Meet the wedding stationer - Kathy of Weddings byKathyB

Posted on 31st March 2017 by Papermilldirect
Filed under Wedding Stationary Business Advice, Meet the Wedding Stationer

Our wedding stationery business advice series has been very popular and we regularly receive emails asking for any help and tips for crafters to make the leap into setting up a stationery business for themselves. We thought you'd all be interested to hear from people who have made that leap and set up a full or part time wedding stationery business.  

If you have a stationery business selling handmade wedding invitations and you would like to be featured simply complete this form - Apply to be a featured wedding stationer

This week we meet wedding stationer Kathy Berrey of WeddingsbyKathyB

"A beautiful range of multi award winning, luxury, bespoke, handcrafted wedding stationery individually crafted in Worcestershire.  Created using only the finest materials, we work closely together to design stationery that you both fall in love with"

How and when did you start making wedding stationery? 

It started really by accident; I have always been a creative sort of person and used to make bespoke birthday cards, christening cards and thank you cards mainly for family and friends.

Then in the middle of 2012 my sister asked me to make her wedding stationery, I was petrified at the responsibility of doing something so different and important – but just did my best, listening to the type of invites she wanted and the colour theme.

She was thrilled at the results and the comments she got from her guests was overwhelming – no one had ever seen anything like them and everyone said I should do this for a living – which of course had never entered my head as I already had a part time secretarial job.

It was really my husband’s encouragement that spurred me on to create a small range of samples and exhibit at my first wedding fayre – since then I have never looked back and the ‘beast’ that is now Weddings by KathyB was born.

What have you found most challenging about running the business so far?

I think the most challenging part about running my own business is that I hate to say no to anyone – and then trying to fit their order into my planner. I often get out of bed in the morning, go into my craft room (still in pj’s) and work till late into the evening. I now work more hours than I have ever done, so much so that I have recently “promoted” my husband to chief pocket fold maker, just to assist with my work load.

Where do you take inspiration for your designs?

I am asked this question so many times from brides and grooms at wedding fayres and not just about my stationery but about other things like different table plans and confetti ideas. I don’t really know where my inspirations come from – as I’ve said, I have always been a very creative sort of person and can visualise things quite easily. Many a time have I gone to bed and dreamt about a new design or a different way to do something – then in the morning been eager to make it. I love creating something unique with different textures and unusual materials.

Do you have a favourite style/trend at the moment?

This is a difficult question as my favourite design can change weekly…….but at the moment I think it’s a couple of my new ranges that I have created – one using foiling and the other using glitter papers.

What tips would you give to a couple planning on making their own wedding stationery? 

That’s an easy one to answer – don’t underestimate the time it’s going to take you to make them, format the wording and choose the right style of invite that meets all your needs.

The latter is your starting point, choosing the right style of invite for example a pocket style invite is ideal if you have lots of information to send to guests like directions to your venue, options for accommodation if you have guests traveling from around the country and of course RSVP’s / food options.

Don’t use cheap materials – quality counts as very often your wedding save the date/invitation is the first thing any of your guests are going to know or see about your wedding, so if its unusual and of great quality you will set the tone for your wedding right from day one

If you'd like to see more of Kathy's work visit her website www.weddingsbykathyb.co.uk or follow her on Facebook 

We asked Kathy why she chooses Papermilldirect products!

Do you have a stationery business selling handmade wedding invitations? Would you like to be featured?  Simply complete the form here - Apply to be a featured wedding stationer

Tagged: wedding stationery business advice, starting a business, wedding stationer worcestershire