What is alternative wedding stationery?
When people ask me what I do, I say “I design alternative wedding stationery”. But what does that mean?
The alternative scene - sometimes abbreviated to ‘alt’, refers to a subculture that sits outside the mainstream. This could be particular genres of music - such as grunge, rock, punk or metal. It could be expressed though personal style and fashion, like having piercings, tattoos, wearing vintage clothes, band T-shirts or riding a skateboard.
My experience so far in running this business has shown me that the folk who resonate with this counter-culture don’t want to follow all the traditions, rules and expectations when it comes to their wedding celebrations, either. They want a day which reflects their tastes, lifestyles and personalities. They want their day, their way - in a way that feels more special than your average day but not so alien and formal that they don’t feel like themselves.
You don’t have to be a punk or have pink hair or be covered in tattoos to want alternative invites - and I have no expectations about your music tastes, clothes, hobbies or anything else*. What will bring you and I together is creating something special, offbeat, non-traditional and personal to you two.
* With Bells On! is an indie company run by one person - that’s me, Carly (she/her). I have no expectations about you, your partner, your pronouns, your relationship or your bodies. If you’re in love, that’s awesome - and it would be an honour to be part of your plans. I will always accommodate the best way to work together around your schedules and your personal needs.
What is traditional wedding stationery?
The best way to describe it would be pretty. Think delicate eucalyptus borders, watercolour flowers and fruits, pale pastels and muted palettes. The fonts are classic serif fonts like Baskerville and Garamond, complimented by timeless san-serif typefaces like Gill Sans and hand-rendered calligraphy.
Wedding stationery covers all the items that get sent out to your guests before the day - like your save the dates and invites, and all the paper goods on the day itself. That’ll be your orders of service, welcome signs, table plans, menus, place cards, bar signs and anything else you have to signpost your guests around the venue.
I want to be clear, I have no hate towards this traditional style! It can be very beautiful, personal and meaningful and completely fit the vibe of your celebrations. That’s wonderful, and if you need some recommendations of stationers who excel at this type of work, get in touch and I’d be so happy to hook you up.
Why do you create non-traditional wedding stationery?
The short version is - Calligraphy, watercolours and foliage just aren’t my thing. I like high contrast - whether that is softer tones balanced out with sharp patterns and shapes, or it’s monochrome or - my fave of them all - clashy, bold, vibrant hues that are a huge celebration and riot of colour. Pattern, shape, typography and even the negative space in between - these elements each give an opportunity to say something about you, set the tone for the day, and offer a sense of fun, quirk and personality.
The alternative designs I create still hold a certain majesty. Even if a mosh pit is your second home, that doesn’t mean you’ll want your save the dates that look like they’ve been in one too! The products I craft and send to you are high-quality, the paper feels luxurious and they’re put together with a lot of care. I just happen to be listening to a soundtrack of post-hardcore whilst I work 😉 (hit me up for playlists!)
I’ve been a graphic designer for 14 years. Woah, that makes me feel older than I want to! In that time I’ve created brands, digital products, websites, apps and services for lots of different people with varying needs. I love designing untraditional wedding stationery - and helping guide nearlyweds through the design and planning process. I get to interact with people, flex my creativity and ultimately make couples happy. Sure, I’m not a brain surgeon, but I’ve watched my stationery transform frazzled marriers-to-be into grinning, chilled out spouses and that’s enough positive impact for me.
One of us wants untraditional wedding stationery and the other doesn’t. What do we do?
No worries. It sounds like you two need a fusion! I can take my design experience - both mainstream and otherwise - and create invites and signage that live harmoniously between the two styles. That might mean we have lighter, more minimal invites cut to a funky shape, or perhaps one of my house collection designs in romantic pastel shades. The thing is, if you work with me, I’ll be your personal graphic designer - and I can come up with a few options until we find the right fit.
It’s often hard to articulate your ideas and needs and to brief a creative designer - so you can show me what you’re after through Pinterest links, sketches or any other mode that works for you.
Can you give some examples of alternative wedding styles?
Of course! Alt wedding suppliers - whether that’s stationery designers or other vendors like cake makers, photographers, videographers, outfit designers, entertainers and florists - will create and document weddings which are:
Rock n Roll - Think sunglasses, leather jackets, DMs under a dress
Gothic - Dark, moody, atmospheric
Celestial - Moon phases, crystals, magick
Punk - Rough around the edges, mohawks, sewn patches
Disco - Pinks, oranges, mirrorballs, retro 60s
Tropical - Fruits, flowers, vibrant colours and spicy food trucks
Vegas - Neon lights, Elvis, elopements, burgers on the Strip
Rainbow-filled - Confetti canons, smoke bombs, wedding squad in different colours
Nerdy - Wizards, Warhammer, dinosaurs, Dungeons & Dragons
Skater - Half-pipes, ball caps and two-tones Vans
If that sounds like your cup of tea, then let me know. I can recommend wedding suppliers that you might love!
My current favourite alt wedding suppliers
Lily Kerbey
Lily has a vast repertoire of songs from alternative bands like Slipknot, Blink 182 through to crowd pleasers from S Club 7 and Bonnie Tyler. She sings these songs in an acoustic style, and is perfect for couples who want their music tastes at their wedding but who don’t want to alienate their grandparents.
Electric Reel
Wedding videos that make you feel like a rockstar for the day. The style is fun, energetic and with zero cheese. Georgia will make you feel at ease, like an extra friend is there; Just one who can make you a badass wedding video!
Coy Biscuit
Esi makes DELISH biscuits in awesome designs, that could act as favours, placenames, snacks and decorations at your wedding. There’s some house designs or you can go bespoke, but either way they are super cool and taste amazing.
Stunning blooms, gorgeous colours and a playful style that guests will remember. The bouquets and floral set ups are so pretty without ever being boring or repeatable.
If you ever have any questions about wedding stationery, wedding planning, suppliers or styling - Just give me a shout. Doing this really is a joy and I’m always happy to help. And if you want to get started on your own alternative wedding stationery - send me a message or book in a free call. Let’s chat!
Carly ✌️