Our Featured Supplier - Samantha Jones Photography

Every month, we feature one of our partnered suppliers and we are lucky to know so many! It's our chance to bring a varied glimpse into other areas of the wedding industry, outside of the wedding stationery world. This month, we were delighted to meet Samantha Jones, a very experienced and talented wedding photographer. All photographs featured in this post have been taken by Samantha - and I'm sure you agree, they are stunning.



How long have you been a photographer and what attracted you to the industry?

I have been a full-time lifestyle and wedding photographer since March 2009 but enjoyed photographing weddings and family events prior to that for many years. As a female photographer, I have much more access to brides especially during bridal preparations which allows me to get to know everyone a little better before the actual wedding ceremony itself.

What services / packages do you offer to couples tying the knot? I currently have two packages available which can be found online at http://www.samanthajonesphotography.co.uk/ (see our prices section).

What geographical locations do you cover? I am based in Faversham, Kent so mainly cover the South East. I am willing to travel elsewhere though. Destination weddings are a photographers dream but I have only been as far as Essex though!

What's the most exciting 2009 wedding you have worked on and why? My most exciting wedding was this summer and my couple found me online. They were really pleased to have found a female photographer in the Kent area and their venue was absolutely gorgeous! We met beforehand to take some engagement shots and also to get some ideas for the day. Unfortunately on the day of their wedding, it rained non stop but nonetheless we managed to get some fun shots despite the downpours. We then met up a few months later to do a 'Mr and Mrs' session on a beautiful and bright day which gave them some wonderful images and better still the bride got to wear her dress again.

Explain a difficult situation that 'happened on the day' and managed to sort out.

At my most recent wedding, we had a few moments to take some portraits of the bride and groom on their own which is often the only time during which the newly married couple can spend some alone time together. We went down to some beautiful willow trees by the river as a background, with fantastic autumnal light...and the bride promptly stepped in a deposit left by a goose! Before we realised it, the groom had picked up the dress and the mess transferred to him too. Thank goodness I had some tissues (handy for emotional brides) and wet wipes available, so we managed to avoid a total disaster. The bride was very calm about it, hitched her dress over her arm and said "Oh well, I'll be sitting down at the meal for the next couple of hours so no-one will see it anyway". I was so pleased that they both took it in good humour and laughed it off.

Your RSVP are very happy to recommend Samantha and you can find all her contact details here:

Email: samantha.jones68@yahoo.co.uk

Web:http://www.samanthajonesphotography.co.uk/

Blog:http://samanthajonesphotography.wordpress.com/

Your Top Wedding Stationery Questions!

At Your RSVP, we're delighted to help you with your wedding stationery questions (encourage them even!). It can be quite a daunting task putting together the guest list, let alone choosing what wedding stationery you'll need and with what etiquette. With this in mind, we have put together your top questions for wedding guest stationery. With years of experience, we hope this overcomes your most common queries.

What wedding stationery choices do I have?
There are a few options to consider when sending your wedding guest stationery. It mainly depends on budget - but as a basic you'll need wedding invitations. At Your RSVP, your options are between blank, personalised or bespoke wedding stationery and from there whether you'll want a postcard style or folded invitation. Then, you can consider RSVP cards (day, evening or both) and guest information cards which aren't essential, but do make replies faster and the day run smoother!

When should I send out my wedding invitations?
Normally couples send out their wedding invitations 6 weeks before the big day but with the couples we've had the pleasure of working with, the average is closer to 3-6 months. Of course, there are many things to consider when you think about timings such as: Is your wedding abroad, in peak wedding season (May-Sept), around Bank Holidays / Easter / Christmas? If the answer is yes, then we would suggest not only sending out your invitations early, but consider save the date cards up to a year in advance.

How many wedding invitations do I need?
The most common mistake when ordering wedding invitations is counting the whole wedding party! Remember it's per household, which may include two, three or even four guests that you'd like to attend. So for example, a typical wedding of 80 guests would probably need around 50 wedding invitations. Do order a few extra invites (around 10-20) just in case a few RSVP's are declined.

How should I word my wedding invitations?
In our experience, the wording of wedding invitations are unique to every couple. Some will want to invite their guests themselves, some from the brides parents, some from both sets or even from the children! We have suggested a few examples on our website (click here to view), but like most wedding suppliers, we're flexible and can use any wording you wish on our personalised and bespoke wedding stationery.

How should I address my wedding invitations?
Think of how your wedding will be, very formal or relaxed. Many couples choose to address the wedding invitations with first names only - for the more formal they'll use full titles and surnames. There's no right or wrong answer - but you'll need to keep it consistent. For example/ If you decide on first names only then remember to use first names on the place cards too.

Do we send wedding invitations to the wedding party?
Here we refer to the parents, bridesmaids or best man! It's personal choice but I'd say YES every time. Even when I've designed wedding stationery for my close friends, they have always sent me an invitation (which does make me smile).

We are not inviting children to the day, how do we word this without upsetting anyone?
We have had many couples who have decided that the marriage and wedding breakfast should be just an adult affair, to those that couldn't imagine their day without the little ones. Our suggestion would be to add a polite note on your wedding invitation that works along these lines:

Due to guest number restrictions at our venue, we are unable to extend this invitation to children during the marriage and wedding breakfast. We hope that you will see this as an opportunity to enjoy an adult day, let your hair down and enjoy the party with us!

We have lived together for years and have decided not to opt for a traditional gift list - how do we ask for cash donations without offending?
Since many couples live together first, then marry this is a popular request. In the past we have added a sentence on the wedding invitation or guest information card which says: "Although your presence, is the only present needed. If you would like to wish us well on our path to married life, cash gifts would be greatly appreciated".

Do we need RSVP cards and how long should I allow for replies?
No, it is not essential to send RSVP cards but we can tell you that you will get a 60% better response (meaning you'll have more time to do other important wedding planning, than chasing replies). We recommend leaving 4 weeks for replies, by which time you may need to send out a few of your spare invitations to your reserve list.

What should I include on my guest information cards?
It's surprising how much information you'll need to tell all your wedding party and these cards are a fantastic place to put it all. Most popular headings include the directions, the gift list (you'll need to get a list number before you get scanning those gifts!), nearby accommodation, taxis and any special requests.

When should I order my wedding stationery?
Most suppliers, including Your RSVP will need around 3-4 weeks to prepare your wedding stationery from design to delivery. Handmade suppliers will need longer and it will of course depend on their committed workload. We can express orders too - we've been known to turn wedding invitations around in 7 working days in the past!

We will be posting a new blog soon to address the most common wedding day stationery questions. If you have any queries yourself, just call 0870 777 7289 or email amanda@your-rsvp.co.uk.

Written by Amanda Powell, Creative Director of Your RSVP
Shop online at www.your-rsvp.co.uk for more ideas and advice.

The Wedding of Jamie and Danielle : 5th September 2009

This month, Your RSVP are delighted to feature the wedding of Jamie and Danielle, celebrated by over 70 of their closest friends and family in the beautiful countryside location of Flitton, Bedfordshire. On the 5th September 2009 they married at St. John the Baptist Church followed by a lavish marquee reception!

It was in January 2009, that Danielle approached Your RSVP to put together their bespoke wedding stationery which was to feature the distinctive pink Peony. It was to blend with her colour scheme and provide striking presence. We were delighted to apply this design to all their wedding invitations, RSVP's and guest information cards. Danielle commented "It really had all my guests talking and started to set the tone of the wedding".

On the day Your RSVP provided all the order of service cards, wedding breakfast menus, place cards and table plans which only complemented the couples impeccable taste for the wedding. Your RSVP is excited about the photographs we can share with you as it gives a feel for the look we can create, which is often difficult to visualise from a stationery sample. Danielle said "Having co-ordinating wedding stationery on the day was fantastic, everything fitted together seamlessly". The couple are now enjoying a luxurious honeymoon in Naxos, Greece.

Your RSVP loved

• The opulent flower decorations hanging from the marquee ceiling.
• The gorgeous country themed bunting and hanging lanterns.
• The 4 piece band which played throughout the wedding breakfast and had people up dancing before the evening reception.
• The chief bridesmaid and bride speech - very touching!
• The live band 'Northern Exposure' who had all the guests dancing all night.

For more information about our bespoke wedding stationery services, contact Your RSVP on:

T: 0870 777 7289

E: sales@your-rsvp.co.uk

W: http://www.your-rsvp.co.uk/

Your Wedding Stationery - A quick guide to what's needed

Your Wedding Stationery

: A quick guide to what's needed

Your wedding stationery is usually the first impression you'll make to all of your guests and ultimately gives them a taste of what's to come. On the day itself, your stationery plays a very important part to co-ordinate with your chosen theme or colour but also informs everyone of what is going to happen, where they are to be seated to what they will even be eating.

With so many things to plan for and so many suppliers to talk to, www.your-rsvp.co.uk wants to make your wedding stationery choices as simple as possible. With this in mind, we've put together a quick checklist which details all of the items you need to consider in the run up to the wedding.

For Your Guests
Save the date cards – These can be sent out up to a year in advance and are perfect for weddings being held abroad or in peak wedding season (May-September)

Invitations for day and/or evening – Essential for every wedding and can be sent out 6-12 weeks in advance of the big day. Allow at least 4-5 weeks for RSVPs.

Guest information cards – For directions, gift lists, nearby accommodation, taxi's, special requests. It's here you can detail everything about your wedding day.

RSVP cards for day and/or evening – Sending RSVP cards generally mean you'll get an 80% better response than if you leave guests to reply themselves.

Thank you cards - You may wish to thank all of your guests for coming and sharing one of the most important days of your life.

Your Wedding Day
Order of service – A programme of your ceremony to include hymns, readings and music.

Table plan – Essential to help all of your guests be seated for the wedding breakfast.

Menus – Gives guests a choice of food, or details what they will be eating before the food arrives.

Place cards – Helps everyone know where they should sit and co-ordinates with the menus and table names / numbers.

Table names / numbers – Table names and table numbers help guests be seated quickly when they enter the wedding breakfast.

As one of the leading providers of online wedding stationery, we hope we have helped you with your most important wedding stationery choices. We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have – just call us on 0870 777 7289 or email amanda@your-rsvp.co.uk

Written by Amanda Powell, Creative Director of Your RSVP Wedding Stationery
Shop online at www.your-rsvp.co.uk for more ideas and advice.