I for one, am one of those brides with a traditional guestbook that has been sitting in the draw collecting dust for 6 years now. I think it may have been out once or twice since then but no more than that. It’s a shame as there are so many lovely messages in there that guests have taken the time to write. It doesn’t feel right for it to be stuck in the draw.

This has led me on my path to find alternatives to the traditional guestbook. I started by playing around with guestbook frames and these have proved very popular over the last 12 months. The inside can be personalised to what ever you can imagine and then the guests write around the outside. This can then be hung on a wall and read whenever you pass.

With the success of the frame came my search for even more exciting ways for your guests to leave a message. Along with my new Laser cutter came endless possibilities and I started looking into wooden items and discovered a whole new world.

Whilst playing with new ideas, it was totally by accident that I came up with the wooden puzzle concept and started thinking about ways it could be incorporated into a wedding. It then hit me, like a ton of bricks that they would look amazing as a guestbook and set about my journey to creating the personalised wooden guestbook puzzle.

These puzzles can be personalised with your choice of wording and made in a range of sizes to suit your guests. The guest can write their wishes on the front of a puzzle piece and then the puzzle can be made up after the wedding, framed and hung on the wall.

Prices start from 49.99 for a 50 piece puzzle and can be made up to any size.

I’d love them to be part of your wedding

THE PHOTOBOOTH

I have been so excited to get this finished and added on to the site! It’s taken a long while to get here but I’m so SO pleased with the result.

Photobooths are becoming more and more popular at weddings these days. So many companies are offering so many different options but I wanted to bring something a little bit different into the mix.

Do you remember those family days out to the beach or to the fair and pulling funny faces behind the cardboard cut-outs with less than flattering figures on the front.  Do you remember the fun you had? Why not re-live some of those memories at your own wedding for a fraction of the cost of the more common booths on the market currently.

The photobooth looks just like a living room wall with picture frames, a clock and few other embellishments. The 2 picture frames have holes in them so that your guests can pose behind and make those nostalgic funny faces. The photobooth is 8ft x 6ft so there is more than enough room to get a few guests at a time behind there. Coupled with the funky props that are included in the price such as hats, fake moustaches, glasses and more, what better way to spend your evening reception than having fun!

The cost includes 4 hours hire including delivery and setup. PLUS all the props you could EVER need. All ready for your guests or photographer to start snapping away.

We are still finishing and uploading some of the sets, but we have uploaded a taster of what is to come in our collections gallery

Maybe it’s a bit of inspiration your after or help with all aspects of your wedding stationery, please do get in touch!

Wedding fairs are great for finding inspiration. Whether you are newly engaged or your wedding is only a few weeks away, there is still something for everyone.

For the newly engaged couples and couples that have just started planning, this is a great time to pick up any leaflets and chat to suppliers. This will help set a budget and understand how far in advance things get booked up. Make sure you ask the right questions. This is the best time to ask:

• If they have to travel to you on your day then make sure they are able to travel that distance
• How far in advance do they get booked up? Venues, photographers and florists tend to get booked up quite early on.
• What services do they provide?
• Have they got set price ranges?
• It’s important that you feel comfortable with potential suppliers who are going to be looking after you on the build up to your special day and even on the day. Talk to them on a personal level to see if you gel. It’s important!
• Take leaflets. These will come in handy when you finally feel ready to explore that area of your wedding when the time comes.

Make a day or atleast half a day of it. This is the happiest time of your life. Take your time looking around everything that a fair has to offer and then maybe pop to the bar for a drink or a coffee afterwards and look through all of the lovely brochures you have picked up. Look through them while it is still fresh in your mind.

For the more seasoned couple who are getting married very soon there is still an opportunity to find those last minute things and things you never thought about. Most good suppliers offer great advice if you ask for it so make use of their expertise.

So where are you going to be able to find us you may ask? Good question. We will be at the following fairs to the end of 2011. the 2012 fairs are yet to be confirmed:

• Reading Hilton, Reading – 9th October 2011
• The Village Hotel, Farnborough – 23rd October 2011

I would love to see you there. come along and have a chat. I don’t bite I promise and I love hearing all about your special day. I will have lot’s of lovely things on display including Save The Date cards, invitations, on the day items, table plans, guestbooks plus lot’s more!

you may even see some of my new lines for 2012 which I am so excited about.

We are honored to have been nominated for this years 2012 Wedding Industry Awards in the Special Touches category with special thanks to one of my very first clients Diana and Dave (www.davidoakesphotography.co.uk) for the nomination.

These awards will give the best in the business a chance to be recognised as such and really help couples looking for suppliers for their upcoming weddings make better educated decisions. The best thing about it is that it is almost entirely driven by client voting. So, a supplier enters the Awards and then gets all his/her clients to vote on the web site. Yes, a panel of judges is involved but the judging is based entirely on the data supplied by clients when they vote.

If you have used Inspire Me Designs for your stationery over the past year, please, please do vote for us. It would mean so much to me for your vote and as the old saying goes, “every vote counts”.

We wouldn’t be here without you and our success over the last year means more to watch out for over the coming year!

If you would like to vote then please check out The 2012 Wedding Industry Awards

Why am I talking about Christmas just as summer is starting to embrace us you may be thinking! No, I’m not absolutely crazy. It’s because now couldn’t be a better time to start looking at stationery for your very own Christmas Wedding. Whether for 2011, 2012 and even beyond.

When it comes to setting the colour scheme of a Christmas Wedding, it seems the obvious colour choice would be reds and greens. This year, I’d like to concentrate on something slightly different. Christmas always brings the possibility of snow, so this year, why not guarantee the snow by incorporating them into your day by bringing the outside in. Using subtle hints of silver against a white background can have a magical effect and is the perfect colour scheme to incorporate those delicate snowflakes. Finished with lashings of sparkle, altogether make the perfect ingredients to start your magical Christmas themed wedding.

I couldn’t finish this post without the obligatory flash.

The Snowflakes and Sparkles range currently in my portfolio is definitely one of my personal favourite. You can check out the whole range here . This design is based in a wallet style with the main design finished with both printed and handcrafted elements. Large silver snowflakes adorn the front of the card and finished with a delicately cut snowflake which is finished with a small diamante crystal. The invitation wording is finished in silver foil for that extra luxurious feel. The whole card is then finished with a layer of sparkle which brings the whole design to life. The invitation pulls out from the top with silver, double sided satin ribbon. This design oozes that magical and romantic Christmas spirit.

Why not put your own stamp on the range by adapting the colour to suit your theme.

The style can also be adapted to suit your requirements. If you would like to look at pocketfold options or even chequebook styles or even the more traditional single fold style. It’s all possible.

Our most recent acquistion is the Wedding Wishing Well and will be uploaded to our Hire and Buy page in the next few days.

A large white wishing well decorated to your theme and colour scheme will be available to hire for £35.00.  Something your guests are sure to be amazed at on your big day. It’s large capacity and lockable well is ideal for storing those wedding cards, vouchers and money on your wedding day securely without the worry of your best man having to juggle them throughout the day.

Another new addition to the Inspire Me Designs family is a traditional red, Royal Mail Post Box. Guests will have no trouble finding a place to put their cards and gifts on the day with one of these taking pride of place. This will also be available to hire for £35.00 for the day and will come with a personalised plaque for the front of the box which you will be able to keep to remember your special day.

And what’s more, we won’t charge any extra if you require it for longer than a day. We understand that weddings are stressful enough without having to worry about the little details on the day before your wedding and that you certainly won’t be rushing about the day after to return everything so take your time. Enjoy the time you have together and return it when convenient for you.

We will also deliver either post boxes to your venue on the day or the day before your wedding so that you do not have to worry about it at all. Then collect it once you have finished with it. We offer this service within a 40 mile radius of GU46 (delivery charge will apply at 50p a mile).

However, we will not be able to offer postage of these currently due to the size and weight.

If you’d like more information on either of these then please do contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Pictures will be added soon.