| Free from AI ~ This article is written by Tara Collette (human). |
If you're looking for the perfect, high-quality signage for your wedding day... you've landed on the right page! In this blog, I will tell you all you need to know about my velvet wedding banners and how you can order your very own.
Firstly, if you're new here, my name is Tara Collette! I'm a full-time fabric banner maker based in Manchester.
A simple way to transform your wedding venue
Wedding banners are a great way to add a personal touch and showcase your style on your big day. My couples usually opt to display their names, date, venue on their banners, but occasionally, some share a meaningful quote or first dance lyrics - making the banner a fab focal point for any ceremonies, sweetheart tables and after-parties.
Banners are a great keepsake
Not only are my banners great for your big day, but they're also the perfect keepsake, which can be hung in your home forever!
With over 8 years of banner-making, my banners are both well-made and made to last. The oldest banner in Manchester's People's History Museum dates back to 1821(!) I like to imagine the banners I create might one day be passed down through generations as a legacy, or maybe end up in the People's History Museum too.
Where are the banners made?
I specialise primarily in crafting velvet wedding banners from my dreamy little textile studio in Manchester, although I create banners for lots of other occasions and venues too.
The studio is in a grade-two listed mill and, if you know much about the north of England, it probably comes as no surprise that it used to be a cotton spinning mill (which I find quite ironic). I'm super fascinated by old mill buildings, and so it's a real treat to be based inside one, which is filled with lots of other creatives and artists.
The roof has been painted white, yet yellow oil stains appear no matter how many times it's painted over. I've been told this is from the old machinery that used to sit on the floor above.
I have been creating banners under the pink glow of my neon sign since 2017, but it was only in 2020 that I created my first-ever wedding banner. I take a lot of pride in manufacturing the banners from scratch in my studio, all by myself. From the original design conception to the final packaging and shipping, nothing is outsourced; everything is made here by me.
How are the wedding banners made?
With my background in Graphic Design, you can be sure your wedding banner typography will be laid out precisely and well.
Cut and stitched banners (!!)
Wedding banners are created from scratch in my studio: cutting the base from my fabric rolls, which I source from a local business, hemming the banner base, cutting each letter and aligning them with precision before appliquing them.
And just in case you don't know what applique means (don't worry, most people don't): applique is when a piece of fabric is placed over another and sewn down.
I would like to raise awareness here regarding a few other makers that have more recently cropped up, who simply send designs for print. As someone who has been an admirer of traditional crafts for many years, I can't help but question their use of the word 'handmade' in such an instance.
All this to say, I'm not completely against the way of making banners, but it feels a lot less personal and more like a mass production, money-making scheme off the back of my business, rather than a passion and love for creating a truly handcrafted masterpiece.
I'd like to thank all my customers who understand and appreciate the hard work I put into creating you all truly handmade banners.
Banner Sizing
- Mini Portrait: 45cm x 55cm
- Small Portrait: 70cm x 90cm
- Medium Portrait: 120cm x 140cm
- Large Portrait: 140cm x 160cm
Always give or take a centimetre or two, after all, these are completely handmade wedding banners. It is also possible for me to create banners tailored to fit any space or hanging that you need, of course - just drop me a message!
This banner is the 'Mini Portrait - 45cm x 55cm'.
Photographer: Mark Horton
Banner Pricing
My custom banner pricing ranges from £150 to £600, and my pre-made banner pricing ranges from £30 to £150. You can view a more in-depth version of my pricing on the Banners for Weddings page.
Where do you ship to?
The UK currently make up 55% of my custom wedding banners, followed closely by the USA. On the wall in my studio, I have a small colour-in USA map. I've made it a small personal goal to one day have every state coloured in - I'm about halfway there now!
Due to new GPSR regulations, I have currently halted shipping to the EU due to a lack of understanding surrounding the new regulations. I'm working hard to understand this more, and hopefully I'll be shipping there again soon.
I also ship to other countries, such as Canada, Australia, etc.
10 Custom Wedding Banners (per month)
Each month, I only accept 10 custom wedding banner orders (sometimes a little more over the summer wedding season). It's important to get booked in as soon as you can, as I often become fully booked. I only accept this amount as every single banner is made from scratch; it's a lengthy process for me, and I want to spend a good amount of time on each banner stand for them to be equally as perfect as the next.
Once you place your order form, I will create three mock-up designs tailored to your request. We then work together via e-mail or Zoom call (Apprentice style!) to create your final perfect banner design.
Custom wedding banner to match your stationery
Some of my couples share their Pinterest boards, fonts or stationery so that I can create a banner that aligns seamlessly with the style of their wedding.
In 2024, Anna and Ged shared their wedding invitation with me and asked if I would be able to create a similar theme throughout the wedding banner - yes, yes, YES! I had an absolute ball recreating the squiggle shapes and colour matching their fabrics, and just look how fabulous it all turned out.
Photography: Laura Wood
Pre-made Wedding Banners
I also offer some ready-to-go banners on my online shop. These are great for tight deadlines where it may not be possible for me to create a custom banner for you, and are also a more affordable option for smaller budgets.
Studio Sustainability
My pre-made banners are often used by utilising off-cuts from larger banners to minimise fabric waste (sustainable queen). I also make scrunchies to sell at wedding shows and donate fabric to LGBTQ+ organisations for Pride banner-making workshops.
Banners for hire
If a custom or pre-made banner isn't for you, then I also have a range of banners to hire (UK only), like my 'I love you, always, forever' banner. These range from £50 to £90 per day and come equipped with a dowel and string ready to hang up effortlessly, and a pre-paid postage label to ship it back when you're done - super easy!
Ways to display your wedding banner
I have a couple of blog posts on fab ways to display your wedding banners, as well as looking after them:
Creative tips for displaying Wedding Banners on Sweetheart Table
Banner Rods in the UK: A Guide to Affordable and Stylish Options for Your Custom Fabric Banner
Discover the Best Places to Buy Banner Rods in the USA
How to Safely Iron Velvet Wedding Banners: Step-by-Step Guide
Want a free sample pack?
For £4.00, you can order a fabric sample pack so you can see the stunning velvet colours in person before deciding what to opt for. If you go ahead and place a banner order with me, the £4.00 will be deducted from your final invoice.
So what are you waiting for? Order a velvet fabric sample pack today!
