I'm guessing that this is the first time you're going to book a calligrapher or have wedding stationery designed just for you? No worries. My job as your calligraphette is to guide you through this process and help you make the best decision for your wedding day possible.
Step 1. Consultation + Quote
I love meeting with prospective clients, whether over the phone or in person. There are so many things that I want you to understand while you make this decision!
After you submit an inquiry or book a call, I'll send you a PDF of my welcome packet and a sample invitation (so you can see for yourself what it feels like to receive a hand-calligraphed envelope in the mail!).
Then we'll schedule a time to chat about calligraphy styles, design options, paper types, & printing methods. This will give me a starting point to create a custom quote for you. Unlike many other wedding stationers, I like to give you a couple basic sketches of what we could create... so you can see (I'm a very visual person, go figure) for yourself what the possibilities are!
An invitation suite themed around the destination: Mallorca. A Save the Date on handmade paper, with an envelope evoking the sand and sea.
Photo by: D'Arcy Benincosa
After you've taken some time to mull over the options we discussed, and ruminate a little on your first sketch, I like to chat again. We can refine the quote to add or take away anything (I'm always a fan of adding in handmade paper or a good ol' wax seal) to make it just right.
Then, I'll send you over my super short and easy to understand contract, send you an invoice for deposit, and it's off to the races!
Now, we get to make specific decisions about the really fun aspects of designing your wedding invitations! This is my favorite part of the process, and I have a feeling it will be yours as well!
A simple response card and invitation on handmade paper, with blue vintage stamps to create a refined yet fun experience for guests when they receive their envelopes.
2. Design Process (6-8 weeks)
Although 6-8 weeks can seem like a lifetime, this timeframe is actually a really crucial component to creating beautiful invitations. As I'll outline below, the revision process is very important. I want to be sure that you have enough time to digest the changes that we've decided on, and that I have enough time to make the adjustments that will make your paper goods perfect.
Usually, after you've officially booked C & Co. (yay!) you'll have pre-approved an initial, rough sketch. From there, the first step is for me to create a more detailed sketch and write your names out in calligraphy in the styles you're interested in. I'll send this along with some options for paper: colors, styles, weights, etc. I prefer to have samples sent from my paper wholesaler, so you can feel and see the papers in person!
The next step is for you to tell me any and all thoughts you have about the first sketch of your invitation suite: Does one calligraphy style speak to you? Do you prefer the spacing to be a little wider? Is the venue illustration in the right spot? Is a serif font feeling right or should we try a sans serif?
I'm here to help you make the most informed decisions possible. I work with all of these elements on a daily basis, and will want to help steer you toward a vision that will complement your wedding day and your personality as a couple!
This is the beginning of the revision process. We'll go back and forth three times over email or on the phone, to really fine tune every aspect of the design. This holds no matter what package you have: whether it's a simple three piece suite, or an all-encompassing seven piece suite. And, because I don't want to overwhelm you, I make sure I send well-organized emails that have clear action items for you.
After we've completed the design process (chosen and ordered paper, refined the calligraphy and design of all the pieces of your invitation suite) we'll move onto the last phase... printing and assembly! You'll choose your method of printing and assembly items early on, but I think that they deserve a separate explanation in the third part of this series.
As always, if you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask!
For an innovative yet subtle opening of the invitation: a piece of vellum with the first line of the invitation, finished with a wax seal
The decisions around printing and assembly will be made early on in the design process, but they impact so much of the overall timeline that they deserve their own section!
3. Printing + Assembly (2-6 weeks)
Printing takes longer than you might think, particularly if you want to outsource it. My preference is to use the Epson Artisan 1430 that I have in my home studio, which prints beautifully on most of the paper that I like to use.
Depending on the number of pieces we're printing, this process can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks for me. To achieve a high quality, the printer prints slowly, and there are only so many pieces that can be printed in a day!
Some papers, like beautifully textured handmade paper, are better left to letterpress printing. With letterpress, a metal plate is made that imprints your chosen design onto your paper. Your ink can be a neutral color, like with one of my favorite letterpress artisans, Artisan 2 Or, you an opt for more bold colors, or even a metallic foil.
With letterpress printing, you absolutely must plan on a 2-4 week turnaround time, particularly during a busy wedding season when the printer might already be booked. It can feel like a lot of "hurry up and wait!" but the end result is stunning.
Assembly is essentially putting together all of the pieces of your invitation suite. If we're including details like a silk ribbon, wax seal, vellum overlay... I will tie the ribbon, imprint the wax seal, and attach the vellum. Then, I'll stuff your (hand calligraphed) envelopes with your suites, affix the postage you've decided on, and send them off for you!
With so much to juggle as your wedding approaches, this step can take a few evenings of work off of your plate. All you have to do is wait to receive a framed copy of your invitation suite in the mail from me, to hang up and enjoy.
Any details you'd like some more information on? Send me an email, or send it through an inquiry!