I met with one of my favorite stationers recently and she brought up an article she had seen - from a wedding site that vendors pay to advertise on nonetheless - about things that you can save money on and number one was stationery! While I’m all for prioritizing the parts of your weddings that you want to allocate the most money to, I like to push my clients to go custom & to support small business owners! Plus, the difference in quality is night and day! That being said, I wanted to throw together my own article about why hiring a stationer absolutely SHOULD be on your list - your paper may be one of the few things you have as a keepsake after the big day is done!
Since Colorado is home to some incredible artists - I thought I’d ask a few to share why THEY think custom stationery is of the utmost importance! Here’s what they had to say:
Cat of Beautifully Noted on the importance of customization - “When it comes to wedding details (paper goods included), it’s important that they form a cohesive aesthetic that is a reflection of who you are as a couple. Did your fiancé pick wildflowers for you on your first date? Let’s incorporate hand drawn blooms into your invitation suite. Consider your personal style and which elements or locations have played a role in your relationship; allow those to inspire your paper goods…Whether you’ve been pinning wedding inspiration since before you were dating or you’re not sure exactly where to begin, I’m here to help. From trends to etiquette – I know my stuff! Based on your vision and budget, we will determine which printing method is the best fit for you: letterpress, foil stamp, or digital printing. Elevate your suite with personal accessories and enclosure options like laser cut pockets, vellum sleeves, belly bands, envelope liners, hand torn edges, wax seals, and hand dyed silk ribbon.”
Emily A. Howell Calligraphy & Design on cohesiveness & little touches - “Your invitations are the first impression your guests will get of your wedding so it's important to make sure they are reflective of your overall vision as well as making a big impact! By adding custom calligraphy, you elevate that impact that most guests will find very special. Calligraphy adds a wow factor not just to your invitations but to any signage that you need at your wedding. Place cards offer guidance as well as a keepsake, and a custom welcome sign greets your guests while also being something you can display in your home for years to come. Think of calligraphy as a special touch to your wedding that you and your guests can take with you, rather than a fleeting memory.”
Hannah of Anchored Publishing on representing your love story - “No other love story is identical to yours, because no other story includes you and your fiance. Your wedding stationery provides your first big opportunity to share your story with loved ones and sets the stage for your special, forever-dreamed-of event! You may be able to save money on a typical pre-designed invitation or template, but will this allow you to perfectly capture who you and your fiance uniquely are? More than likely, not. And you may ultimately find yourself settling. Perfecting every detail of your big day requires a lot of time, energy and money. Your wedding stationery provides a tangible representation of the hard work you poured into the planning process. A stationer can provide a one-of-a-kind creation to represent your story while giving your suite the personal care & attention it deserves. Plus as a bonus, the artwork that comes with a custom invitation suite designed by a stationer can be part of your wedding in many ways, including paper accents to use on your special day (napkins, signs, gift tags, etc.) These may also serve as keepsake pieces for you and your guests to save for years to come, preserving the memory of your special day.”
Brea of The Lettery Co on perfecting your vision - “From the save the date and invitation suite all the way through to your day-of paper and thank you cards, working one-on-one with a custom stationery designer is the best way to ensure that your wedding stationery honors your relationship to create a design that sets the stage for memories that last a lifetime! Every couple and every wedding is unique, and your wedding stationery should be as well. Sure, you could work with those who offer existing designs and customize-able templates to select one that feels the most like you....but custom stationery designers are here to ensure that your wedding stationery actually is you - - through colors, textures, design elements, incorporating themes, unique layouts, and more. And the reality is, you can typically do this all within your wedding budget!”
As you can tell - you’ll be in great hands if you decide to move forward with a custom stationer/calligrapher! You put SO much time and energy into other aspects of the wedding day, don’t let the little details fall through the cracks! Since your invites are a beautiful representation of you and your wedding day, I have a collection of my client’s invites to look back on when I’m feeling nostalgic, make sure you’re able to do the same! <3
