Category Archives: Wedding Stationery 101

WHAT DO INVITATIONS ACTUALLY COST?

Last week we talked about why custom invitations cost so much. Today, I wanted to talk about the different types of invites and help you figure out what works for your budget and needs.

*the below information is my opinion and experience. It does not reflect country or world-wide prices but gives you a good idea*

DIY
$1.50 and up
Oh DIY. Now if you are crafty and handy, go for it. However, if the thought of being up at 2 am gluing and having a panic attack sounds more like you, don’t do it! I did my own invites and totally regretted it and I do it for a living! There are lots of paper companies that have kits you can buy or cater to the DIY bride. Also, some custom designers offer a consultation service for DIYers for a nominal fee *wink wink.

Single panel album or retail invitation
$2.00 and up
These are invitations that you buy online or from an album in a store. My collection starts at $2.50 and then you can add pieces that you need. Now, these can get pricey depending on the materials and company you order from, so do your research and order samples.

Custom Panel Invitation
$3.00 and up
Now we are getting into the customized invites. Panel invitations are something I do a lot of. These creates an expensive feel and add something unique to the design. The more panels, the more money!

Pocket Invitation
$4.00
Invites in a pocket are fun if you have a lot of inserts and again offer something unique. The base price for these is already quite high so be careful when getting excited about add ons.

Custom Wood Invitation
$4.50
Love. Need I say more. With these invites, I say go simple with design and inserts. Let the wood speak for itself. LOVE!

Box Invitation
$10.00 and up up
Oh invitations in a box. Beautiful but expensive to make and expensive to mail.

Things that affect the price:
Printing: if you start to add letterpress, foil stamping, screen printing etc., the price starts to climb.
Number of inserts: the more paper, the higher the price. Do you need that custom map?
Production add ons: I’m talking about laser cutting, embellishments, calligraphy, address printing, etc.

What should I budget?
Everyone has an opinion about this but I have hardly ever seen anybody spend less than $500 on invitations. I usually recommend for custom design to have around $1,000 total and that’s for a not super fancy invite. Basically, you need to think about what you want and RESEARCH.

Whew. So hopefully this helps you before you go talk to your designer to have an idea about the types of invites. Now, not every 2 clients is the same and your pricing will be slightly different than your friend’s based on your needs. Moral of the story? Set a budget and discuss it with your designer or retailer!

Happy wedding invitations!

Read more in my Wedding Stationery 101 series and remember I’m always here to help!

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WHY DO CUSTOM INVITES COST SO MUCH?

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I’ve been feeling guilty lately. I LOVE creating unique invitations using unique materials and processes but this gets expensive my friends!

So after deciding you want custom invitations, you start inquiring and meeting potential designers and getting quotes. Your little heart starts to skip a beat because dreams cost money! But why does paper that probably gets thrown away (and by golly don’t use that as an argument) cost so dang much? I’ve come up with a few things to think about.

1.) Materials: Paper doesn’t come cheap my friends. Neither does those lined envelopes or that special twine you like so much. Want an invitation on wood or in a box? You better be prepared to pay.

2.) Design: That’s right. When you hire a custom wedding invitation designer, you are getting something designed specifically for you that won’t be mass produced. It’s a one of a kind. Think of it as a commissioned work of art.

3.) Actual Printing: I think this is one of the most common misconceptions about invitations. Printing costs money and sometimes lots of it. If you have something screen printed or letterpress for instance, in addition to printing, you have to have plates made which by themselves cost $100 or more.

4.) Time: I can’t stress this one enough. I probably spend 30+ hours on each job. This includes designing, emailing you, tweaking files, readying files for print, working with the printer, assembly,and preparing for shipment or delivery.

5.) Me: I don’t mean “me” I mean having me in your corner. I work specifically on your invitation using my knowledge and experience to give you the best experience. I can guarantee most if not all custom designers go above and beyond because we love what we do! I also really try to help my clients out with other aspects too.

So if you are feeling a little sticker shocked by your custom wedding invitation estimate, keep these things in mind.

BUT Caroline! How do I save money if I REALLY want custom invitations?

Think about what you really need and what you really want. You want an invitation in a box, but can we do something just as cool in a pocket fold? Decrease your guest list. Also, be sure to be upfront about your budget and do your research before meeting with your designer. One of my favorite things is helping brides create something beautiful and uniquely them on their budget.

Read more in my Wedding Stationery 101 series and remember I’m always here to help!

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MEETING YOUR DESIGNER

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Engagement season is here! I both dread and love this time. I love this time because it means love . . . which I love. I dread it because it means trying to calendar for the next year! ha! No I do love it.

One thing I’ve been trying to tell my bride-to-be friends is don’t wait to meet with your designers! By designers, I mean invitation designers and by invitation designers, I mean me! Why oh why do brides wait till 4 months or less to pick invitations? Ah! Especially if you are wanting custom design, this doesn’t fly. IF you are wanting or even thinking about custom invitations, get them involved early in the wedding planning process. Why? I can’t tell you how many times when working with a bride and wedding planner, my designs and our collaborations have led to the whole design of the wedding. I LOVE helping you hone in on how to define and execute your wedding design. Now, I’m not a wedding designer at all, but I do a lot of accessories for the wedding such as tags, banners, programs, table numbers, etc. These things all need to GO with the rest of the wedding design.

Soapbox off.

So, you’ve scheduled a meeting with your designer, now what should you bring with you?

1.) YOU! Yes, yes. Don’t send Aunt Jane who you’ve relayed your wishes to. Come and talk to me. If you can’t do it in person, let’s chat on the phone or via email. Why? I have to get sense of you and your beloved, who you are and what your style is! This helps me determine how crazy or formal to go with your designs.

2.) PICTURES AND MAGAZINE CLIPPINGS.

Or your iphone. Show me that pinterest board you’ve been building that defines what you want your day to look at. I want to see what you like, love and what you don’t like. Flowers, cakes, dresses, show it all to me because it really does help define the style and theme of the wedding and stationery.

3.) BUDGET. Yes, don’t walk into a meeting with no budget in mind. Research and find out how much invitations cost. I’ll be realistic with you in what you want and what you can afford. One of the absolute joys I get is helping brides on budgets create something they love.

4.) QUESTIONS. Ask away. That’s what I’m here for and the consultation is all about getting all the answers. Ask me about paper, why so and so had a belly band on their invite or how you should address them. Let’s cover all our bases.

Ok, you ready? Let’s do this! Oh I drink a lot of coffee so get excited!

Read more in my Wedding Stationery 101 series and remember I’m always here to help!

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WEDDING STATIONERY CHECKLIST UPDATED

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WHY CHOOSE CUSTOM DESIGN

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Engagement season is upon us and for those getting married next year, now is the time to start thinking about your wedding invitations. Many of you may be asking “why should I choose a custom invitation designer over buying a ready-made design?”

Now I’m a huge advocate of both as I have my own ready-made collection in my shop, but sometimes you need someone to go that extra mile for your big day and this is where custom design comes in:

1.) Your wedding stationery will be created just for you. No, really. Each and every couple I work with inspires the design of their wedding stationery and is created just for them. It’s unique and created specifically for the type of event they are having and the couple they are.

2.) Branding. For a wedding? Well, yes! Something I’ve become obsessed with is this idea of branding a wedding. From start to finish, each piece of stationery coordinates and fits with the theme and idea behind the wedding.

3.) Help. That’s right. I help you. Not sure how to word the invitation or what pieces you need? Look no further! While we are working together, I will help you with etiquette and other issues that pop up during the process. I’ve even been known to give my two cents on other wedding aspects. You can be sure though that your custom designer will be the wedding stationery resource you need.

4.) No DIY mishaps. Well none that you will see. DIY is great, especially when you are on a budget. However, if you want that 3-layer printed on wood and tied with twine invitation, it can be daunting if you’ve never done it before. Budget in for a custom designer that way you aren’t up at 3 am crying over your invitations (been there, done that).

5.) No worries. I love this one and it’s true. The invitation designer takes care of all the details and helps you with them when it comes to wedding stationery leaving you to worry about other things such as flowers and cakes. Oh I love the cakes.

Read more in my Wedding Stationery 101 series and remember I’m always here to help!