Creating the Perfect Stapled Booklet: Your Guide to a Stunning Wedding Order of Service
A wedding order of service is a cherished keepsake, and a well-designed booklet adds a touch of elegance to your special day. Whether you're using Publisher, Adobe InDesign, Word, or even Canva, the principles of creating a professional-looking stapled booklet remain the same. This guide focuses on a typical 8-page order of service, offering practical tips to ensure your booklet looks beautiful and feels luxurious.
The Foundation: Materials Matter
For a truly special touch, consider using silk paper. Its smooth, elegant texture elevates the experience and feels lovely in the hands of your guests. Our recommended format is an 8-page booklet, using one A4 sheet of card stock for the cover and one A4 sheet of regular paper for the inner pages. This provides a sturdy and refined feel.
Designing for Success: Setting Up Your Template
Regardless of the software you choose, the following steps are crucial for a professional finish:
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A5 Template: Create a template that's A5 in size (148mm x 210mm). This is the final, trimmed size of each page in your booklet.
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Safe Margin Guide: Set a safe margin guide at 145mm x 207mm. This is your inner boundary. Keep all critical information, such as text and important parts of images, within this "safe margin" area. This prevents text from being cut off during trimming.
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Bleed Area: Define the "bleed" area. Bleed is the extra space beyond the trim line that allows designs to extend to the very edge of the finished page. Set the bleed area to 151mm x 213mm.
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The Importance of Bleed: Images and colored backgrounds that you want to reach the edge of the finished page must extend into the bleed area. Anything within the bleed area will be trimmed off, ensuring a clean, edge-to-edge print.
Designing Your Order of Service:
With your template set up, you're ready to design! Remember these key points:
- Consistency is Key: Maintain a consistent design aesthetic throughout the entire booklet for a cohesive look.
- Readability Matters: Choose fonts that are easy to read, even at a smaller size.
- High-Resolution Images: Use high-resolution images to avoid pixelation and ensure a crisp, professional look.
- Proofread Carefully: Thoroughly proofread all text to eliminate errors.
- Repeat the Setup: Duplicate your template setup eight times. This will give you the eight pages required for your stapled order of service booklet.
Saving and Submitting Your Design:
When saving your design, follow these crucial steps to ensure a smooth printing process:
- PDF with Bleed and Crop Marks: Always save your design as a PDF file. Critically, include bleed and crop marks. Crop marks indicate where the page should be trimmed. The bleed ensures your design extends to the edge.
- Don't Hesitate to Ask for Help: If you're struggling with PDF settings, bleed, or crop marks, don't hesitate to seek advice from your printing service. They can often provide guidance or even review your file for compatibility.
By following these guidelines, you can create a stunning and memorable wedding order of service booklet that will be cherished by your guests. Remember, attention to detail and a professional finish will make all the difference in presenting this important element of your special day.
