Questions to ask your invitation designer :: Charlotte Wedding Stationery

Invitations are one of the most important aspects of your wedding right behind the dress, venue, and the food. The same criteria that you use to choose the vendor that you will buy your dress from, host your wedding (and reception) as well make your wedding cake and prepare your meal, should be the same one that you use to pick who will design and print your wedding stationery.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Robinson Photography

Here are some introductory questions that you ought to consider asking your stationery designer and why.

1. How long have you been in business?

Knowing if they just opened last week or last year helps you better figure out if they can handle your stationery needs. (Bridal Flavors has been in business for three years [3] and counting!)

2. Is your printing done in-house or do you outsource the printing?

The benefits of a stationery designer that prints in-house is that there's a quicker turnaround time, which can be handy if there is any reprinting that needs to be done. This also means that they can better help you with any last minute projects. (We print in-house!)

3. Do you offer custom invitations as well as templated styles? Is there a fee if I want to order a sample of either and existing invitation style or a custom design? If so, how much?

This helps you better know if the stationery designer can do what you want. (Yes! While we prefer to create custom designers for our brides (as every bride is different), we do offer templates for quick turnaround projects. Yes, there is a nominal fee for printed samples ($25 for 3 samples)).

Photo courtesy of Aura Marzouk Photography

4. If I choose a custom wedding invitation, what are my options for color, paper type, ink, and fonts? What is the word limit for the text?

Knowing what your options are help you better determine if this is the stationery designer for you. If your heart is set on a specific color or type of paper, then you need to make sure your stationery designer has access to that color or paper. (We have over 20 colors of standard paper in stock; but have access to over a hundred different types, styles, and weights of paper that can be utilized for your stationery needs. And while we have standard fonts we use, we welcome the opportunity to use a different font (a nominal fee may apply). There may be space limit (depending on what we're creating); but there is no word count limit.)

5. Can I also order my table numbers, place cards, escort cards, ceremony programs, menus, etc. from you?

It's easier to find a place that can handle all your stationery needs instead of having to find a secondary shop to match your table numbers, place cards, and other stationery. Finding one stationery designer that can all your stationery needs saves you time, energy, and money; which in the end can save you a headache. (We are a one-stop shop for all your wedding stationery needs. From save the dates and invitations to wedding programs and table numbers to thank you cards and wedding announcements.)

6. If I want to include a picture or a graphic on my save-the-date or invitation, can you accommodate that? If so, does the image need to be save in a specific format? Do you have photo retouching available, and if so, what is the price range? Can your photo specialist also convert color images to black and white or sepia? Is there an additional cost?

Many couples are moving towards having their engagement photos on their save-the-dates and invitations. And while this is popular, some stationery shops do not have the tools (or the knowledge) to make [the appropriate] edits to a picture. This is an important question to ask, especially if this is something you want done for your save-the-dates and invitations. (We are able to make the necessary and appropriate edits to your picture to show it in its best light/format.)