I find that custom wedding invitations and stationery is a world most of my couples aren’t too familiar with. Is it worth it? When should we start shopping around for stationery designers? What information does my designer need before I book their services? I get a lot of questions about it and so I decided to ask one of Ottawa’s most sought-after stationery professionals…Krista from Wishtree Invitations and Design.
For those of you wondering how custom wedding invitations and stationery works – here is some important information you need to know to get the process started:
How long before my wedding do I book my stationer and why?
Book your stationer once your photographer and venue are booked which will confirm your wedding date and how much time you have until you need to send your save the dates and wedding invitations. Your invitations go out first and serve as a little preview into the look and feel of your wedding – it’s your guests’ first introduction/sneak peek into your wedding day…it’s kind of a big deal.
What are things couples don’t think about when it comes to the stationery process?
Font styles and their legibility. If the recipient can’t read the font and understand what’s being communicated to them, then your invitation or stationery piece will go to waste. Your stationer will help you determine the appropriate font, size, and colour based on your wedding theme. They’ll be able to provide you with samples so you have an idea of what you like and what you don’t like.
What’s the difference between a professional stationer and someone who does it as a hobby?
Professional stationery designers have invested into their craft and will be in a much better position to ask you the right questions about your wedding, vision, and ultimately…what you want out of your stationery pieces. The goal of your stationer is legibility over “prettiness”. A professional will know how much things cost; for example, are you going for thick, pocket-fold invitations with multiple inserts and if so, know that thicker invitations require a double stamp in Canada. Your stationer should know about hidden costs and issues with sizing and be completely transparent with you about it right off the bat.
Lastly, a few helpful tips from a wedding planner’s perspective and a question I get asked quite a bit – when should save the dates and wedding invitations go out in the mail?
Typically, you will send your save the dates anywhere from 6-8 months out from your wedding date and your wedding invitations 6-8 weeks from your wedding date. You may want to air on the 8 month/week side when sending if you are expecting a lot of out of town guests or if your wedding is taking place during a holiday long weekend. This will give your guests ample time to RSVP and start looking into travel accommodations.
The biggest takeaway from this is when in doubt…ask a professional. As I mentioned, your save the date and/or wedding invitation is the first glimpse into your wedding day celebration and you want to make sure what your guests receive align with what they’ll see and experience on your wedding day.
If you’re looking for an amazing wedding stationery professional, I highly recommend Krista and Wishtree Invitations and Design. You’ll be in wonderful hands with their team!
xo Amanda
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