**Today’s post is written by guest blogger Beth Schart, Beth is the owner of Personal Scribe Services, a thank you note writing service for brides and grooms. She’s a former teacher turned Personal Scribe who has a passion for beautiful stationery and handwritten notes**
Although I’m a Personal Scribe whose main interest is thank you notes, stationery shops with all they have to offer are my “candy store.” Beautiful pens, interesting gifts, a vast array of note cards and of course beautiful wedding invitations. If you’re not sure whether you should purchase your invitations from your local brick & mortar stationery shop or explore your options online, you should be aware that a knowledgeable stationer who will take the time to provide you with excellent service can be found at both.
In order to stay in the know, I recently checked in with Mimi Vazquez, owner of online stationery store Paper & Pearl to find out what’s trending this wedding season and how she guides couples to select a wedding invitation suite that reflects who they are. Mimi had some wonderful insights that I just had to share!
Here are some highlights of our conversation:
On the topic of educating her clients about their array of options and how they affect pricing, Mimi spoke of the three most important factors:
- Print Method
- Paper
- Quantity (most often in increments of 25)
What many couples may not realize is that all three factors can be adjusted to fit within a couple’s style, their level of formality and their budget.
In other words, if you love the look and feel of an engraved invitation you don’t have to exceed your budget by having the entire invitation suite engraved
You may want to consider making a splash by having the invitation itself engraved while accompanying pieces can be printed with a different method. A great stationer will take the time to show you (or send you) samples so you can see and feel the difference before making this decision.
Wedding stationery is steeped in protocol. I wondered how this affects the choices of 21st century couples who revel in doing things their own way. Mimi’s response: “Even the most playful and spirited couples want to follow the rules of wedding invitation etiquette” but that doesn’t mean that the look and feel of their invitations can’t be fun. Etiquette, which includes correct and appropriate wording and addressing, has not gone out of style.
With so many options to consider, couples should budget plenty of time for the decision-making process while taking into account their invitation designer’s production lead time. The good news is that printing options have evolved and that means expanded choices, so what couples see online or in-store is not what they’re limited to. Just be aware that “custom” or “semi-custom” choices may add to the production timeline. Your stationer will be familiar with these lead-times and shipping schedules, thus insuring that your invitations are ready to be mailed on time.
A few final words from stationer Mimi Vazquez
“I encourage couples to think about how their invitation design will set the tone of their wedding. When receiving a beautiful invitation, guests will know that they are a special and welcome part of the celebration of this new marriage. They’ll also gain a glimpse of whether it’s a formal or a casual occasion. And regardless of trends, couples should love their invitations on their 15th anniversary as much as they love them today.”
Remember that for your guests, the total wedding experience begins with your Save-the-Date and ends with your wedding thank you note.
To find out more about Beth and her Personal Scribe Services, find her here:
