The Stationers Guild

With money tight, many bridal couples are seeking ways to economize on their weddings.  Very often they opt to create their own wedding invitations.  While this may seem a wise decision, it often ends in frustration or a wedding invitation that doesn’t quite rise to the importance of the occasion. 

Each month we have several panicky couples  drop into our store for advice on how to redo their DIY wedding invitations.   Just this weekend, one young couple who had paid a free-lancer to design their wedding invitation sought our advice on selecting paper for their design.  Their budget was $400 for 150 invitations.  Unfortunately, we explained that a full-bleed invitation (artwork design extended to the border of the print area) and a custom-cut invitation would be far more than their budget permitted.

It is most disappointing to see the anguish that ensues when couples realize that their inexpensive wedding invitation has turned to create your own wedding invitations.  Before you do so, I strongly recommend that you consult a stationer in your neighborhood who generally has several lines of attractively priced wedding invitations and provide expert advice on styling and etiquette.  You will not be sorry you have done so.  Also, many of these stores carry card stock that may be used for your wedding invitation in the event you decide to fly solo.

DIY Wedding Invitation Tips

1. Always start with the paper.  Many people start with the design only to realize too late that they can’t find the “right” paper stock.  Papers come in a variety of sizes and weights.  Some stores carry pocket stationery to hold your invitation, directions and accomodation cards and other information.
2. Use the heaviest paper weight possible.  Weight matters.  Neverthless, paper stock above #96 (ninety-six pounds) will generally not go through an ink jet or laser printer.
3. Seek matching envelopes.  We recommend including a reply card set with your invitation and, as such, it is wise to insure that there are matching paper stock and envelopes in the stock you select for your invitation.
4. Avoid being too cutesy!  There is a tendency to incorporate all kinds to design elements into a DIY wedding invitation.  Remember, it is a wedding invitation not an arts-and-crafts project.   The key is moderation and a clean design.  
5. Maximum of two font styles.  More than two font styles is confusing and detracts from the elegance of the invitation.  Try to restrict the number of font styles to two.
6. A Question of Etiquette.  There are few things more disturbing than the lack of proper etiquette in the wording of your invitation.  While customs change, proper etiquette is never out of fashion.  A few big dont’s:
   • Do not put the URL of your wedding website on the invitation
   • Please, no gift registry information on the invitation
   • Resist using a monogram no matter how cute (after all, you aren’t married) 
7. Color.  There are many ways to incorporate color into your invitation.  Envelope linings, borders and font colors to name a few.  Like font styles, too much color tends to cheapen the look of the  invitation.  If in doubt, go with black.
8. Motifs   The judicious use of motifs can often create a sense of ”place” “time” or “energy.”  For instance, a sea shell motif for a beach wedding; or an acorn for a fall wedding.    You might want to use theme motifs on different elements of your wedding papers ensemble.  For instance, a palm tree on the wedding invitation and a sea shell on the reply card set.  Use your imagination, but don’t go overboard.  Too many motifs can be as distracting as colors and font styles.

If you are committed to doing it yourself, following these tips won’t lead you too far astray.  Again, there is more than meets the eye in crafting a wedding invitation and you are well advised to consult a stationer in your neighborhood for expert advice.

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

I love American ingenuity and, more importantly, the willingness of perfect strangers to share their shopping secrets.    I recently came across a Blog post asking for help to find “affordable wedding invitations.”  Many of the comments are priceless and, if you need a bit of humor, dig in.  I tried to post a comment myself, but presumably the Blog is not inviting any new comments.

Mr. Not Interested was my favorite:  ”Break out the xerox paper and fold it.   Get your local kids to sprinkle some glitter on them and take some of your old perfume or something . . . Maybe you should think about just calling people . . .”  (Note from Editor:  We should hire Not Interested to write for the Stationers Guild.)  Or, how about:

Kaeli:   “Micheal’s…duh create them yourself and ur good.”   On a more enterprising level, we have

Jessie:  “i got mine at wal-mart for 7 dollars for 25 of them went on my own computer and typed them up my self and printed them it took a little bit but if you have time u can do it your self or if you need someone too i am starting my own wedding service and i can do it for you just email me and let me know (email omitted but, if you are interested you can find it on the Blog post).”    

Umm, let me think about this.  You pay $7 for 25 invitation, say $5  for gas to go to Wal-Mart and maybe a couple of hours of work at minimum wage (another $15) and we have 25 invitations that cost $27.  I suppose Jessie could mark it up 100% and market her new wedding invitation line at $2.00 per invite.    Go for it Jessie!  I do recommend buying an etiquette book on wording your wedding invitations properly.  You might find it useful.  Or, how about:

Brown Eyes:  “If you have a Dollar tree store in your town, that’s the place to go. You’ll find all your thank you cards there also. Or if you prefer Staples’ Store, they also have a lot of invitations. Hope you find what your looking for. Good luck!”

Searching for “affordable wedding invitations” is no laughing matter.   With a tough economy, people are doing everything possible to save money and, as such, it is wise to scrutinize your entire wedding budget.  Personally, I have found that searching for a “cheap wedding invitation” is generally a false economy.  Cutting back on the extra pasta dish at the reception buffet might help free up part of your  budget to allocate toward a well-crafted and not necessarily expensive wedding invitation to celebrate this milestone event in your life.   After all, your wedding invitation is likely to be around far longer than the pasta. 

I recommend that you contact a qualified stationery store in your neighborhood for expert advice on crafting your wedding invitation.   You will be surprised at how much time and energy you will save to devote to other aspects of your wedding.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

I no longer continue to be surprised (but remain amused) at the incessant Internet chatter regarding cheap wedding invitations.  We live in a society that places a price on everything, but values little.  I know that sounds a bit harsh, but consider how TV ads focus more on price than on value.  Take the fellow on vacation with his family who discovers that one of the other guests received the same vacation package for half the price.  Will the family vacation experience suffer by this new-found knowledge or is it simply a case of diminished self-worth?  Or how about the family watching a film who learn that the family sitting in front of them eating 2,000 calories of popcorn got in for free with their reward miles?  Will this stifle the family’s happy outing?  It used to bother me, but not anymore as I have learned that price/value relationships are not always black and white.

Some 40 years ago  Sheila and I lived in Rome, Italy in a delightful 3-story walk-up on Via San Calisto in Trastevere that overlooked Sabatini’s restaurant.   The facade of the building was over 400 years old so I had difficulty understanding Scandinavian travel posters which advertised to travellers that they should “See Italy now before the Italians destroy it!”    I suppose the Scandinavians think that Ikea furniture will stand the test of time.

With my Chicago-school economic education it was (and remains) difficult  to understand certain aspects of Italian culture:  I refer to it as the “Value Proposition.”    My first experience with the Value Proposition was when I went into a tobacco store  to purchase stamps for a postcard.   I was shocked to find out that the amount of postage depended on the number of words you wrote on the postcard.  If I recall correctly, if you wrote more than five words (other than the address of the recipient) it bumped you into a higher postage category.

To Italians, this concept seemed most reasonable:  you are receiving “more value” and, as such, you be prepared to spend more.   To my mind, the cost of delivering the postcard is the same regardless of how many words are written on it and, as such, the price of the postage should be the same.    There are many other examples I could list, but clearly Italians seem to think that price is more closely associated with value than cost.  This Value Proposition still remains somewhat alien to my economic training, but speaks volumes of the dehumanizing process of seeking “value” in today’s price-driven economy.

Despite Internet rhetoric to the contrary, there is limited (if any) intrinsic ”value” in a “cheap wedding invitation.”  In fact, the intrinsic value relates to the adjective (i.e. “cheap”) rather than the wedding invitations.   I realize that this may seem like semantics, but – in my humble opinion - we need to place far greater emphasis on the Value Proposition of the event itself: the wedding ceremony, rather than the adjectives that tend define our economic circumstances or preferences.

The fact that one is getting married is a milestone event in most people’s lives.  This time-honored and sacred event is a high-level Value Proposition.  Channel your energies into crafting a wedding invitation that rises to the importance of the occasion and is within your budget parameters.  By setting your goals on getting a “cheap” wedding invitation, you have effectively defined the importance or “cheapness” of the event to your bridal partner and the guests.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

I recently saw an ad recommending that you celebrate Valentine’s Day at White Castle.   For those not familiar with White Castle hamburgers, I believe it is fair to say that a White Castle burger is an acquired taste.  I certainly would not place a visit to White Castle on my top 1.000 things to do before I die list, but some of best friends still pay the occasional nostalgic visit.  Oh, a White Castle hamburger will set you back $0.49 (yes, only forty-nine cents). 

Hamburgers come in many shapes and sizes and for a price you can customize the hamburger to your liking.    One can add cheese, lettuce, tomato, chili, BBQ sauce, mushrooms, bacon and a seemingly endless variety of other condiments and toppings.   In fact, Daniel Boulud’s burger is topped with foie gras and truffles and sells for around $50.  You are probably wondering what hamburgers and wedding invitations have in common?  Plenty, at least metaphorically (is there such a word?) speaking.

Like burgers, wedding invitations come in all different shapes and sizes and can be customized or enhanced with bows, lace and ribbons, motifs, ink colors, lined borders, envelope linings and a myriad of other options to create a unique theme for your wedding invitation.  The weight and components of the paper and printing process all contribute to add substance and beauty to the overall design of the wedding invitation ensemble.  Like the hamburger, the degree of customization and the quality of ingredients are generally reflected in the price of the end result.  There are wedding invitations that metaphorically resemble a White Castle, Boulud’s foie gras hamburger or something in between.  It all depends on your choices and your ability to decide what you “must have,” what you can live without, or perhaps find a less-expensive substitute or work-around solution.   Working with an experienced stationer helps!

Unfortunately, the internet has made it next to impossible to tell the difference between a “White Castle invitation” and something entirely different.  Samples of wedding invitations on the internet are low resolution images and one can only speculate on the the quality and weight of the paper and how ink colors will resonate under different printing processes.    Short of blind faith in the outcome, the only basis of comparison is price and, as we have seen with the price of hamburgers, you tend to get what you pay for.

If you think you get a bargain when you buy a wedding invitation from weddinginvitations4less.com, invitations-rsvp, annesbridalbargains, 50freeweddinginvitations and budgetweddinginvitations, I strongly encourage you to think again.  A visit to your local neighborhood stationer will help you see wedding invitations in an entirely different light.  Furthermore, these stores have invitations for every budget and you will benefit from the experience of your neigborhood stationer.

Richard W. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

As a stationery store with an online presence, we receive many requests for a catalogue or samples of  wedding invitations.  Visitors are surprised that Thérèse Saint Clair has no catalogue nor do we send out “sample” wedding invitations.  Usually these visitors to our website come to understand that there is more to selecting a wedding invitation than looking at paper samples or limiting oneself to a few designs in an catalogue or online store.   Let me explain why.

Like most of the fine stationers found on the Stationers Guild website, we represent many excellent design companies and printers.    In the case of Thérèse Saint Clair, we represent over 60 companies that print wedding invitations; each of whom has their own unique style or designs, custom printing process and papers.   It would be presumptious of me to select sample designs for someone I have never met without having the benefit of a conversation and, most likely, a meeting to discuss their requirements, budget and style preferences.  If there is one piece of advice I can give prospective bridal couples, it is this:   If you decide to purchase a wedding invitation from a catalogue or online be prepared to be disappointed.  The outcome is unlikely to meet your expectations.  Let me show you why.

My responsibility as a stationer is to help my client select a wedding invitation and reply card set that reflects their preferences and design features – not my own!  For instance, I find Vera Wang wedding invitations to be particularly stylish in that they seemlessly incorporate many of Vera’s latest fabric designs into the actual invitation itself as shown below:

Vera Wang Wedding Invitation

While this is obviously a very striking invitation ensemble, the colors, the paper and, indeed, even the elaborate styling may not appeal to you.   For instance, you may be more attracted to the classic simplicity of Crane & Co.’s classic wedding  invitations or, perhaps, the bold designs of Oblation’s letterpress wedding invitations.

Oblation Letterpress Wedding Invitation

Imagine the complications of being faced with samples from over 60 companies:  Your head would likely be spinning.   There is a tendency for people to throw up their hands in frustration at the seemingly endless number of choices.  Nevertheless, working with an experienced stationer can often help narrow down the viable choices fairly quickly.  There is  a distinct advantage to working with an experienced stationer who has many samples of custom invitations, printed ink colors and paper swatches to help insure that your printed invitation meets your expectations.  This is simply not possible in the online world where low image resolutions distort ink colors and, most certainly, don’t begin to pick up the subtle textures of paper and their different weights.

The Stationers Guild has hyperlinks to many fine paper companies who sell wedding invitations.    Some of these printing companies sell online, but many do not.  Let  these designers and craftspeople tell you their story in their own words and see samples of their great designs.  While this is a useful way to do your research, there is no substitute to visiting a qualified stationer in your neighborhood.  While Guild member stores may not carry all the lines shown on our website, spending an hour with an experienced stationer will help point you in the right direction and will probably save you both money and many hours of frustration.

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

From January 16th through April 12, Crane & Co. will offer two distinct promotional offers to Guild dealers who carry the Crane wedding, Kate Spade and Martha Stewart wedding collections.    If you are planning a wedding, drop into a Guild member store in your neighborhood to see these exciting Crane wedding invitation collections.

For all engraved and letterpress orders, you will receive  free invitation and return address dies (a $148 value for the two dies) on orders of 100 or more invitation.  Letterpress dies are not returned.

For thermography and flat print orders, clients will receive free return address printing on their outer envelopes (a minimum $58 retail value) on orders of 100 or more invitations.

Visit a qualified stationer in your neighborhood to learn more about Crane’s exciting new wedding invitation promotions.  See the difference in ink colors from live samples available at a qualified Crane dealer near you.  Remember, ink colors change dramatically depending on the printing process employed.  Expert advice is always welcomed on an occasion as important as your wedding.   Poor internet resolution distorts colors and the printed outcome will probably not conform to your expectations.  Some things are best done in person.  Selecting your wedding invitation is one of them.

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

This month Oblation Papers & Press will release its new line of wedding invitations called “&” or ampersand.  This trend-setting letterpress design and printing company based in Portland, Oregon has been creating cutting-edge stationery and invitations since 1989.    Oblation uses hand-made cotton paper from recycled fabric scraps to create its custom invitations.

Oblation Press

Late last year, we learned that Oblation would introduce a new line of invitations called “&” or ampersand.  Ron Rich, who together with his wife Jennifer, own Oblation informed me that they had originally intended to call the new designs “Black and White” but finally settled on ampersand.  Like most everything the Rich’s take on, this new line of invitations displays a comtemporary edge while still retaining the great elegance of traditional letterpress designs.

Letterpress Printing

For more information on Oblation’s wedding invitations, contact a guild member store in your neighborhood.   As with most fine stationery, appointments are recommended.

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

The first quarter of 2010 will determine wedding invitation trends for the year.   In fact, I suspect that wedding invitation designs have pretty much been defined long before the “Will you marry me?” question was asked this holiday season.  I have it on very good authority that this is so:  Google.

Google Trends tracks the number of web daily searches for a particular term (in this case “wedding invitations”) over the course of a year.  As the chart above demonstrates, searches for “wedding invitations” peak toward the end of the year and early January and then begin to tail-off rather significantly after the first quarter.  The chart above also compares the search term “online wedding invitations” (shown in red) to “wedding invitations” (shown in blue).   As suggested by the chart, prospective bridal couples do not feel the need to distinguish between wedding invitations sold online and those that are offered exclusively through storefront stationers.

The New York Times (December 29, 2009) reports that bridal magazine ad pages are down significantly in December, 2009.   Quoting sources the Nielsen Company and Mediaweek, bridal magazine ads for December, 2009 were down 8.4% in Brides magazine, 25.5% in Bridal Guide and 23.9% in Martha Stewart Weddings.   While ad pages are booked far in advance and certainly reflect the rather depressed economy, the battlefield for wedding invitations has shifted to the Internet and the public is indeed poorer as a result.    As I have written on numerous occasions, low image resolutions, limited customization options and the inability of the online client to compare different papers and printing processes greatly diminishes a company’s ability to distinguish their brand.

It is interesting to note, that of the top 10 companies listed on the first page of Google for the search term “wedding invitations,” only one is a credible printing company:  Crane & Co.  Not surprisingly, Wedding Paper Divas, remains in the top position.    It does so because it has the most aggressive and intelligent application of paid search and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies of any company in the business.   In a revealing New York Times article, Tiny Prints (a sister company of Wedding Paper Divas), describes how it competes for holiday greeting cards and photo cards by paying up to $50 to acquire a client.   I would suspect that they will pay that and possibly more to acquire a client willing to purchase a wedding invitation online.

While Wedding Paper Divas has certainly upgraded its line in recent years with companies such as William Arthur merchandizing their line through them, one wonders whether this business model is sustainable.    In fact, William Arthur now sells directly online and other companies such as Minted offer a wider range of quality invitations from craftspeople who do not generally market their equisite designs online.

For those seeking quality wedding invitations coupled with superior customer service, I strongly recommend that you visit a stationer in your neighborhood.    Most of these stores carry a far wider range of wedding invitation samples than any online dealer.  Customization options are limitless and you can actually feel the paper samples and see how ink colors change depending on the printing process.  In 2010, do yourself a favor and see why choosing your invitation in person makes all the difference in the world.

I continue to be amazed that “Cheap Wedding Invitation” websites continue to emerge on almost a daily basis.  Just today, I learned that Love Bug Invitations had just launched a website selling “cheap” wedding invitations.  While I have no quarrel and indeed encourage bridal couples to seek the most affordable wedding invitation for their budget, the idea of searching for a “cheap wedding invitations” strikes me as a bit daft.  Furthermore, I think most people agree with me.

According to Google, roughly 40,000 searches were performed in September using the search term “cheap wedding invitations,” while 1,200,000 searches were performed for “wedding invitations.”  This suggests that less than 4% of web searches had already decided on their market niche: “cheap”.    Not “affordable,”  “budget-conscious,” “inexpensive,” or “reasonably priced,” but “cheap!”   Beware bridal couples, you will get exactly what you are paying for.

The first tell-tale sign that you are being played is the About Us section.   The Love Bug About Us Section is most revealing:  

“Love Bug Wedding Invitations began as a result of the fun and excitement of planning weddings.  After many years of looking through bridal books and shopping the aisles of  stationery stores, we knew we had found our niche.  We love what we do and find immense joy in helping brides to find the perfect stationery for a day they will never forget. We only work with the leading manufacturers in the industry to assure our customers are getting the very best in wedding stationery.”

The first clue is that anyone could have written this.  You have no idea who you are dealing with and what level of experience they have in dealing with bridal couples.  The second clue is their claim to “only work with the leading manufacturers in the industry.”  The manufacturers listed on their website are Carlson Craft, Nuart, McPhersons:   Taylor Companies that use the same recycled designs under different labels.    The third clue is to see a percentage discount linked to a particular brand name.  Except for seasonal promotions, this generally signifies that the manufacturer does not stand behind integrity and intrinsic value of their brand.    In the case of Love Bug Wedding Invitations and the Taylor Company distribution channels, disounting is a way of life.   I find it amusing that Love Bug’s Tag Line is “LoveBugWeddingInvitations … where ‘discount’ is our claim to fame!”  How appropriate.

If you are looking for invitations and working on a tight budget, I strongly recommend that you contact a Guild Member store in your neighborhood to see the paper and design options that fit your budget.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

Sheila and I just received an autographed copy of Marjorie Maxfield’s delightful new book entitled The Write Stuff:  A Modern Guide to Personal Stationery & Weddings.  With accolades from Brian Lawrence of Encore Studios and Nancy Lowell Lashley of Lallie (among others), this short and entertaining book is an educational quick read for those interested in fine stationery and custom wedding invitations.  With etiquette and civility often overlooked in today’s wedding planning, The Write Stuff is a useful guide to help  bridal couples cope with the demands on their time and sensibilities.    The Write Stuff: A Modern Guide to Personal Stationery & Weddings may be purchased online for $19.95.  Found below is a recent interview with Marjorie on a Fox affiliate in Houston, Texas.

In The Write Stuff, Marjorie offers some practical and helpful advice with wit and charm to help plan a successful wedding.   With over 20 years experience in the stationery business and the former owner of Tanglewood Gifts and Stationery, in Houston, TX, Marjorie’s client list includes Presidents and First Ladies, astronauts, sports and rock legends and celebrities from literally all walks of life.  Now a professional guest speaker, Marjorie will be a featured guest speaker at Bridal Showcase productions in Baltimore, Richmond, Washington, D.C. and Denver in the coming months.

The twelve chapter book (excuse me, Twelve “Cantos” which in Latin is cantus and in Sanskrit means chapter) covers such topics as “e-business communiques,”  “the art of being remembered,” and “a modern guide to wedding stationery.”   One area that was certainly music to my ears was her section on “Stationery Stores are the Brides Best Friend.”    ”The staff will listen to your thoughts, understand your timetable, and translate your tastes into something beautiful and within your budget.  They will share with you their knowledge of wedding stationery and social etiquette, and basically guide your every choice.  The advantages of a stationery store?  Priceless. I promise.”  Marjorie said it far better than I could:  Maybe that is why she is on the speaking tour!

Cover of The Write Stuff

Marjorie is refeshingly hip and deftly moves between the traditional and what’s in vogue in wedding stationery etiquette without losing her balance or sense of humor.  Sophisticates from the Northeast might quibble at some of her etiquette suggestions, but The Write Stuff has been put together with grace and elegance and certainly deserves exposure in leading stationery stores throughout the US.

Thank you Marjorie for this precious contribution of “Wed-etiquette.”  Bridal couples can save themselves much angst and many wrong turns by purchasing Marjorie Maxfield’s The Write Stuff.

Sheila and Richard May
Therese Saint Clair