Wedding Season And Custom Orders
Wedding season is here! It’s time to get prepped for custom orders.
The invitation is propped upon the mantelpiece, and the long-anticipated day approaches. A wedding! Maybe it will be an elegant garden party aesthetic, with a champagne reception on the sweeping lawns of an old Manor House and a music-filled reception inside its cool walls. It might have a family festival vibe, with hay bales and sunshine, a bouncy castle, a flower-festooned marquee and bounteous bunting. Or maybe it will be a small, intimate celebration, relaxed and serene, with plenty of time to catch up with old friends. However, the bridal couple choose to celebrate their special day, one thing can be guaranteed; it will be completely unique and memorable, reflecting their personalities and stories. With such an emphasis on individuality, weddings offer a perfect opportunity for crafters to get in on the fun, with a range of handmade, unique products which will add a distinctive stamp to any celebration.
Calligraphy plays a central role at many a wedding. Most couples will want the same font on all their wedding stationery, beginning with save-the-date cards and invitations. They may also choose a specific motif or decorative edging on each card and a colour theme which runs throughout the day. While this is an opportunity to offer a completely bespoke service, having a range of fonts, colours and motifs on your website from which a couple can choose can be a good starting point. For the actual day, table plans, place names and menus will be needed, and you could also offer welcome signs and a banner.
Couples are increasingly aware of both the value for money and of curating a celebration which treads lightly on our beautiful earth. Again, this is an ideal opening for crafters. Remember to flag up your environmental credentials on your website; locally or ethically sourced raw materials, local staff and any input you have in your local community. Emphasise the quality and longevity of your products too, as well as their complete uniqueness.
Each couple wants their day to be memorable and totally unique, and one way to ensure this is to give guests wedding favours which will bring back memories of the day. Candles, ceramics or a small bar of handmade soap can all make wonderful gifts. If your craft business could produce such a range of small gifts, it could be worth advertising them as wedding favours…and then be ready to produce a bulk order!
For producers of beautiful, distinctive textiles, you could consider branching out into wedding decor. Bunting, garlands and table runners all tie the wedding theme together with colour and style. A marquee or village hall is transformed from an empty space to a wedding wonderland of dreams when festooned with bunting and overflowing with floral adornment. Bare trestle tables are also transfigured by crisp, white linen tablecloths accompanied by table runners of the bridal colour theme stretching their length, sparkling glasses and gleaming cutlery. Handcrafted bunting and runners can be made not only to a specific colour theme, but also with any design, motif or even the couple’s initials. A stunning felt or cotton banner will add a distinct sense of style to any wedding and, in addition, would become a precious keepsake of the day. A banner will tell the couple’s story through its wording, colour and design and provide a visual memory of a special day to be treasured for years ahead. Why not advertise this as a wedding gift? Maybe a few close friends or family members could club together to have one made for the wedding couple; a truly unique gift.
Weddings, even the most modest of celebrations, will always involve dressing up as the bride, bridesmaids and wedding party all adorn themselves with jewellery and hair accessories. This is a wonderful opportunity to create pieces which will be the crowning glory of the bride’s outfit. Whether she’s going for elegant chic, bohemian, vintage or any other theme, you can craft tiaras, hair pins, brooches, earrings and necklaces to bring that final sparkle to her outfit. And don’t forget the bridesmaids and the mother of the bride.
We hope you are overflowing with ideas of how your particular business can come on board with the wedding season. The next thing you will need to ensure you have in place is the correct maker business liability. While not all insurance is a legal requirement, it is recommended, and if you are going to be active in the wedding market, where nerves may be slightly on edge and larger sums of money spent than would usually be the case, we especially recommend that you consider it carefully. Maker business liability will include both public and product liability insurance. Public liability insurance covers you for any harm or damage done to a member of the public on your premises or by an action of yours or your employees elsewhere. For example, an accident caused by a slip or trip hazard either on your own premises or if you are exhibiting at a wedding fair. Product liability insurance covers you for any claims made against your products; it covers legal defence and compensation, even if it is not your fault. If you are exhibiting at wedding fairs, you might also like to consider business item cover, which means you can ensure any valuable items you are taking off your premises are covered. Of course, this also gives cover for your own premises too; it includes such items as card payment machines, cameras for website photography, laptops, tools, stock and raw materials. We’re a family business ourselves and communicate directly with each of our customers, so pick up the phone or drop us a line, and either Sam or Naomi will be here to talk you through the best maker business liability for your distinct business.
We hope you are inspired by the happy relationship between weddings and crafters, and many meaningful and lasting connections are made as you further explore the possibilities!