Star Map Prints

The short answer: what a star map print is

A star map print shows the night sky as it appeared at a chosen date, time and place. You choose those three details in the online designer, then add a short line of text and, optionally, a date beneath the design. The Star Map Poster is made to order around the moment you want to mark.

What you can personalise

You choose the date, time and place yourself before ordering. These inputs identify the moment and location represented by the star map, while the text gives the print its personal message.

• Date: the particular day you want to remember.
• Time: the time connected to that moment, including when it happened during daylight.
• Place: where the moment happened, rather than automatically using your current address.
• Text: a short line printed beneath the star map, with an optional date.

If you are ready to choose a design, you can view the full range of star map prints before entering your details.

Choosing the date

Choose the one specific day that best represents the moment you are marking. A star map needs a particular date rather than a period, so decide which event has the clearest emotional or personal connection.

Useful choices include:

• your wedding date
• the night you first met
• a birth date
• the date of an anniversary being marked

If several dates could reasonably apply, choose the event the recipient will recognise most immediately. For an anniversary, this might be the date being celebrated rather than the date you order the print. For a relationship, it could be the first meeting rather than a later milestone.

There is no need to choose a night simply because the product is called a star map. The date should match the moment you want the print to represent.

Choosing the time — including when it wasn't at night

Many of the moments people want to mark did not happen at night. That is normal and not a problem. Enter the time connected to the moment, rather than changing it simply to make the event happen after dark.

Use these approaches:

• If it happened in the evening, use the actual hour when the moment took place.
• If it happened during daylight, use the hour the moment actually happened. The print marks that instant, even though the event was not at night.
• If the moment lasted for a while or you want to focus on a ceremony, choose a memorable time such as the moment the ceremony took place.

If nobody remembers the exact hour, choose the most meaningful time you can identify. For example, you might use the time of the ceremony rather than the time guests arrived, or the time a child was born rather than a general part of the day. The important thing is to make the choice deliberately and use the same moment when you enter the details.

Do not replace a daytime time with midnight just because it feels more suitable for a night sky design. If the event happened at 14:00, entering 14:00 keeps the print tied to the event you are marking.

Choosing the place, and how much it changes

The place matters because where you were standing determines which part of the sky was overhead. Choose the place where the moment happened, not where the recipient lives now.

This is the input people most often get wrong because it is easy to enter a current address by habit. For a proposal, use the proposal location. For a wedding, use the ceremony location. For a birth, use the place connected to the birth. The place should describe the event, even if the recipient has since moved elsewhere.

You do not need to choose a location because it is familiar to the recipient. Choose it because it belongs to the moment represented by the star map.

Star map or map print?

A star map marks a moment in time, while a map print marks a place. Some occasions have an obvious date, while others have an obvious location. If you are deciding between the two formats, read the guide to map print or star map for the comparison.

What to write underneath

Keep the line beneath the star map to roughly two to six words. Longer lines have to be set smaller to fit the width of the print, which makes them harder to read from across a room.

Short examples include:

• Where We Met
• Our Wedding Day
• The Day You Arrived

The date is usually printed as well, so the line beneath does not need to repeat it. Use the text for the meaning of the moment and let the date provide the detail.

How to design yours

1. Choose the star map design you want.
2. Enter the date connected to the moment.
3. Enter the time of that moment, including if it happened during daylight.
4. Enter the place where the moment happened.
5. Add your short line of text and, if wanted, the date.
6. Order the finished design.

For other ways to mark a personal occasion, you can also look at the Where It All Began map, Anniversary Map or Birthplace Map. There are also collections of personalised anniversary gifts and personalised birthday gifts.

Frequently asked questions

What date should I use on a star map?

Use the one specific date that best represents the moment, such as a wedding, first meeting, birth or anniversary date.

What time do I put on a star map if it happened during the day?

Enter the time the moment actually happened. A daytime event is not a problem, and you do not need to change the time to night.

Does the location really change the star map?

Yes. The place determines which part of the sky was overhead, so use the location where the moment happened rather than the recipient’s current address.

What do you write on a star map print?

Use a short line of roughly two to six words, such as “Where We Met” or “Our Wedding Day”. The date is usually printed separately, so the text does not need to repeat it.