Just like any wedding vendor you hire, choosing the right invitation designer for your custom wedding suite is an important decision. You need to make sure that their style matches yours and that you find them easy to talk to.

But there are a few differences between searching for a stationer and other vendors. The biggest one is that a stationer’s services can be rendered remotely, so that opens up more possibilities. Stationers may also operate on smaller scales than other wedding vendors and specialize in other markets in addition to weddings. This can make finding the right one a bit more challenging. In this blog, we’ll talk about the ups and downs of hiring local verses remote as well as tips for finding the right stationer for you.

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

 1) You’ll likely have the opportunity to meet the stationer in person. While most of us have become pros at using Zoom, if 2020 has taught us anything, virtual can’t replace the value of in-person interactions.

2) When you meet, you’ll be able to experience and feel all of the in-house paper samples and past projects. While remote stationers will mail you samples either automatically or upon request, the samples you receive will likely be a smaller selection.
 

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

 a) Your local area may not have easy-to-find stationers, or you may not like the style of local designers.

b) If you fall in love with a designer you find online or through social media, you’re not limited by distance.

c) If you’re having a destination wedding, a stationer native to the locale may have better insights for capturing the local flavor.

Whichever route you decide, you won’t go wrong so long as you love the stationer’s style!

As stated earlier, finding someone with a style you love is the most important part of the decision. But it can also be the most frustrating! Most stationers are small businesses, many of which are a one-person show. They may have non-wedding aspects of their business and also operate as independent artists, graphic designers, greeting card makers, etc.

So, how do you find them?

a) If you have a wedding planner, he or she 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. One of them is likely to have a stationery contact!

b) 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.

c) 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, #weddingstationery, and #weddingstationer.

d) 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 adequately vet them!

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:

a) View their website portfolio. If you found them on social media, it should reflect their social profiles.

b) 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.

c) Check for an average investment level. Completely custom design typically begins around $1000, with most jobs averaging between $2000-$3000 and beyond. But because custom design varies greatly from client to client, exact prices can’t be estimated until after a consultation.

d) If the custom budget is a bit high for you, check to see if the stationer offers semi-custom designs, which are often called “collections.” Collections are curated templates in the designer’s signature style that can be customized to fit your needs at a lower price point. This way, you can still get invitations from the designer you love without breaking your budget!

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