The Ins-and-Outs of Custom Stationery Design
A Guide to Custom Stationery
The following information is intended to help break down the aspects of custom design and production, what it may add to your event, and how it can elevate the wedding experience for both you and your guests.
As you begin your wedding planning journey, the time will come to make a decision on stationery and paper goods. This typically begins with your Save the Date or Invitation suite, followed later with day-of (or multi-day) stationery (eg. place cards, escort displays, menus, signage, ‘Thank You’ cards, etc.). The importance of stationery for your event is always subjective, however it’s also one that is occasionally underestimated from an outside perspective.
First, a question —
It’s likely you’ve heard it before or read in (many) wedding blogs that wedding invitations are the first glimpse your family and friends will have with regards to your wedding day, and as such the impression is lasting. Let’s be real for a moment and note that the majority of your invitees will be more than content to receive any invitation you send them, so long as they’re able to celebrate alongside you on the day!
What is true about the above however, is stating the tone for your wedding day; showing a style or sharing your story in a one-of-a-kind and special way. Your invitations can be a keepsake or a memory, they can be a treat for your guests to open or unwrap, and they can showcase aspects of your personalities and event styling to truly excite those who are lucky enough to receive your uniquely personal invitation package in the mail. With that in mind ask yourself this question — what is the ‘first impression’ you’d love to make?
‘Off-the-shelf’ is easy, whereas custom takes time and collaboration. It’s up to you to decide how much of a statement you want to make with your stationery, and choosing to make that statement is the very beginning of custom stationery design. It’s at that point we can begin working together to create a suite to represent you as a couple and to ‘wow’ your family and friends with a sense of anticipation and excitement in the lead-up to your big day.
Credit: Laura Gordon Photography
The Perfect FiT
Hiring a stationer for bespoke paper goods is much the same as working with any contract designer. Ideally you will be familiar with their portfolio and styling on offer and have decided that it’s a good match for what you have in mind – this really is key to a successful working relationship with all vendors you consider, as while ‘custom' is in essence made-to-order, each artist/designer has their own style that will enhance and elevate the final design.
Pro Tip: Your event planner will have a selection of stationers they have worked with before who they can trust to produce your paper goods on schedule to compliment your wedding day style.
Important note – it’s considered bad form across the board to ask your stationer to replicate another designer’s work, no matter how much you may love or have your heart set on a particular design. If you truly admire the work of a stationer who isn’t on your planner’s radar, it’s much more worthwhile to request a consultation or sample session with the stationer and your planner to see if they might be a good fit for your event.
Investment
Bespoke design in general runs at a higher cost than semi-custom or ‘off the rack’ wedding suites, typically requiring a conscious allotment from your event budget. While this may be apportioned by your planner, expect the investment to be made up of the following key items; all of which will also involve some level of administration (research, costing, scheduling, etc.) before work begins:
Design drafts, proofing, and mock-ups
Cost of materials
Time and labour (production/printing, packing, mailing)
Quotes will generally cover the above + up-front design costs/fees, type design/calligraphy and layout, sourcing and base material costs (such as paper and card stocks). They may also include assembly items, finishing products (eg. spray glue), and outsourcing specialty print methods where applicable (eg. artwork, hot foil, die-cutting, duplexing…). Production of custom suites is often time-intensive and pricing may also include assembly, packing, postage sourcing/application, addressing, and in some cases mailing on your behalf. Finally, an experienced stationer can be expected to schedule, design, and produce your paper goods from start to finish in collaboration with you and your planner to your event specifications.
Design & Production
As a general rule it’s important to allow multiple months (vs weeks) for most custom stationery projects. The blueprinting process can include discovering your story, collating mood and inspiration boards, brainstorming, sketches, preliminary design drafts, and working with your planner’s overview to refine concepts and design ideas. Once concepts have been selected then sourcing and production can begin, and timing will differ depending on the scope of your project and the materials involved. The goal here is to create your dream stationery with no unexpected surprises (well, maybe one or two good ones!), resulting in a seamless design that is unique to you as a couple.
Credit: Laura Gordon Photography
Credit: Laura Gordon Photography
In SUmmary
Bespoke stationery allows you the freedom to create something reflective of your own style, with the added bonus of working with a designer who has your vision in mind. It does require a larger investment and additional time from concept to production, however you’ll receive a unique, full-service experience in collaboration with your wedding partners to ensure a consistent look and feel across all aspects of your wedding, creating an extraordinary and memorable day for both you and your guests.
If you’re interested in discussing custom stationery for your wedding or event you can find more information here.