What’s the point in hiring a wedding stationery designer when you could just make DIY wedding stationery and use Canva, you may be thinking… This blog post explores the pros and cons of hiring a wedding stationer and important things to consider before finding the perfect wedding illustrator for you.
Canva is not the Best tool for print...
While Canva is a great tool, I myself use it for making social media graphics and banners for my website, it is better suited for digital items and the designs do not always translate well into print. While it has some great functionality to ensure graphics render well on digital devices, the controls are limited when it comes to CMYK, colour accuracy, bleed areas and high resolution formats. It is also not the best choice for specialist finishes such as vellum printing, foiling or white ink. More complex printed wedding stationery such as folded invitations or order of service booklets is definitely better designed by a wedding stationery designer using Adobe InDesign.
Hiring a wedding stationery designer
This offers a whole host of benefits, including insider knowledge of the latest wedding trends, expertise in design and knowledge of complex paper types, printing methods and finishes. A stationer’s flair for design, knowledge and experience will enhance your stationery package to a level beyond that of any online templates. It also gives you complete flexibility to have the stationery designs unique and personal to you, rather than a template many people use, which has been adapted.
My clients choose me for the level of personalisation I offer, my meticulous attention to detail and my creative flair. Right from ‘save the dates’ and invitations through to signage and menus for the day of your wedding, I will ensure your bespoke wedding stationery set is cohesive and visually stunning. If you are looking for a highly personalised service, custom designs and unique stationery that is tailored to your wedding – you’re in the right place.
Hire a Professional Wedding Stationery Designer
While you might think it’s cheaper to design and make your own stationery, which it is (full transparency), it is also easy to underestimate the stress, time and effort involved in creating something you have never done before and making 100 of each item. If you are new to the world of printing and have no experience of paper types, it’s easy to choose the wrong material - I’ve had clients that requested digital artwork for signage and then after the wedding admitted they opted for a glossy finish and the sign looked awful. Allowing a wedding stationery designer to handle the design, print and delivery of your wedding stationery gives you peace of mind that everything will be executed to a high standard and look stunning. Wedding stationery that is flawless, unique and reflects your personality is what I’m all about here.
The Benefits of Hiring a Wedding Stationery Designer
Still not convinced that hiring a wedding stationery designer is the best way forward? Here are some more benefits of working with a wedding pro versus DIY stationery…
- Creating personalised keepsakes - Wedding stationery designers create unique, extra special pieces that also serve as keepsakes for your guests - favour tags, place cards and order of service booklets are often kept as tokens of remembrance from your wedding day.
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Cohesive design - When I have initial calls with clients, they often say they want to find an experienced wedding stationery designer because they want everything to match and look beautifully cohesive in design.
- Unique wedding stationery - When it comes to styling your wedding, most couples want it to be unique to them, and not the same as all the other weddings their guests have attended. Wedding stationery designers bring creative flair to your invitations, menus and signage, making them stand out with hand-painted designs that compliment your wedding theme.
- Artisan elegance - There’s an abundance of lovely details a wedding stationery designer can incorporate into your stationery set. From wax seals and tassels to foiling and interesting paper types such as vellum, flecked paper or textured paper.
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A hint of nostalgia - There’s nothing better than using illustrations to evoke special memories. I can incorporate an illustrated love story with cute paintings of how you met and when you got engaged, a visual timeline of your journey together or perhaps a pet portrait of your beloved pooch.
My bespoke stationery is always extra personalised, I recently worked with clients Lauren and Laurie who opted for a 100% bespoke design service. Their table numbers were named after beaches they have visited together, and each had a watercolour border of things associated with that trip - Kangaroos, Koalas and surf boards for Australia and fish and chips with striped beach huts for Norfolk. When I sent Lauren her proof, she was so, so excited showing her mum because the table names were bringing back her favourite memories of their travels together.
How to Choose a Wedding Stationery Designer
While I’d love to tell you that every couple that enquires, goes ahead and books me, that is not always the case - and I’m fine with that. Whether it’s a florist, cake maker or wedding stationer, you should choose suppliers that you love. You should love their style, be blown away by their Instagram and immediately fall in love with their work. Their style should align with your vision and wedding theme. Here are some tips for finding the perfect wedding stationery designer for you:
- Style and Aesthetics - Review the wedding stationery designer’s portfolio to ensure their style complements your wedding theme and the overall look you are going for. Don’t be afraid to ask for more examples of work as they may be able to show you bespoke projects that are similar to your wedding style.
- Experience & Expertise - Think about how much and exactly what experience your wedding stationery designer has. If you’re getting married on the coast, have they done lots of gorgeous coastal weddings before? If you're getting married abroad, do they specialise in tropical destination weddings? Or perhaps they have illustrated your wedding venue before…
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Level of Customisation - Is the stationery designer bound to templates or do they offer a fully bespoke service? Discuss the level of customisation offered, whether you want hand painted illustrations and clarify if they can include personal elements like pets, special motifs, or family crests. Ensure you check if they are hand painted as there are a lot of dodgy illustrations made using apps floating around the internet at the moment!
- Timeline & Availability - Check the wedding stationery designer’s availability to ensure they can meet your wedding timeline, especially if you need illustrations and hand painted elements which take more time. Ask if you can pay a deposit to get booked in and secure your date as you might find if you get a quote and then go to book months later, your supplier is suddenly busy and the waiting time has increased.
- Budget & Pricing - Understand the pricing structure, which may vary based on complexity, quantity, and scope of work. Most experienced wedding stationery designers will send you clear and concise quotes so you understand exactly what is included.
- The Proofing Process - Clarify the process from initial concept to final delivery. Do you receive digital proofs and how many amendments can you make? How are the proofs sent and how do you provide feedback?
- Previous Client Reviews - As with booking any wedding supplier, always check the wedding stationery designer’s reviews and testimonials. Etsy, Google and Facebook are great places to look for honest and unbiased reviews.
If you’d like to chat about bespoke stationery for your wedding, you can contact me for a quote and more information.