You've booked your venue, sent out your Wedding Invitations, purchased your outfits, organised your flowers and booked your caterers, and now you feel like you've done everything you need to. But have you thought about your wedding day stationery? It often comes as an afterthought, but wedding day stationery can be just as important as your invitations, helping to enhance the theme of your wedding day and organise your guests. Whether it be a seating plan or to inform people of what layers of cake there are, there is stationery for everything!

And it can get overwhelming to decide what you do and what you don't need, so I'm here to help and talk you through what everything is.

WHAT ARE THEY?

Orders of Service are information guides that tell your guest what is happening at your wedding. They are usually A5 in size, and can be a booklet with multiple pages or a single sided piece of card. It all depends on what style of wedding you are having. Traditionally used during religious ceremonies, to include hymns and readings, they are now being incorporated more and more in every kind of wedding. They can be extremely useful if you have timed events taking place during your wedding day where you need everyone to gather - photographs, speeches, cake cutting etc.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Religious Order of Service: Outline the ceremony clearly. Include readings (you don't need to include the actual words unless you want to, just add the title, where the reading is from, and who will be doing the reading), hymns, music and a personal thank you. Some couples choose to list the members of the Bridal Party (your parents, best man, made of honour, groomsmen and bridesmaids) at the start of the service.

Other Details: On all orders of service include your names, your wedding date and anything that you feel appropriate. Let your guests know the plan for after the ceremony, and timings of what is happening when.

A Thank You: At the end of your Order of Service it is nice to add a little thank you to anyone that you feels deserves a special mention.

I think I might make a separate blog post on what to include on an Order of Service, so watch this space...

WHAT ARE THEY?

They are exactly as they sound. A large sign that welcomes your guests to your wedding and let's them know that they're in the right place. These can be printed any size that you like, but usually they will be A2 or A1. You can have them printed on a poster and put into a frame, or printed directly onto Foamex to place on an easel, or even drawn out on a piece of wood if you're opting for a rustic feel. The possibilities are many.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Design: Carry the theme of your wedding over - usually the designer who created your Wedding Invitations would design your Welcome Boards too, so that you can keep the same images/patterns, text and format.

A Welcome: Add either a large welcome or a note welcoming guests, to the top of your Welcome Board. Something like Welcome to the Wedding of is always a good option.

Your Names: Next add your names, because you are obviously the most important people on this day!

Your Wedding Date: You don't need to include this, but it's always nice so that you keep your board as a keepsake.

Your Wedding Venue: Not essential, but you may want the details on there as a keepsake.

An additional note: You could add an additional note to the bottom of your board wishing your guests a wonderful day. Something like We hope you enjoy your day or Have fun and enjoy!

WHAT ARE THEY?

Table plans are helpful if you have a traditional Wedding Breakfast where everyone is seated. You can have a free-for-all, allowing people to sit wherever they want to, but then you run the risk of people being separated from their closest ones, or low and behold Old Aunt Marge is back again, sitting right next to you and your partner at the top table! If you are having a less formal affair then a Wedding Table Plan isn't always necessary.

Wedding Table Plans usually come in an A2 or A1 size if printed.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Your names: It's always nice to include your names at the top of a seating plan, in a similar design style to your invitations and other wedding stationery.

A Welcome: You could add a line that welcomes your guests to the meal or invites them to find their seat. Something like Please find your seat and have fun will do.

Table Names/Numbers: These need to be listed clearly and usually in a larger font than the names of the guests seated at each table.

Guest Names: Beneath, or at the side of, each Table Name add a list of guests seated at that table. How you choose to list your guests names is your decision, but usually you will have more than one person with the same name, so it's always a good idea to include both first name and surname to save on any confusion.

WHAT ARE THEY?

Table Names or Numbers correspond with your table seating plan. They are small signs that sit in the centre of each of your wedding tables so that guests know where they should be sitting. It is up to you if you choose to traditionally number your tables, or extend your wedding theme with Table Names.

Table Names are normally A6 or A5 in size. If you are including a Table Name instead of a number I would recommend A5 size so that the words are clearer from a distance.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

The name or number in a large font.. You could include your names and wedding date and maybe a little personal message if space allows.

WHAT ARE THEY?

These are usually small tent fold cards that are placed on each individual table setting to let each guest know which seat is there's. If you have spent hours deciding who should sit where, and making sure that grumpy Bob doesn't sit next to your obnoxious neighbour Frank, then these are a must. For a more laid back affair, designate your guests a table, but let them choose where they sit when they get there. Sometimes the formality of being told what to do at a wedding can stop a lot of unease amongst guests.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

You will more than likely have included the full name of your guests on the table plan, so you can just add their first names to the place name cards. Again, extend your wedding invitation and stationery design to the place name cards by adding your theme and your names.

WHAT ARE THEY?

A Wedding Menu lets your guest know what they will be eating, because if we're honest, we're super excited about the free food! Sometimes you ask your guests to choose an option months and months in advance, which they've probably forgotten by now, or maybe the food choice is a surprise. Let your guests know what is coming for each course, and as an added bonus it keeps them entertained for a short while, whilst everyone is finding their seats or making a last minute dash to the loo.

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Include your meal selections available. List the starters, mains and desserts under separate headers and include the additions like vegetables and sauces. Make sure to include any allergy notices.

CAKE SIGNS: Add a sign in front of your cake to let guests know what each layer contains. This is particularly popular when guests have an alternate kind of cake like one made of different cheeses.

HELP YOURSELF SIGNS: Have you added some things to your venue to make your guests' time that little bit easier? Maybe you've added a basket of flat shoes ready for dancing? Add a little sign instructing guests to Help Themselves.

GAMES FOR CHILDREN: If you have children at your wedding then there's a high chance that they might get bored, speeches can be long and there's usually a lot of waiting around. Add some I-Spy cards or a little quiz to their table to keep them entertained.

DRINKS MENU: Is a signature cocktail your kind of thing? Add a sign to let your guests know what's in it.

You really can create stationery for anything, just remember not to go overboard. The aim of your Wedding Day Stationery is to help the day go smoothly and guide your guests.