Wedding Stationery: More Than Just Invitations. And More Than Just Paper Goods.
Wedding stationery - it's the pretty pieces of paper you send out to the people you want to attend your event. Right?
Of course! But, if the title of this post gives you any indication, it's also so much more.
First, wedding stationery isn’t just the invitation and RSVP card you mail to your friends and family. And second, it doesn't have to fit inside a rectangular envelope. (Or be a piece of paper, for that matter.)
In this post, we'll show you how we elevate the wedding stationery game. And how we create a comprehensive suite of products and paper goods.
Highly personal, beautiful, and informative stationery takes time, consideration, and creativity. We take the following steps to ensure that happens.
STEP 1: DETERMINING WHAT YOU NEED & FINDING INSPIRATION
Your design journey will begin with the investigative and conceptualization stage. During this time, we'll consider all of the possibilities. And after we get a good sense of your style and vision, we will create a concept sketch.
But before we even draft your concept sketch, there’s still some research to be done!
We'll dip into our wells of inspiration to gather some additional ideas and get our creative juices flowing. This inspiration often comes from outside the stationery and wedding world. And from trendsetting places like architectural and fashion magazines, interior design, shop windows, and unique textures, materials, and finishes. Sometimes, past traveling experiences can act as a muse.
We’ll also take into account the "theme" of your wedding. (We use the word "theme" loosely here, as this can also be branded aesthetics that point to a common visual goal, and not a theme like a Bridgerton Wedding. Although, we love a good theme too!) We'll research what is thematically correct and appropriate for your event. For instance, it wouldn't make much sense for us to pull from modern designs if you’re envisioning a rustic look.
During your design journey, we’ll also help you determine what precisely you need beyond your invitation. Things like:
• Save the dates
• Welcome signs
• Escort displays or cards
• Place cards
• Menu cards
• Bar signs
• Cocktail napkins
• Wayfinding signs
• Specialty cocktail cups
• Welcome packets
… some of which we can also determine after your invitations have been mailed out, closer to your event date.
But if possible, we prefer to design as many of these pieces simultaneously. Why? Because we can incorporate and weave your theme and style into each one. And we can strategically use the best ideas or materials to create a cohesive look and feel between them all.
STEP 2: SOURCING THE RIGHT MATERIALS & DETERMINING YOUR "STYLE KIT"
The world of stationery is magical because it allows people to showcase their creativity and personality. It can take your entire wedding theme and wrap it up into one beautifully designed invitation suite.
The invitation is where your wedding starts for your guests. It sets the tone for your celebration. And when your guests open the envelope, they should be able to envision your wedding day by getting a glimpse into the style of your wedding and what they can expect.
A chic, modern wedding should have a suite that looks and feels entirely different than one created for a relaxed beach wedding. Even a traditional invitation should look and feel different from couple to couple. So, to achieve this, we use various paper and non-paper materials, textures, fonts, illustrations, techniques, stamps, printing methods like letterpress or foil stamping - and a whole lot more.
But who says you have to stick with just paper for your invitations?! In fact, some of our favorite invitations aren’t made with paper at all. Instead, we’ve used acrylic, leather, linen, and wood. And the outcome is always guaranteed to be something unique and something your guests will compare all other invitations to.
STPE 3: THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
The sky’s the limit on invitations and design. And at Lucky Onion, we like to aim for the stars!
With every project, we like to design with purpose so that your stationery becomes something more than just a throwaway after your wedding. And instead, it becomes a work of art for you and your guests to keep and treasure.
Some past ideas look like a wooden or acrylic keepsake shadowbox. Or a watercolor painting.
We can also create tangible and intangible heirlooms that become a symbol for you as a couple or that play a small part in your everyday lives. Such as monograms or crests. We can take this crest and create a wax seal stamp, which you can keep as a token of your wedding or use for future stationery. It's also a beautiful way to elevate your invitations and show your guests that this isn't just another wedding invitation they're receiving. It’s a thoughtful, meaningful, and personal declaration of the start of your lives together.
BEYOND INVITATIONS
Whatever you envision, we can make it happen - a straightforward wedding invitation suite, something unique and one-of-a-kind, or the whole kit and kaboodle.
We’re here to provide a luxury product and experience help from start to finish. So, beyond just invitations, we also provide the following:
• Wedding website design and setup
• Postage stamp curation
• Envelope addressing
• Assembling, stuffing, and mailing invitations
• RSVP management
• Semi-custom day-of rentals
• Custom wall and signage displays
• On-site setup for escort card/seating chart displays
• On-site setup of stationery place settings (menus, place cards, table cards, etc.)
If you have questions about our process or any of these services mentioned in this post, please reach out. And let’s talk about how Lucky Onion can make your wedding stationery experience an uncompromising and enjoyable one.
Also in Lucky Onion Blog
How to Create the Perfect Wedding Invitation Suite (and What You Don’t Want to Forget)
Your wedding invitation is where it all begins.
Just think about it:
It’s the first thing your guests will see and receive related to your wedding. It gives them an idea of what to expect. And it sets the overall tone and feel of your event.
With its multitude of design possibilities, your invitations can (and should!) be deeply personal - making your guests say, “That’s so them!” as they open their envelope.
But if you're like most engaged couples, you may be wondering, what exactly goes into an invitation suite?
What about the wording? Are there etiquettes or protocols to follow? How far in advance should we make them? And when do they need to be sent out?
Wonder and worry no more! Because we’re answering all of your questions in this blog post.
The Price of Wedding Stationery: Pre-Designed vs. Custom
You’re engaged - congrats! And overall, the wedding planning is going well. But you have also have to admit, you’ve had a few sleepless nights thinking about some things. Perhaps, one of them being stationery.
You know you need it. It’s how you’ll tell your guests the need-to-know details of your wedding. But you also want your stationery to go beyond successfully relaying the information. And instead, to set the tone for the entire weekend in a highly-personalized way.
After all, it’s the first “peek” your guests will have into your wedding.
But where do you even start? What does that kind of stationery look like? And what about the wording? Wouldn’t it be easier to pick out something pre-designed and call it a day?
Is custom stationery really where you should be focusing your attention, energy, and budget?!
First, do yourself a favor and take a slow, deep breath.
Then, keep reading! Because I’m answering your questions and showing you why custom stationery is, in fact, worth every penny.