HSRGraphicsWedding Invitation & Stationery Process - The full run down
Are you overwhelmed by all the planning and everything that goes with it? You are knee-deep in deposits, food tasting and researching the perfect vendors for your wedding. I get it, I know first hand what it takes to plan a wedding and as I have gotten pretty good at the wedding planning part of this industry, my true passion lies within the stationery world. If you have been within my orbit for awhile, you have a pretty good understanding of what I do. I create beautiful custom wedding invitations and other stationery such as save the dates and day of items. All customized perfectly to you and your big day!
Over the past 8 years, I have created a process that not only gets you the amazing, jaw dropping wedding invitations you have always imagined but I have set it up in a way that makes it so easy for you, you don’t even realize it’s happening and before you know it, POOF beautiful invitations delivered to your guests and you didn’t have to lift a finger. Ok well maybe a few fingers. So let’s dive into this foolproof process I have created!
💌 THE INITIAL CONSULTATION!
The first thing you should know is that it is a safe bet to reach out to a wedding invitation designer, or stationer, about 18 months to a year before your wedding, especially if you plan on sending out save the dates. This will give your stationer ample time to plan and prep your different stationery items. I absolutely LOVE meeting in person, I am the type of person that needs to feel and see my invitations. I want to hold them in my hand before I make a decision. However, the in person meeting is not necessary as I can send samples and paper swatches directly to you!
The sole purpose of this consultation is to get your wheels turning as to what you want your DREAM wedding invitation to look like. You don’t have to make any hard decisions right then and there, but it is a good time to discuss paper options, print styles and price. We sift through several options and build your suite. There is a lot to cover during this initial consultation but I promise, THAT IS THE MOST OVERWHELMING THE ENTIRE PROCESS GETS! Best part, I am there with you every step of the way to answer questions and offer up suggestions (when asked of course).
This consultation is also when we will discuss save the dates.
💌 ONE-ON-ONE SERVICE!
Planning a wedding is no small task and for most of you, this is your first go at it! YOU WILL HAVE QUESTIONS! You may find that some online companies have a chat box, but have you ever actually asked a question? If you did, you will notice that a robot answers you back and more often than not, they don’t even answer the question you asked.
How frustrating! 😤
Working with me, I am a real person, someone to help guide you and answer all your questions. I do this everyday, I have been asked every question you could ever imagine asking when it comes to wedding invitations.
💌 THE INITIAL PROPOSAL
We have built your DREAM invitation and you are ready for next steps! After our consultation I will put together your initial proposal with several different options that we discussed. You will have your base wedding invitation that will include your wedding invitation, response card, 2 envelopes, guest addressing, assembly and the design fee all rolled into 1. Everything else you will be able to mix and match, add and delete and determine what best fits your budget while still keeping the integrity of your DREAM wedding invitation suite.
You want to see what the cost would be with and without the ribbon belly band or maybe you decided you would like to add a wax seal to seal your mailing envelopes. You will have the option to mix and match the different embellishments and it will total everything for you at the bottom. Once you have made your selections, its go time!
You can submit the proposal and you will be taken to the contract and invoice all in the same link. Gone are the days of multiple emails with PDF contracts you have to print out, sign and scan back in. Everything is done through your client portal, even the deposit. You can pay right then and there with your credit card.
Now the fun can really begin! After you are officially deemed an HSRGraphics couple, you will receive that detailed timeline telling you when your information is due, when you can expect your proofs and when you can expect your completed invitation.
💌 UNLIMITED DESIGN SAMPLES
Once you are officially booked, you will receive a detailed questionnaire and based off that as well as some of the details we discussed in our initial meeting (I take lots of notes LOL) I will provide you what I like to call DESIGN SAMPLES!
Design samples are digital samples of your printed invitation. This is where I will provide you 4-5 different options of fonts, wording, and printed design elements all with your theme, colors and overall aesthetic in mind.
I call this the jumping off point, you have the option to mix and match elements from some or all of the samples. If none of the samples really speak to you, then we start again! It is very important to me that you ❤️ your invitations and I will do everything I can to make that happen!
💌 DESIGN PROOFS
This is my favorite part of the stationery process! After you have selected your fonts, wording and design elements I get to work on your full suite.
Now, for the most part, you already have an idea on what your final suite will look like because we built it during our consultation. However, this is the part where I am able to include different details that you may not have even imagined.
Remember that wax seal you were questioning, or that vellum wrap you were unsure about? One of the many great things about working with a custom stationer, is that I can provide you with alternatives and add ons, based on your design aesthetic. This doesn't mean you have to choose these options, it’s just a little something for you to see.
Take this details card for example. The original plan was to have all the inserts be digitally printed in black on white stock, but as I was going through my notes I remembered this couple LOVED the idea of her invites being black but ultimately they decided to omit it due to pricing.
Now I took this opportunity to see what I could do for them and help make their invitations absolutely unforgettable! I presented the full suite as we discussed, but also added the option of changing her details card to black with white ink printing. Of course there was a small up charge but it was much more manageable and this couple absolutely LOVED ❤️ it.
It’s moments like this that really makes me smile. I love being able to create the impossible and make you feel like this was the best decision you made so far!
💌 GUEST ADDRESSES AND APPROVALS
Now your final invitation suite is complete and you are over the moon with the final result! Now it’s time for printing!
I have spent A LOT of time with my eyes on your suite and although I not only use a spell checker, I read it over and over to ensure everything is spelled correctly. However, as talented as I am, I am only human and mistakes happen and I want to ensure that we catch every mistake. This is why you need to not only accept your final proof, but you also need to take ONE LAST LOOK and sign a print release. This makes it a 4 check process for any small details that may have been overlooked during the proofing process.
This is also the time I will ask you for your guest addresses, so we know how many invitations to order. Yep that’s right, guest addressing is included in every invitation package. So you don’t have to worry about writing out 150 envelopes.
What a nightmare that would be 🤦🏼♀️
💌 ASSEMBLY & FINAL LOOKS
OK so I know I said earlier in the week that my favorite part of the stationery design process was the proof designing, but I think I may like the assembly part even more.Since nothing is mass produced and I am a one woman show, I assemble each individual suite by hand. I cut and tie every ribbon, score and fold every belly band and glue and secure each layer. Each invitation suite is handled with love ❤️ and care by my own 2 hands! I love sitting up in my studio, turning on Friends or OTH and applying wax seals. To me, it’s very soothing!
The best part is when I get to the end and I am the first person to see your final suite. It honestly takes EVERYTHING inside me not to send you a picture of the final look. I want you to see your invitations for the first time in person, I want you to be able to physically hold them and appreciate them for what they are, a visual representation of you, your fiancé and your big day.
Trust me when I say, invitations are so much more than “just a piece of paper”
💌 MAILING SERVICE
Once your invitation suite is assembled and packed up, I either ship them out to you or you have the option to pick them up. However, if you wanted to take it one step further, I also have a mailing service for a flat fee of $350 plus the cost of postage.
What this means is you don’t have to spend the hours of stuffing, sealing, stamping (2 envelopes) and shipping. Who has time to race to the post office after work to mail out your invitations? I take care of it all for you and your extra invites get shipped directly to you free of charge! So how about that for full service?
***Fun Fact*** Did you know you should ALWAYS take your sealed wedding invitations to the post office clerk to mail out? Never put them in the mailbox, especially if you are mailing them all out at the same time.
Well there you have it, a full rundown of the stationery process. I know it seems overwhelming, but I promise you that I am here 100% of the time to lead you down the right path and on a time so you can focus your attention on other aspects of your wedding planning.