When planning your stationery for a wedding abroad it is important that you’re organised. You will need to start planning a lot further ahead than if you were planning a UK wedding as guests will need more time to plan and budget if they are to take time off work to travel abroad.
Weddings Abroad Stationery Tips
Sending Save The Date Cards
Firstly, it’s a good idea to send out save the date cards. You should send save the dates for a wedding abroad around 18 months in advance, and they should contain brief details of your wedding. Don’t worry if you haven’t confirmed all the finer details yet, as you can include these on your wedding invitation and guest information card.
Key points to include on save the date cards for a wedding abroad are…
- Your names
- The wedding date
- The location of your wedding (if you know it)
Invitations
Shop around early and order samples of the invitations you like; many websites offer this service free of charge. Samples allow you to see and feel the quality of the stationery before you place an order.
When getting married abroad you don’t have day and evening invitations as the guests flying out to your wedding will normally attend both. You should keep your wording clear and simple, with your RSVP details outlined too. Don’t overcrowd your invitation with travel details either, as you can add these to a guest information card to include with your invitation.
Plan your invitation wording in advance and have all your guest information details prepared before you think about ordering your stationery. If you don’t you could end up making a costly mistake if you spot errors after they’ve been printed. Check your stationery when it arrives and report any problems immediately. Companies are less likely to replace the goods if you’ve left them in the box for a month before checking.
Also, when collating all your guests’ addresses for posting out your invitations, remember to keep them safe, ready for when you write your thank you cards. This will save you lots of time afterwards.
Guest Information Cards
Wedding guest information cards are usually available to match your wedding invitation, and are perfect for adding all the extra travel information you will need to provide for your guests. You should include them inside the same envelope as your wedding invitation, so make sure you have all this information prepared for when you order your invites.
Details you could include on your guest information card are:
- Flight information
- A list of nearby accommodation
- Details regarding transport to and from the airport
- Resort information
Wedding Celebration Invitations
Wedding celebration invitations are used for inviting guests to a party back home following a wedding abroad. Most couples select wedding celebration invitations to match their main wedding invitation, but it doesn’t have to be the same. You could go for a completely different look.
Here are a few wording ideas for your beach wedding celebration invitations:
Nicola Jones and James Owen are joining hearts and getting married on the tranquil shores of Cancun on Saturday 26th September 2015. Please join them for a wedding celebration on Saturday 10th of October 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Ramada Hotel, Habberley Road, Bewdley
Or
Nicola Jones and James Owen joined hearts and were married in Waikiki, Hawaii on 26th September, 2014. Please join them for a wedding celebration on Saturday 10th October, 2014 at 5:30 pm at the Ramada Hotel, Habberley Road, Bewdley.
or
Nicola Jones and James Owen are getting married on 25th September, 2014 at Sunset Beach Resort of Nassau, Bahamas. Please join us upon our return in a celebration of our marriage on Saturday 10th October, 2014 at 5:30 pm at the Ramada Hotel, Habberley Road, Bewdley.
Lead Times
Check lead times if you’re ordering custom printed stationery as you will need to add delivery times on top. Remember, selecting ‘express delivery’ only speeds up the delivery and not the time it takes to dispatch your order. If you need your order quickly then make this known by calling or emailing the company.
Weddings Abroad and Beach Wedding Stationery Ideas
Save the date cards and wedding invitations are often the first snippet your guests will get of your wedding day, so think carefully if you want to create a lasting impression. If you’re having a wedding abroad or beach wedding then why not set the theme of your big day with wedding stationery that’s going to say just that?
Beach Wedding Stationery Ideas
Sun, sea, palm trees and secluded beaches are all the things you associate with marrying abroad. Here I have chosen two wedding invitations that would certainly set the scene for your forthcoming beach wedding.
On the left, I love the way it appears as if the names and destination are written in the sand. It’s fun, quirky and adds that extra personal touch to the wedding invitation.
The invitation on the right instantly suggests that you’re getting married on a paradise island, and I love the fact the island is heart shaped; it brings a romantic element to this idyllic beach themed design.
Weddings Abroad Stationery Ideas
If you are marrying abroad you might want wedding stationery that suggests travel without having an image of an exotic beach on the front, but equally you could use a travel inspired wedding invitation for a beach wedding too.
Here I have chosen two very different wedding invitations; a contemporary one and a vintage inspired one, both of which would work really well for a wedding abroad.
If you received either of these invites you would know immediately that it is an invitation to a wedding overseas. The wedding invitation on the left features a luggage tag which you can personalise with your names and destination, adding that extra finishing touch.
I also love the modern, contemporary style invitation on the right. It is clean and fresh and you can also personalise this design with your wedding destination above the little aeroplane, as well as your names in a modern, handwritten font.
UK Seaside Wedding Stationery Ideas
You don’t have to travel abroad to have a beach wedding. There are many beautiful beaches in the UK that would make the ideal location for tying the knot. If you do choose to marry on or near the beach in the UK then you may have a slightly different picture in your head regarding surroundings. If you think about a traditional English seaside for instance, you may think about sun, sea and sand as well as beach huts and ice creams!
Here I have selected two different ways of theming a UK beach wedding with your stationery. Both contain plenty of colour, creating a great colour palette to use throughout the rest of your day.
Guest post by Lisa Forde of Dotty About Paper
Images from Dotty About Paper
