Stationery Guide

Stationery GuideWritten by Caitlin O’BryantEdited by Danielle HalibeyIN THIS GUIDEWedding stationery is the first glimpse most of your guests willhave of your wedding. Not only does it relay the important details,such as the wedding date, time, and venue, it also clues them into what the day itself will be like. A good wedding invitation willcommunicate the formality of the event, and through materials,embellishments, and the design itself, you’ll share SO much aboutyou and your partner’s love story, values, and vibe.In this guide, we’ll take you through the wedding stationeryprocess from start to finish, providing insight on everything: fromhow to find the right stationer for your budget and aesthetic,to tips on how to mail those invitations. We’ll also drill down oninvitation and addressing etiquette, invitation timelines, and howto incorporate it ALL on your wedding day. With informationsourced directly from experienced stationers and calligraphers,including some of our coveted/beloved/esteemed Little BlackBook vendors, consider this your one stop shop for all inforegarding wedding stationery and calligraphy.

importance ofwedding stationeryWedding stationery goes way beyond itscalling as “pretty paper”. It provides yourguests with a great visual impressionof your big day and it can serve as alasting keepsake that they’ll rememberthe day by. From save the dates today-of programs, paper goods will guideyour loved ones to your wedding dayand keep them inspired all the waythrough your vows to your final kiss asnewlyweds.Without words, stationery will inevitablyfall flat. Save the dates aren’t very usefulwithout a date or location and dinnermenus can’t make guests’ mouthswater if they fail to list what they’ll beeating. But visual and textural elementsplay a large part in how ideas arecommunicated to your guests as well.Well designed stationery uses a cache ofelements to show guests what they canexpect, from colors and paper choiceall the way down to the postage onthe envelope. (And yes, we’re all aboutstatement postage!)Photo by Anya Kernes Photography, LBB Stationery by Olive Saint LilySTYLE ME PRETTY STATIONERY GUIDE 2

custom, semi-custom andmass-market stationeryWhen it comes to choosing which route to take for your stationery, there are several options to explore. Thedifferences largely lie in client experience, quality of design, quality of material, embellishment options, and price.Keep an open mind when you’re exploring the options, as you’ll want to find what works best for you and your partner.CUSTOM STATIONERYCustom stationery design is a high-end, boutiqueexperience, where you work one-on-one with astationer to create paper goods specifically foryou and your event. With custom, every detail istailored to you, and stationers will propose a suiteand materials based on your aesthetic and budget.When you’re working with an individual designeror small business on these kinds of invitations, youhave the opportunity to collaborate, talk throughyour every design wish, and really work towardsa unique, totally bespoke piece that embodieswho you and your partner are. Custom stationeryaffords you so much creative power: you can askfor a venue sketch (something that is super trendyRN) or even tinker with a custom crest featuringthe very specific variety of flowers you’ll be usingfor the day. View this process as a blank canvas,where the designer creates pieces from scratch thattell you and your partner’s story. These one-of-akind designs elevate the value of your stationeryto a whole other level, creating suites that you’ll beproud to share with loved ones and maybe evenpass down as heirlooms some day.Because of the extensive amount of time that goesinto designing, sourcing, and finishing customstationery, it is decidedly the most expensive optionfor wedding invitations, commonly ranging between 2,000– 10,000, depending on the designer andscope of the project. It is an investment in highquality material and design, with luxury paper andprinting methods and limitless embellishmentPhoto by The Ganeys, LBB Stationery by Emily Mayne Studio, LBBSTYLE ME PRETTY STATIONERY GUIDE 3

options. If you’ve dreamed of invitations engraved on acrylic, or letterpressed on handmade paper and delivered inlinen folios, or of envelopes adorned with a curated set of vintage postage, custom is absolutely the way you’ll wantto go.And yes, it’s expensive, but along with the exceptional quality of work, you’re also investing in a stationer’s expertise.When you hire a designer for custom stationery, you should be able to trust that they’re knowledgeable andunderstand what will work best for your event, aesthetic, and budget. Custom stationers are there for you everystep of the way, with encouragement, experience, and the know-how to make things happen! When you ordercustom, you can truly relax, knowing that they’ve got your back and can take care of things.Designers often need 10–15 weeks to complete custom stationery, from initial sketches to delivery. These stationerssometimes book months in advance, so research and inquire as early as you can. Read more about working with adesigner on custom stationery below.SEMI-CUSTOM STATIONERYMASS-MARKET STATIONERYIf you love the idea of custom stationery, but the priceMass-market invitations work great for couples onis making you panic, semi-custom invitations maytight budgets, and there are a number of retailerswork best for you. Some custom stationery designersthat sell these kinds of invitations online. The cost ofoffer curated collections of semi-custom suites whichmass-market stationery often ranges from 75– 500,they offer on their websites. These invitations are pre-depending on the size of your invitation suite anddesigned, but highly customizable, and come with thewhich retailer you choose. Their turnaround timesknowledge and experience of a high-end designer.are much faster than custom or semi-custom work,Materials and options for embellishments are theand you can receive your stationery in as little assame or similar to that of custom suites, so youthree days. However, in exchange for lower prices,know you’ll be receiving a boutique experience andquality, customization, and client experience can behigh quality stationery, just at a more comfortablecompromised.cost. Semi-custom invitations commonly range from 600– 5,000, depending on the scope of the project.The templates offered on these websites have beendesigned for mass production, so customization isThis route is also great for couples on shorteroften limited to names, dates, location, and sometimestimelines. While custom stationery can take anywherefonts. Printing methods, paper choices, andfrom 10–15 weeks to complete, semi-customembellishments are also limited. While the processsuites can have turnarounds anywhere from 5–12behind custom and semi-custom stationery involvesweeks, with rush options available for even tightera conversation between you and the vendor, orderingtimetables.mass-market invitations is similar to shopping onlineat any large retailer. A customer service representativemay be able to help clarify price or timelines, andyou can always search forums, but often there is nolarger conversation or consultation experience builtin to help you decide what will work best for you andyour event. Granted, this is not always the case. Somee-commerce sites do provide multiple rounds ofedits and updates, but, overall, your preferences forpersonalization probably won’t be satisfied like theywould be with a custom or semi-custom situation.STYLE ME PRETTY STATIONERY GUIDE 4

CHOOSING A STATIONERDeciding between custom, semi-custom, and mass-marketinvitations often comes down to what you value and prioritizemost. However, the formality of the event and level ofinvestment in other areas should also inform your plan forstationery. If you’re hosting a black tie destination weddingweekend on Lake Como, mass-market stationery will probablynot be able to properly communicate what your guests shouldexpect. These destination affairs typically have intense, weekenditineraries that require a lot more than traditional invitationsuites can convey with simple accommodations, reception,and RSVP cards. Likewise, a backyard picnic wedding withcasual attire doesn’t necessarily call for custom, foil-printedinvitations on handmade paper. Consider what works best foryou and your partner in the grand scheme of things and planaccordingly.Once you’ve decided which general direction best fits yourneeds, it’s time to choose a specific stationer or retailer.Consider the atmosphere and feeling you want on yourwedding day, and find a stationer that matches the tone you’relooking to achieve. If you’re dreaming of handmade paper, lookfor a vendor who is experienced in working with that material.Our Real Weddings and LBB Directory, Instagram, Pinterest, andGoogle are all great places to find vendors that fit your style ifyou don’t have a wedding planner to make recommendations.Just like we mentioned earlier, you can find something thattruly gives you ALL those heart eyes just by taking a peek of ourInstagram feed and following the tagged trail to the stationer ofyour dreams.When you narrow down your choices to a few vendors, inquirewith them to receive a quote. If you’re ordering custom, thedesigner may want to schedule a phone call or ask you a fewquestions to get to know you better before putting optionstogether. When you receive a quote and see what they canoffer, consider if their process, pricing, and availability fits yourneeds, and feel free to ask them questions! Vendors appreciatewhen clients engage in some Q&A, it shows how seriously theytake their services.Custom and semi-custom stationery involves a vendor“Ask yourself, whatis the feeling youwant your weddingday to have? If youwant your weddingto be clean, modernand minimalist, don’tchoose a vendorwhose style isfeminine, elaborateand romantic. Notonly do you wantsomeone whomatches your styleand taste, but yourvendor wants to workwith someone whowill allow them toshowcase their beststyle of work.”relationship, so become familiar with who they are and howthey work. When you’re confident that a vendor is the one thatwill bring your stationery dreams to life, book them!STYLE ME PRETTY STATIONERY GUIDE 5EMILY MAYNEEmily Mayne Studio

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Wedding stationery is the first glimpse most of your guests will have of your wedding. Not only does it relay the important details, such as the wedding date, time, and venue, it also clues them in . for wedding invitations, commonly ranging between 2,000- 10,000, depending on the designer and scope of the project. It is an investment in high