Hello!
So, your clients need wedding stationery. It’s a big one. Some people love it, some people can’t wait until it’s over. Either way, I’ve got you!
Let’s jump in!
I created this guide to *help you help them.* Stationery is one of those pieces of the planning puzzle that can get out of control really quickly. My approach balances the important logistical details with all of the beauty and creativity that you want in your wedding paper. Staying organized, on top of the timeline, and cohesive in design are my top priorities!
FIRST UP: INTAKE
If you are referring a client to Freja Creative, thank you! All I need to get a workspace started is the couple’s first and last names, wedding date, and wedding location. You can send this over via email, or by filling out my contact form to create a workspace automatically!
The next step in my intake process is a questionnaire. This will help me collect information before we set up a consultation. It asks for estimated guest count, estimated invitation count, budget, trends they like/dislike, embellishments they may be interested in, etc.!
I know every couple and planning package is different, so feel free to fill this questionnaire out on their behalf, if preferred, or you can send me an email address and I will get it to them directly.
If a client reaches out to me independently, I will assume that invites and stationery are out of the scope of your contract with them, and I won’t include you on emails until you or they ask! Got your back!
LET’S CHAT
I like to then set up a consultation, either via Zoom or in-person, to discuss the process and options, and to answer any of the couple’s questions. Again, you don’t have to be involved in this unless you want to and/or contracted to! I get it!
In this consultation, I will show them the pieces that make up an invitation suite, and get their minds going on things like wording.
After our call or meeting, I will put together a proposal for them to review. This is all done through my client management site, and they will be able to choose add-ons and embellishments as desired, as well as sign their contract and submit their deposit.
JUICY STUFF
Once booked, I send a big juicy email with the following: a link to a wording questionnaire that will capture all of the details about the big day, a suggested timeline, and a guest address template.
The wording questionnaire helps couples decide things like how/if they want to list hosts, how formally they’d like to write their wedding date and start time, what address to use on their RSVP envelopes, etc. I combine all of their answers and have them review the draft of wording before we jump into design.
My timeline includes the following milestones: complete the wording questionnaire, approve wording, begin proofing (this is when I send them their first round of designs), finalize address list, approve for printing, and mail date.
Approximate example: mid-April wedding
FINISH WORDING QUESTIONNAIRE: mid-September
FINALIZE WORDING: beginning of October
BEGIN PROOFING: towards the end of October
FINALIZE ADDRESS LIST: mid-December
SEND TO PRINT: end of December
MAIL DAY: mid-February
They’ll be prompted to acknowledge this timeline every time they receive a new set of proofs. I’ve found the only way to protect myself from clients wanting invitations to go out 2 days after we approve for printing is to constantly and feverishly remind them of what they agreed to!
Overall, I recommend expecting to spend a total of 6-8 months on invites from first inquiry to mail day!
The guest address template I send helps the couple collect addresses in the format I require for printing or calligraphing envelopes. I like to get it in their hands right away so they’re aware when collecting address info and don’t need to reformat (or pay me to reformat!).
Once the wording draft is approved, we jump into proofs and design! I love when couples send me planners’ and florists’ moodboards or mockups so I can keep my design and colors cohesive! They receive a set of digital proofs through an online form, and can request edits, ask questions, check spelling, etc. directly through that form!
Thank you for letting clients give feedback first! I like to hear their initial reactions before getting feedback from fellow vendors (though I do value this very much!). And thank you for encouraging them to submit through the form, as opposed to via email or Word Doc — this helps me stay organized and not miss anything!
They will approve these proofs for printing when we’re ready, and I’ll get to work on bringing them to life!
This is in my contract, but if an error is caught after approval, I’ll do my best to catch it before it’s printed, or offer a reprint at cost.
Thanks to this glorious pandemic and the many resulting issues it’s caused, I require 6 weeks between approval and mail day. I’m not very flexible on that outside of special circumstances; nothing good happens when we have to rush like crazy, right!?
FUN PART!
If the clients have assembly included in their proposals (which I recommend), I will stuff, seal, stamp and mail their invitation suites. I will number the backs of their RSVP cards to coordinate with the address list, and will reach out just before mailing with final information about any updates to timeline and postage!
I like to hold on to extras in case of returned mail or additional invites needing to go out, but I will give the clients a couple of keepsake suites for their photographer and to keep as we get closer to wedding day.
TIME FOR THE MAIL
Once invites are out, I like to switch gears to day-of stationery and signage! I have another questionnaire that they can fill out, and/or we can hop on a quick 30-minute Zoom to walk through the day and make sure we have all of our bases covered.
I’ll then put together a proposal, ask for verbiage, start proofing, and get to work on bringing their day-of pieces to life!
I offer local pick up at my home studio in North Central Phoenix, or can arrange for delivery and/or install! I’ll have an order sheet printed out with items organized by event (ceremony, cocktail, reception) to allow for easy drops on wedding day. Everything they order is for them to keep!