How Bespoke Party Props Work: From Brief to Delivery
Hundreds of the orders we take each year are for something that is not already on the website. It might be a theme we do not stock, a colour palette chosen for a venue, a name in a particular style or a completely original shape.
That is what bespoke means at Zebra Print: you give us the brief, our team creates the design, and nothing is printed until you have seen and approved your proof.
The process is straightforward, but a clear brief and a prompt proof approval make a real difference. Here is how it works, what to send us and how much time to allow.
The Bespoke Process at a Glance
- Choose a bespoke product and place your order using an email address you check regularly.
- Reply to our design team with your wording, colours, theme and any useful reference images.
- Check your digital proof and tell us clearly if you want anything changed.
- Approve the final design once the wording, colours, layout and size are right.
- We print and dispatch it from our Nottingham workshop, with delivery time added after dispatch.
Our design team works Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm. Replying quickly is the biggest thing you can do to keep your order moving.
What Can Be Made Bespoke?
If you can explain the look you need, we can usually find a way to create it. That might include personalised names and ages, original themed cut-outs, welcome signs, seating plans, table names, orders of the day, backdrop panels, sail boards or pull-up banners.
You can order a single bespoke piece; you do not need to place a bulk order. If you want a logo included, you must own it or have permission to use it.
The main limit is copyright. We can use a reference image to understand the colours, mood and overall direction you like, but we cannot copy another company’s artwork or reproduce protected characters without permission. Instead, we will create an original design that fits the brief. If you are unsure, ask before ordering and we will tell you what is possible.
What to Include in Your Brief
You do not need finished artwork or professional design files. The most useful briefs normally include four things:
- The exact wording: include the spelling, capital letters and punctuation you want us to use. It is better to type out “Freya’s 1st Birthday” than leave us to guess between different versions.
- The colours: send a hex code, Pantone reference or a clear photo of the item you want the design to work with, such as a balloon garland, bridesmaid dress or venue detail. Screens, photographs and printed materials can display colour differently, so tell us if colour matching is particularly important.
- The approximate size and setting: a sign on a table needs different proportions from a sign at an entrance. Knowing where the piece will be used is often more helpful than receiving an exact measurement with no context.
- One or two reference images: these help us understand whether you want something playful, minimal, colourful or understated. They do not need to show the exact finished product, and we will not copy somebody else’s artwork.
The Proof Stage Is There for Changes
Every bespoke order receives a digital proof by email before printing. This is not just a formality; it is your opportunity to check the design and request changes.
If the first version is not right, tell us what needs adjusting. Specific feedback such as “make the name larger” or “use less pink and more sage green” is much easier to act on than “I am not sure about it.”
Before approving the proof, check:
- names, spelling and punctuation;
- dates, ages and other numbers;
- colours and overall style;
- the selected product and size; and
- the final layout.
Once you approve the proof, that is the version we will print.
How Long Does a Bespoke Order Take?
Allow up to 5–7 working days from order to dispatch for a bespoke or personalised item. That time covers our initial questions, your reply, the design, your proof, any agreed changes, your approval and production. It can take longer if we are waiting for information or approval from you.
Delivery time is additional. Free standard UK delivery normally takes 4–5 working days after dispatch. Express delivery is not available on bespoke or personalised orders.
For a fixed event date, allowing two to three weeks gives the order time to move through design, approval, production and delivery. Enter your event date when ordering. Bespoke and personalised orders qualify for our Event-Date Guarantee only after we have confirmed that the date can be met and you approve your artwork by the deadline we give you.
If your event is closer than that, ask us before ordering. We will tell you honestly whether the timing is achievable.
How Much Do Bespoke Party Props Cost?
The custom design and digital proof are included in the product price.
- Bespoke Easel Sign: £30 for A2 (59.4 × 42cm) or £40 for A1 (84.1 × 59.4cm).
- Bespoke Mini Bundle: £88 for a custom-designed mini set.
- Bespoke Full Bundle: £140 for full-size statement pieces.
- 4ft Bespoke Sail Board: £70.
- Bespoke Pull-Up Banner: £90 for a 2100 × 800mm roller banner.
Free standard UK delivery is included.
If You Order for Clients Regularly
Much of our bespoke work is for balloon artists, event stylists, party planners and venue dressers who are working from a client brief and a fixed event date.
If that is you, include the event date and as much of the client brief as you already have. For a repeat design, include the previous order number if possible so we can check whether the earlier artwork is available. This can make the conversation quicker, but we will still send a proof for approval before printing.
What Are the Props Made From?
Most bespoke party props, signs and backdrop boards are printed on 5mm foamex in our Nottingham workshop. It is a rigid, waterproof board commonly used for professional signage, making it suitable for indoor displays and short-term outdoor use.
The exact material and any included support or stand depend on the product, so check the individual product page before ordering. Secure larger pieces properly in windy conditions and take care when transporting or storing the printed surface if you want to reuse it.
Bespoke Party Prop Questions
Do I need to supply artwork?
No. Most customers send a description, their wording, preferred colours and one or two reference images. The custom design and proof are included.
Can you match a specific colour?
Send a hex code, Pantone reference or clear photograph and tell us what you are matching. We will design towards that colour, but screens, photographs and printed materials can vary, so an exact match cannot always be guaranteed.
What if I do not like the first design?
Reply with clear feedback before approving it. The proof stage is there so agreed changes can be made before the design is printed.
Can you copy something I have seen online?
We can use it to understand the style, colours and direction you like, but we cannot reproduce another company’s artwork or protected characters without permission. We will create an original design for your brief instead.
Is there a minimum order?
No. You can order a single bespoke product rather than buying in bulk.
I have a fixed event date. Will it arrive in time?
Enter the event date when ordering. Allow up to 5–7 working days to design, approve and dispatch the order, followed by 4–5 working days for free delivery. A bespoke order qualifies for the Event-Date Guarantee only after we confirm that the date is achievable and you approve the proof by the deadline provided. If time is tight, ask before ordering.
Ready to Brief Us?
Browse our bespoke party props — with signs from £30 and custom bundles from £88, designed to your brief and printed in Nottingham after you approve the proof.
Not sure whether your idea or deadline is possible? Ask us before ordering and we will give you a straight answer.
