Last week, I discussed my top three reasons for hiring a stationery designer for your wedding invitations, as opposed to choosing a template off of a pre-made invitation site, and why it is truly worth the investment for custom wedding invitations. You want your invitations to be unique and one-of-a-kind, just like your wedding will be, so investing in custom stationery is the cherry on top for making your big day extra special. You also want your invitations to reflect you and your fiance' as a couple, not just that they are pretty.
Today, I am sharing my advice for how to choose the right designer for your wedding stationery. Custom stationery for your wedding is an investment, so you want to put that money toward someone that will create invitations you absolutely adore and want to cherish forever.
DESIGN STYLE & AESTHETIC
One of the most important things to consider when hiring a wedding stationery designer is whether or not you like their design style and aesthetic. If you don't absolutely love the invitations that they have created in the past, or you don't feel like your vision for your invitations jives well with their design style, then you and that designer probably won't be a good fit. Maybe their design style is simple and elegant, while your vision for your invitations is more bright, fun and whimsical. You want your vision and the stationer's design style to mesh well, otherwise it could make it difficult to work together.
THE DETAILS
If you are officially overwhelmed when it comes to all the details for your wedding invitations (EX: wording, etiquette, timelines, etc.), your stationer will have your back. When you hire a custom stationery designer for your invitations, there are going to be tons of details that your designer will help you with, and they will make sure that everything is in perfect shape for your invitations. Having a stationer handle your invitations for you will take a ton of a stress out of the process, and they will make sure that your invitations are completed and delivered to your guests right on time.
You should also consider working with the same stationery designer for all of your printed materials, so that all of your pieces have a consistent look and feel. Here is a list of all the possible printed components to consider for your wedding stationery:
Save-the-Dates
Wedding Invitation Suite
Main Invitation + Outer Envelope
Inner Envelope (Optional)
RSVP card + Inner Envelope
Reception/Info Card
Directions Card/Map
Embellishments (belly bands, ribbon, etc.)
Menus
Programs
Place Cards/Escort Cards
Napkins, labels, etc.
Additional Party Invitations
Engagement Party
Bachelorette/Bachelor Party
Bridal Shower
Rehearsal Dinner
After-Party or Post-Wedding Brunch
PERSONALITY & COMMUNICATION
An extremely important part of the custom invitation design process is that you and your stationer's personalities mesh well, that they are able to communicate with you clearly and that they really understands your vision. You want to feel confident that your designer will follow through on their promise to create beautiful, unique invitations for your big day.
There are several ways that a stationer may go about communicating with you about your invitations:
A phone or Skype call
A questionnaire
Both a phone/Skype call or a questionnaire
A phone or Skype call with your stationer will typically last 30-45 minutes, as your stationer will gather details about you, your big day and your vision for your invitations, as well as answer any questions you may have. You budget will also be discussed.
Sometimes, a phone or Skype call does not fit into a stationer's busy schedule, or they may prefer to have everything in writing from you, so they may send you a questionnaire to fill out instead. The questionnaire will include all the questions they would normally ask you via phone or Skype. A big advantage of filling out a questionnaire is that you may think of things you wouldn't normally have thought of on the spot while you're on the phone, and it is great for the stationer to have these extra details.
Either through the phone/Skype call, a questionnaire or even just e-mail, you will be able to get a feel for the designer's personality and communication style. It's very important that you understand how they prefer to communicate with you (most will want to communicate via e-mail), their timeline for your project and their schedule.
Most of all, it's very important that you understand the stationery designer's process. For me, it is best to contact me for your custom stationery needs at least 6 months in advance, but preferably 8-9 months out to avoid any rush fees or errors. Other designers may request more or less notice than this, but it is best to reach out as soon as possible when you are interested in a certain designer for your invitations.
Ask yourself these questions when you're searching for a designer and when you're looking through different designer's portfolios:
At first glance, do I like what I see in this designer's portfolio?
What sticks out to me about this stationer's design style and aesthetic?
Does my vision for my invitations line up with this stationer's design style and aesthetic?
Does their pricing fit within my budget?
Do I understand their process for completing my invitations?
Am I giving them enough notice if I reach out? (i.e. at least 5-6 months in advance of my wedding date)
Am I excited about the possibility of working with this designer?
Interested in hiring a wedding stationery designer? Let me know! I would love to hear from you and find out if we are good fit! :)
