The Stationers Guild

Designing your wedding invitation can often be a challenging and time-consuming undertaking. Quite frankly, most people don’t have either the time or the knowledge to evaluate the countless customization options available online and stationery boutiques. Irrespective of whether you are planning to design and print your own invitation, purchase wedding invitations on the internet or pick the mind of an informed stationer in your town, these tips may help.

Useful Ideas for Wedding Invitations

• Selecting the “right” paper or cardstock is the most important consideration when selecting your wedding invitaion. The overall size, texture and weight of your wedding stationery are  the most significant consideration when selecting your wedding invitation. The substance and quality of the cardstock speaks to the significance of this important occasion.
• If you decide to craft your own special wedding invitation, please insure that have matching envelopes for the size and color stock of the paper you have selected for your invitation.
• If you decide to print your own wedding invitation (not recommended), be aware that #96 paper is about the highest paper weight that will feed through an inkjet printer without becoming jammed.
• We strongly recommend using white or ecru paper rather than darkly colored paper stock.  Simply print in bold ink colors or use colored or patterned envelope inserts to match your wedding color theme.
• Make sure you order 25 more invitations than you require.  Invariably, you will have left someone important off the list or you have last minute guests.  A second printing is very expensive.
• Weigh your invitation at the Post Office to make sure that you have the proper postage.

For more useful information, please download our FREE Wedding Invitation Guide by becoming a Facebook Fan of Therese Saint Clair.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

I just received this unsolicited email from the Chinese Wedding Invitation Factory (I have purposely disguised their real name):

QUOTE

Dear sir or madam,

I’m honored to find your website via a search engine and would like to introduce our company to you ,hoping it would be helpful to your business

HongKong XYZ Wedding Factory  industrial limited company is a Comprehensive paper products factory. It is a medium scale factory that manufacture wedding invitation cards, conference invitation cards, seats cards, return receipt cards, Reciprocate cards, hand bag, red envelopes, envelopes, candy boxes, etc. It is located in Guangzhou China.

You are welcome to visit our website: www.XYZWeddingFactory.com. We believe that you can rely on us to enjoy satisfactory service and products with best quality at the most competitive price.

We are so glad if you send any of your enquiries.Looking forward to hearing from you, now and in the future!

Yours Sincerely,

sales XYZ Wedding Factory

UNQUOTE

Presumably, this same email has been sent to hundreds or even thousands of other email addresses that are remotely connected to the wedding invitation industry.  How many will bite?

I guess the central question is this:  Do you want your wedding invitation printed by a factory?  It doesn’t sound too romantic or appealing, but this is precisely what many consumers are receiving when they shop on the Internet for wedding invitations.  If you don’t want your wedding invitation outsourced to China, think carefully of the purchasing decisions you make.  Shop locally.

This reminds of the controversial 1996 Seinfeld comedy scene where the bride-to-be dies from licking the envelopes on her cheap wedding invitations.    In the interests of full disclosure, there was no indication that those Seinfeld comedy invitations were sourced from China.

Crafting your wedding invitation can often be a challenging process. Many people simply just don’t have either the time or the knowledge to go through the seemingly infinite customization options that are available.  Whether you plan to make and print your own invitation, purchase wedding invitations on the internet or take advantage of the assistance of an informed stationer in your neighborhood, these useful suggestions may help.

Practical Tips on Wedding Invitations

• Choose your paper stock before anything else. The substance and good quality of the paper or cardstock speaks to the significance of the event.
• If you have decided to design and print your own wedding invitation, insure that the papers you have chosen have matching envelopes. Many times have we seen a well-designed DIY invitation, but no corresponding envelope. Although it may reduce your design alternatives, a mismatched envelope simply looks dreadful. Furthermore, bear in mind that if you’re going to print your own invitations, #96 paper is about the thickest that will fit through an inkjet printer without blocking.
• We recommend using white or ecru paper stock rather than colored papers.  In general, you can obtain the same “color” effect by using white or ecru paper and print in striking ink colors or use colored or patterned envelope inserts to fit your wedding concept.
• Proper wording etiquette is crucial in a well-formulated wedding invitation. Even though a skilled stationer in your community will know the right wording etiquette, it might be smart to purchase of a copy of Crane’s Blue Book if you are wording your invitation.
• Make certain you purchase sufficient wedding invitations. The vast majority of companies sell wedding invitations in batches of 25 and we recommend that bridal buy 25 more invitations than they need just in case someone was unintentionally forgotten  or you’ve got last minute guests. A second printing of your invitation is quite expensive.
• Always weigh you invitation at the Post Office prior to mailing. There are few things more embarrassing than having your invitation sent back because you didn’t have adequate postage.

For more practical assistance, please download our FREE Wedding Invitation Guide by becoming a Fan of Therese Saint Clair.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

It’s probably difficult to tear yourself away from your beach chair in the middle of your summer holiday to look at wedding invitations, but you need to get those invitations out.  For those in need of a helping hand, we offer several “big picture” suggestions to point you in the proper direction.  For the best advice on selecting your wedding invitations, we strongly recommend visiting a qualified stationer in your neighborhood.

Planning your wedding invitation often is a demanding undertaking. Bridal couples just simply don’t have either time or the knowledge to sort through the endless personalization options that can be found in today’s market. Whether you intend to create and print your own invitation, purchase wedding invitations on the web or utilize the assistance of an experienced stationer in your local community, these useful recommendations may assist.

Useful Ideas on Crafting your Wedding Invitations

• Settle upon your wedding papers first. The overall size, texture and consistency and weight of your wedding stationery are undoubtedly the most important aspects to consider. The substance and good quality of the paper speaks to the magnitude of the event. Top quality cardstock is, in my opinion, a necessity for a well-designed wedding invitation.
• If you decide to on DIY invitations, always purchase wedding invitation paper stock that has matching envelopes. What’s more, be aware that if you plan to print your own invitations, #96 paper is about the thickest that will feed through an printing device without jamming your printer.
• While dyed paper stock may work nicely with the concept of your wedding, it is often really difficult to flat-print on colored cardstock.In most cases, you will need to engrave dark colored paper.  Engraving or letterpress, while stunning, raises the cost of invitations. As a general rule, you can produce a similar effect by utilizing white or ecru paper and merely print in vibrant ink colors or use patterned envelope lining to match your wedding theme.
• Proper wording etiquette is critical to a well-designed wedding invitation. Whereas an experienced stationer in town will know the proper etiquette, it might be prudent to acquire of a copy of Crane’s Blue Book if you are wording your invitation.
• Make certain you purchase an adequate number of wedding invitations. Nearly all companies provide wedding invitations in batches of 25 and we often recommend  that bridal couples buy  25 more invitations than they need if someone was accidentally left off your list or you’ve eleventh hour guests. A 2nd printing of your invitation is quite expensive.
• Weigh your invitation at the Post Office to make sure that you have adequate postage.  Postal regulations are like tax forms, so make sure that you double-check to insure that you have the proper postage.

For more handy tips, please download our FREE Wedding Invitation Guide by becoming a Fan of Therese Saint Clair.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Is that Fall wedding slipping up on you?  Take control now and get into action.  If you haven’t yet got your wedding invitations, please  download your FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.    While many couples believe that shopping for wedding invitations online is faster and less expensive, it is actually easier and often times cheaper to work with an experienced stationer in your neighborhood.  Get the wedding invitation that you deserve by shopping wisely.

We have been commonly asked whether it is advisable to choose wedding invitations on the web or from the stationery store. This is a tricky question to reply to because the response often is dependent on on the objectives and needs of the customer. Bridal couples frequently have completely different goals and, consequently, it is quite not easy to give an opinion.

Shopping for wedding invitations on the internet may seem like an easy task as there are numerous online sites that promise to offer unique, or “green,” or inexpensive wedding invitations. Most of the time, these assertions are deceptive and quite often not true. More to the point, online image quality is poor and it is most challenging to determine “true”  ink colors and shades and paper texture.

A proven stationery shop in your town generally represents 20 wedding invitation accounts. At these shops you can sample many different paper styles, see a huge number of variations and receive professional help and advice on making a wedding invitation that satisfies your personalized needs. A skilled stationer has often assisted many young couples create a custom-made wedding invitation.

As a general guideline, we highly recommend that you simply work with a skilled stationery retailer based in your local community if significant personalization is needed. Most web-based personalization selections are restricted in functionality and it’s often complicated to insure that the end product satisfies your expectations. All the same, for those that like the comfort and ease of shopping on the internet we encourage readers to give consideration to Crane & Co. and William Arthur. Both of these firms have strong customer care, superior layouts, appealing papers and heavy card-stock and a range of printing alternatives which are simply unavailable from most web-based stores.

For anyone looking for expert professional advice, please visit Therese Saint Clair in downtown Greenwich, CT.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Are you using the “dog days of summer” to plan your wedding?  Get some helpful advice by visiting the Wedding Invitation Timeline to help plan your wedding.   If you seek practical advice on wedding invitations, please download your FREE Wedding Invitation Guide.  Decide whether shopping online or at a qualified stationery store in your neighborhood makes more sense.

We have been frequently asked whether it is advisable to buy wedding invitations on the internet or from the stationery retail store. This is a tough question to answer since the response frequently depends on the expectations and needs of the consumer. Bridal couples frequently have different desires and, consequently, it is quite hard to give an opinion.

Purchasing wedding invitations on the internet may seem like an straightforward undertaking seeing as there are numerous websites that assert to offer completely unique, or “green”, or affordable wedding invitations. In most cases, these promises are deceptive and quite often false. More to the point, internet image quality is unsatisfactory plus it’s most difficult to identify ink colors and shades and paper texture.

A proven stationery retail store in your neighborhood frequently represents 20 wedding invitation designs. At these shops you are able to check out many various paper variants, see thousands of concepts and receive specialized direction on crafting a wedding invitation that matches your individual needs. A skilled stationer has frequently helped hundreds of bridal couples design a custom-made wedding invitation.

As a general guideline, we strongly recommend that you simply make use of a knowledgeable stationery retail store located in your neighborhood if a lot of personalization is needed. Most web-based customization options are limited in functionality and it is often very difficult to make certain that the end product fulfills your objectives. Nevertheless, for those of you that prefer the comfort and ease of shopping online we encourage readers to look at Crane & Co. and William Arthur. Both these companies have strong customer care, superb layouts, appealing papers and cardstock and a number of printing options which are just simply hard to get at from the majority of internet based dealers.

For those of you in search of expert professional advice, please visit Therese Saint Clair in downtown Greenwich, CT.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

As stationers who have helped hundreds of bridal couples over the past 35 years, we are frequently asked whether it is best to select wedding invitations on-line or from your stationery store. This is a tricky question to reply to as the answer generally is dependent on the objectives and demands of the customer. Bridal couples often have completely different desires and, as such, it is extremely difficult to render an option.

Selecting wedding invitations over the internet may seem like an easy undertaking since there are quite a few internet sites that claim to offer one of a kind, or “green”, or affordable wedding invitations. Typically, these assertions are inaccurate and frequently not true. More importantly, internet image resolution is unsatisfactory and it is most difficult to identify ink color styles and paper texture and consistency.

A proven stationery shop in your neighborhood commonly represents more than 20 wedding invitation vendors. At these retail stores you are able to sample many a variety of paper varieties, see hundreds of variations and receive experienced advice on crafting a wedding invitation that satisfies your particular needs. A professional stationer has often helped numerous bridal couples create a personalized wedding invitation.

As a guideline, we can’t help but recommend which you consider a knowledgeable stationery retail store based in your community if significant customization is required. Just about all web-based personalization alternatives are limited in features and it can be often complicated to make certain that the end product fulfills your objectives. All the same, for those of you that prefer the ease of internet shopping we encourage readers to look at Crane & Co. and William Arthur. Both these printing companies have very strong customer service, superb layouts, attractive papers and card stock and a range of printing alternatives that are just simply unavailable from most other web based retailers.

For those in search of skilled personalized advice, please visit Therese Saint Clair in downtown Greenwich, CT.    Need more information?  Simply  download your FREE Wedding Invitation Guide with many practical tips to help you plan your wedding.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

You’ve just gotten engaged and are trying to figure out what do to next.  Well a good place to start is to download your FREE Guide to Wedding Invitations from Thérèse Saint Clair.   There is a lot of good advice about wedding etiquette, save the date invitations and, perhaps, answers to a few questions that you hadn’t even considered.

As stationers, we are constantly asked if it is advisable to purchase wedding invitations online or from the stationery store. This is a tricky question to answer because the reply often is dependent on the expectations and requirements of the buyer. Bridal couples often have completely different aspirations and, consequently, it is quite not easy to render an option.

Shopping for wedding invitations online may appear like an easy task since there are many websites that claim to offer you completely unique, or environmentally-friendly, or inexpensive wedding invitations. In most cases, these claims are unfounded and frequently not true. Furthermore, online image quality is less than ideal plus it’s most challenging to determine ink colors and shades and paper texture and consistency.

A well established stationery retail store in your vicinity frequently represents more than 20 wedding invitation vendors. At these stores you can sample many various paper designs, see a huge number of styles and receive expert guidance on making a wedding invitation that suits your personalized needs. A knowledgeable stationer has oftentimes assisted hundreds of bridal couples develop a custom wedding invitation.

As a guideline, we can’t help but recommend that you try a knowledgeable stationery retail store located in your town if a lot of customization is required. Almost all web-based personalization selections are limited in functionality and it’s often tricky to guarantee that the finished product fulfills your requirements. However, for those that favor the convenience of shopping online we encourage readers to consider Crane & Co.</a> and William Arthur. Both of these printing companies have strong customer care, excellent styles, attractive papers and card stock and a wide variety of printing selections which are simply not available from the majority of internet based stores.

For those in search of expert personalized advice, please visit Therese Saint Clair in downtown Greenwich, CT.

Sheila P. May
Therese Saint Clair

Yesterday, I received the following question from Lori London of Write Impressions in Royal Oak, Michigan:  “I’m a guild member.  I have a question that I wish I could pose to other guild members and/or maybe you can help me.  I took down my web site a few weeks ago as we are ready to launch our much improved web site by November 1st. Did other members provide links to stationery vendors … such as Crane, William Arthur, Checkerboard … even though some of these vendors sell directly to the consumer?  I am curious how other stores dealt with this.”

Please find below my slightly edited response to this most interesting question:

Very good question.  I will answer your question (at least try to) as posed, but then if you will stay with me a bit longer I hope to give you a “better” but slightly more technical explanation that might influence your decision. 
 
First, based on my research just under two-thirds of the 285 guild members currently listed in the StationersGuild have their own website.  Of those that do have a website less than 20% have outgoing links to vendor websites.  Those that do link to a vendor’s website do so primarily with companies where  they receive referral commissions (Sweet Pea or Printswell, Birchraft and Checkerboard).  Based on a cursory observation of member websites, I would say that very few Guild members (certainly less than 10 and probably less than 5) link to a vendor website that sells online unless they participate in a referral program.    
 
Now, as Paul Harvey would say “Page 2″:   While incoming links to one’s website are important in determining “search” relevancy, it is the quality and relevancy of  links rather than the number of links that determine whether one site will get a higher ranking than another.  Without trying to bore you, an incoming link from the Chamber of Commerce or a Trade Organization (StationersGuild for instance) is perceived by Google to be more valuable than a link from a paid listing such as www.1Wedding.com.  Authoritative links  from sites with a .gov (government) or .edu (educational sites) ending or websites with consistently high Google Page Rank are generally perceived to be “higher quality links” that will enhance the value of your website (or at least a specific page on your website).
 
The ThereseSaintClair website provides links to most of our vendors.  The reason is quite simple:  People who visit our website are interested in what brands we carry.  We provide them a lot of choice, give them convenient access (i.e. links) to many Fine Paper companies and then give them very strong reasons to shop locally.  In fact, the Therese Saint Clair and Stationers Guild websites have been designed to provide  buyers with  information in one location that would be difficult for them to find elsewhere.  It would be presumptous and silly of me to assume that that an online visitor found “Crane wedding invitations” through a visit to my website.    In other words, we help buyers research online without any aggressive sales pressure in the expectation that a discerning buyer has the common sense to shop locally.
 
Now, most people seem to think that one runs the risk of losing prospective clients by providing links to online suppliers.  You may lose a few, but I believe the risk is minimal.  In fact, Fine Paper companies would be far better served by providing hyperlinks to their dealer’s websites on their “Find a Dealer” page.  It would help their dealers build credible links and it would also help the Paper company promote their brand to customers looking for a local solution with an experienced stationer.  As long as the industry (storefront dealers and the fine paper companies whose lines they represent) fail to act on this simple premise,  companies like www.weddingpaperdivas.com will continue to disintermediate and eventually destroy the industry by substituting fine paper for fine technology.

Storefront stationers and the many fine companies we represent simply must do a better job of giving people the necessary information on whether they wish to shop locally or online.  Burying our heads in the sand and pretending that the consumer is in one camp or the other (online or store) is painfully naive and will eventually lead to an industry where toxic recycled waste paper from China with designs developed from pirated copies of PhotoShop will innundate the market under the pretext that these “beautiful” papers/invitations are “green” and “eco-friendly.”  This is not science fiction, it is happening today!  Furthermore, wedding portals, self-appointed etiquette specialists and “born-again” environmentalists are all tooting the same horn in merchanidizing inferior products on the internet in the hope of prying loose the “green” from your wallet. 

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair

I recently came across an article by Schuyler Maedjaja entitled “Wedding invitations: how to win the battle.”  Mrs. Maedjaja is the wedding editor for the Lynchburg (VA) Examiner.    While Mrs. Maedjaja does provide some helpful advice, the article simply does not go far enough to properly explain how bridal couples should select their wedding invitations.

Mrs. Maedjaja suggests two ways of “researching” wedding invitations:  the first is online and the second is to visit a neighborhood stationer.  While the Internet is often used to research wedding invitations, it leaves much to be desired as an unbiased “research” resource.  Specifically, the search results are far too large to be of much relevance.  For instance, today a Google search for “wedding invitations” yielded over 20 million results.

Goggle Wedding Invitations Search

Also, companies listed on the first few pages of search results are interested in “selling” not informing.  The information provided on their websites is generally a sales pitch rather than information. 

While someone who knows what they are looking for can narrow down the search results (for instance, “letterpress wedding invitations” yielded 125 thousand results), it is very difficult to find relevant and unbiased information on the internet to guide your search.  In fact, the only unbiased online reference source for leading wedding invitation suppliers is the Stationers Guild which lists over 50 leading wedding invitation vendors with hyperlinks to their websites.   Some of these companies sell online, but many do not.

Mrs. Maedjaja cites All Wedding Essentials as having an ” . . . amazing selection and many different possibilities. No matter what your taste is, you are bound to find something you love here.”  Perhaps you will, but this is a rather poor and limited sample of the universe of custom wedding invitations. Therese Saint Clair carries two of the three lines listed on the All Wedding Essentials website and they can hardly be considered trend-setters for wedding invitation design.  In fact, one is a commercial printer better known for its business stationery than its wedding invitations.   

For those seeking to avoid template-based online solutions, the best way to research invitations is to visit a qualified stationer. Mrs. Maedjaja suggests The Farm Basket in Lynchburg.   I do not personally know the owners of  The Farm Basket, but seeing paper and printing options first-hand is far preferable to coping with low resolution images and template-based online solutions.  Unfortunately, the article leaves the impression that it is “cheaper” to shop online than it is to do so in a store.   This is generally not the case.

Storefront stationers carry a variety of wedding invitation lines and customization options at different price points.  When you work with an experienced stationer, you receive expertise that is generally lacking in the online world.  These stationers work to create the best custom wedding invitation for your budget.   Furthermore, they are often full of suggestions on how to economize on other aspects of your wedding that online retailers are simply not in a position to provide.

The Stationers Guild has approximately 300 qualified stationers listed on their website.  Nine of these stationers are within a 100 mile radius of Lynchburg.  While this is by no means an exhaustive list of “qualified” stationers, it does provide the consumer with a dependable resource well within their extended neighborhood.  Crafting your wedding invitation with an experienced stationer makes a lot of common sense and may just save you some dollars and cents.

Richard W. May
Therese Saint Clair