In the age of Pinterest and DIY resources galore, now more than ever, couples may find themselves wondering if they really need to hire professional wedding stationery designers to create their wedding invitations, or if they can go another route. Today’s alternatives include purchasing an editable invitation template and printing them yourself, selecting a pre-designed option from an online printer, or channeling your inner Martha Stewart to create homemade invitations. And while every soonly-wed has their own “perfect” option, it’s important to consider what each entails. For example, why hire a wedding stationery designer in the first place? For starters, it’s the most foolproof way to end up with high quality invitations that reflect your wedding style. A professional designer has the understanding, skillset, resources, and experience to make your wedding stationery process easy, fun, and yes – even budget-friendly. But don’t just take our word for it. Let’s talk to an expert. Today, Angela of Angela Pro Designs is sharing her top nine reasons for hiring a wedding stationery designer…and when you might not need to!
From Angela…
1.) We can help you get the most bang for your buck.
It’s a common misconception that hiring a wedding stationery designer is out of the question when you’re on a budget. An experienced designer knows all of the tips and tricks to get you the most for your money. We have ALL. THE. RESOURCES. It’s our job to try to find you the best options within your budget. We may order different pieces of your invitation suite from different vendors in order to get you exactly what you want at a reasonable price. Not only is this research time-consuming, but many vendors only sell to professional designers, or they offer designers a large discount – which, in turn, benefits the client.
2.) We’re here to answer all your questions.
Once you’ve hired a designer, think of us as your personal expert in formalities, timeline, and other things related to your wedding stationery. We’re also happy to share our professional opinion when requested, and we love introducing you to new options and ideas. We can make suggestions for condensing a three-page Word document into something that is more manageable for a details card. Or we will help you weigh the pros and cons of different printing methods. Since we’ve worked on a ton of weddings, we know what’s standard and how to gracefully handle any tricky situation.
3.) Printing is a science.
Most home printers and non-commercial printers cannot handle certain paper textures and weights (aka thickness), so you’re very limited. A professional, commercial printer can print on much thicker, nicer paper stock, and they have access to a large variety of colors and textures.
Speaking of color, printing color can also be an issue. The way colors appear on a screen will vary from how they print. There are things a designer can do when creating the file to help you achieve a specific color when necessary.
The quality of printing is also extremely important. Beware of printing your invitations and envelopes at home on an inkjet printer. Inkjet printing can easily smear, especially in the mail.
4.) We’re trained to be your second set of eyes.
A professional stationery designer can not only catch the spelling errors everyone else missed, but we can also make suggestions for wording and etiquette and help prevent pitfalls, like ordering one invitation per guest instead of one per household. With SO many moving parts involved in planning a wedding, it’s easy to overlook or forget things. We’re here to remind you, keep you on track, and make sure all of the information is there.
5.) We can handle the labor.
The last thing you want to find time for is creating 100 wax seals or assembling 150 belly bands. You have enough to do! Let us handle the labor.
6.) We guarantee quality.
Professional designers guarantee that you’ll end up with high quality invitations. But do high quality invitations really make a difference? Absolutely!
When guests receive an invitation that is high quality and looks high-end, they are more likely to see it as the special event that it is. Think about it: When you open an invitation and the invitation quality itself conveys that this will be the event of the decade, you get excited! This leads to more responsible response times, a greater number of guests going out of their way to attend, and guests bringing their very best.
7.) We can help make it personal.
Are you looking for a specific shade of blue? Do you have your heart set on a custom monogram or design? Your wedding is the most special day for you as a couple. A designer can help you find tasteful ways to incorporate meaningful references into your wedding stationery, giving it an extra special, personal touch.
8.) We’re your one-stop-shop.
Many stationery designers help their clients with all of their wedding day branding, not just invitations! From escort cards and menus, to ceremony programs and signage, we can make sure everything is cohesive and compliments your wedding aesthetic.
9.) “But they’ll just be thrown away…”
Actually, your stationery is one of the few things from your wedding that will stand the test of time! Food will be eaten, flowers will die, and rentals will be returned. All of these things are important parts of your big day, but when it comes to tangible keepsakes, your wedding invitations will be just as beautiful 10 years from now as they were on the day you sent them out.
So when would hiring a wedding stationery designer NOT make sense?
If you’re a budget bride looking to cut costs anywhere and everywhere possible, working with a professional designer may not be for you. If you’re extremely creative and crafty and have your heart set on creating your own invitations from scratch, hiring a designer may not make sense.
However, if you can relate to any of the items listed below, hiring a designer is the way to go!
- You’re anxious about making sure there are no mistakes.
- You don’t have time to make your own invitations.
- You want signage, escort cards, menus, or other items for your wedding, all with a cohesive design that matches your wedding style.
- You want to make your wedding stationery extra special by adding personal references that represent you as a couple.
- You have questions on etiquette, formalities, wording, design, printing processes, paper options, timeline, or anything else related to wedding stationery.
- You want your invitations to impress and convey a high level of quality.
- You have too many other things to focus on!
- You don’t know where to start.
The most important thing to remember is that you have options. Do your research, take your time, and make a decision based on your specific needs. Choose a design that you love! After all, your wedding stationery is likely to be the first representation of your wedding day that guests see. It truly sets the tone for what’s to come!
Reading this article on the morning of my wedding, which is appropriate since I’m a proud “Angela Pro Designs” bride, and I could not agree more! I found Angela on Burgh Brides and all those points above ring so true!! Her work was so exquisite that we decided to scale back on other decor to let her stationary shine.
I was most shocked at how affordable all the high-end touches like letterpress and foil were through her. I was paying so much more on popular stationary sites and was always sacrificing something.
I got everything I wanted and more through APD. She was so “on it” the entire process!! She’s also the sweetest lady on the planet.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear you had a wonderful experience with Angela. She is one of the sweetest vendors we’ve had the pleasure of working with and her creations are always beautiful. Congratulations to you!!!