The Stationers Guild

If you are like most people seeking information on wedding invitations, you have probably bought a couple of wedding magazines and spent several hours researching “wedding invitations” on the Internet.   Some may have gone a bit further and exchanged ideas with family and friends or even visited a local stationery store.   Many bridal couples feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available and  perhaps a bit frustrated that it is often difficult to separate useful information from a sales pitch. 

As a stationer, I am sympathetic to the “information overload” and offer the following suggestions on choosing wedding papers.  Whether you are planning DIY wedding invitations or designing your own wedding invitation based on samples from talented designers and printing companies, these suggestions should help you get the best value from your budget dollar and, more importantly, save you countless hours of frustration.

Practical Advice on Selecting Your Wedding Invitation

• Always start with a budget.  Research suggests that approximately 5% of one’s budget should be allocated toward wedding invitations.
• Do-It-Yourself (DIY) wedding invitations remain a popular choice in today’s economy, but more often than not, they represent a significant investment in time and often prove more expensive than other alternatives.   If you are planning DIY wedding invitations, ALWAYS select your paper stock and envelopes before moving on to design options.  For more practical advice on DIY wedding invitations, see a previous Guild article on this subject. 
• Internet image resolutions are 72 pixels per inch (most printed material is between 300 to 600 pixels per inch).   These low resolution Interet images significantly distort colors and print outcomes are often different than what you see on your monitor or printer.   There is no substitute to seeing “true” colors printed on sample papers.  While local stationery stores may not carry all lines, color representation and paper styles are best seen in person.
• Etiquette remains an important component of the wedding ceremony.   Wording your invitation demonstrates respect for the traditions that have evolved over many generations.  While a number of useful wedding guides are available, we continue to recommend Crane’s Wedding Blue Book: The Styles and Etiquette of Announcements, Invitations and Other Correspondences
• Plan well in advance of your wedding.  Consider a save-the-date announcement if planning a destination wedding.  In fact, a save-the-date card is useful in helping people book inexpensive travel and accomodations well in advance of your wedding date.  Your wedding invitation should be mailed no later than 8 weeks before the wedding.   Getting started early will help on the logistics and avoid last minute surprises. 
• Seek to get the best quality paper you can afford.  Money can be be saved by selecting alternative printing processes, keeping ink colors to a minimum and cutting back on embellishments like ribbons and envelope linings. 

Sheila P. May
Thérèse Saint Clair

At the National Stationery Show this May, I had the opportunity to meet the talented President and Creative Director of Arabella Papers, Sugandha Rosenhaft.  At an off site meeting to introduce Arabella’s new Bar Mitzvah album (the subject of an upcoming news Blog), I was pleased to see two elaborately decorated tables incorporating Arabella’s impeccable taste in menu cards, place cards, seating cards and table cards.

Arabella Papers Table Cards, Menu Cards

While many bridal couples focus on save-the-date invitations and their wedding invitation, there are many other “paper” moments at the rehearsal dinner to tie in color themes and/or reinforce design motifs that characterize the occasion.   The Stationers Guild website refers bridal couples to the “paper trail” and “timeline” to help organize your event.

If color, design and stunning presentation is your cup of tea, Arabella Papers using their innovative bellpress printing technique might be the right choice for you.