information cards; you can't get away with not telling people the plan! The other options are also important, but if you're on a budget then these are the things you can do without. Just remember you need to provide a way of receiving your information back from your guests.

2) I haven’t chosen a theme for my wedding yet but want to send my ‘save the dates’, what should I do!? 

​I like to meet with my couples to talk through their wedding from the word go. You can gain a lot of vision when speaking to them face-to-face and I get to understand what they want from their day. The ideas come to me from that; I will show them some imagery or draw sketches and we build on things from there. Even if you're just doing save the dates it's important to have a theme for your suite; it tells a story!

3) I have no idea when to send my invitations! Can you suggest a wedding stationery timeline?

If you've sent out Save The Date's then I would suggest sending formal invitations 4-6 months before the wedding. if you haven't opted for Save The Dates, then earlier. The earlier the better to avoid your guests making other plans!

4) Apparently there are ‘rules’ on wording your wedding invitations!? Will my stationer help with this?

There aren't really rules any more; some couples like a laid back feel, others like it more formal - it's up to you!

5) How worried do I need to be about keeping my stationery similar to my theme?

Most people like their suite to flow if they have a colour theme, but it depends on the individual. Go with what you feel is right. 

6) I love the idea of making my invitations exciting to open! Do you have any suggestions? 

This is my favourite part of stationery; doing new things! I have made invitations that are paper planes, bespoke laser cut designs, used acrylic for the invites and table plans... The wackier the better!

7) My plans are all very last minute! What lead time do you need to make a bespoke invitation?

Working with local suppliers and supporting small businesses is really important to me and also allows me to turn things around quickly sometimes just as long as 2 weeks!. It depends on the suite you have chosen as the more components the longer it will take. 

8) My venue is deep in the countryside, how do I get a long list of directions to all of my guests?!

I can create beautiful illustrated maps - this is a much more attractive and interactive option that an A4 google maps print out! Illustrated maps are increasing in popularity.

9) How should I display my wedding menu before the wedding and how can I ask guests if they have any dietary requirements?

Most couples haven't decided on their wedding breakfast when they send invitations, so my advice is to include a space for dietary requirements in your RSVPs. Your caterer will then provide dishes suitable for them. 

10) I have terrible handwriting, will my stationer address my envelopes for me?

​Yes - I have done this for couples. It really adds something having your addresses written in a lovely calligraphy script. 

​Exploring various textures, styles and materials, Laura’s work is truly unique and although she is full of her own exciting ideas, creating bespoke ideas to compliment the bride and grooms ideas is also something she can do. From simple, elegant and clean cut designs in soft grey hues, to ornate, colourful and charming suites, Laura is certain to create something exquisite for all of our wonderful brides and grooms.

We're excited to share our latest creation with you - a printable bridesmaid card with a cute floral cat motif on the front!

This unique little card is instantly available to download from our Etsy shop and it includes crop marks so you can easily print at home or send a copy to your preferred printer. If you're printing at home we'd suggest using a ruler and scalpel for extra precision! The best thing about printable cards is you only have to make one purchase then you can print as many times as you like.

​You can even customise the card, just let us know what message you'd like instead and we'll add it for you. We can change the background colour to suit your wedding colours too! Do let us know if you have any questions!

In Autumn we had the pleasure of joining Ufton Court at one of their amazing wedding fayres. We were very excited to be asked to hold a small talk around the theme of woodland weddings.

First things first, we set about asking a selection of talented suppliers to help us with our display. We'd seen Lulabee's beautiful stationery sets and were really eager to feature one of them! As soon as we started speaking to Laura we knew she would create something gorgeous and by the end of our discussions she'd produced a stationery set even better than we'd imagined! 

Laura designed a range of rustic, woodland themed pieces to suit our showcase. All Lulabee invitations are bespoke and handmade by Laura. Whether you have a complete vision or just an idea, she'll work with you and guide you to perfect your stationery. Laura will discuss colours, themes and personal taste to create your ideal designs.

If you're looking for inspiration or fancy chatty to Laura about your stationery needs, head to Lulabee.co.uk!