The Custom Invitation Process
When wedding planning there are so many decisions to be made - your dress, the flowers, the meal choices. And of course one of the decisions to be made is how you are going to invite your guests to your celebration: the invitations! I personally think invitations can be one of the most fun parts of planning your wedding, but as with anything if you don't know what you are doing or feel overwhelmed it can also be stressful. I'm on mission to make it fun and simple, not stressful - so let's chat about the custom invitation design process so you can be excited and ready to make some wedding invitation dreams come true!
The Custom Design process will likely vary from stationer to stationer, but I'm going to walk you through my process, and I'm certain there is some overlap between my process and the process of another custom stationer you may work with if my style isn't exactly for you!
Step 1: Determine if Custom Invitation Design is for you
Now this may seem straightforward, but this truly is the most important step because it impacts everything else. Custom (bespoke) design is not for everyone and that is absolutely okay!
Custom design may be for you if…
You know that you want to include lots of personal details in your stationery design
You want something truly unique that cannot be found in a pre-designed suite
You have a sizeable invitation budget to include lots of bells and whistles and upgrades to make your invitations stand out (certainly not required, but helpful in getting a highly customized look)
Pre-Designed Invitations may be for you if…
You need to see lots of examples and just want to pick something that you already know how the end product is going to look
You have a quicker turnaround time and your invitation budget cannot accommodate a highly customized design
The thought of the custom process does not sound fun and appealing to you
There is no right or wrong answer here, it is about what best fits your style and budget. That's why I do both custom design and have the Collections Suites for my brides who want a personalized experience, but fully custom design may not be for them. If Custom design is for you, then let's move on to Step 2 - if not, check out the Collections Suites to see if there is design that catches your eye!
Step 2: Inquire and Book
Once you determine that custom invitation design is for you, you will fill out the inquiry form so that I can learn a little bit about your wedding day and what you need for your invitations! I will reach out with more information and we will set up a time to talk more in detail about what you are looking for so I can provide you with a truly customized proposal to begin the process. I only accept a few custom invitation clients per month, so in order to book your spot on my design calendar you will sign the contract and pay a 50% retainer. Then you are booked and we are ready to begin the fun part!
Step 3: Questionnaires and Lookbook
When it is time to begin your designs based on the timeline we come up with during the proposal process, I will provide you with two questionnaires: the wording questionnaire (to capture all of the details of your day) and the design questionnaire (to learn more about your vision and everything you hope to achieve with your invitations). I'll take your responses and put together your custom "lookbook" which includes:
Inspiration Board
Color Palette
Sketches of my ideas for the design direction of your suite
This is such a fun part of the process for both of us because it allows my creativity to start flowing and for you to start to see what your design can truly be. You will provide feedback on your lookbook and once we settle on a design direction I will begin the full designing of your suite.
Step 4: Design, Feedback, and Production
Once I design your full suite based on the lookbook we put together, I will send it over for you to review! We will go through three revision rounds to get everything just right, because I want to make sure your invitations are exactly what you have in mind! After you sign off on your digital designs I will begin the production process to get your invitations into your hands.
The custom invitation process takes about 6-8 weeks on average, but can be a bit longer if we include specialty printing processes like letterpress and foil. If you are hoping to send your invitations out three months in advance, we will need to start the process about five to six months before your wedding day.
That's it! It really is that simple, even though custom design can sound so intimidating. Really, custom is just about making your invitations reflect your personality and your vision for your wedding day. The process is fun and full of pretty designs on your end while I take care of everything else!
If you are unsure whether custom is for you or want to talk about the ideas you have in mind, let's chat - head over to the Contact page and let's get in touch!
