how it started

The LLD Journey

Hello!

I'm Lottie, the owner and founder of Lottie Louise Designs Ltd. I started my venture in August 2017. I always had a passion for design and LOVED being creative! I started by making House Prints for my friends and family, on the side of working full time in Interior Design. After a few months, from there I invested in my first ever vinyl cutting machine, I was so excited! My creative flair really begun and I crafted and created so many different products, from personalised gifts to home decor items - I just loved how there were endless options working with colours, fonts, styles and products!

Time went on and my conservatory was filling up fast around me - full of packaging boxes, products and paperwork.. It was time to find a small workspace outside my home, and separate home/work life! So I took the plunge and quit my full time job, and officially became self employed. I searched and searched and found a cute little studio on a farm, where I stayed for 1.5 years.

I spent hours and hours each day and night researching, experimenting, exploring different products, investing in new items and trust me, there was a lot of trial and error along the way, there were tears, and times when I thought is this all worth it? I had to remember that things will go wrong at times, there were going to be ups and downs, quieter periods or days when you feel unmotivated, but that's so okay!! I learnt over the years that not everyone will love your work, not give you the reaction you want but I just kept reminding myself of all the happy customers, the rapid following we experienced, the plunge I took and the staff that I invested in to make the business keep growing and get that established name!

After a busy summer and Christmas at my cute studio creating lots of personalised gifts, COVID hit us, and lockdown had begun. I had 4 girls helping me at the time and where it was a very difficult period, juggling home life and making sure everyone was still safe, business had to resume! Introducing, our house signs and wow, what a year that was for LLD. We sold thousands of these as everyone was renovating their homes, we created so many different designs, making our brand so bespoke. Enquiries were flooding in for Business Signs and this is when Wedding enquiries also begun..

November 2021 - we moved into our huge studio! Still on the same farm, we expanded massively and I took that jump to 'go all out'. We created a showroom at the front end, for customers to come in and see our samples, feel the materials and see how it's all made. Then we created a making, painting and packing area across the length of the studio. While we still design and create Bespoke House Signs, Business Signage and gifts, we now predominately focus and create over 200 wedding orders each year. We have a team of 10 amazing creatives from Admin and Designers to Making Creatives and Quality Checking supervisors.

It's certainly been a journey and I'm so grateful every day to have such an amazing team around me, aswell as amazing customers supporting us from the very start! We are receiving more wedding enquiries than ever before, and not just from the UK. We're even heading to our first ever awards evening this November as we are currently 'Stationer of the Year' finalist for 2023.

We have some really exciting plans in place to expand even more by offering a full Hire collection for couples to have on their big day or for a special event. This will mean another studio unit to grow into to show off our fabulous backdrops and decor items!

We pride ourselves on high quality items, bespoke and hand finished to your requirements - matching your colour theme and style throughout. We provide same day customer service responses and are here whenever you need any assistance, either with an existing order or new enquiry. Offering showroom appointments, or phone consultations - don't hesitate to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!!

Lottie xx

get in touch

we can't wait to hear from you!

details we need from you

Interested in a Showroom Appointment? (CO7 7BN) Please provide your available times above and days. Some Saturdays are available. Mon-Fri 10-4pm
Are you interested in Hire Decor /Backdrops?

FAQS

It's completely up to you. We recommend sending to you as we send all orders out at least 4 weeks before your wedding date. This means you can have a peak at your stationery and take it to your venue without risk of it not being received. If you would prefer us to send directly to your venue - we would need you coordinators full name and details to ensure it goes to them and not get lost.

Yes you can pay in full, or use our payment plan. We have a payment plan in process where you can put a 50% deposit down to secure your slot (order has to be over £300 for the payment plan option) the remaining 50% balance will then be due 8 weeks before.

As long as you've secured your slot so we have allocated time for your order, you can add on extras up until 8 weeks before your date.

We will go by an estimated number from you for us to calculate your stationery, the guest count can then be added or taken away 8 weeks before your wedding, or before if you have final confirmation. e.g you think you'll have 70 guests, so we will calucate your invoice based on that, 50% is paid, then 8 weeks before your date when your remaining balance is due, you have 80 guests so we will add on the further 10 guests where applicable.

Yes! We charge a small additional fee to colour match your swatch with our paint specialists. We work with them on making sure the colour is as close match as possible! Please note that any paint colour used for acrylic is created using different pigments, powders and tones therefore can sometimes show little imperfections through the acrylic, however, we pride ourselves on using the best quality paint and techniques to ensure this has minimal chance of happening.

booking in

payment info / process.

We require a 50% deposit to secure your date and slot. Once your date is secured and we have received your payment, we will send out the relevant information to you for you to fill in and send back to us when you're ready.

Your remaining balance will then be due 8 weeks before your wedding date, this is also when your design slot is allocated and we will start creating your order!

We will send you digital mock ups before starting your order to ensure you are happy with all of the fonts, colours and layout.

We ship all our orders across the UK using tracked services. You can otherwise collect your order from our studio in Colchester, Essex.