Now more than ever, DIY is becoming more and more popular in weddings. For us, we love the idea of something that has been made with your own two hands. We’ve caught up with Sheila from Just Add You Stationery to give some inside tips into DIY wedding stationery.
Hi Sheila, tell us about what you do?
My partner Liam and I set up our business Just Add You in 2013 after an intensive business planning course. We supply a simple creative solution to a traditional task. When we were doing our market research I interviewed over 100 couples and upwards of 60% of them were hoping to DIY their own stationery as a way of controlling costs and having creative control over their own wedding. However the fears they had around DIY were a real obstacle for them. They were fearful of not being ‘artistic’ enough, fearful of battling with their printer, cutting the card and paper to size and of course the possibility of overspending! This is where we felt we could offer a real solution so we changed the direction of our business. Rather than supply fully-finished invitations we felt that we could use our skills to cater more for the growing number of couples hoping to DIY and supply a kit that would contain all of the components or ingredients required to make your own stationery. All of the cards, backing papers and inserts are printed and cut to size, literally ready for assembly with double-sisded tape which is also supplied in the box. The box we use is a luxury embossed heavy card box that can then be used afterwards for storing all of the precious mementos of their special day. In addition, we pop in a complimentary box of chocolates to share with willing participants, so throw an invitation-making party with your bridesmaids!
Do your couples pick out what they will need for their kit?
Absolutely, the couples have full control, they choose the pocket fold envelopes, size, colour, they choose the colour of the backing paper, they choose the colour of the insert and they can customise, for example the typefaces we use or add a flower or symbol. They can choose from a wide variety of samples that we have on our Facebook page – Just Add You Wedding Stationery, or our site Justaddyou.ie. We have sample service whereby the couple choose their invite as described above, we post out a fully personalised invitation to them in the post so that they get to see the quality of the finished item before they commit to buying a full kit. If they are happy to place an order, that’s when we get busy, we print and cut all of the inserts and backing papers and pack up their kit in the keepsake memory box with the double-sided tape, simple instruction leaflet and chocolates! The couples will only buy what they need as each kit is made to order and is priced by the number of invitations that are required.
Do they discuss stationery ideas with you beforehand?
Of course, my mobile number is on our Facebook page and any promotional material we hand out at Wedding Fairs and I welcome calls or emails from brides or grooms who might have an idea in mind and need some advice about choosing the colour or design. Through conversations on the phone or email we can create an invitation that perfectly suits the wedding and the couple in question.
You and Liam have backgrounds in Graphic Design and Art and Design Education. What made you decide you wanted to help people with their wedding stationery?
That’s right we both have an Honours Bachelor Degree in Graphic Design and have worked for years in the industry. We however have always wanted to be our own bosses and set up our own business. We did lots of research into many different areas and felt that by providing a DIY option for people that they could also achieve that feeling of satisfaction that you get from creating something yourself. Throughout our lives we have always had friends and family say things like ‘I wish I was artistic’ or I wish I was creative enough’. That’s when we had the idea to develop a business we where could use our skill to enable the end user to be part of the creative process. When we started researching different markets we found that the wedding stationery market was saturated with companies who were all offering fabulous invitations, but they were finished invitations and the DIY options seemed overly complicated with the need for special equipment such as printers and cutters. According to research over 60% of couples aim to make their own stationery and the trend for DIY is growing in popularity. This is where we saw an opportunity to provide a simple solution where we have taken the hassle out of DIY, by printing and cutting the various components the end user or the couples get to assemble and finish their own invitations. There is always the option to add embellishments or ribbons etc. but the real pain of making their own invitations is taken care of by us! We are also promoting the idea of having an invitation-making party with bridesmaids or family members and sharing the complimentary box of chocolates as a way of creating fun memories and adding to the excitement of an upcoming wedding!
What advice would you give to couples stressing over wedding planning?
My advice to couples planning their wedding is to get the big things taken care of as early as possible and enjoy choosing the smaller things! Take control of your to do list, don’t let the list control you. As soon as you have your venues and times set in stone, consider getting your invitations, especially if you hope to make them yourself, as you can make a few a night or a bunch of them over a few weekends. If they are sitting ready to post, the pressure will be off! I would say to couples that as soon as the wedding is over, you will feel at a loose end so as crazy as it sounds try to enjoy all the rushing around and decision-making as you will most certainly miss it when you come back from your honeymoon. Go to as many wedding fairs as you can, they are a great way to spend a weekend and there is always lots of bargains to be had, that…… and the free cake!
