Bespoke Wedding Invitations

What to Expect

I take on a limited number of full stationery clients each wedding season. These are my favorite projects, and I want to ensure access to me as your designer, and excellent communication.  These spaces do fill up before the year is out so be sure to inquire as soon as you know you'd like to work with me.

Custom stationery packages include unlimited artwork. So if you'd like a custom monogram, and venue illustration, that's no problem! All calligraphy and illustration is done by hand just for you, never to be reused on another client. Assembly and mailing services can be included, and organic calligraphy guest addressing is also available. We can source anything from bespoke handmade envelopes, to a collection of vintage stamps. I also work regularly with event designers, and am happy to incorporate their inspiration and color palettes into your custom wedding invitations for a cohesive design on your wedding day. We can also carry over the vision from your wedding invitations to your wedding day with anything you may need from place card calligraphy to custom menus. These additional services are only open to our full service wedding stationery clients. 

My goal is to get to know you and your story. Each couple is so unique, and so should be your wedding day. I will be here for you to answer any questions, provide inspiration, and to work hard to make your paper dreams a reality. 

Process

Discovery & Proposal

The design process for a custom wedding invitation suite typically spans approximately 8 weeks. Once you submit your inquiry, you will be emailed a detailed questionnaire or we can schedule a free consultation. I will then create a customized proposal, a Design Board for your project, along with payment schedule and contract and a customized timeline. A deposit is required to reserve your project on my design calendar (typically 1/3 of the total project estimate). If there is a long gap between your deposit and the start of the design process, I will set up a private Pinterest board for us to start gathering inspiration.

Design & Approval

Congrats! It's now time to start with the fun stuff! At the beginning of the design process a retainer of 1/3 of the remaining balance is due. The content for the text of your suite will also be requested at this time. I will gather the information from the previous stage, along with any additional inspiration provided to prepare your initial design proofs. The Design Board (provided earlier) specifies what colors, papers, and printing methods will be used. It will also be our guide to aesthetic direction, inspiration, and what bespoke details are involved. At times a sketch is supplied to provide a reference to layout of calligraphy and artwork.

Next, you start to see your stationery come to life. You can sit back and relax for about a week while I paint in my studio! I will do all calligraphy and artwork by hand, scan and digitize files, and design your digital print files. Now you get to see the digital versions, and make any small adjustments that may be needed. 3 rounds of revisions are included to fine-tune spelling and approve your custom artwork. Once you have double checked spelling and approved the files we send them off to my printer, or I start production in house depending upon the scope and method of printing. Your completed guest address list will be requested at this time.

Calligraphy & Assembly

Now that I have received everything back from the printer, it's time for the final assembly and envelope addressing! I will send you a proof of a calligraphed envelope for approval before all envelopes are inked. I will also weigh a completed suite and we will decide on postage (applicable if mailing concierge is included in your package). Actual cost of postage and shipping will be billed separately. I get busy writing all of the pretty guest addresses, and assemble the suites. Your final payment is due at this time. I then hand everything over to my local post office or FedEx/UPS personally. Once it is in their hands, it is their responsibility. Please note that U.S. Postal Service loses an average of 3% of mail each year. However, I try to keep a few extra invitation sets on hand to keep you covered.

Now you get to open your package of pretty papers and send them to your guests, or sit back and relax while your invitations are in the mail, and wait for those long anticipated rsvps! Every custom invitation suite also includes 2 complimentary calligraphed suites as heirlooms and to be used for your wedding photos! 

Value

Investment varies greatly by project. The type of paper, printing method, number of items in the set, and guest count all have a great impact. 

As an example, a Custom Wedding Suite including the Invitation, Envelope with Printed Return Address, Response Card, Response Envelope with Printed Address, an Additional Details Card, and a Custom Watercolor Envelope Liner, Single Sided, Digitally Printed on 110 lb. Crane Paper. Including Calligraphy guest addressing for 100 Sets- approximately $2300.00

Wedding budgets also vary. Some brides allocate 2% of their total budget to custom stationery, while others set aside 10% to include stationery, calligraphy and custom signage for the wedding. The average Silver Fox Calligraphy Bride spends between $2,500-$6,000 on their Bespoke Wedding Invitation Suite to include specialty papers such as hand made paper with deckled edges, special printing such as letterpress or foil, and custom assembly details such as wax seals, and silk ribbon.

Ready to Start designing your custom wedding paper? I'd love to hear from you!

See my recent work, and a peek behind the scenes on Instagram

Photography Credit: Banner Image by Live View Studios