Just like any wedding supplier you hire, choosing the right invitation designer for your custom wedding invitation suite is an important decision. You need to make sure that your respective styles align, and you get on with them – after all, you will be working with them for the best part of a year!

There are a few differences between searching for and booking a stationer and other suppliers. The biggest one is that a stationer’s services can be rendered remotely, which opens up a wealth of possibilities. In this blog, we’ll talk about the ups and downs of hiring a local stationer versus one more geographically remote, as well as lots of tips for finding the right stationer for you.

Local or Remote?

Because a stationer does not need to be present on your wedding day, you are not limited to local options or hampered by supplier travel fees. But there are some upsides to hiring a local.

You’ll likely get the opportunity to meet the stationer in person. We’ve obviously all become absolute Zoom pros over the past couple of years, and we are always happy to send out samples so you can see and feel the invitation cardstocks, but virtual can’t entirely replace the value of in-person interactions.
When you meet, you’ll be able to experience and feel all the in-house paper samples and past projects. While stationers outside of your area will mail you samples either automatically or upon request, it isn’t possible to share the full scope of samples on offer.

That said, there are also upsides to hiring a remote stationery designer:

Your local area may not have easy-to-find stationers, or you may not like the style of local designers.
If you fall in love with an invitation designer you find online or through social media, you’re not limited by distance.
If you’re having a destination wedding, a stationer native to the area may have better insights for capturing the local flavour.

Whichever route you choose to take, the most important thing is that you love the stationer’s style.

Best Search Methods

As stated earlier, finding someone with a style you love is the most important part of the decision. But it can also be quite frustrating! Many stationers are small businesses, most of which are a one-person band.

So, how do you find them?

If you are working with a wedding planner or stylist, they will likely have vetted stationers and will be able to recommend one who fits your wedding style. If you don’t have a planner, ask your other vendors like your venue coordinator, photographer, or florist. Wedding suppliers are a close knit bunchg and one of them will almost certainly have a stationery contact!
If you’re looking to hire local, do a Google search for “wedding invitation designers (insert your area).” This will bring up Google listings of invitation designers in your location.
Instagram: Lots of stationers are active on this platform, and a quick glance at their feed will give you a great idea of their style. Hashtags to follow during your search: #weddinginvitations, #weddinginvitationdesign, #letterpressinvitations #weddingstationery, and #weddingstationer.
Pinterest: Obviously, Pinterest is a place to start for lots of wedding inspiration. You’ll likely stumble across designs that appeal to you, but not every pin will lead to an independent designer’s site. Many will lead to Etsy and pre-made templates, which is great if you’re looking for semi-custom. If you do find a designer you like through Pinterest, make sure you Google their business name to check them out thoroughly!

Research your stationer!

Once you find a designer with a style you love, visit their website to get an idea of their services. Make sure to do the following:

View their website portfolio. If you found them on social media, it should reflect their social profiles.
READ about their process! Each designer operates a bit differently, and their process page should give you a good idea about how the work will go.
Check for an average investment level. Completely custom design typically begins around £1000, with most jobs averaging between £2500-£4000 and beyond. If you are interested in specialist printing techniques like letterpress, you can look to spend more still. However, because custom design varies greatly from client to client, and across the different print methods, more exact prices can’t be estimated until after a consultation.
If the custom budget is a bit high for you, check to see if your preferred stationer offers semi-custom designs, which are often called “collections” or “house styles”. Collections are curated templates in the designer’s signature style that can be customised to fit your needs at a lower price point. This way, you can still get invitations from the designer you love without breaking the bank!

In the next blog, I’ll talk about what to expect in a consultation and how to work with a stationer on a custom design.