56 LAURA BARFIELD, SIMPLY LAURA CALLIGRAPHY @simply.laura.calligraphy Tell us about your company... At Simply Laura Calligraphy, I offer bespoke wedding stationery to compliment your special day. From save the dates and invitations to onthe-day stationery such as welcome signs, and much more. Whether you have designs in mind or starting with a blank canvas, the possibilities for stationery are endless. What’s your most popular product? My most popular product is bespoke invitations, which bring me so much joy to create and design. I absolutely love taking a concept and expanding on it to create one-of-a-kind invitations for my clients. There really is no greater joy than packing them up and seeing clients’ faces and responses when they receive them. Why do you love what you do? I’m very passionate about helping couples realise their special day through stationery and love taking them on a journey from concept to ceremony. My aim is to create a seamless and stress-free experience in creating and organising your stationery, providing an end-to-end service for couples. Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? Choosing local suppliers for your weddings is a fantastic idea as many suppliers work closely with their local venues and have a great knowledge of the area. Often, I work alongside other suppliers to create a seamless and consistent package for couples. Additionally, working with local suppliers enables couples to have face-to-face consultations, which I find really helps me understand the client and bring their stationery to life. What’s your signature style? My signature style and what I pride myself on would have to be my handwritten calligraphy! This allows me to create a completely bespoke flair to the calligraphy, bringing that extra special touch to your stationery. GEMMA WIGHTMAN, GEMMA WIGHTMAN CERAMICS www.gemmawightmanceramics.com Tell us about your company... Gemma Wightman Ceramics, founded by me Gemma in 2004, is a ceramics studio that specialises in creating beautifully hand-thrown porcelain tableware. A defining characteristic of my brand is the focus on creating functional pieces that are quirky, bespoke, and visually striking. I offer a range of wedding gifts. From a full dinner service to start your new chapter together or a flower jug to adorn your home, to personalised mugs, or a customisable vase printed with your vows, I have a wealth of choices available. What’s your most popular product? Mugs have emerged as the most popular product. With a diverse range of designs, I offer mugs that cater to various tastes and occasions, making them a versatile and cherished item. One category that stands out is my collection of positive message mugs. These mugs feature uplifting and inspirational quotes or affirmations, designed to bring a smile to the face and brighten the day. Why do you love what you do? One of the aspects of my work that I cherish the most is the challenge of developing new pieces. It’s an exciting journey where I get to push my boundaries and bring fresh ideas to life. Seeing the joy on customers’ faces when they connect with my creations brings me a tremendous sense of achievement and purpose. The greatest gift of all is being able to work with clay all day. It’s not just a job for me; it’s a passion. Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? You’ll benefit from a more personalised service with local suppliers being so attentive. You’ll also help to promote sustainability by minimising the environmental impact associated with long-distance shipping and transportation. What’s your signature style? I’ve developed a signature style that embraces and celebrates the inherent qualities of the porcelain clay I use. Porcelain clay possesses a remarkable fluidity, and I have found a way to harness this characteristic to create pieces that exude grace and fluidity in their form. I aim to create pieces that are not only visually pleasing but also evoke a sense of connection and engagement. The combination of elegant curves and tactile surfaces invites the user to experience the piece beyond its visual beauty, encouraging a deeper connection with the object itself so that it is one of my mugs that your hand magnetically reaches for in the cupboard every morning for that first delectable cup of coffee!
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