Wedding stationary can help set the tone for your wedding, and carry about your theme or colour scheme. It’s the first inkling guests have for your wedding celebrations, so it’s important to get it right.
I met the lovely Sarah at the Chosen wedding fair, where we were exhibiting next to each other, and we just hit if off. She’s so creative and also an amazing person. What attracted me to her designs was the simple elegance of her stationary, and she has thought of everything from save the dates to on the day stationary plus some fun elements like her fun coasters are a great addition to add some personality into your stationary. She really puts a lot of love and thought into her collections, and any of them would be a perfect addition to your wedding stationary.
Image by Holly Booth
So tell me how did you get into letterpress stationery?
I’ve been incredibly lucky to have access to a couple of amazing print studios over the years, where my love for letterpress really began. The first was the printshop at Edinburgh College of Art where I studied for my design degree, a space filled with cabinets full of old metal and wooden type and antique print presses of all shapes and sizes. The second was the Dawson Printshop at NSCAD University in Nova Scotia, Canada, where I fell in love with letterpress all over again almost a decade after graduating. I began printing greeting cards and stationery and didn’t want to stop, so my business began. When my partner and I moved back to the UK in 2013 the natural next step was to buy my own press, and after a few months of looking Maude arrived in my little home studio.
How would you describe your style?
My overall style is very much new meets old. I’m a firm believer that less is always more, so my design style is modern, clean, and understated and this offers a perfect contrast to the more traditional method of letterpress printing I’ve chosen. Letterpress printing brings a real depth and texture to even the simplest designs so it’s a wonderful choice for modern wedding stationery, and couples looking for something a little less traditional.
Image by Holly Booth
What’s your top tip for couples when it comes to choosing wedding stationery for their wedding?
Stationery is such an exciting part of the wedding planning process because it’s the first glimpse guests will get of the celebration to follow. I often tell the couples that I work with that there are endless guides out there on the internet, telling you which pieces of stationery you need and what you should or shouldn’t include, but they all say different things and none of them know you. The most important thing to remember is to be yourself and have fun with your stationery! Let it reflect who you are, because your wedding is ALL about you.
What “must haves” should couples be including in their wedding stationary?
The real “must have” is your invite, because it’s the star of the show and shares all of the most important details with your guests (your wedding date, location, etc). The addition of other pieces of wedding stationery is really a personal choice for each couple, but as a stationer I love to see a simple invite turn into a suite of stationery because it really helps to tell a story. A Save the Date is a lovely way to give your guests a nudge and let them know they need to add your date to their calendars. An RSVP card is a really useful addition because it gathers the important yes and no responses, and also allows you to capture other details including any special dietary requirements. A Details card isn’t always essential but is a lovely touch because it lets you share additional information that guests may find helpful, including travel and accommodation plans, pre-wedding drinks or post-wedding brunches. And finally, don’t forget your “on the day” stationery! From wedding programs to table numbers and place cards, every piece of stationery helps to weave the style or theme of your wedding throughout your day. And it’s all about those little details!
Image by Holly Booth
Do you have a favourite collection?
I’m not sure if I should, but I do! The Molly suite is my personal favourite because it’s so very “me” in terms of style – minimal typography with an elegant script flourish and lots of white space. It was the first design that came together when I was creating my semi-custom collection, the one I had the clearest vision for, and ultimately the design that started it all!
Lastly, what’s the best moment you’ve had so far in your business?
There have been some amazing moments but the best by far was the arrival of Maude, my antique press. As soon as I started printing with her so many wishes and dreams were realised. It really felt like I was at the start of an exciting new adventure. And just in case anyone’s wondering, it’s an old printer’s tradition to name your presses! I share my studio with Maude, a Golding Pearl platen press, and Millie, an Adana tabletop press. Maude was manufactured in 1912 so she’s over 100 years old, and I feel incredibly lucky to share my space with such a beautiful machine.
Image by Holly Booth
Thank you so much for chatting with me, and I hope you guys found it helpful! I’m going to be featuring another amazing supplier soon so make sure you check out my upcoming blogs!
Amelia x
There were some great nuggets of advice and tips from Sarah, and if you want to see more of Sarah’s amazing work check out her Instagram and Website
