Questions to ask your Wedding Stationer
There is so much to think about when planning a wedding and it can be daunting if this is your first time stepping into the wedding industry. There are lots of checklists but no one actually tells you what you should be asking each of your suppliers when you have consultations, and especially with Stationery, it might be a completely new world for you, so hopefully after you have read this blog you can be confident that you are making the right choice for you and your wedding.
How long does the whole process take, and what does it involve?
Timings are key when planning a wedding and designing stationery can take longer than you might think. You don't want to miss out on having your dream design if the stationer is already booked up so asking this question first means you can get yourself booked in in plenty of time. And asking what is involved in the process is also handy so you know exactly where you are and don't get lost or confused in the run up to your big day!
Can I see some examples or samples of your previous work?
You wouldn't choose your wedding photographer without seeing some of their previous photos, and the same goes with stationers. While not all stationers can afford to offer samples as many, like myself, are small businesses and samples can be costly to make but you should definitely ask to see some photos of their designs, or pop along to a wedding fair to see the quality in real life.
Do you require a deposit, if so how much?
Deposits are pretty common with all wedding suppliers, it's a way of securing a place in their diaries, and making sure you know how much means you can plan your wedding budget effectively too.
Do you print in-house or outsource?
In-house printing is better if an error is made as it is faster to correct and reprint. However good quality printing is certainly not achievable on standard office printers! So you might find most stationers outsource their work to professional printers as printing presses are VERY costly to own and usually very large to store! And at the end of the day a few days extra to ensure you get the best quality print is totally worth it - trust me!
Do you offer customisations?
Custom designs are a brilliant way to make your wedding day extra special but they are always going to be more costly as they are bespoke to you, so ask how much this will cost you and if you will get to see the design before agreeing to make an order.
Is there a word count limit?
This is a very important question if you have lots of unique parts to your wedding. Wedding invites are the only way you get to communicate with your guests en masse! So you need to make sure your guests are informed of all aspects of the day and you need to know if you are going to be limited to a word count as this could affect your decision.
Can I order all the wedding stationery from you, not just the invites?
To have matching On-The-Day stationery like table numbers, welcome signs, and orders of service that match your invites can be useful so that your guests can instantly recognise that they are in the correct place for your wedding. Think of it as ‘branding’ for your big day! So the answer to this question may influence your decision when choosing a stationer.
Can I incorporate an image into a design?
This may also come under customisation, but it's a good question to ask. Bear in mind that if it's a hand drawn photo or a painting then this will add more to the price.
Will I be able to approve the design before placing an order?
Make sure you are allowed to do this as you don't want to receive something so important that you are not happy with, and it also gives you time to check, check, and check again for spelling mistakes!
If revisions are needed to be made will I be charged extra?
You may not cover all the important information in the first try, or you might have some unexpected last minute changes to the timings, so you will need to know if any revisions will be charged extra to you.
Happy wedding planning!
Sarah @ So Bespoke Design xx