If you haven’t had a wedding scrapbook since you were 13 (think Monica from Friends!), you may be overwhelmed by all the wedding stationery options out there. Deciding on your wedding style is a good place to start, but there are so many other influences that could inspire your stationary choice and that you want to reflect in your invitation design.
Your invitations set the tone of your big day, and if you want menus and place cards on your reception tables, you don’t want them to clash with your surroundings. Think about it all now, and you’ll have a gorgeous look to everything for your wedding.

The Venue
It may be a grand old castle, or a white modernist hotel, but this is where you will be spending most of your time, and will give the greatest impression to your guests. Think about how your tables will look - menus, table numbers, name cards - its always the little things that count!

The color scheme
This could be taken from your flowers, or bridesmaid dresses, or even just a color you love that is used as a highlight throughout your stationery and day. Think of your reception tables - are you using ribbons, or accessories like feathers and butterflies - what color will they be and do you want it all to tie in?

Your flowers
Not only from your bouquet but the table centre-pieces and other arrangements in the venue, flowers can be a gorgeous visual on stationery, wether they’re classic white roses, pretty sweet peas, or bright pink peonies.
(TIP: “The Flower Library” from ScissorPaperStone designs invitations matching your wedding flowers - perfect if you’re having something unusual or flowers of a specific color)

Your dress
Modern and simple, or embroidered with lace and beads - you can take an idea from the detailing, wether its an embroidered motif, the color, a lace pattern, or ribbon and bows.

The time of year
A fresh spring bride, a dramatic winter evening, a lazy summer afternoon. The time of year you are being marrried is not only important for which flowers are in season, but also the general atmosphere of your day - twinkly fairy lights and mulled wine at Christmas, pimms and strawberries in the summer - it could all be reflected in your invitations.

Your style
Some people have such a strong sense of style, their friends and family would be shocked if their wedding did not reflect this. The important thing to remember is although your wedding day is completely special and unique, you should be comfortable with it and make sure you’re not trying to be something you’re not.

A personal memento
A family heirloom, or a token from your groom - it might be an image of the two of you that you love, or a place thats special. With stationery the classic option is to have your initials designed as a monogram to personalize your invitations.
(For more ideas go to Sending something personal)

Something you like!
You may be the sort of person that walks into a shop, sees a dress you like and say “thats the one!” Just flicking through magazines and pictures of other people’s weddings can give you great ideas.

And finally the man you’re going to marry
Including your fiance in the design decisions is important, not only because you are going to share the rest of your lives together, but its his day too. Of course some men may not care about the fine details, but they may also want some input - girly pink butterflies may not be their first choice!

All the ideas above are just to get you thinking - if you tried to tie them all into your wedding invitations, it would look far too much, but pick one or two and you wow your guests with style!