Custom Wedding Stationery... Is it right for you?
When planning your wedding day there are SO many decisions to make. One decision to carefully consider is your wedding stationery, and whether or not to go with a custom stationery designer versus a big online retailer. Neither is necessarily a bad route to go, but there is a very clear distinction between the two, and the differences can make choosing the wrong route quite the headache. Below are some questions to ask yourself to determine if a custom stationery designer (like OKOTA) is the right fit for you and your day; or if you’re prepared to take on the DIY/big retail route.
First, ask yourself 2 questions about THE LOGISTICS…
Would you like guidance on properly wording your stationery, ensuring it follows appropriate wedding etiquette, and includes all necessary information for you and your guests (including those tricky notes about no kids, transportation logistics between ceremony and reception, and more)?
If no, get ready to do some googling, rely on chat gpt, develop a brave sense of independence, and head on over to that online store.
If yes or maybe, read below about how a custom stationery designer is probably for you…
This is a super common need! We are happy to help with those tricky wording scenarios, and laying out the invitation so that it gets all of the information you need it to in the appropriate wedding-etiquette format. Unlike your big online stationery stores, we walk you through each piece of information you’re wanting to get across. Not sure where to even start? No worries! Each OKOTA stationery couple will receive a super easy-to-complete form already designed to gather the necessary information, by asking straightforward questions, you will surely be able to answer, and then we'll take it from there formatting it into a clear, and beautiful design.
Another major plus of having a custom stationery designer… if have any question, just shoot us an email and we’ll be able to help! We can provide the most common solutions we’ve seen, come up with some new ideas, or put together options for you to review. Again, the OKOTA custom stationery design process involves ongoing and personalized correspondence you will not receive at the online stationery shops.
2. Would you prefer a date night with your fiance over spending hours assembling invitations, stressing over the embellishments looking just right, or hand writing envelope addresses?
If no, stock up on the bandaids, get some alcohol chilled, and set aside 3 nights for working on them AT LEAST.
If yes, or maybe read more below about OKOTA’s full service assembly included in the custom stationery design process…
Ohhhh the assembly. First, if you have never applied a wax seal before, tied a postal machine-ready ribbon, or written out 200+ addresses on envelopes you can’t afford to make a mistake on, I wouldn’t recommend the pre-wedding crunch time, and on the most special stationery pieces of your entire life, as the place to start! There is a specific way to apply a wax seal so it isn’t peeling off at the post office damaging the envelopes and delaying the delivery process. There is a proper way to tie embellishments such as ribbon so that they fit within the envelope appropriately allowing them to seal fully. There are addressing and printing tips to ensure all envelopes actually make it to guests. Our expertise saves you these headaches, and ensures these hand-touched elements are done right; so that your guests can fully appreciate the time and attention to detail it will be obvious each suite required.
Second, 2 Questions About… THE BIGGER PICTURE
Do you value the artistry of your wedding stationery, hand-touched details, and want the highest quality materials suitable for a future keepsake?
If no, that’s totally okay! To each their own. You’ll just need to plan for some online shopping, as you’ll not get very far with a custom stationery designer. We can usually tell when couples do not value our work, consisting of our artwork made up of years of experience, developing our craft, and building our expertise in the field, and the time investment involved. Which having a lower standard for your statinoery design work is totally okay! We just are probably not a good fit.
If yes, you’re in the right place and in excellent hands! Read more below…
Many custom stationery designers, have a degree, or like myself have two degrees, in this field. Where we’ve learned all the things from not only an artistic perspective, but literal scientific perspective that make up designs you love. Nitty gritty details like typefaces, type sets, design concepts, color theory, composition, properly executed file set ups, printer ink laying, specialty printing techniques, paper handling, cardstock materials, software, etc. are all aspects of what you’re paying for when working with a custom stationery designer. Do you need to have someone that understands all of this helping you? No. People print things on their home printers all the time and pass them around. Again, the question is, what kind of standard do you want for your wedding day?
To maximize the benefits of a custom stationery designer, have then curate everything. Absolutely everythinggggg to match you and your fiance’s style, story, and wedding day perfectly. Every color can be tied together to match specific fabric swatches, every venue could have hand-painted features incorporated into the design, every typeface font can reflect your wedding’s formality, ever embellishment can add an extra touch of your personalities. The sky is the limit, and one thing for certain; every personalization is NOTICED by your guests that know you best.
Sucker for a good momento? Another thing in mind when it comes to the artistry and quality you get from a custom stationery designer, is that your wedding day stationery is far more than just functional. It’s a keepsake you and your loved ones can keep and cherish long after your wedding day. Many custom stationery designers are accustomed to their couples wanting to honor this design in their home, and offer a keepsake ways to save it forever. Ask us about OKOTA’s stationery keepsake options!
An analogy I’ve used before that adds another perspective… Say you’re wanting a sweater for a formal event you’ve got coming up… You can go to Walmart and buy a sweater, and wear it to the event, OR you can find a local seamstress to support. You can explain to them the event, your personal style, have them personally source the material for your sweater. They can ensure it is top notch quality thread, and hand-make it with the finest fibers perfect for the climate the date of your event, make recommendations based on what compliments your specific style, your body type/complexion/eye color, the theme of the event, and the color palette of the venue. They would have constant communication with you, and hold fittings to ensure it is tailored specifically to compliment your body. And you would have all the confidence in the world presenting yourself at this event in a quality hand-crafted custom designed sweater that will last, and is a perfect demonstration of YOU. Both this and the Walmart sweater can serve the purpose. It just comes down to the type of sweater you want to wear, and how you want to present yourself. Both a big online retailer and a custom statinoery deisgner can get you invites to send out. It is just comes down to the quality standard of work you would like, the level of service, and how you want to present yourself and your wedding.
2. Do you want to make a lasting first impression with your guests, and set the tone for your entire day as a beautifully curated expression of your styles and story?
If no, an online store will suit your needs of simply telling your guests where they need to be and when.
If yes, read more below about how OKOTA stationery couple’s guests feel when they receive these custom invitation designs at their doorstep and see all the pieces come together on a wedding day…
Consistent feedback we hear from past OKOTA stationery couples is that their guests make comments like “WOW! What a wedding this will be.” Or “I’m actually saving this invitation forever.” You’ve heard before, first impressions are everything. The wedding invitation suite is the first impression your wedding is making. It should stand out as the correspondence announcing your decision to spend the rest of your lives together to all those that mean the most to you.
Circling back to the sweater analogy… Guests aren’t complimenting or remembering the Walmart sweater.
A custom stationery designer will be able to incorporate elements from your invitation design across your additional stationery designs, often referred to as “Day Of Pieces”. These are items used on the day of your wedding such as custom welcome signs, ceremony programs, seating charts, escort cards, bar signs, welcome bags at guest hotel rooms, and more! Think of your wedding photo gallery and guest experience… Having a cohesive aesthetic across all these elements is a MAJOR way to elevate the look of your entire day.