What is letterpress?
Letterpress printing is an old school, artisanal form of printing where the design is pressed into the paper, leaving an impression in the cards. Each card is printed individually, one color at a time.
What is foil stamping?
Foil stamping is a similar process to letterpress, and the same machines are used, but the plate and base are heated so that when a roll of foil (instead of ink) passes over the plate and connects with the paper, the points of pressure, where the design is, are left behind in the color of the foil used. Foil colors are bright and shiny, usually, golds, silvers and coppers.
Do you do your own printing?
Every card we send is letterpress printed in house. We love printing and are proud to be both designers and great printers.
What kinds of machines do you use?
We love bragging and geeking out about our press shop! We are proud to run two 10x15 Heidelberg Windmills, one with factory foil, and an old style 8x12 Chandler and Price.
What kind of paper do you offer?
We use Crane’s Lettra as our standard paper stock. Our standard weight is 110lb/300gsm, but we also offer a thicker 220lb/600gsm option. All of the Crane Lettra papers are 100% cotton and made at a solar powered mill so you rest assured, your paper is as eco-friendly as it gets. We also offer two paper colors: bright white and pearl. Both are matte and have a subtle texture.
Do you offer metallic inks?
We do offer metallic inks. We have a matte silver metallic and a matte antique gold metallic ink. Please keep in mind, these are matte metallic inks and are not glossy and shiny. For a shinier finish, we also offer foil stamping, which allows for a true metallic look. This is a different printing process than letterpress and our pricing is different for foil stamping.
What limitations does letterpress have?
Letterpress is a beautiful, old-school form of printing, but it does have a few limitations. With letterpress, we cannot send custom printed proofs prior to printing your entire order. There are also a few design restrictions unique to this type of printing. We cannot print full flooded backgrounds where an entire background is a solid color. It is also good to know that the larger a graphic/design is, the less impression we can achieve. Thin lines tend to look best and be most impactful when letterpress printed. Colors are also printed one by one, so adding extra colors to your design is more costly because it necessitates a separate run through the press, and more time.
What are house designs?
House designs are what we call our pre-designed collection of invitation sets. All of our house suites can be customized with your choice of font, color and wording at no charge to really make them personal to your wedding style.
Do you offer digital printing?
We do! We are happy to offer digital printing for day of cards (menus, programs, place + escort cards, table numbers, signage, etc.). We do not offer digital printing for invitation suites, except for guest address printing of the envelopes.
Do you use the same paper for digital printing?
We use a different paper stock for digital that is certified for digital print machines. It is textured and substantial feeling and comes in two colors complimentary to our letterpress stocks: true white (bright white analogue) and soft white (pearl white analogue).
Do the digital ink colors match the letterpress inks?
Because digital printing is a very different print method than letterpress and uses a different system of ink mixing and application, the color will vary somewhat between the two print processes. However, we think our matches are pretty spot on and always look great together.
Can you print digital and letterpress together?
Unfortunately, we don’t offer cards that are letterpress and digitally-printed, but we can digitally print and foil on the same card.
What is your turnaround time for digital printing?
Digital print orders have a turnaround time of 2 weeks.
What is standard assembly?
Standard suite assembly includes stamping the rsvp envelope and stuffing of the main invitation envelope. We do not provide outer envelope postage or sealing. We prefer to send assembled suites unsealed so you can check them before mailing.
What is ribbon assembly?
Ribbon assembly includes the same stamping and stuffing as standard assembly, with the addition of tied silk or cotton ribbon embellishment, either with or without a tag. Ribbon is priced separately from the cost of assembly.
What is ribbon + pocketfold assembly?
Ribbon + Pocketfold assembly includes the same stamping and stuffing as standard assembly, with the addition of tied silk or cotton ribbon as a closure around a pocketfold. Inside the pocketfold, the invitation is adhered to the inner left panel and the other cards are layered and stuffed in the pocket on the right. Ribbon and pocketfold are priced separately from the cost of assembly.
What is wax seal + pocketfold assembly?
Wax Seal + Pocketfold assembly includes the same stamping and stuffing as standard assembly, with the addition of a wax seal embellishment as a closure over the flap of the pocketfold. Inside the pocketfold, the invitation is adhered to the inner left panel and the other cards are layered and stuffed in the pocket on the right. Pocketfold and seal are priced separately from the cost of assembly.
What pocketfold colors are available?
All of our pocketfold enclosure color options are available on our website, here
What ribbon options are available?
Our ribbon collection is available on our website, here
What stamps are available for rsvp postage?
We have a postage page on our website with all of our USPS and custom Zazzle options. You can view the selection, here
Are envelope liners considered assembly?
Nope, envelope liners are a standard suite addition and require no additional assembly time or cost.
Will the turnaround time be longer if assembly services are added?
Yes, for orders with assembly, an extra week is added to our turnaround time.
How much does assembly cost?
Assembly pricing varies based on which services you want to include. We have a great pricing calculator on our website that will allow you to experiment with the different assembly offerings to see what option works best with your budget. Postage is not included in the cost of assembly. You can find the calculator on our website, here
Do suites with ribbon or wax seal assembly need more postage?
Yes, generally suites with ribbon or wax seal assembly will require more postage, as well as hand canceling from the post office. The typical amount is $.89, but we recommend checking with your local post office and having them weigh your actual invitation suite.
What customization options are included with house orders?
For house designs, we include font, color and wording changes as free customizations. We are happy to personalize any of our designs with your selections for those options. To view all of the ways you can customize your suite, please visit our website, here
What fonts do you have available?
We have a great font library with a beautiful selection of font options you can choose from to personalize your suite and make it your own. You can play with the different options, using our font tester on our website, here
I’m not finding the exact shade I need in your ink selection, can you print a custom color?
We are happy to mix custom colors for our clients. We just need either a physical swatch or Pantone number to mix to. The cost for a custom color mix is $75. Please keep in mind, our ink mixes are close, but not exact matches.
Do you offer colored envelopes?
We sure do! We have a great selection you can view on our website, here
Do you offer custom stamps?
We do! You can view our selection on our website, here
Can I customize my paper size?
For cards with envelopes, like invitations, save the dates, reply cards and thank you cards, we offer a selection of standard sizes to correspond with available envelopes. We are happy to upgrade invitation sizes if you are looking for something a little larger than the standard A7 (5x7) invitation. The upgrade sizes are A9 (5.5x8.5) and Marquis (7x7). Check with your stylist for pricing details.
How can I make one of your house designs feel more custom and more like my personal style?
There are a lot of ways to personalize our house suites, but our top recs to make your invites feel extra personal are to add an envelope liner, work with your stylist to add a semi-custom monogram from our selection of frames and initials, or to add a wax seal closure to an inner invitation envelope.
What is the difference between digital guest addressing and calligraphy?
Digital guest addressing is where your individual guest addresses are flat printed on the invitation envelopes in the same fonts and colors used in your suite. Calligraphy is the hand lettering of each envelope with guest addresses. Calligraphy is limited to the styles offered by the calligrapher and requires an extra week turnaround time.
Can reply card envelopes be digitally printed?
We only offer digital printing for guest addresses (not return addresses) on save the date and invitation envelopes (sizes A2 and larger). We do offer letterpress printing of reply card envelopes and for return addresses on invitation, save the date, and thank you card envelopes.
Does digital guest address printing require extra time?
Nope! As long as we have your final guest list one week from the finalization date, there is no time added to the turnaround. Do you need the guest list formatted a certain way for guest address printing? We have an excel template for guest address printing to show you exactly how we need the list formatted. You can download it on our website, here
Do you print exact quantities for guest addresses?
We do, we just need your final count prior to sending the invoice, otherwise, you will be charged for the closest increment of 25.
What addresses can be letterpress printed?
We offer letterpress printing of all addresses, except individual guest addresses, such as the return address on invitation, save the date and thank you card envelopes, as well as the mailing address on reply card envelopes.
How much does digital guest address printing cost?
We charge $.75/envelope for digital guest addressing.
How much is letterpress envelope printing?
We charge $1.25/envelope for letterpress printing.
Can I print any color on my envelopes for guest or return addresses?
It depends! We can only print dark or medium toned colors on lighter colored envelopes. We cannot print on envelopes ink white ink, but we do offer white calligraphy!
What is an inner envelope? Do I need one?
An inner invitation envelope is a more traditional option you can add to your invitation suite. Typically, the inner envelope is addressed only with the names of the individual guests invited and is placed inside the outer invitation envelope, which includes the guest names and mailing address. If your guest has a plus one or children are included in the invitation, the inner envelope is the place to note that. If you are using an inner and outer envelope, the inner envelope is the one that would be lined if you choose to include an envelope liner.
What envelope colors do you offer?
Our standard envelope colors (included in the price of the cards you order) are bright white and pearl. We also offer a range of colored envelopes, which you can visit on our website, here
Are colored envelopes exact matches to your ink colors?
Many of our colored envelope options are close matches to our ink colors, but they are not exact matches and will vary somewhat. We like to think of them as being complementary to the inks in our collection!
Can envelope size be customized?
Envelope sizes are standard and unfortunately, cannot be customized.
Can envelope liners be added to any envelope?
Yep! We are happy to add envelope liners to any envelope you wish.
Do envelope liners come adhered to the envelope?
Yes. All our liners are custom cut and adhered to your envelopes by our team, prior to being sent to you.
Can envelope liners be customized?
Yes, we have a whole collection of liners that can be customized by color. You can view the selection on our website, here
Can envelope liners be customized?
Yes, we have a whole collection of liners that can be customized by color. You can view the selection on our website, here
HELP! How am I supposed to decide what wording to use? I don’t know where to start!
We are happy to help with etiquette questions! We have a comprehensive, easy-to-use etiquette guide on our site with lots of copy and paste-able examples. You can find wording, as well as tips and tricks, for all the cards you might need to order on our website, here
What is the difference between the house inquiry form and the house ordering form on your website?
The inquiry form is more of a first point of contact for you to request an initial invitation proof and a personalized price quote. Our house design form is what you will fill out if you are confident that you would like to place an order with us and would like to get started right away with a full set of proofs for all the cards you will be ordering. We don’t require a deposit at any point in the process, so there is no cost associated with either set of proofs
What happens after I submit the house order form online?
Once we receive submission of your house ordering form, your personal stylist will begin proofing your order! We use the exact wording you provide in the form, so the more complete you are when filling it out, the more accurate your first proofs will be. She will also put together a personalized estimate for your review. A first proof can take 24-48 hours (M-F).
How do I finalize and pay for my order?
To finalize your order, your stylist will send you our finalization link where you will confirm a few of the critical details of your order: quantity, paper color, shipping address and shipping method/speed. She will also request that you review your most current proof one more time for any final changes. Final proof approval is also authorized through the finalization link. Once your stylist receives your finalization submission, she will email over your final invoice. Please ensure all the details of the invoice and proof are accurate and that nothing is omitted that you would like to order. If everything looks perfect, you can pay the final invoice online with a credit card or e-check. After that, your stylist will email over an order confirmation and send your order off to production!
What if part of my order isn’t included on my invoice?
If something is missing from your invoice that you would like included with your order, please let your stylist know right away! We only print the items included in the invoice, so it is important to make sure it reflects each item you would like to order.
Do I have to pay in full before my order prints or do I pay half up front and half upon receiving my order?
Due to the customized nature of each and every order, we do require full payment of your order prior to printing. We cannot begin processing your order until you have approved a final proof and completed payment.
Do you require a deposit to get started?
We never ask for a deposit or retainer for house design orders, only for custom design work.
Do you offer a discount for ordering a full suite vs. one card?
All of our cards are priced a la carte and not as packages, so we don’t offer discounts for purchasing over a certain amount.
Do you have a proof limit? How many changes can I make?
without any charge or deposit. Additional proofs will be invoiced at the rate of $35 each. Keep in mind, aggregating your changes will help us send revisions faster and decrease the length of the proofing process.
How long does proofing take?
A first proof will take 24-48 hours (M-F). Revision time will vary based on the number of revisions and how extensive they are. We always try to have revisions sent next day, but this can take longer if you have a large number of edits.
Can I order a physical proof/sample of my invitations?
Unfortunately, with letterpress, it just isn’t possible to print a physical proof of your order. However, we are always happy to send samples of our ink swatches and the designs you are considering, so you can check them out in person prior to ordering.
How do you send proofs?
We send a digital PDF by email of each printed piece you will be ordering. We recommend using Adobe Reader to view PDFs instead of Apple Preview for the most accurate representation.
How accurate are the proofs?
Every computer screen is a little different, so the colors in your proof may look slightly different when printed. Mobile devices are not usually the best way to view your proofs, because the color accuracy isn’t as high. We recommend ordering samples of our color swatches, so you can see the color in person! Proofs will always reflect the actual size of the cards, though we can’t guarantee that your printer will print them to scale. All proofs are labeled with the dimensions and specs of each card.
What happens after I submit approval for a final proof?
Submitting your finalization with final proof approval says that you have no further changes to any aspect of the design and you authorize us to print your order as shown. Once we have final proof approval and payment, we cannot make changes for any reason.
What if I discover I need to make changes once a final proof has already been approved through the finalization form?
Because we have specialized printing plates made for each and every order we letterpress, we cannot make changes to your design once you have approved a final proof and authorized us to go to print. Any new changes may result in additional plate creation, for which client will be responsible. If the order has already been printed, a re-print at the original order price is the only alternative.
What is your standard turnaround time?
Our standard print turnaround time, once a final proof is approved with payment, is three weeks for letterpress and foil, two weeks for digital. Shipping time is not included and will vary based on ship method selected.
When should I be sending the different parts of my suite?
The standard rule for save the dates is to mail 6-8 months in advance of your wedding. You can even send 10 months out if you are having a destination celebration that requires your guests to book airline tickets and accommodations. For invitations, you should plan to mail 6-8 weeks in advance of your wedding date, 10 weeks for destination weddings.
How long does assembly take?
All assembly services require an extra week.
How long does calligraphy take?
All calligraphy services require an extra week.
Do you offer rush orders?
We are happy to offer a two week/10 business day rush option for letterpress orders and a one week/5 business day rush option for digital orders. For orders with assembly or calligraphy, the rush is 3 weeks/15 business days. Our standard rush fee is always $200.
How long does proofing take?
Proofing timelines are usually 24-48 hours (M-F) depending on how extensive your revisions are. A first proof will always be ready within 48 hours! Total proofing time will vary for each client, but generally no less than a week.
How long does shipping take?
We offer three different shipping speeds: Ground (up to 5 business days), Priority (3 business days) and Overnight (next day to most locations). We use UPS for both Ground and Priority, but also offer USPS for a more economical Overnight option. Local Sacramento and Bay Area clients always receive next day.
