The Average Cost of Wedding Invitations
October 26, 2010
According to The Bridal Association of America, the average cost of wedding invitations is $659.00 when the invitations are accompanied by printed envelopes, reply cards and printed reply card envelopes.
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TheKnot.com also outlines the pros and cons of different invitation sources, and what they said about the Independent Stationer/Printer is as follows:
Independent Stationer/Printer
In our big-business-dominated world, many small print shops are following the fate of the dodo bird, but you can still find a great independent stationer through friends’ referrals or online in The Knot’s Local Wedding Resources.
.* Pros: Indies are all about personal service — feel free to ask loads of questions! You generally also have more stylistic leeway. That may mean choices like multicolor invitations, several ink colors, interesting shapes or papers, and customization (such as a motif or monogram). In addition, some independent printers might specialize in high-quality letterpress printing or engraving if that’s a look you’re after.
.* Cons: Customized work is typically more expensive. Also, a small operation usually takes longer to fill your order, so you may not want go this route if you’re pressed for time.
They are 100% correct with everything listed. However, I’ve been told by clients that I’m competitive (and sometimes lower) with my pricing than online and other vendors they’ve interviewed. I’ve also done projects in a pinch, but I do prefer at least a month to work on everything from start to finish.
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You will get fully custom designs with my services, and I’m always looking for different techniques and ways to make client invitations unique. You also get the added benefit of having other pieces for your wedding designed to match your invitations and other elements of your day (such as escort cards, programs, favors, etc.) where other sources would only allow you to pick out of a book.
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And although I don’t do high-quality letterpress printing or engraving, but I will gladly get that set up with a local printer.
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Before you decide that you simply can’t afford to have custom designed invitations created for your special day, why not request a free quote – you may be surprised.
Event Websites – A Wonderful Addition to Your Printed Pieces
October 20, 2010
One of the services I offer that I don’t see clients taking advantage of enough is the Event Website. With technology taking over and older parents and grandparents starting to use email, cell phones, and even browsing the web, websites are popping up for everything – why not make one for your event?
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An event website can provide a wealth of information without overloading the viewer…and it can help you save money, too. Rather than multiple inserts with all of the details your guests need for your special event, why not include just one that directs them to your own personalized site that can be updated daily and can provide users with more information you could ever fit in one envelope.
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Just some of the things that an event website can provide for a typical wedding:
- An easy URL to remember, for example: chrisandkim.com
- A background of the couple and how they fell in love
- In depth information about the event, complete with links to driving directions, gift registries, etc. Allow guests to download and print out certain information that may be useful to have the day of (directions, special details, parking passes, etc.)
- A place for guests to RSVP and make meal choices electronically for easy organization
- A blog on which the couple can document their wedding planning – let your guests see how much you put into your event!
- One central place to share engagement, rehearsal, and wedding photos
- Link to the vendors that have helped make your day a success – word of mouth advertising is the best kind!
- A place where the couple can keep all of their guests updated on their new life together after the big day
- Password protect your site if privacy is a concern
- And so much more!
Websites created for other special events, such as the birth of a new baby, can also utilize a lot of the same features:
- Again, an easy URL to remember, for example: babyjoseph.com or thenolanfamily.com
- Information about the family and the new baby
- Tabs for events such as the baby shower – allow guests to RSVP, provide details about the events, etc.
- A blog on which the parents can document their baby planning and progress of the pregnancy
- One central place to share all baby photos and photos from the shower, photos of the baby’s room, etc.
- Password protect your site if privacy is a concern
- And so much more!
Printed cards and inserts are great, I’m not discounting them at all and I encourage them. There’s nothing I love more than all of the print pieces that go along with each invitation! However, in a society that encourages people to access information in different ways, why not allow your guests to do the same for your special event?
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See two examples of websites I currently have up for engaged couples:
- http://wolverine-nut.com
- http://dan-and-alysse-wedding.com
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I am currently offering a FREE event website with the purchase of any invitation package. Request a quote today for your special event! Coupon code: WEBSITE.
Beautiful Gift
October 3, 2010
This amazing gift was given to a bride from her groom on their special day. The groom used his favorite engagement photo to make a book cover for his bride, which was filled with years of email correspondences that he had bound. Awesome!
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Photo ©Copyright NMD Photography.
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