Downey Luxury Stationery
Downey is a third-generation family business in London that designs and prints bespoke wedding invitations, save the dates, menus and presentation boxes.
Downey Luxury Stationery
Downey was established in 1903 and is now a third-generation family business. It began as an engraving company in Mayfair and today works from a studio in central London, with printing and finishing carried out in-house and a production site in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. There is also an office in New York. Visits are by appointment.
Wedding stationery is made to order. Couples begin with a consultation to say what would make the invitations personal, and can bring a Pinterest board or have a mood board put together for them. From there the studio can draw on an in-house illustrator for floral designs, calligraphy for the wording, and a bespoke monogram that carries through the invitations and table stationery. The team has produced many thousands of wedding invitations.
“The first impression of your wedding often begins with the stationery, making it the perfect opportunity to captivate your guests, spark excitement for the big day, and set the tone for one of the most memorable moments of your life.”
Downey
The craft is varied. Published commissions include engraved invitations in rose gold ink, letterpress on cotton card, foil blocking, blind embossing, deckle edging, hand-applied wax seals and laser-cut frames. Envelopes can be lined by hand, and invitations can be delivered in a presentation box made for the wedding. One suite for a wedding in Rome opened to a pop-up of the Trevi Fountain, with a ceremony invitation, a party invitation, a dinner menu and escort cards, and took three months to complete.
The work follows the wedding. Commissions include an invitation booklet for an olive grove in Greece, an engraved invitation for a chateau, a multi-day Indian wedding suite in turquoise, magenta and tangerine with laser cutting and copper foil, and stationery for couples marrying in village churches, in Ibiza and on Lake Como. Downey was awarded the Stationers' Company Warrant in 2021 and is a Living Wage Employer.
From the first message to the day itself
- 01Book a consultation
Call or write to arrange an appointment at the London studio. Tell the team what would make the invitations personal, and share a Pinterest board or ask for a bespoke mood board.
- 02Choose the design
Options include illustration by the in-house illustrator, calligraphy for the wording and a bespoke monogram used across invitations and table stationery. The team guides the choice of materials and printing techniques.
- 03Review prototypes
For larger pieces the studio makes mock-ups, so a couple can compare designs and finishes before the final version is chosen.
- 04Production
Printing and finishing are done in-house, using techniques such as engraving, letterpress, foil blocking, embossing, deckle edging and laser cutting. Complex suites take longer: a multi-level invitation box for a wedding in Rome took three months.
- 05Presentation and delivery
Invitations can be finished with hand-lined envelopes, wax seals and a presentation box made for the occasion, and the stationery can be extended to menus and escort cards.
What couples say
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Based in London, serving London, Lake Como, Rome
4th Floor, 1 Little Marlborough Street, London W1F 7BH, United Kingdom
- Their base
- Venues nearby
Services and fees
Wedding invitations
- Bespoke wedding invitation suites
- Save the date cards
- Engraving, letterpress and foil blocking
- Blind embossing and debossing
- Laser-cut frames and details
- Deckle edging and hand-lined envelopes
- Wax seals
Design
- Initial consultation and mood boards
- In-house illustration
- Calligraphy
- Bespoke monograms
- Prototype mock-ups
Event stationery
- Dinner menus including scroll menus
- Escort cards
- Table stationery carrying the couple's monogram
- Information and event cards for multi-day weddings
Packaging
- Invitation presentation boxes
- Laser-cut and linen-covered boxes
- Boxes with pop-up illustrations
Fees on request
They quote for each wedding, from your date, guest numbers and plans.
Ask for a proposalBefore you write to them
How long has Downey been making stationery?
Downey was established in 1903 and is a third-generation family business, now based in central London.
What does Downey make for weddings?
Bespoke wedding invitation suites, save the date cards, menus, escort cards and presentation boxes, designed and produced to order.
How much do wedding invitations cost?
Each project is priced to its brief. The first consultation covers what you would like, and the team then suggests materials and techniques.
Can Downey make invitations for a wedding abroad?
Yes. Published work includes stationery for weddings in Rome, Greece, France and Ibiza, and invitations can be made for a wedding on Lake Como or in a village church in the UK.
How long does a bespoke suite take to make?
It depends on the design. A multi-level invitation suite and box for a wedding in Rome took three months, so complex pieces need to be commissioned well ahead of the invitation date.
What should I bring to a first meeting?
Anything that shows your style: a Pinterest board, a colour palette or your flowers. The studio can also create a bespoke mood board for you.
Where can I meet the team?
Appointments are held at the London studio at 1 Little Marlborough Street. There is also an office in New York, and production is in Great Yarmouth. All visits are by appointment.
Does Downey offer monograms and illustration?
Yes. A bespoke monogram can be used across invitations and table stationery, and an in-house illustrator can create floral designs.
Is your date free with Downey Luxury Stationery?
A few details help them reply with a proposal, not a brochure.
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