Sunday, 14 March 2010
You’ve chosen your invitations, now all you have to do is write your wording! At Chartula we know that for most couples it can be tricky to strike the perfect balance between that which is traditionally correct and something that reflects the two of you and your day.
We’ve put together this little guide with which we hope will help you with some of the common problems.
Wording Invitations:
Traditionally invitations are sent by the brides parents and are usually written as follows:
Bride’s Parents Hosting
Mr and Mrs (Bride’s Parents Name)
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
(Bride’s Name)
to
Mr (Groom’s Name)
at (Ceremony Details)
on (Day, Date, Month, Year)
at (Time)
and afterwards at
(Reception Details)
 Damask Invitation with Bride's Parents Hosting These days however both families and the couple themselves may be hosting the wedding. The following wording is a great way to include everyone on your invitations:
Bride and Groom and Families Hosting
Together with their families
(Bride’s Name)
and
(Groom’s Name)
request the pleasure of your company
at their marriage
at (Ceremony Details)
on (Day, Date, Month, Year)
at (Time)
and afterwards at
(Reception Details)
 English Roses Invitation with Bride, Groom and Families Hosting
There are plenty of alternatives to customise your invitations. Here are some of the most popular for traditional or modern weddings.
Traditional Alternatives:
Request the honour of your presence
2 o’clock
2 o’clock in the afternoon
And afterwards for dinner and dancing
And afterwards for sumptuous dinner and dancing
Followed by dinner and dancing
Modern Alternatives:
Invite you to celebrate
Would love for you to join them
2.00 pm
2 p.m.
Two o’clock
Saturday the Fourteenth of June Two Thousand and Ten
Fun Phrases:
At Chartula we know how important it is that your invitation reflects the two of you. Whilst we concentrate on tailoring your design, over the years we’ve been impressed by the fun phrases our couples have created to inject an element of personality into their wording. Dress codes, notes on information cards and reply cards are a great place to do this if you want to keep your actual invitations quite formal. Here are some of our favourites:
 Beau Jardin Reply Cards
Dress Code: Posh frocks and sharp suits
Dress Code: Bring your dancing shoes!
RSVP Acceptance: Wouldn’t miss it for the world!
RSVP Decline: You have left it far too late to send the invitations out, we have a brilliant social life and are all booked up!
RSVP Other: This is our all time favourite party tune and we would definitely get up and dance if you played it…..
We’ve also got a great area on our website with lots more wording examples for invitations - from the grooms parents, both parents, divorced parents, as well as for save the date cards, reply cards and much more that you can copy and paste and tailor to suit you.
For traditional etiquette and wording advice we can highly recommend Debretts, we keep a copy of their Wedding Guide and Correct Form in our studio.
We hope this helps you. Also, look out for our posts on spelling and grammar and etiquette that we’ll be putting up shortly.
Happy typing!
The Chartula Team x
Grab yourself a copy of the latest issue of You and Your Wedding. It’s packed full of great ideas for your big day and some lovely invitations to inspire you. Including our very own Petit Bouquet Fairytale design.
 You and Your Wedding Jan/Feb 2010
 You and Your Wedding Jan/Feb 2010 We love it for it’s delicate simplicity, and pretty, whimsical feel. You and Your Wedding chose the Shimmering Coral for their feature.
 Petit Bouquet Fairytale Invitation in Shimmering Coral We also love it in Damask Blue, Apple Sorbet, Lavendula and other pretty pastels for Spring. Invitations cost from £900 for 100 with envelopes. Or for a similar look on a budget our popular Butterfly Kiss design from our fab Create! range of DIY stationery costs just £2.50 each!
 Petit Bouquet Fairytale Invitation in Damask Blue  Create! Butterfly Kiss in Natural and Bluebell Cream  Petit Bouquet Fairytale Invitation in Apple Sorbet  Create! Butterfly Kiss in Natural and Pistachio  Petit Bouquet Fairytale Invitation in Lavendula  Create! Butterfly Kiss in Natural and Lavender Inside You and Your Wedding you’ll also find some useful tips on wording your invitations, something we at Chartula know all about! For all sorts of wording examples visit our tips and trends page on our website. And don’t miss our next post on spelling, grammar and etiquette.
The Chartula Team x
What better way to start spring than indulging your wedding whims with the bridal industries leading experts.
The best of the wedding industry has teamed up with Wedding Magazine to bring you an exclusive wedding show. What a fab idea! Join us on Sunday 28th March at London’s Claridges hotel for Absolutely Beautiful Weddings.
Catch the first glimpse of our gorgeous new laser cut invitations, pretty floral range and new printing options and colours for our popular Create! stationery, all hot off the press for 2010!
As well as showing you our new stationery what we’re really excited about is chatting to you in person! An intimate event like this is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet the actual designers from these couture companies - Enjoy champagne and canapés whilst chatting to dress designer Sassi Holford, shoe queen Emmy Shoes, glamorous jewellers Magpie Vintage, bridal boutique Luella’s Boudoir, sublime photographer Julia Boggio, vintage caterer The Utterly Sexy Cafe and many others, plus Chartula designer and founder Charlotte Hewson will be on hand for you to quiz about all things stationery - from style, etiquette and colour advice to unusual bespoke requests or just to offer a little help deciding what you’d like. Then leave with a goodie bag worth £50!
What more could a girl want?!!
 Julia Boggio Photography  Chartula Fairytale Invitation  Emmy Shoes  Magpie Vintage Jewellery
Please do join us for what promises to be a day of luxurious wedding indulgence - we’re counting the days to 28th March!
Tickets cost just £15 and places are limited so book yours now. We can’t wait to see you there!
The Chartula Team x
Check out the latest issue of Wedding Magazine for hot new trends for 2010.
 Wedding Magazine Feb/Mar 2010 There’s a fab “Reception Style Guide” supplement featuring all sorts of ideas for different colour themes for your big day, from Mellow Yellow to Modern Monochrome.
 Wedding Magazine Supplement Feb/Mar 2010  Wedding Magazine Supplement Feb/Mar 2010 Create a look of timeless elegance with this smart theme. Standing proud amongst a chic collection of black and white goodies (we love the striped lollipops from Confetti) is our elegant Rose Folly invitation. Complete your look with ivory Roses, and Harmony Maxi Dresses from Coast for your bridesmaids. Or for a modern twist choose exotic Orchids, or wintery Amaryllis - try the lovely Jamie Aston for stunning floral arrangements and team with our elegant Orchids, or our opulent Rococo invitations.
 Orchid Invitation  Rococo Invitation Both are available to order on our online boutique. If you don’t see the colour combination you would like just call us on 020 7138 4055 and we will tailor your order to suit you!
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the magazine for other big trends for you big day.
Happy reading! x
At Chartula we’re just loving the snow! If you’re planning a winter wedding for next year try these frosty Snowflake laser cut save the date cards - they also make lovely invites too!
 Snowflake Save the Date Warm wishes!
The Chartula Team x
What a wintery start we’ve been having to 2010! But don’t worry that hasn’t stopped the Chartula team ploughing away with new ideas for your wedding!
We’ve got plenty of warming winter designs to get you through the cold spell, and for when the big thaw comes pretty spring ideas for your big day!
We hope you’re having a great start to 2010 and from all at Chartula wish you a very happy new year!
The Chartula Team x
 Vintage Blush
We simply love this angelic colour trend - think peaches, lace, and blush with a touch of glamour. Our vintage inspired laser cut designs proved to be a firm favourite at the Designer Wedding Show in October and our visit to The Dorchester yesterday reminded us what a gorgeous theme this is!
Letters in Lace… We love our two page Fairytale invitation (above, left) in this pretty peaches and cream colour (from £1550 for 100 invitations and envelopes). Reminiscent of delicate lace and with your initials entwined in the laser cut design it adds a lovely personal touch to your invitations. Visit our bespoke collection for more designs.
Guilty Pleasures… Forget dieting and planning for a few hours, and head to the world famous Dorchester Spa (above, centre) where the ethos is “a little of what you love is good for you”. We think this is just fab! With nine tranquil treatment rooms, and a truly amazing “Spatisserie”, indulge your taste buds as well as your senses over afternoon tea and champagne - it’s simply heavenly. Or for glowing peachy skin without the spa treatment we love this Posietint (above, centre top left) from Benefit.
Bursting into Bloom… Our new Petit Bouquet Fairytale invitation (above, top right) was hugely popular at the show. With a gorgeous starburst of flowers and butterflies in our famous Fairytale pattern, it has a wonderful vintage feel (from £900 for 100 invitations and envelopes). Team with pretty David Austin Roses (above, centre right).
Kiss of Love… For an authentic home made touch our Butterfly Kiss design (above, bottom right) from our ever popular DIY Create! range is a must. Starting at just £2.50 each, in pretty natural and candy pink you can save pennies on your vintage wedding!
Precious Gems... Here at Chartula we are huge fans of Kirsten Goss and can’t get enough of their collection of pretty jewellery featuring semi precious stones and freshwater pearls. A delicate bracelet (like the one above, right centre), will add the perfect touch of glamour to your wedding.
Dancing Shoes… We love Freya Rose’s collection of romantic couture shoes, and this peep toe pair in rose silk (above, centre bottom) are perfect for dancing the night away.
Please do come and visit us and some of these other fab suppliers at the next Designer Wedding Show 12th-14th February 2010, in Battersea Park, London. x
Yesterday the Chartula team were lucky enough to be invited for afternoon tea at the Dorchester! Needless to say it was wonderful and we came back refreshed and inspired by this stunning venue.
The hotel itself is just beautiful, but we were thrilled to be able to enjoy tea and champagne in the truly unique Spatisserie. We chatted to the lovely Julia Chapman who told us that their philosophy is less about detoxing and dieting and more about relaxing and indulging in a tranquil environment. Perfect!
The spa is ideal for a mother and daughter pre-wedding pamper or a get together with your girl friends. Sip tea, nibble cake (we can recommend the chocolate and raspberry mousse cake!), enjoy a glass of champagne and indulge in a luxurious massage, facial or manicure (they have 1000 nail polishes to choose from!)
 The Dorchester Spa Reception  The Dorchester Spatisserie  The Dorchester Spa Relaxation Room We loved it and think it’s perfect for unwinding before (and after!) your big day! x
Check out the latest issue of Cosmo Bride for some great ideas for your wedding. We love the real weddings and are delighted to be included in this lovely “steal her style” feature. Alongside an exotic mix of pink and purple flowers in a gorgeous bouquet, and some fun purple wellies are two of our fab floral designs; our Orchids and Antique Damask invitations.
 Cosmo Bride Dec/Jan 2010  Cosmo Bride Dec/Jan 2010 These popular invitations are £354 for 100 with envelopes and, as well as our Orchid and Damask designs, we also have English Roses, Lilies, Hibiscus, Bouvardia and Calla Lilies all in a beautiful rainbow of colours. Choose a design to match the flowers in your bouquet, or pick out the colours from your bridesmaid dresses. Order yours now on our online boutique! If you don’t see what you want or would like to discuss a bespoke colour combination just call us and we would be happy to help. Here are some of our favourites.
 Antique Damask Invitation
 English Roses Invitation  Calla Lily Invitation We hope you like them! x
 Pearls & Roses Delicious Designs… At Chartula we’re huge fans of cake designer Peggy Porschen. We simply love her unique combination of playful, pretty designs, elegance and old world charm. And from personal experience we promise her cakes taste great too! So when we saw this delightful Polka Dots and Roses cake (above left) we thought it would make wonderful inspiration for a wedding theme.
Love Hearts… Set the theme for your day with Fleur Heart invitations from our DIY Create! range (above, top right). You can choose any combination of design, colours and ribbon you like, but we love this Fuchsia Pink big bow for a bold statement. Our Create! stationery starts at just £2.50 each.
Charming Cherubs… If you’re having little flower girls at your wedding, then Monsoon have some beautiful outfits, including this cute baby Girl Bonnie Dress (above, top centre). Put older bridesmaids in 50’s style prom dresses with bow sashes, chunky heels and these pretty Pearl Crest Stud Earrings (above, right middle).
Foot Loose… For chic feet, treat yourself to couture shoes by Freya Rose - these Tahiti Sky peep toe sling backs have a stunning mother of pearl heel.
A Home-made Touch… Add a little of your own charm with home made table decorations and favour cones. We love this Miya Harlequin Wallpaper (above, bottom right), available from John Lewis. Cut to A5 size (half of A4), roll into a cone and glue dot in place. Then fill with rose petals. Or cut a length and use as a table runner.
We hope you enjoy! x
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