Cards By Sophie

For Follow Friday this week I am introducing Cards By Sophie design wedding stationery which are unique, so you will not find it anywhere else. Here Sophie tells us all about Cards By Sophie

In 2007, I was getting married abroad and having a reception for friends and family back in the UK.  In preparation, I spent hours trawling the internet to find suitable invitations and other items for our wedding. I couldn’t find anything that could be personalised, where you were allowed to change the colours, to include different wording or to choose a particular font. The frilly old fashioned designs just didn't work for me either. 

So I decided to create a collection that is stylish, simple and contemporary yet affordable…. just what you are looking for!

Cards by Sophie offers two different ranges, in our first we have unique, handmade and completely personal designs. Each design can be customised to your requirements, for example the colours of ribbons, handmade paper or Swarovski crystals can be changed to match your wedding theme and colours. There are no set rules, the stationery is available in a range of sizes, and you can create your own wording on the inside and outside of each card.

Our second range features four fabulous printed designs. You can add your own wording on the inside and outside of the card and add an additional personal touch of Swarovski crystals to match your wedding theme.

Your stationery is the first key step to setting the tone and choosing may help you decide on your flowers and other accessories. Think about the sort of clothes you love, your ideal décor, and the place where you are getting married. This will help you decide whether you’re going for something traditional or modern. What colours do you love? It could be your favourite colour, or something that reminds you of where you met your partner.

Many of my brides chose ribbon colours on the stationery to match the bridesmaid’s dresses and send me a swatch of fabric. It is amazing the difference a font makes to your invitation as well, again setting the scene - the stationery is the first thing your guests will see! The choices you make can be taken right through to on the day items, such as order of service, table plans and place cards. Pick something you love and can be proud to send to friends and family, don't settle for second best. I always think anything is possible so just ask, I love a challenge!

We are very proud that all of our wedding stationery is unique to us, so you will not find it anywhere else. We offer a UK-wide service and a fantastic 10% discount on orders over £300. We have a brand new website http://www.cardsbysophie.com/ where you can now order and buy online, making it much quicker and easier to purchase your wedding stationery.

 

Cherry Pie Lane

For Wedding Wednesday this week I am introducing Cherry Pie Lane is based in Berkshire and offer custom made and personalised ceramics.  All items are individually handmade using clay from start to finish by Charlie, ensuring that no two pieces are alike.

Cherry Pie Lane (CPL) ‘officially’ set up shop in March 2010 and has been making all sorts of ceramic loveliness ever since! Single-handedly run by Charlie, you can guarantee a personal service right from the start of an idea all the way through to the hand-gift wrapped delivery. CPL is based in Berkshire but can ship to *almost* anywhere.

Before CPL came about, Charlie was working as a teacher, firstly in secondary schools and then in a further education college. Now on maternity leave for the soon to be expected arrival of the first mini CPL, there is now a little bit more time to concentrate on the business side of things.  The dream one day is to just run CPL full time.

We specialise in custom and personalised ceramics and we also offer several stock designs which can be bought as they are or altered to suit. The style tends to be ‘vintage-y’ but some custom orders require different styles too.

The best sellers from the stock range so far are:

                                                                Personalised wedding heart

          

                        Dad’s Shed sign                                                            Cakes and Hugs sign

Some of my ultimate favourite custom orders have been:

Ryan & Peri Heart

                            Garden sign                                                                  Hen party sign

We also try to offer seasonal items too for a bit of variety – this year’s Christmas collection is:

                           Let it snow sign                                                Mistletoe and wine sign

                         Figgy pudding sign                                          Tidings of comfort and joy sign

                   Reindeer decorations                                                    Snowflakes decorations

In general, items will take 2-3 weeks to make as each stage requires a certain amount of time to complete – photos are added to the Facebook page at each stage under ‘work in progress’ so you can watch your order as it progresses.

Why not check out these links to keep up to date with news, events, offers and product releases... not to mention being able to look through all of the albums of ‘handmade lovely things’

www.cherrypielane.co.uk

www.facebook.com/pages/Cherry-Pie-Lane/276955702918

twitter.com/CherryPieLane

www.etsy.com/shop/CherryPieLane

Acushla Creations

This week’s #weddingwednesday I am introducing the David from Acushla Creations. They offer a 100% tailor-made approach to stationary which allows limitless possibilities. Meaning each new project is approached without preconception and the rulebook goes out of the window.

Acushla (meaning ‘beat of my heart’ or ‘darling’ in Gaelic) first came about when I was asked to design some bespoke table numbers and escort cards for a friend of a friends wedding. They wanted something very specific and personal to them so going down the completely bespoke route was the only option.

As a graphic designer I get this sort of request a lot, but at the wedding I got a lot of positive feedback from guests and soon realised that there must be a market for more modern and creative stationery that is 100% bespoke, and so decided to launch Acushla.

After just a year the work was soon picking up and we were being contacted from couples in Holland, Greece Russia and Austria, and the biggest breakthrough came in early 2009 when we asked to design the stationery for a Premiership footballer.

They required 62 Swarovski crystals of different colours and sizes hand gluing to each invite so they took an age to complete but looked amazing when finished!

The thing I love most about Acushla is that the people who come to us want something extra special, or something really different to the norm, so we know from the start that each job we do will be different to the last and we love coming up with new and intriguing solutions to our couple’s briefs. We always think outside the box and approach each job with a blank canvas and no pre-conceptions on what the stationery should consist of which allows the end product to take any shape or form. We love it when we can surprise our clients with an idea that makes them go “Wow! I would never have thought of that in a million years!” As long as we know our clients are pleased with the end result, and could not have got the same invite/stationery set anywhere else, we can feel happy that we’ve achieved what we set out to do.Acushla Creations are a fresh and exciting creative design who are quickly establishing a worldwide reputation for producing unique, bespoke and extravagant wedding and event stationery with a difference. Our 100% tailor-made approach allows limitless possibilities!

 
Why should you be forced to conform to the typical wedding stationery stereotype? The days of traditional white meringue dresses, stale fruit cakes and formally posed photographs are well and truly numbered. Finally, weddings are being recognised as an opportunity to celebrate our personalities and individual style, and Acushla are here to help guide you through the process.

We live by the philosophy that each new project is approached without preconception. The rulebook goes out of the window and fresh, innovative ideas are generated for each and every couple.

No more cheap, hand-made invitations. No more set fonts or colours. No more chintzy designs and clichéd wording. We don’t do faceless generic cards – we develop bespoke, chic and conceptual wedding stationery to express your personalities and wedding themes to their fullest. Whether it be Moulin Rouge, fantasy winter wonderland, bohemian chic or vintage elegance, we are here to turn those initial sparks of inspiration into a raging inferno.

When you choose Acushla, you’re not just buying a piece of folded card – you’re buying our one-to-one service, a completely unique concept and a carefully managed idea that answers your brief and fits your wedding theme perfectly.

Utilising the highest quality printing and finishing techniques, your wedding stationery will tell your guests something about you as a person and as a couple. It will express your sense of style and connect with your guests on a personal level.

We don’t focus on just invitations either. We aim to design and produce anything you require to create a lasting first impression and make your special day truly memorable. Whether you require invitations through to thank you cards, or table plans to guest books, we offer the full stationery package and more.

There really is no end to what we can do.

Visit them at http://www.acushlacreations.co.uk

Or Twitter: http://twitter.com/AcushlaForYou

UK Wedding SEO

This week’s #followfriday I am introducing Steve from UK Wedding SEO who can help you with your SEO requirements and your website needs. Check out his fantastic December offer.

UK Wedding SEO was born from the company Reel Action Ltd which is the company I created on my return to the UK having lived in Spain for six years. My background is predominantly in IT, website design and video & audio production. 

SEO or Search Engine Optimisation for the long drawn out phrase was sort of thrust upon me thanks to my time working for myself in the years leading up to me leaving to live in Spain. The truth being that I love being a tech geek but the challenge of getting to the top of the search engines just adds an interesting twist to it! I was taught SEO and the art of Website Promotion by what I class as the masters, guys like Dan Theis, Leslie Rhode, Andy Jenkins and my good friend Sherman Hu who all have years of experience and many multi million dollar companies between them.

The idea of UKWeddingSEO.co.uk came along when I was talking on Twitter with my good friend Emma Muir (@abespokedesign) and we were discussing the need for solid easy to understand information to help people promote their websites.

An hour later the domain, Twitter account and Facebook page were set up and a few days later the website was launched. I have to say I haven't done much in the way of promoting the business apart from just helping people on Twitter but the reception I have received has been amazing. 

I was demonstrating to someone the new Google instant search features and typed in "Wedding SEO" after just a few weeks of having the domain I was ranked 4th out of 120 million results.  The first webpage I ever designed back in 1998 is I am afraid to say still online and still as ugly as the day I put it together! I am pleased to say my design skills have improved a whole bunch since then.

I like to take my clients businesses forward. So many people come to me because they are stuck and don't know how to move their website forward and then see other ways in which to improve and do things better with the help and advice that I have provided. My biggest achievement of all time in the SEO world was to take a website and a business that didn't exist had no clients and a big investment into development. In 6 months the business moved from nothing to 2500 clients and a £7 million turnover in a very tough niche market. That was one very happy client!

So that is a little about me, the business and what I do and my achievements. The Christmas offers for SEO and Site Design that I am offering during December can be found on out blog post at http://www.ukweddingseo.co.uk/special-december-offer/ 

The onsite review looks at all the elements of the website which could effect the rankings of the site in the search engine and checks the site for errors. The offsite looks at all the links into and out of the website and gives a listing of places where extra links into the website are available and what link text to use to gain ranking places.

Competitor review looks at the top three websites for a keyword and reviews the amount of work involved in moving the client’s website up into the top rankings. All of these will bring people business if they use the information the review creates.

                                              Check out his website: www.ukweddingseo.co.uk

                                                            Twitter @ukweddingseo



Tiga Lili

This week’s #weddingwednesday I am introducing Tiga Lili which is owned by the lovely Karen Froggatt and is based in South Yorkshire, Karen tells us how and why Tiga Lili was started.

 

I started Tiga Lili Flowers in the spring of 2010 after deciding that the 9 to 5 corporate life really didn't suit me, however I had gained a lot of skills that could transfer to my new venture. I am now also a fully qualified Project manager which will certainly help with the bigger commissions that I get.

With over 20 years experience in the floral industry including managing large interflora and teleflorist businesses I thought it was time to start a fresh and Tiga Lili was born. I am a qualified florist to Diploma standard and my main passions are weddings and event flowers.

No matter what the occasion, flowers always seem to make it brighter. At Tiga Lili Flowers, we specialise in weddings and corporate events. Clients can choose from our most popular items or describe your ideas to our floral designers and they'll create a unique arrangement just for you and no extra charge.

I live in Rotherham but cover all over Yorkshire and Derbyshire and I work freelance from my workshop in my garage but I can visit clients in their homes or at venues to discuss and help meet their requirements.

Our company is based on the belief that our client relationship is the most important part of our business and if I have got that bit right then the rest will follow making it easier to interpret my client’s needs.

For further information contact Karen: karenfroggatt@tigaliliflowers.vpweb.co.uk

Website: http://tigaliliflowers.vpweb.co.uk/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tigalilifleur

Lil'Guy Cards and Stationary

This week’s #followfriday I am introducing Lil’Guy Cards and Stationery who are based in West Sussex, producing high quality bespoke handmade cards and stationery for all occasions, specialising in weddings but also making cards for: Civil Ceremonies; Christenings; Birth Announcements; Moving House; Birthdays; Anniversary’s.

When  I was getting married in 2008 I decided to make my own invitations as I wasn’t particularly impressed with the standard or cost of ones I’d seen.  Having received many compliments on them from our guests I decided to start Lil’Guy as a business running alongside my day job.

The invitations are usually the first indication your guests will get as to what kind of a wedding you are having, whether it’s going to be a lavish formal occasion or a more relaxed one. 

I use top quality and unusal boards, Grade A rhinestone buckles and embellishments, genuine Swarovski crystals, gorgeous ribbons and flowers to create different designs and styles, and it gives me great pleasure when couples receive their order and are thrilled with it!

                       

At the end of September this year I was made redundant from the day job and am now running my own business full time.  There is no large company or franchise, you get my individual attention! 

 

Seasonal wedding fairs tend to be held in the Spring and Autumn.  Make sure you book your stationer as soon as you know all the details as they do get booked up.  Don’t leave things to the last minute as sometimes the embellishments can be out of stock and take a while to arrive.  Give your guests a deadline date to respond to (in a nice way!) as this gives you a timeline to work to.  There are bound to be one or two guests who need to be ‘chivvied’ along, and your reception venue will also have a deadline for numbers.

If you’re having bespoke stationery chat to your stationer so that she can get a feel for your personality and style – and if the first draft isn’t quite to your liking don’t give up!  Try to give as much information as possible to help the process along, if you don’t like diamante ribbon slides or butterflies then saying so at the offset really does help.  Think about the style of card you would like – if you are going to be enclosing lots of additional information sheets then a wallet or pocket style is a good idea as all the information is kept together and doesn’t just fall out and get misplaced. 

For a small additional charge many stationers will insert the guest names into the invitation which will save you time and also looks very stylish.  You might also want to pay to have the envelopes addressed for you and have the invitation sent out.  Whatever you decide to do, if there is ANY doubt regarding whether or not the made and sealed invitation needs to be sent as a large letter, pay the additional cost.  It would be a false economy to have beautiful invitations only to have them held up in a sorting office – not to mention costly to sort the problem out!

Having a colour scheme and/or theme for your day is  very effective when taken through to place name cards, table plan and table name/number cards, menu cards, favours and post box for congratulations cards. 

If you would like to discuss your requirements or get a quote I can be contacted by:

Website: www.lilguy.co.uk

Twitter: @Lilguys

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lilguy-Stationery/133197253397387

Blog: http://www.lilguyweddings.blogspot.com

email:  kitty@lilguy.co.uk

Amethyst Photography

This week’s #weddingwednesday I am introducing Amethyst which is owned by Wayne Cook. Based in Teesside, Amethyst Photography are in demand for their photography services around the UK and are now also available for destination weddings

Amethyst Photography was started in 2006 by Wayne Cook, after a short spell as a photographer with a multinational photography company.

Initially we specialised in Weddings but over the last few years, we have diversified into most areas of photography including boudoir and makeovers.

With 3 photographers on hand and a Makeup Artist in situ, we believe that a fun and relaxed atmosphere is the way forward in photography. Our style of photography is professional yet relaxed, to capture just the right image for you, your family or your business.

With a strong emphasis on customer service and value for money, we have quickly become one of Teesside’s busiest photography companies. Our wedding photography packages are available for all budgets and can be tailored to your individual requirements

In 2008 we moved to a fully equipped studio in Stockton on Tees, and from there have grown enormously as a company, with our reputation now meaning that we have now ceased to advertise due to word of mouth recommendations from previous clients, many of whom we now regard as close friends.

Visit their website: http://www.amethyst-photography.org.uk/

Twitter: @AmethystTweet

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmethystPhotography?v=info#!/AmethystPhotography?v=wall