Shall we dive in?

**I am obsessed with creating beautiful things for my clients, but today is not about the end product, rather... the process.**

The Why

Custom stationery gives a second life to your invitations. They aren’t merely a way of inviting guests to share in your big day (although that’s important too), they’re a piece of artwork meant to convey intimate and meaningful details about who you are as a couple. All of the custom stationery I create also serves as heirloom artwork meant to be kept long after your wedding, displayed in your home, and looked back on fondly and often. I never create anything with the intention of it being thrown away. Even your guests will keep pieces of it!

Then there is also the struggle of “DIY” stationery. More often than not, stationery is the first thing cut from budgets because it *seems* easy enough to do yourself. But, without a good understanding of stationery etiquette, printing and paper methods, how to assemble things, how to phrase the copy, what kind of postage to use, etc…. you may find yourself on the struggle bus. Let me put it this way… there is a reason I created an entire business dedicated to stationery! It is a job all on it’s own and if you don’t have a ton of spare time, it’s unlikely you will have the dedicated energy or resources to doing it yourself. And don’t forget that I am a professional in this! I have the ability to answer every single question you may have, to offer you suggestions and recommendations, and to guide you through the process stress-free!

I also want to stress that this is your wedding! This isn’t an annual birthday party or some run-of-the-mill event, this is a once in a lifetime event. When you are inviting guests to participate in something so meaningful and intimate, you want your invitations to reflect that honor and privilege. Invitations shouldn’t be an afterthought, but rather the gateway and first peek into your actual wedding. Get your guests hyped!! It takes effort, time, travel arrangements, and many expenses on their part too, so make sure they feel your excitement! Let your guest know that they are special - Your invitations can express how happy you are for them to be there with you.

Let’s Get Personal

Personalized stationery means you get are reflecting who you are as a couple through an heirloom piece of artwork. A monogram for example, is a timeless, classic and unique way of commemorating the name you will share as a new, married couple. I have the unique ability as an artist to hand paint special details (the location of where you’re getting married, the florals you are using, and even your pets) and weave them seamlessly and elegantly into a design.

And I love that these personal details can’t be recreated. Custom means you will never see your stationery being used by anyone else in the entire world! That may sound dramatic, but have you ever received two of the same invitations for a wedding in one year? Not the most exciting if you ask me. This is an opportunity to invoke your personality into something! Don’t forget that you are inviting guests to a day ALL ABOUT YOU, so let’s make something that looks and feels like it!

Jess Fredericks Photography

The Nitty Gritty

PROCESS

I like to start by having my clients share their Pinterest board with me. I recommend that they “curate” it and really eliminate anything that they don’t absolutely love or that doesn’t flow with the rest of the wedding.

Then I share a style questionnaire which helps me define what their interpretation of different styles is. Everyone defines things a little differently, so it’s very helpful to figure out what they do and don’t like. What “classic” means to one bride, might be totally different to another.

From here, we chat more in a design consult. This is a good time for couple’s to share anything personal they want to make sure I tie into the design - favorite cocktails, favorite things to do together as a couple, your love story, and anything that is meaningful or represents the two of you.

Then I get to work pulling images to create a mood board and color story that will inform my design.

It’s really helpful when clients have mood boards from their other wedding vendors as well! This allows me to see the whole story and make sure that the stationery will flow with the rest of the wedding vibe.

INSPIRATION

First and foremost, I always advise that we are drawing inspiration from the design of the wedding and venue itself. Stationery tells a story, so I want to be telling the story of who my clients are as a couple, but also where the wedding will actually take place.

I always prefer that examples or “inspo” from my couple’s is shared in the form of photographic references and not another artist's work. I take plagiarism very seriously and I will never copy another person’s idea or style. It’s important that from the very beginning couples are coming to me because they love my existing style and the stationery I’ve done.

COLLABORATION

I always take my clients ideas as a sort of foundation and then I build on that with my expertise and knowledge of certain printing methods and/or materials I can use to make it grander and more creative. The more my clients trust me, the more I can do! Every opportunity I have to make something symbolic, I will use.

Do’s

DO be specific with what colors, florals, and general compositions you do or don’t like
DO share any of my previous illustrations or designs that you love
DO stalk my work. The more you’ve spent time with my style, the more confident you’ll be in choosing me to design for you
DO trust me as your professional and let me guide you towards the best possible creative solutions
DO be honest, clear and concise. If you don’t love something, that’s ok! I don’t take it personally. But, clarity and decisiveness in feedback helps me figure out the best path to take and helps me find a solution that you WILL love

Don’ts

DON’T compare my work to another artist. We all have different styles for a reason, and they shouldn’t look the same
DON’T stress about the minutiae! As your designer, I know visually what will be most appealing and what will work best, tweaking things endlessly usually just results in a lot of time being wasted
DON’T micromanage. This is hard because you have to trust me through the process and understand that you won’t see the full design until it’s actually done. But, that’s why it’s so important to choose a designer whose work you really love! Micromanaging takes the magic and creativity out of the process. If you aren’t willing to let go of control and let your professionals do their thing, there isn’t a huge point in hiring them.
DON’T wait until the last minute. Custom stationery does take more time than ordering something ready made. 90% of the time, if you wait until a couple months before your wedding, you will not get in with the designer that you wanted. Even if you don’t have all your details yet, start gathering your research and inquiring early!

Creating Hyper Personal Wedding Stationery

The Why

Let’s Get Personal

The Nitty Gritty

Do’s

Don’ts

Follow Along on Instagram

Home Blog

Contact Subscribe