A little conversation that led somewhere

I got chatting to some of the team about what I’ve been doing since our wedding and told them all about Elle & Ink. I showed them some of the stationery I’ve been designing and a little of what I’ve been working on behind the scenes.

And then they asked if I’d like to be added to their list of recommended stationery suppliers.

I honestly wasn’t expecting it. Especially because Elle & Ink is still very much a work in progress. I’m still figuring things out, developing my collections, building my portfolio and learning as I go.

But I think that’s what made the moment feel even more special.

Someone outside of my little corner of the internet looked at what I’ve been creating and thought, yes, we’d like you to be part of this.

And that meant a lot.

From bride to stationery designer

There’s something quite lovely about the idea that the place where my own wedding stationery journey began could now become part of the journey I’m building with Elle & Ink.

Our wedding day was actually one of the things that sparked the idea for this business in the first place. I remember how much time and thought went into all those little paper details — and how much I enjoyed the process of bringing everything together.

At the time, I obviously had no idea that a few years later I’d be returning to the same place as a stationery designer!

Now I’m working towards helping other couples create those same little details for their own wedding days.

And hopefully, I’ll get to do that for couples celebrating at The Woodman too.

It feels like a little bit of a full-circle moment.

Still building

I’m very conscious that Elle & Ink is still in its early days. I’m not going to pretend that I’ve suddenly got everything figured out, because I absolutely haven’t! I’m still working around my full-time job. I’m still building my signature collection. I’m still learning about running a business and working out exactly where I want Elle & Ink to go.

But I’m beginning to realise that maybe I don’t need to wait until everything is finished before I share the good bits. This is part of the journey too. The small wins (well, it feels a pretty huge win, actually!) The unexpected opportunities. The conversations that lead somewhere you weren’t expecting.

And those moments where you realise that something you’ve been quietly working on is starting to become real.

Building slowly

One of the things I’m learning as I build Elle & Ink is that good foundations take time.

It’s very easy to look around online and feel like you should be doing more — more products, more posts, more followers, more launches.

It’s easy to fall into that trap, but I really don’t want to rush this.

I’m building Elle & Ink alongside a full-time job, so sometimes progress happens in little pockets of time. An evening here, a weekend there, a few hours when I can squeeze them in. And I’m learning that it’s okay.

I’d rather take the time to work out what I want Elle & Ink to be, develop my designs properly and build something I’m genuinely proud of than rush everything just to keep up.

I’m also making sure that my current Bride and Groom are getting all they’ve requested me to help them with for their wedding day. Once the invitation suites were done and dusted, they asked me to help with:

• Evening reception invitations
• Menu cards and name place cards
• The seating plan
• Other bits of wedding day paper.

So while there might not always be lots happening visibly from the outside, there’s still plenty going on behind the scenes.

Looking ahead

I’m really looking forward to working with The Woodman and hopefully helping some of their future couples bring their wedding stationery ideas to life.

It’s a lovely opportunity for Elle & Ink and, for me personally, it feels like a little bit of a full-circle moment.

From being a bride planning our own wedding there, to coming back a couple of years later as a stationery designer.

Not quite where I imagined this little business would take me — but I’m very glad it has.

So, here’s to taking the opportunities when they come, building slowly and seeing where this next chapter takes me.