Prior to starting Handmade and Hitched I read a lot of wedding blogs and browsed a lot of wedding websites. I know, you’re thinking what a terrible research project, browsing pretty things online all day. It was awful (not!). Anyway, out of all of the beautiful websites that I saw, one of my firm favourites was Wedding in Teacup.
Owned by Hester Lear, Wedding in a Teacup started off as a back bedroom business. Now, nearly two years later, Hester employs her own staff and has had her products featured in a long list of wedding magazines and blogs. Perfect Wedding, Wedding Magazine and Brides are to name just a few. Hester is also a guest blogger on Hitched and an approved vendor on popular wedding sites Rock My Wedding and Rock’N’Roll Bride.
The site design for Wedding in a Teacup expresses Hester’s love for retro, natural and quirky and is oh so easy to navigate. There’s also a beautiful blog with DIY suggestions on and real life wedding stories from customers. I’m over the moon to say that Hester has asked me to be a contributor to the blog and I will be submitting a little DIY tutorial of my own shortly – I’m so excited!
Wedding in a Teacup is a ‘must see’ for all brides wanting to add DIY touches and handmade features to their big day. There are a number of crafty wedding supplies and the ‘Inspire Me’ section of the site provides ideas about how to put pieces together to create your own customised look. I love this idea for jazzing up cutlery using washi tape or colourful paper bags and badges. When attention to detail goes right down to the cutlery, you know that you are creating something special that will stand out in people’s minds.
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| Washi tape and wooden cutlery suggestion. Image courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
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| Culinary bundle – DIY wedding suggestion. Image courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
In an interview with Hester I got to find out more about the ethos of Wedding in a Teacup, and as a recent bride herself, Hester gives some planning advice.
Do you make all Wedding in a Teacup items yourself?
We stock a bit of both – I wanted a luxurious, eclectic mix of handmade items and wonderful discoveries that I would buy in. We do hand-make a lot of our products here, and we have helpers too. Talented needlewoman Emily makes our lavender bags and personalised bunting, and we have a lovely couple who make the traditional straw hearts and favours, and a carpenter who carves our wooden hearts. I am in charge of the design side, so the invitations and jam-favour stickers and personalised posters are down to me. And we all take turns making the badges and stuff the seed packets!
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| Lavender Bag Favour. Image courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
Where do you find new inspiration when adding items to your shop?
I’m addicted to wedding blogs and wedding magazines and it’s become all the more addictive since Wedding in a Teacup has started appearing in both! Also, I’m never ‘off duty’, when I’m out and about a bit of my brain is watching, taking notes, and developing ideas. A lot of what we stock isn’t strictly for weddings so inspiration can come from anywhere!
Out of all of the items on your website which one is your favourite to make and why?
It has to be the invitations. It’s still a thrill to get a box of invitations back from our printers, check them through, and parcel them up like a lovely present for the new couple! I know how exciting it is when you first see your names linked in ink so it’s great to be part of that. I also love designing new invitations. I start by getting a mood board together with the ‘look’ I’m after, and it goes from there. There is also something so satisfying about making the badges too; they look so delicious when they are all done!
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| Magic Bus Wedding Stationary. Image Courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
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| Magic Bus Wedding Stationary. Image Courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
What is your best seller and why do you think this is?
Our Seed Packet Favours and Jam Favour Stickers are hugely popular, both Wedding in a Teacup exclusive designs. Brides love things to be personalised. And our Love birds invitation design is a firm favourite!
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| Love Birds Personalised Seed Packet Favour. Image courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
What motivates you to keep building on the business every day?
I just absolutely love it, so growing and developing it comes as naturally to me as breathing! And we’ve had a bit of a breather as things have slowed after the summer and early autumn, and it’s been great to take stock, get creative and actively build the business again. We’re launching our new collection in a few weeks, I’m very excited!
Are you a fan of the handmade wedding?
Absolutely! Our Get Creative section is something that I think really sets us apart from other wedding websites. We provide the tools; ribbon, stamps, stickers, tags, blank-canvas favour boxes, twine etc – that allows the bride to create something truly unique to her. We suggest ideas in our blogs and product pages too. Getting the bridesmaids and family round to make favours or stamp luggage tags is all part of the fun and brings everyone closer. It’s about enjoying the build up as well as the day!
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| Clockwise from top left – Drink Champagne Rubber Stamp, Music Lovers Cotton Ribbon, Shabby Black Wedding Words Paper Tape, Magic Key Charm, Oatmeal Card Luggage Tags. All images courtesy of Wedding in a Teacup. |
What is your number one piece of advice for couples planning their wedding?
Don’t allow planning the event to take over from the meaning of what you’re doing. A big part of our website is to take things pleasurably and lightheartedly, not add to the bride’s stress by implying that the big day must be utterly perfect and flawless! Yes, be efficient, take care – but don’t get too stressed. Increasingly, couples are styling their day, their way – choosing invitations, décor and favours that reflect who they are as people. I love that.
Lose yourself in wedding wonderland and visit Hester’s beautiful online wedding boutique www.weddinginateacup.co.uk or visit Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for even more Wedding in a Teacup inspiration and chat.
