{Advice} Part 9: Stationery and Favours

Stationery

This is one of the all-time hidden costs of any wedding! No one really considers how much wedding stationery costs, but it can easily work out to the thousands.

Your wedding invitation is the first glimpse your guests get of your wedding, and you want it to make an impression! My advice - if you feel you aren't willing to shell out thousands for professionally made invitations, don't settle for the generic, store-bought variety. If you are artistic or feeling brave, you can create beautiful invitations at home for a percentage of the cost. Enlist a friend's help f you're feeling stumped, or look out for DIY invitation kits at craft shops or stationers. These go for around R350 and can help you create professional-looking stationery on your home PC. Alternatively, you can join a variety of online sites for free to get tips, clipart, ideas and templates for free. Just fill in your wording and print! If you do choose this option, be sure that the paper you choose is compatible with your printer. And be sure of your design before you hit "print", or you could end up wasting time and money!

If this is not your idea of fun, or you simply don't have the time, find a stationer whose work you like and discuss with them any ideas you may have. Remember, laser cutting, embossing and engraving will cost more than plain printing, so get an idea of cost before you sign anything, and view samples of their work.

Your stationery should include invitations, Save the Date cards (optional), menus, programs (optional), seating cards, Thank You cards, and envelopes. It is a good idea to make / order extras of everything, just in case. Don't forget to include a map and directions with your invitation, and the dress code deserves a mention. If you are having a cash bar, inform your guests of this; and also clarify whether children are welcome. Always order your stationery together to ensure uniformity.

Favours and Gifts

Traditionally wedding favours (bomboniere) were sugared bitter almonds wrapped in white tulle, but nowadays brides are opting for more modern gifts that their guests can take home - from picture frames to key rings and fridge magnets to tins filled with mints. These can range from R15 per guest to the hundreds, depending on what you choose. If you opt for the DIY route, you could save hundreds, so this is something to consider. If you're stuck for ideas, check out Google or Pinterest - there are some great ideas that are inexpensive and easy to do at home, for example, a small potted plant for each guest that will cost about R12.

You also need to keep in mind that it is etiquette to give personal gifts to your bridesmaids, you groomsmen, your parents and your groom. These are usually given before the wedding at the rehearsal dinner, or just after, but usually not at the wedding - you don't want your other guests to feel slighted.

For  your bridesmaids, the gift is often the dress and jewellery they wear a your wedding (if you are supplying these), with perhaps something on the side, like a pamper voucher or something naughty. You can use your imagination here and have a little fun!

For your groomsmen, it is tradition to give a pair of cuff links that they can wear on the day and keep. Again, you decide how traditional you want to be!

For your parents, the gift is to say thank you for helping put your wedding together. Even if only one set of parents contributed, it is customary to give a gift to both. A nice idea here is a small brag book of your wedding photos, or perhaps a framed portrait of your wedding day. You can personalise it as much or as little as you want.

For your groom, you can go wild and decide on whatever you think he will like. This is just a small gift from you to him to say "I'm so happy I married you"! You know him best, so no one can tell you what to get him, just make it personal and heartfelt.

Don't miss tomorrow's post where I wrap up this advice series!

Part 10: Bits and Bobs.