This was a different introduction to a client but I loved it.  I participated in a contest with Kel Ward Photography.  I contributed a $250 gift certificate towards stationery for the winner.  Danielle and Kasey were the winners!!!  So they were stuck with me! Lol.

Danielle had an idea of what she was looking for and was able to send me many pictures (thank you Pinterest!).  She knew she wanted a mandala in the design and wanted it printed on kraft cardstock.  I don’t do many invitations on kraft but I was looking forward to the opportunity.

A key element for their invitations was having their names inside the mandala.  By their nature mandalas don’t have empty centers so I was going to have to create one.  That was step one because I couldn’t build the invitation until I had the centerpiece of the design.

I came up with 2 designs for the mandala and sent them to Danielle.  She loved them both and picked one.  They wanted a more casual invitation so that meant needing to stay away from formal fonts. I came up with a few options and sent them over.  I wanted the couple to pick what fit their wedding best.  They chose one of the designs I did but wanted to see it in an olive-green color instead of black.  That was the element that got a “perfect! I love it!” response from them.

Their wedding invitation suite included 2 inserts.  They were having guest RSVP on their wedding website so 1 insert had that information on it.  The second insert was an accommodations card.  Almost all of their guests were traveling to attend their wedding and the wedding was at a resort, Chinook Winds Casino.

The invitations and inserts were all printed on a heavyweight 130lb kraft cardstock.  Kraft cardstock is hard to find in such a heavy weight but I prefer the heavier weight because of the sturdiness it provides the invitations.  This is an element that could not be found when ordering online from a big retailer like Shutterfly or Vistaprint.

I love when a couple comes to me with an idea and working with the couple the vision becomes a reality.  This was my first suite done on kraft card stock.  I have done many since, but this was my first.  I was immensely proud of the final product and I was even happier that the client loved it.

Thank you, Danielle, for working with me and trusting me with your vision.

Keywords: wedding contest, wedding, invitations, wedding invitations, kraft cardstock, destination wedding invitations

I love what I do. I get to be involved in creating dream stationery for wonderful couples.  But as Uncle Ben said in Spiderman “with great power comes great responsibility.” (Lol- my inner nerd is showing… I know!)  Some couples come up with the coolest ideas, but they scare me! Enter Emily and Jeremiah. 

Emily contacted me and said they were having a Wizard of Oz/Native American themed wedding.  What a cool idea! As you can imagine they could not find an invitation to match this fusion theme. Enter you friendly neighborhood custom stationery designer!  My excitement to be involved was quickly followed by “can I do this?”

Luckily, Emily had an extremely specific idea of what she was looking for, so she was able to tell me and guide me along this collaboration.  The colors, what she wanted included, even the font type.  I love when I send a design to a client and the response is “Yes!”  Even “yes but…” is a great response.  Knowing we are on the same page is so rewarding.

Emily drew a dreamcatcher that was being used in other elements of their wedding and she wanted it included in the invitations.  More of that “can I do this?” panic began to set in.  But I was ready for the challenge and I was determined to get it right.  I jumped in and started to digitally recreate her drawing.

Throughout this process I sent dozens of emails to Emily asking what she liked and what she wanted changed.  I may have bordered on annoying!  But I tell all my clients at the beginning of the process to always be honest.  I want my clients to get the perfect design so if it isn’t perfect please tell me.  I can keep making changes.  If I am way off on your design vision, please tell me and don’t worry about hurting my feelings.  Emily took my word on that and always told me what needed changed.  The color shades were difficult to get perfect, but we got there.  I would rather send a design 100 times to get it right than have a couple feel like they must settle with the first one.

Once the invitation was done we moved on to the info card.  They were having a camping weekend wedding so there was a lot of information for their guests as well as a map.  My process is to do the invitation and then use the elements to make the matching pieces.  Emily decided she wanted the dream catcher and the yellow brick road on the information card as well.  It tied the card together nicely in a suite.

While this theme was out of the box, I was so happy I took on the challenge.  In the end, I was proud of the finished product and Emily and Jeremiah were happy.  What more could I ask for?!

Keywords: wedding, wedding invitation, RSVP card, wedding theme, Wizard of Oz wedding, Native American wedding, custom wedding invitation design

On average, couples hire 13 wedding vendors for their wedding according to Wedding Wire.  Thankfully most of these relationships end up perfect for the couple but there are always a few exceptions.  Disappointments tend to happen when a couple hires a “vendor” but not a “professional.” 
 
So how can you know you are hiring a professional?  Here are some tips to spot a professional:
 

1. They will have invested in their business- You get what you pay for.  If a vendor has not invested in a website, learning their craft, equipment, business cards or a contract (the good ones are always paid for) then they are not a professional.  Nothing is free, including building a professional business.
   
2. They have a website- Not just a Facebook or Instagram page.  Those are important and also necessary for a professional but they will have a paid website.  They are investing in their online presence.  It will also be a website where they pay for a domain name and not a free website where they have the hosting site in their domain name.  A website is very basic and a very small fee in order to have a professional online presence.  Would you trust any other business if they didn’t have a website?  Probably not.
3. They have a contract- And it will be long!  We live in a country that requires a lot of legal jargon to cover both the client and the business.  A professional will have a very extensive contract to do just that.  It will include provisions about payment, what you can expect, what they expect from you in order to complete what they were hired for, cancellation policies for both parties, and will have spots for both the client and business to sign.  If a vendor doesn’t have a contract… run.  There is nothing to hold them legally responsible to do what you paid them for.
4. They are connected- They are connected to other professionals in the area.  A wedding vendor that no one has heard of can be worse than one everyone tells you to avoid.  It means that they are just starting out (not a bad thing… we all started somewhere but it means they are not a professional yet) or they haven’t been booked at weddings where other professionals are.  A professional will be attending networking events to get to know people in the wedding industry and to build referral relationships.  Networking takes a long time to get to know people and a professional will have put in the work to be connected to build credibility with other professionals.
   
5. You saw them at a wedding show- This is another example of wedding professionals investing in their business.  It is not cheap to exhibit at a wedding show.  So, at a wedding show you will find wedding professionals.
   
6. They amaze you with their knowledge- They are experts.  They know more about the service they offer than the Average Joe. I am a stationer and I know more than one person should know about card stock and postage.  Honestly… ask me anything.  Design decisions can affect how much it costs to mail your invitations.  As a professional I need to know those rules so that I can best serve my clients.  An expert will not only answer your questions with ease but also knows answers to questions you didn’t know to ask. 
   

 
Be sure to hire a professional for your wedding.  Like the saying goes “If you think it is expensive to hire a professional, just wait until you hire an amateur.” 
 
Keywords: wedding, wedding professional, wedding vendor, wedding pro, hiring a wedding professional

Every wedding needs invitations.  You have many possibilities when it comes to wedding stationery.  You have the option to buy them online by choosing a template or you can work with a stationer.  There are many reasons to choose to work with a stationer over a big online retailer.
 

1. Supporting a small business- Small businesses are the backbone of our country and the entire wedding industry is built by small businesses.  When you choose a small business, you are supporting a dream and not a set of investors.  All of your other chosen wedding professionals are small businesses so why shouldn’t you use a small business for your stationery?
   
2. Stellar customer service- Not only will you get a quality product, but you will have a name and a face to help you through the process.  A person who cares about you and your wedding and will do everything to make it perfect.  When you work with a person you are getting someone with passion who wants to see you smile.  All your answers will be answered quickly and with enthusiasm.
   
3. Quality- You will get to see and feel what your invitations will look like before you order.  A stationer will have options of card stock, envelopes, and designs they have done in the past to show many options for what you will end up with.  You can feel the same emotion your guests will feel.  There is no better way to know the quality than to hold it in your hands.  Even if your stationer is not local to you, they would be able to send you samples of past work.
   
4. Possibilities are endless- The options for wordings and design are only limited by your imagination.  Websites are extremely limited.  A stationer has control over the entire field of your design.  So colors, fonts, wording layout, even languages can be used on your stationery to make it utterly unique and fit the needs of your wedding.  If you can think of it, a stationer can help you achieve it.
   
5. Personal touch- In short, a stationer cares.  They have a passion for paper and for the design process.  They strive for the smile on your face and cares about YOU.  They also can help with complicated family situations that can affect wording of your stationery.  If there is out of the box, they can make it work.
   
6. They can save you money- You might not think this, but it is true.  Just like a wedding planner, a stationer knows things about stationery that you didn’t even think to ask about or were even a thing.  I have had so any clients tell me they needed a save the date for every guest.  I always remind them to count addresses and not guests. And then there is postage.....
   
7. All about postage- There are so many things about mailing that most people don’t know about.  Trust me when I say a stationer knows (almost) as much about postage as any post office employee.  They can inform you of any design choices that could cost you more when mailing.  Square, over 1 ounce, over ¼ inch thick, ribbon, a brooch, or acrylic are some design choices that will make your stationery cost more to mail to your guests. 
   

 
All the people you choose to work with for your wedding should be professionals and your stationer is no exception.  Just like your other professionals they want to make your day extremely special.  Take care when choosing where to get your wedding stationery and don’t be afraid to ask questions.  A stationer would love to answer them and be the choice for your wedding.
 
Keywords: wedding, wedding stationery, wedding budget, wedding invitations, custom wedding invitations, save the dates, stationer

Every stationer has a design bucket list.  Designs we want to do for a client.  I am no exception.  One of those on my design bucket list was a passport wedding invitation.

So when Amanda contacted me about a passport invitation I was so excited! (Note: I am excited to hear from everyone but every so often there is a little extra excitement).  I was ready to jump into this project.

I have a passport so I know what they look like.  Lol.  But one element that needed to be considered was what makes it art versus a felony for falsifying a legal document.  I am not one for committing crimes (I won’t copy a design either).  What I learned was as long as it didn’t look like an actual passport of any country in the world I was good to go.  Sweet!

Amanda and Tim’s colors were burgundy and gray.  I suggested burgundy for the background color on the invitations and gray for the font and envelopes.  They really liked the idea.  Amanda sent some pictures that could work and told me which ones were her favorite.  I thought a nice element to add depth to the design was a world map behind the writing on the page with the details of information about the wedding.  Amanda and Tim really liked the idea.  As a bonus it made the text on that page slightly easier to read.

Once the design was done I began printing.  I did a test print and the gray was too dark and made it almost impossible to read.  I had to lighten the gray a little to make it easier to read.  This is a big reason why I prefer doing my own printing instead of outsourcing so that I can adjust during the printing process to make the best final product.

The passport invitation was so much fun to work on and I was so excited for the end result.  The passport style was perfect for their cruise destination wedding. 

Keywords: wedding, destination wedding, passport wedding invitation, passport invitation, destination wedding invitations

Oh…. Pinterest…. My best friend and my biggest enemy when it comes to designing wedding stationery.  Pinterest wasn’t around when I got married (I got married in 2006 and Pinterest launched in 2010).  But if it had I probably would have gotten very overwhelmed!  I was limited to wedding magazines and google images searches.  It was the dark ages! But when it comes to wedding stationery there are good things and bag things about Pinterest. 
Why I LOVE Pinterest:

1. Pinterest is the best place to get ideas.  There are billions (yes… billions… with a “B”) of pictures on Pinterest. I am sure at least one billion of them are wedding related pictures.  Ok… I don’t know for certain but that has to true, right?  There are more pictures than anyone thought could be in one place.  It is great for seeing what you want to incorporate into your day.
2. You can find anything on Pinterest.  Literally.  Whatever search terms you type in the box it will find you results.  So even if your theme is super obscure you will find something on Pinterest that will fit that search.
3. As a designer, I love when people share designs they found on Pinterest.  Whether it is the color they are going for or design elements they would like to include (Note: I will NOT copy a design exactly.  That is unethical in my opinion and I just won’t do it).  I am a visual person so I understand much better when shown a picture instead of being explained ideas.  If there are multiple designs that have elements you like it is a great place to find all the things you love and keep track of them in one place.
4. If you don’t know what you want or envision for your day you can just start clicking and liking things and get ideas.
   

Why I HATE Pinterest:

1. It can be overwhelming.  There are so many pictures and you can see so many things you like and then get overwhelmed by making decisions on the direction you want to go.  Too many choices is actually a bad thing.
2. The Pinterest Fail- we have all heard the term.  You see something you love on Pinterest and because it is done so well you think you can pull off the same thing.  Unfortunately, probably not.  It is best to use Pinterest for inspiration instead of copying exactly.  Keep your expectations in check.
   
3. Love a design but can’t find the designer.  If there is not a direct link back to the person who did it odds are you will never find that designer.  This can also be difficult for me because people want an exact design but I will not copy (not that I can't, just that I won't)
   
4. Not all things on Pinterest are possible.  For a variety of reasons.  Maybe the fire code is different for your venue versus the one in the photo.  Maybe that color tablecloth is discontinued.  Maybe there are copyright issues involved with the design.  Maybe that wedding dress is discontinued by the designer and no longer available.  There are many reasons why it is not possible and that can be very disappointing. 
   

There are many pros and cons to Pinterest.  But it is a necessary evil.  Can’t live with it, can’t live without it.  Be cautious of falling in love with an idea on Pinterest.  Make sure you go into it with an inspiration lens and not expecting to see your Pinterest pictures come to life exactly the same way on your wedding day.  This will allow you to keep from being disappointed but, more importantly, will make the designs unique to you and your wedding day.

Keywords: wedding, wedding inspiration, Pinterest, Pinterest fail, wedding invitations, save the dates

Working with Deirdra and Michael was so much fun.  Their design process included many aspects of wedding stationery that I love: great couple, fun theme, elements you can’t get when you buy from a big online retailer, and creating something super unique.

It all started on a Saturday in May.  I was all prepared for a nice quiet Saturday in my pajamas and sitting on the couch with my laptop getting some work done.  But then my phone rang and Deirdra was feeling stressed about her invitations and they needed to be out to their guests in just a few weeks.  So an hour later we were meeting to work out their design.

Deirdra and Michael were such a sweet couple.  They were having their wedding at The Empress Estate in Ridgefield, Washington.  Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe The Empress Estate.  They also were having a Beauty and the Beast theme.  Love! Love! Love!  This was going to be a lot of fun.  Their colors were sapphire and gold and they wanted to incorporate roses as well.  We also decided putting “Be our guest” at the top of the invitation would be a great way to pull in the theme.

Now that we had a design in mind it was time to figure out the actual paper pieces.  Anytime the design is simpler I suggest a textured card stock.  It is a subtle detail that makes a big impact.  Two common textures I recommend are linen and eggshell (looks kind of like the texture of a painted wall).  They agreed that a texture would do nicely.  They chose eggshell.

They were wanting a little more pizazz on their invitations so we talked through some options.  It was also a nice way to add in more of the sapphire and gold.  They chose to have the invitations mounted on a sapphire gate card tied closed with a gold ribbon and to use a gold shimmer envelope.  That envelope was going to make quite the impression before their guests even opened it.  I always suggest colored envelopes to my clients because most mail comes in white envelopes.  Your invitation is not “most mail” and it should stand out.

To help them get their invitations out in the mail as soon as possible I delivered the envelopes for them to be able to start writing out the addresses before the invitations were done.  About a week later I delivered the invitations to them.  I was very excited to show them the invitations but also a little nervous (I am always nervous before a delivery).  But they loved them!  That is my favorite part.

Keywords: wedding, wedding invitations, wedding theme, gate-fold invitation, Beauty and the Beast, theme wedding, The Empress Estate, Washington

The biggest cost of your wedding will most likely be the food.  You don’t want to pay for more people than necessary and on the flip side you want to make sure there is enough food.  But getting your guests to RSVP will be a headache in your wedding planning process.  There is no guaranteed way to make your guests RSVP but there are some ways to increase your chances of getting your guests to RSVP.  There is no perfect solution (or I would be rich!) but these steps can help.

1. Stamps- If you are doing an RSVP with an envelope you will greatly increase your chances of getting the RSVPs returned if you stamp the envelopes.  Most people don’t mail often so most households don’t keep stamps on hand.  If you stamp the envelopes it makes it very easy on your guests to respond.  It is an additional expense for your wedding invitations but it could save you a lot of frustration.  If you are looking to save money, try an RSVP postcard because they are cheaper to order as well as cheaper to mail.
2. Online RSVP- Wedding websites like The Knot and WeddingWire offer online RSVPs.  These websites are mobile optimized so guests can easily RSVP from their phones.  If you want to make it even easier you can include a QR code on your RSVP card in your invitation suite so guests can scan and RSVP.
3. Email- You can set up a dedicated email and have guests email you there.  This is something people can do from their phones as well so that greatly increases your chances of them doing it.  A dedicated email will be easiest for you because then all of the RSVPs will be housed in one place and you won’t have your personal emails getting mixed up with them.  Text messages are not ideal because those tend to get lost amongst your other texts as well. 
4. Ask a question- Other than the obvious “are you coming or not?”  The 2 most common questions are asking for a food option and asking for a song request.  If you are having a plated dinner you will need to ask guests for what they would like so this is easy.  If you are having a buffet, you can use it as a survey of what guests would like to eat.  You could even put it on there just as a question to get them to respond and disregard it completely.  Asking for a song request is a good option because your DJ will probably ask you for a list of songs you would like played so if your guests help you out with that it takes something off your plate.

The greatest way to get your guests to RSVP is to make it easy.  If it takes any effort at all your percentage of RSVPs returned will drop significantly.  There is no guaranteed way to get all your guests to respond.  You will still need to track down RSVPs but using these tips can lower how many you have to track down.  To give yourself time I recommend having your RSVP date be 1 month before your wedding.  Anything closer to your wedding is going to add stress to you ad your fiancé.

Keywords: wedding, RSVP, wedding date, wedding budget, postage, stamps

How to handle no plus 1s is similar to how you handle having a no kid wedding.  There are many reasons why a couple decides to not include plus 1s (or kids).  Every guest you invite is going to have a cost associated with them.  Maybe for you it is that you only want those that you know attending your wedding.  Maybe you are wanting to cut costs.  Maybe your current guest list is close to the venue maximum. Whatever your reason for limiting plus 1s there are 2 questions that arise.

1. Who gets a +1? There is a phrase in the wedding industry that can help you, “no ring, no bring.”  Traditionally that meant if a couple was not engaged or married to the person you are inviting, they didn’t get invited.  This has evolved to mean if they have been together a while then they should be invited.  So if it is a new relationship it is ok not to invite the new significant other.  “A while” can be open to interpretation so a nice gauge of time is if they were together when you got engaged then they should be invited.
2. How do I let people know they don’t get a +1? There are a few steps you can take to make it clear.  Unfortunately, many people don’t get it if you imply subtly so you must be clear.  The first step is to address the envelope to the invited wedding guest only.  If you add “and guest” on the envelope they will assume they get a guest.  The second step is you can add a line on your RSVP stating “____ seats reserved in your honor” or something similar and then put a “1” on the line before you mail the invitation.  A statement on your wedding website for why people aren’t getting +1s is a good idea well.  Something like “due to limitations at our venue we must limit our guests to only those invited.”  This can mitigate people getting upset knowing there is a specific reason why you are limiting the guest number.
   

Whatever your reason for not allowing +1s (or no kids) be confident in it.  Not everyone will be supportive but if you feel strongly about it, stick to it.  Most importantly, be consistent.  Be all or nothing. Exceptions can be made for the wedding party but there shouldn’t be exceptions for anyone else. Don’t bend the rules for anyone or before you know it the rules won’t exist anymore. 

Keywords: wedding, wedding guests, wedding budget, wedding tradition, who gets invited

There are a lot of terms that you will encounter in wedding stationery once you become engaged.  Some of the terms you have probably heard of but there are probably some you haven’t.  Read through this list for all the terms you need to know.

Invitation: The invitation contains all the information necessary for your guests to actually attend your wedding including the couple’s names, who is hosting, date, time, and location. The invitation is a single card that is part of an invitation suite.  By etiquette it should not include RSVP info, registry info, or wedding website on the actual invitation itself.  All of that information should go on an insert card in the invitation suite.

Invitation suite: An invitation suite includes all the pieces that will be mailed together to each guest household.  The invitation suite can include the invitation, RSVP, directions card, reception card, wedding website card.

Save the date: A save the date tells your guests the date of your wedding to get on their calendars.  Traditionally save the dates only include the couple’s names, the wedding date, the location (usually city and state only), and the wording “invitation to follow.”  About half of the couples I work with include pictures but that is not required.  Only those that will definitely be invited to the wedding should get a save the date.

Wedding announcement: After your wedding, if you have people you would like to inform that you got married (like if you eloped, had a small wedding, or a destination wedding) you could send a wedding announcement.  Using a picture from the wedding is usually included.  You will want to include the date and location of your wedding including your names.  You can decide if you want to use your maiden name or your married name.

RSVP: An abbreviation of a French phrase for “respond please.”  An RSVP is your way of asking your guests to let you know if they will be attending the wedding.  If you are having a plated dinner this is also where your guests will inform you of their dinner choice.  Traditionally this is a separate card included in the invitation suite but as technology as advanced many couple utilize online RSVPs.

Insert: Any additional cards included in the invitation suite.  Examples of inserts are reception cards, direction cards, wedding website card, and accommodations.

Mat: A mat is a piece of card stock that is added to the back of an invitation to give a layered look.  Typically the mat is ¼” to ½” bigger than the invitation that is being mounted.

Pocket: A pocket has 3 panels: a tab/flap for folding, a panel for mounting the invitation to, and a pocket for holding insert cards, the RSVP card and envelope.  When folded it will look like an envelope but it will still need to be put into an envelope for mailing.

Belly band: A piece of paper or card stock normally 1-2” thick that is wrapped around a pocket or invitation suite to hold it all together.  Can be plain card stock, custom printed, or laser cut.

Envelope liner: A piece of paper mounted inside an envelope flap to make the envelope more unique.  It can be a solid color, patterned, custom designed, or foiled.

Inner Envelope: Traditionally wedding invitation suites included two envelopes- one for mailing and one to keep the invitation nice and neat.  An inner envelope can also help make sure guests know who is invited by printing the names of the invited guests on that again (in addition to the outer envelope).

Outer Envelope: This is the mailing envelope that you will write the guests’ names and addresses on.  Over time, this has become the only envelope used in wedding suites as the traditional inner envelope has fallen off in popularity. 

Wedding Day Stationery: All of the paper items that are used on the wedding day itself, during the ceremony or reception.  Examples of wedding day stationery include menus, programs, and signs.

Menu: A menu includes what is being served during the reception.  Normally each course is listed separately. 

Program: This is used during the wedding ceremony.  Traditionally, this includes the order of service of the ceremony as well as names of the parents of the couple, the wedding party, and the officiant.

Escort card: This is a card that tells the guest what table they are to sit at.  This will tell them the table to sit out but nto what seat to sit at once they get to the table.   The same information can be conveyed by using a Seating Chart sign.

Place card:  This card is placed at the seat at the table that they guest is to sit at.

Keywords: wedding, wedding budget, wedding theme, invitations, save the dates

Pinterest is my best friend and my worst enemy!  I love when couples go on there and find stationery they like and can show me what they like.  I am a visual person so to see what they like really helps me create their design.  I especially love it when they send me multiple ones they like and want to pull elements from different designs and make a truly unique new design.

Erin and Austin are a very sweet couple who live nowhere near me!  Lol.  The beauty of Facebook.  And they had a very clear idea of what they were looking for in their invitation.  So much so that they planned their engagement pictures to be able to pull it off.  Erin thought since she found the design on Pinterest it would be easy to find a designer to order it from.  That was not the case unfortunately.  Enter me!

Erin and I were in a common Facebook group and I had posted about my services.  Erin responded, and we started talking over IM.  I learned quickly that there was quite a bit of distance between us (they were in Missouri and I am in Oregon) but that is not an obstacle in my line of work.  My items ship well!  Erin sent me a picture of what she was looking for and my first reaction was “Whoa!”  I was excited to do this interesting design.

So, time to jump in.  I asked her to send over the pictures and I would get started.  I needed to figure out the flat size and then where the folds would be plus adding for the bleed (a bleed is required when the design goes all the way to the edge).  My first attempt was an epic fail.  The folds were in the wrong spots and the pictures weren’t centered.  Bonus was I now had a hard copy to measure the old-fashioned way (you know… with a ruler).  Double bonus: now I have a template for anytime someone wants something similar in the future.  I had already used the template since.
Next came the text.  There needed to be a subtle layer between the picture and the text to make it more legible.  Because at the end of the day if no one can read it, it doesn’t matter how cute it is.  First go around I had the day of the week wrong and flipped 2 letters in the groom’s last name (note: an example of the importance of reading your proofs with a magnifying glass).  I had gotten so focused on the design that I had lost focus on the text.  A lesson for me.  Once I got those corrected and got the thumbs up, off to print it went.

This design took quite a bit of time but I enjoyed every minute of it and was very happy with the result.  Stepping out of the box will always serve me well.  Success and failures are both learning opportunities.  This invitation always gets a lot of attention anytime I show it off (which is a lot!).  Thank you, Erin and Austin, for trusting me with your vision.

Keywords: wedding, wedding invitation, gate fold invitation, custom wedding invitation design, photo wedding invitation, Pinterest

Photos by Marina Goktas Photography. www.marinagoktas.com

Starting a business is a huge decision.  It takes time and money and a lot of both.  I always wanted to be my own boss but was too afraid to jump in and do it.  I went back to school and earned my MBA.  That made me want to start my own business even more.

I began to soul search and see where my passion was.  In order to know that I would keep myself motivated it needed to be something I could give all of myself to.  I had done wedding invitations for friends and family after doing my own and loved it.  I love weddings and really loved the design process of wedding invitations and knew that was the business for me.  But I still was too scared to jump in.

Then on June 21, 2016 it all changed.  My normal 40-50-minute commute home from work turned into over 3 hours.  That gave me the time to finally come to the conclusion that I had had enough of the 9-5 life and the commute that went along with it.  My husband had already put our kids to bed by the time I got home which meant I didn’t see them at all that day because I left before they had woken up that morning.  I walked in and said to my husband “we need to talk.”  I explained to him that I had been thinking about it and was so frustrated with my commute that day.  My awesome husband said “I love you.  I support you.  Do it.”  So I was going to start my custom wedding stationery business.

Luckily, I had a friend that had been a wedding photographer for 7 years.  The next day I texted her and told her I needed to pick her brain.  We got together a few days later and she passed on some wonderful information about starting a business, how to determine pricing, networking, marketing and how it won’t be easy.  I was lucky to have my own Obi-Wan to help get me started.

So I was on my way!  I had what I wanted to do, why I wanted to do it, but I needed to know who I was going to be?  My business needed a name.  I knew I wanted “Printing” in the name so people would have a better idea of what I did.  I decided I wanted to use a tree in the name because paper comes from trees.  Apparently, a lot of people had the same idea!  I had the hardest time finding a name that wasn’t already in use. I have always been intrigued by bonsai tree pruning so I thought it would be cool to use that.  My favorite color is blue.  So Blue Bonsai Printing LLC it was!

Now that the major decisions had been made it was time to get on the roller coaster of business ownership.  While it has had its ups and downs I have been loving every minute of it.  I am happy to say that on June 14, 2018 (less than 2 years from when I started my business) I moved to being full time self-employed!  It was super scary but it is what I had been working towards.  So excited to say I made it.  Now I am a year into doing my business as my full time job and I am loving every minute of it.

Keywords: wedding, wedding business, invitations, invitations designs, my wedding

When addressing your wedding invitations there are some etiquette rules one should follow.  Addressing your envelopes will be a time-consuming venture.  It is a necessary evil and you will want to get started sooner rather than later.  Instead of sitting down and doing them all in one sitting plan on doing 10-20 per day to avoid hand cramps.  Here are a few things to remember when addressing your envelopes.

1. Address the envelopes to only those invited- this may seem obvious but it can lead to confusion.  If you are having an adult only wedding you won’t want to address the invitation to “The Smith Family” but instead to “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”  If you have a single friend and you don’t want to address it to “Mr. Friend and guest” if you don’t want them to bring a plus 1.  You want to be sure to be diligent in addressing to avoid confusion.
2. Return address- We are all used to seeing the return address on the upper left corner of mail.  For wedding stationery, the return address traditionally goes on the back flap and centered.  Some people still choose to put the return address on the front and that is ok if you are having a more casual wedding.  When I do address printing for my clients I always put it on the back flap.
3. Stick to mailing rules- You may want to make artistic decisions in addressing your envelopes (which is a wonderful way to make them stand out) but make sure you follow postal guidelines for address formatting.  If you don’t follow guidelines your invitations and save the dates will not get to your guests and will be returned to you.
4. Name formatting- Etiquette dictates that nicknames should not be used when addressing your wedding invitations.  Even if you have never heard your Uncle Jim called “James” your invitations should be addressed using his legal name.  Proper titles should also be used including military rank, doctor, honorable (for judges), as well as the proper female title (Ms., Miss, or Mrs.).

Keywords: wedding, wedding invitations, save the dates, wedding etiquette, invitation addressing
Photo by Marina Goktas Photography https://marinagoktas.com/

There is a lot of talk about card stocks when discussing wedding invitation design.  A heavier card stock is always recommended but there are also double thick card stocks available.  Here are some of the most common card stock weights.  All weights mentioned are cover weight, not text (it makes a big difference).

1. 80lb- this is the card stock that you get standard at Vistaprint.  It is about the weight and sturdiness of a cheap greeting card.  I personally HATE this card stock.  It is very thin and feels very cheap to me.  The only redeeming quality of this card stock is if you are layering (i.e. putting the invitation on a mat or a pocket) but I still prefer to use a 100lb card stock for that.
2. 100lb- slightly better than the 80lb but still not ideal.  Invitations at this weight will be thicker than 80lb and this is a good weight for layering and will make for a lighter invitation when mailing but still a little thin in my opinion for a stand-alone invitation.
3. 110lb- this is the standard base card stock you get with big online retailers like Shutterfly or Minted.  By industry standard this is typically the lowest card stock weight a wedding stationery designer will use.  There are also options for card stock textures at this weight.
4. 120lb- This is the standard card stock I use for many of my designs.  The thickness makes the invitations very sturdy and adds to the quality feeling when you hold it.  Many textures are also available in this weight.
5. 130lb- Usually a textured card stock.  Because of the texture it may feel very similar to the 120lb and depending on the texture it may be more flexible than the 120lb without a texture.
6. Double thick card stocks (200lb, 220lb, 240lb)- these are made by pressing together 2 of the 100lb, 110lb, or 120lb during the milling process.  These are very thick and therefore can be difficult to print on.  It takes a special machine to print on these or to use letterpress.  All of these will have a textured appearance because of the milling process.  These are the preferred stocks for letterpress.  These will be significantly more expensive than the other card stocks and may cost more to mail depending on your specific suite.

When choosing the paperweight for your stationery know that the heavier the weight the sturdier the card stock will be.  I always use a minimum of 120lb card stock for my clients because of the high quality feel you get with it.  Let's discuss the card stock weight that is best for your wedding stationery!

Keywords: wedding, wedding budget, wedding invitations, invitation design, invitation, save the date, card stock

I will be honest… whenever I hear someone is going to use Vistaprint for their wedding invitations or save the dates I cringe.  Don’t get me wrong, Vistaprint is a good company and creates some good products.  I have ordered business items from them. But wedding items are not some of the things they do well.  There are a few reasons for that.

Before I go all Debbie Downer let’s acknowledge the good qualities of Vistaprint. 
1) Their customer service is impeccable.  If there is a problem with your order they will reprint or offer you a refund, no questions asked. 
2) Generally their quality is good on business printing products other than business cards.  I have used them when I ordered a banner and I was satisfied.
3) They run sales all the time, so you can get their already cheap items even cheaper.  But doesn’t that make you wonder how they can offer things so cheap?

Now for the reasons why you shouldn’t use Vistaprint for your wedding items.  It is not just about “they are my competition and you should use me.” (I do think that but there is more to it… Lol).

1. Cardstock quality: In a word… Terrible.  As a standard they use 80lb card stock for invitations.  You can pay more to “upgrade” the card stock to 100lb card stock but “upgrade” is a stretch.  Wedding invitation industry standard is 110lb, minimum.  The 80lb card stock is just very thin and cheap feeling.  Even the "double thick" is subpar as far as double thick goes.
   
2. Print quality: Questionable.  Like I said, I have ordered products and been satisfied.  When I started my business I joined Vistaprint as a reseller to print some of my business items.  I started ordering items quite regularly and I quickly learned that every time I opened a box from them 50% of the time the printing was fine.  The other 50% of the time it was horrible and obvious it had never been looked at by a person before the items were put in the box to be mailed.  I could always call and get a reprint but sometimes time did not allow for that.  It was always an inconvenience to call and have it reprinted.  I have since let my reseller account expire and use other avenues when needed.  Paying more for value and consistency is worth it.
3. Limited templates: They have about 250 5x7 invitations (standard wedding invitation size).  You can get 6x9 but that is an awkward size for wedding invitations.  That is it.  No square. No pockets. No mats.  Very limited on fonts.  You are also limited on wordings and you must stick with the basic wording set up they have on the design.
4. Envelope quality: Like the card stock… Terrible.  The envelopes are very thin and you can read everything right through them.  They do not protect the invitations at all and can rip very easily during the mailing process.  And white is the only color offered.

Your invitations are the first impression your guests get of your wedding.  You want it to be a good one.  You get what you pay for.  “Cheap” is not a good word to describe anything.  “Cheap” is a bad word. There is no good use of the word.  It is also not a word you want associated with your wedding.  Spending more elsewhere (whether that be from me or from another invitation specialist) is going to make a HUGE difference in the overall quality of your wedding stationery.

Keywords: wedding, wedding invitations, save the dates, wedding budget, invitation design, card stock, cheap wedding invitations