DoodleLove Wedding Stationery

So my search for wedding stationery has come back to haunt me. I found a fantastic designer called Follow Studio in Australia, but I left too little time to receive proofs, so reluctantly I've had to restart my search. Time just catches up on you, not least because the invitations have to be sent out three months in advance. I've made one New Year's Resolution already - this time, my graphic designer must be UK-based. But where to find them? I've discovered that great places to look for eye-catching, unusual stationery are websites like Etsy and Wedzu. I've made one discovery already, Doodlelove, via Folksy. Check out their website for more designs.

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Wedding Present Idea

Add this gorgeous sampler to your wedding list, and you'll have a gorgeous momento of your big day, and a future heirloom for your children. Old-fashioned crafts like sampler-sewing and knitting are making a comeback right now, so you'll also be right on trend. Super-stitcher Debby will personalise your design, and hand-make it within ten days. Check out her store Sew Lovely for more ideas.

Real Wedding: Rachel & Phillip

Designing your wedding invitations is probably the easiest way to personalise your wedding. If you've got a printer and a plan, you can make stunning stationery without too much effort. And as long as you practice first on cheaper paper, it can work out as a penny-saver as well. Rachel is one bride who did just that, and every paper detail for her wedding is ah-mazing. Check out the baker's twine, monogram wax seal and calligraphy-addressed envelopes for starters. But there's much, much more. Rachel and Philip combined modern and rustic with some serious flair, so it's worth noting the bunting, jute tablecloths, screen-printed handkerchief favours and the mini hangover kits for the morning after. Stunning pics as ever from the lovely team at Simply Bloom Photography, and don't miss Rachel's own website for more stationery ideas.

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Real Wedding: Tarien & Pierre

Amazing wedding dress alert! This alternative gown is going to seriously rock your world, particularly if you're looking for a non-traditional wedding dress. Tarien picked a heavenly soft pink and black lace gown for her big day, and it's fierce! If you're planning a winter wedding you'll want to start taking notes now, because this event is a lesson in how to add glamour and drama and COLOUR to your big day. I'm loving the bright pink, the blackboards, the fabulous brocade table-cloths, and the cute slate place markers. Huge thanks to the team at We Love Pictures for their gorgeous photographs.

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Wedding Confetti Alternatives

If you're looking for an alternative to confetti, it doesn't get much better thean being bombarded with tiny pom-poms as you walk back up the aisle as man and wife. Our bubbles, for that matter - there's something about them that just shouts cheerful. Lots of venues don't allow confetti, so double check, and consider a cool alternative. For a winter wedding, a sparkler send-off is super romantic. Images via Ruffled.

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Wedding Tea-Party

One way to keep costs down when planning your wedding reception, is to host a wedding tea-party instead. But how to make it super-stylish? Well you could start with these Prêt-à-porter tea-bags from Donkey Products. Throw in a traditional English tea-cosy, a vintage tea-set and a cake-stand full of cupcakes, and you'll be well on your way to a party.

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Real Wedding: Alex & Akil

There's nothing like a destination wedding to cheer you up when the sun sets on yet another freezing cold winter day. So how about a beach wedding in Costa Rica? Heaven! Gorgeous couple Alex and Akil decided on an intimate wedding by the sea-side, and invited just their nearest and dearest. But that didn't stop Alex from choosing not one, but two wedding dresses, and throwing in a parasol and some stunning chunky jewellery for good measure. I love their orange and lime colour theme, and Akil's super-dapper suit and tie combo - but the best thing? The beach! Stunning photographs as ever from the massively talented Jose Villa.

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The New Cupcakes

Let's be honest, wedding cup-cakes have become a bit samey, and I'm always on the look-out for the latest sweet-treat trend, and I think I've found it! Bee's Bakery designs amazing biscuits, embossed with Rob Ryan-inspired lettering. The self-taught baker updates vintage recipes, giving classic Scottish shortbread a modern twist with lavender or Iranian rose essence. Meanwhile, her homemade jammie dodgers, filled with whipped buttercream and raspberry jam, are larger and richer than the ones you loved as a kid. All her flavours, including ginger and chocolate can be personalised with up to four letters. P.S. She also does cup-cakes!

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