The Stationers Guild

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

With some of the most talented designers in the country, Louella Press has been breath of fresh air in the stationery industry.   Using the ancient and noble printing process of engraving,  Louella Press creates luscious engraved invitations for weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs and milestone events.  Words are not enough to describe their stunning custom invitation designs which are rich color, texture and boldly printed using engraving.

Engraved Invitation by Louella Press

Now through June 30, the folks at Louella Press are offering to engrave the outer envelopes free of charge with one ink color (or, get 2-color envelopes for the 1-color price).  This is an exceptional offer for those looking for an engraved custom invitation, but trying to keep the budget in line.  Schedule an appointment with a Guild member store in your neighborhood who carries Louella Press to take advantage of this great promotion.

Louella Press Custom Invitation

Important events should be celebrated in style.  Doing so with a custom invitation from Louella Press could be the start of something big.

Fashionable letterpress stationery designer Elum has a special promotion for wedding invitations through June 4th.  Elum will print the return address on your invitation and reply card envelope for free with your wedding invitation order.  Only one color is permitted under this promotion.   If you have been in the searching for distinctive letterpress invitations but opertating under a tight budget, Elum is certainly worth a look with this great promotional offer.

Now through June 1, 2009, Crane & Co. will be offering customers who purchase 75 or more personalized invitations, announcements, or stationery, 25 additional pieces free of charge.  This promotion is good on all personalized purchases from any of the Crane customization albums. 

Personalized stationery is a great gift for graduations, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.  Contact an experienced Guild member store in your neighborhood and take advantage of this great promotional offer from Crane.

William Arthur, one of the leading custom invitation and fine stationery companies in the United States, has extended its very successful wedding promotion through May 31st, 2009.  Order 75 or more William Arthur wedding invitations, rehearsal dinner invitations, wedding programs or wedding stationery and receive 25 more free with the compliments of William Arthur.

Don’t put your wedding on the back-burner, contact an experienced Guild member store in your neighborhood to see William Arthur’s exciting new designs and customization options.  Whether you are looking for letterpress invitations or fine wedding stationery, William Arthur is certainly worth a second look.

The 3/50 Project grass-roots project has been launched to help preserve the brick and mortar stores in the United States.  The brain-child of Cinda Baxter, a leading retail industry expert, is a call-to-arms to encourage people to shop locally.  While this new website will evolve over time, Guild Members are encouraged to become a 3/50 supporter and spread the word to their customers and suppliers.

Today I came across a news release by Paper Divas discussing wedding trends for the 2009 season.   They claim to be a “preferred resource” for wedding style and etiquette, but I have always thought of them as a tech-savvy company selling template-based online invitations and stationery.   Paper Divas has done an outstanding job optimizing their website for search.  Nevertheless, their real challenge is to convince bridal couples to buy wedding invitations online.

While expediency sometimes gets in the way of common sense, buying fine stationery and custom invitations online is downright silly.  Gosh, would you would risk $500 or more for an online wedding invitation when the odds of getting what you want are stacked against you from the get-go? 

First, internet image resolutions are of poor quality and often purposely distorted to avoid reproduction.  With a limited internet color range, different monitor resolutions and poor quality image reproduction, it is almost impossible to determine the outcome of your printed invitation.

Second, paper texture and the weight of the paper stock are vital components in selecting your invitation.  Why not visit a qualified stationer and feel hundreds of paper samples rather than the one or two that might be sent to you by an online store? 

Third, colors change dramatically depending on the printing process you use.  Wouldn’t it be nice to see true color reproduction on different paper stock rather than leave it to chance with your online dealer? 

Fourth, most quality paper companies and designers recognize that crafting a custom wedding invitation is more than filling-in an online template.  In fact, many of the leading fine paper companies do not sell custom invitations online. They simply want the buyer to feel their papers, discuss printing options and receive expert advice from an experienced stationer before making a major financial commitment.  In short, they want the buyer to have a positive outcome based on “real” samples and expert advice rather than the “luck-of-the-draw” with an online store.

If you want expert advice, simply consult a qualified stationer in your neighborhood.  Many of the leading stationers can be found on the Guild website.  Don’t be seduced by the online hype.  Some things are best done in person and creating a custom wedding invitation is certainly one of them.

Richard W. May
Founding Member

Being the stylish person that he is, Prentiss Douthit has an aversion to capital letters.  Out of respect to him and his talented craftspeople we will refer to prentiss douthit as “pd”.   We met Prentiss several years ago at the National Stationery Show and he continues to be one of the most engaging and throughful people in the stationery industry.

pd’s stationery and invitations are refined, clean and tasteful.  Despite their apparent simplicity and subtle use of colors, pd’s stationery is quite original and easily recognizable.  Furthermore, we have found pd to be attractively priced and great value for those looking for distinctive correspondence.

Now through February 28th, all custom stationery is on sale at pd.  See 14 new designs at a Guild member stores in your neighborhood and order your personalized stationery before the end of Februrary and get a free return address printed on the envelope:  No minimum quantity!

On behalf of the members of the Stationers Guild, we would like to send our heartiest best wishes for a most happy holiday and prosperous New Year.  Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or simply the joys of season, we are hopeful that you are sharing these special days with family and friends.

Late this Christmas Eve day, I will hang the hand-painted Greenwich ornament and my husband Rick will hide two German pickles in the Christmas tree for our grown daughters to find on Christmas morning.  The rituals and family traditions of Christmas and, indeed, all religious holidays, continue to enrich our lives and those of others.

Hand-painted Greenwich Ornament

From snowy Greenwich, Connecticut we wish you peace, good health and most importantly:  Joy!

Sheila P. May
Founding Member

Earlier this summer, I attended the Concours d’Elégance classic automobile exhibition in Greenwich, Connecticut. I was invited by Kenro Industries who were introducing their Bentley Continental Limited Edition of fine writing instruments by Tibaldi. This remarkable Bentley Series of fountain pens, roller balls, ball point pens and mechanical pencils were available in the five Bentley colors: Silver Tempest, Silverlake, Dark Sapphire, Cumbrian Green and Beluga.

As the owner of Thérèse Saint Clair, I have long been fascinated by writing instruments and fine papers. Reflecting on this exceptional exhibit of vintage automobiles and pens, I was struck with the thought that our lives as stationers would be a lot simpler if we only had to deal with the five Bentley colors. Upon consideration, I realized that color is only part of the equation and that paper stock and the printing process will have a considerable bearing on one’s wedding invitation, social stationery or business card.

To illustrate this point in more detail, I decided to run a simple experiment by comparing the outcome of using the identical ink color on the same paper stock but using two different printing processes: engraving and thermography. Found below is a comparison of the “Thérèse Saint Clair” logo printed on identical custom paper stock (Saint Clair salmon) using the same “green” ink, but using a different printing method:

Engraved Logo

Thermography Logo

Please note that these images have been scanned at a resolution rate of 1200 dpi and then configured to internet resolution standards of 72 dpi. While monitor and printer resolutions vary from monitor to monitor and printer to printer, there is an unmistakable difference between the two images. You might ask yourself, “How is this possible?” The simple answer is that printing processes are so different that even using the same inks and paper stock, the printing process transforms the surrounding environment. In an online world, I would hate to be ordering an online wedding invitation where I was convinced that the color green was “Engraved Logo” and get an invitation where the color green was actually “Thermography Logo.”

The only constructive way to truly see how your color of choice will appear on an invitation or stationery is to consult a color palette with your local stationer. There are situations where thermography is often the printing process of choice, but it is next to impossible to determine this without “seeing” real color samples in person. Approximation using an online printer may appear to be more convenient, but unless you can actually feel the paper and “see” the color and printing differences in broad daylight, you could well be disappointed with the outcome of your social or business stationery or wedding invitation. We recommend that you consult a Guild Member store in your neighborhood for more information on what printing process works best for your circumstances.