1. How do I order wedding invitations?
2. How long does the entire process take?
3. Can I order samples?
4. How many invitations do I need?
5. Are the invitations sold with envelopes? What about printing on the envelopes?
6. Are double envelopes necessary?
7. When do I order thank you notes?
8. What are my recycled paper options?
9. What is the difference between custom and imprintable?
10. How much will my stationery cost?
11. Do I need an appointment to come in?
12. Can I make my own invitations?
13. Can I use my own artwork?
14. What companies does Scribbles carry?
15. What wording shall I choose?
16. When should I mail my invitations?
17. How can I green my wedding?

 

1.) How do I order wedding invitations?

The three most common methods for ordering your invitations are

• online
• direct, with a designer
• Scribbles' personal favorite, from your experienced, local paperie

Before getting started, assess the most important aspects of the invitation portion of your wedding. Is the paper quality a prominent factor?  What about the type of printing?  What is your budget?  To what extent would you like to be involved in the process?

1. Ordering online can be simple and relatively low hassle. There are also so many vendors to choose between that you can often find a multitude of choices at competitive prices, always a plus. However, ordering invitations online does not allow you to touch the paper, feel the printing process used, or get a definitive sense of what the colors and stock will actually be, as most monitors and design programs cannot precisely match the actual ink and stock color. Through unsatisfied online customers who have made their way to Scribbles, we've learned that computer ease does not necessarily result in complete satisfaction.
2. Working directly with a designer most often involves the use letterpress, screen-printing, or engraving processes, which paired with original design make for simply exquisite invitations. These techniques require a great deal of skill and with some of the best artistic brains in the country focused on print design, there is a world of endless options to create an invitation as unique as the design house itself. Given the nature of this work, it is often the most expensive method by which to order your wedding invitations. You should also know that your local paperie can facilitate complete custom design from any vendor they carry, which means you can choose from a whole host of designers rather than one single studio.
3. Local paperies, how we love them! We may be a little biased, but it's true that stationery shops are full of knowledgeable, well connected industry folk who make it their priority to spend time with each client to help locate the perfect stationery. There is nothing quite so comforting as sitting down with a trained stationer who will happily walk you through the nuts of bolts of ordering invitations. If you'd like to make your invitations, Scribbles offers a multitude of papers, colors, and weights and can print on most of them. If your interest is piqued by completely original, custom design, Scribbles can realize that dream too. We work directly with the country's top designers from Hello!Lucky, Louella Press, Mr. Boddington's Studio, and Twig and Fig (to name a few), as well as in-house Vermont designer Tanner McCuin and local screenprinters at Tick Tick Studio, making the process of creating an invitation from scratch a piece of homemade pie! No matter your preference, we're committed to your utter delight with whichever invitation you choose. Let us take care of all of your stationery needs - it's our job and we're really quite good at it.

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2.) How long does the entire process take?

The timetable depends upon two factors: the stationery company you've chosen and their geographical location relative to the shipping destination. The average turn-around time, from placing your order to its arrival in the store or to you (everything can be drop-shipped directly), is five weeks. Certain companies we carry are excellent in a pinch (two and half to three weeks) and we are acutely aware of those requiring more time (six to ten weeks). If you're feeling rushed, let us assist you with some of our reliable, speedier companies, or, if for example you've fallen in love with a small letterpress studio option (the tortoise, not the hare), we can request an in-house rush and get your invitations printed as quickly as possible.

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3.) Can I order samples?

Absolutely! Many of our vendors are small design houses, and while they may not have the particular invitation in your desired colorway, many companies will happily send the particular design you like and swatches for the ink colors that you are interested in. Some companies will send blank stock samples of your requested designs. Others will send a sample exactly as shown in the album. Request as many or few samples as you'd like! Custom samples are also an option. They require a print run and cost about the same amount as printing your first 25 sets.

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4.) How many invitations do I need?

This equation serves Scribbles well in most cases: take your number of individual guests, divide it by two, and increase that number by twenty-five. For example: if you have 225 guests, you could order 150 invitations.  However, if you feel that the majority of guests invited are couples and families, you might be able to order as few as 125.

Invitations are sold in lots of 25, starting at 25, or with some companies, 50. We recommend that you order a few extra sets at the time of placing your original order. If for example (and we certainly don't want this to happen to you), your order has been printed, processed, and picked-up and you realize that you need more invitations, you will have to order 25 additional sets as though you were placing the original order. If you order more at the time of placing your order, you'll notice the incremental increase is considerably less than ordering 25 new sets.

Helpful Hint: always order extra outer envelopes! If you are having a calligrapher address them it will be required, but if you're hand addressing yourself, having plenty for mess-ups is a great benefit.

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5.) Are the invitations sold with envelopes? What about printing on the envelopes?

Yes, all invitations are sold with at least one outer envelope and certain companies also include an inner envelope (if you're curious about one versus two envelopes, please scroll down to the following question).  All envelopes included are sold blank and unlined unless otherwise specified.

To have or not to have the return address printed?  That is indeed a good question.  If you are not using a calligrapher, and have a quantity over 75, we highly recommend printing the return address. It saves quite a bit of time, envelopes, and looks lovely!

If you've hired a calligrapher to address your envelopes, it may also look beautiful to have your return address in calligraphy, in which case you would order entirely blank envelopes (although they could still be lined if you like). We often work with Geoffrey Burnham in Burlington, but have a store of folks we're happy to set you up with.  Few companies will print your guest addresses, but Checkerboard is happy to and certain letterpress companies provide calligraphy.

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6.) Are double envelopes necessary?

Historically, when invitations were delivered by horse and buggy, the inner envelope served to protect the stationery from the dirt and mud bound to land on the outer envelope. It was also to be opened by the doorman and the clean, inner envelope taken directly to its recipient.

These days, people use double envelopes when hosting a traditional or formal wedding, as etiquette dictates, or if it is of great importance that particular guests are specifically invited (or not, as the case may be).

For example, if a single friend is allowed to bring a date, the inner envelope would read: “Mildred Levine and Guest”. If Millie is not permitted to bring a guest, the inner envelope would simply read “Mildred Levine”.

The same idea applies when it comes to inviting, or not inviting, children. Perhaps you'd like to invite the Zuriers to your formal, adult wedding but not their youngsters, only the Zurier couple and their teens. The outer envelope would be addressed to The Zurier Family, with the mailing address, and the inner envelope would specifically list which members of the family are invited.

Many brides like to save on paper and opt out of the inner envelope, which means that all those specifically invited, if a distinction is necessary, would be mentioned on the outer envelope. Some schools of etiquette find this improper; nevertheless single envelopes save money and trees. What’s right for you?

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7.) When do I order thank you notes?

After announcing your upcoming wedding you may immediately start receiving gifts. It is customary to write thank you notes within two weeks for any gift received before the wedding.  For gifts received at or after the wedding, you have three months to properly send thank you notes.

To save on time, proofing fees, and shipping costs, many clients order thank you notes with their invitation suite.  In doing so, notes are on hand to use well before the wedding. It is common to order the same quantity of thank you notes as invitations, although many people order extra for future use. Ordering extra notes is also handy for thanking those kind folks who were not invited to the wedding but have given you a gift regardless!

If you have thank you notes to write prior to receiving your custom cards, you'd rather mix and match, or simply don't want to custom order, Scribbles has a fantastic selection of boxed thank you notes perfect for reaching your suggested two week deadline!

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8.) What are my recycled paper options?

Much to our delight, more and more couples are going green!  Scribbles seeks out the most ecologically sound paper vendors that use recycled paper and energy efficient processes.

• Crane and Co. uses 100% cotton paper, made from the recycled cotton fibers of clothing, and therefore never tree-pulp paper.
• Julie Holcomb Printers uses 100% recycled paper, renewable resources, and copper letterpress plates that can be recycled, as opposed to the plastic dies that have become popular with letterpress.
• Waste Not Paper, which is a great choice if you’d like to make your own invitations, uses some 30% post consumer waste.
• William Arthur makes paper grown from their own forests in Maine which are completely sustainable.
• Hello!Lucky uses 100% cotton paper, but can also print on 30% post consumer waste or 100% post consumer waste recycled paper if you desire.
• Graeham Owens paper, another great outlet for making your own invitations, is made from the Lotka bush, which fully regenerates and is completely tree-free.

The truth is, certain printing processes are difficult to master on recycled paper because it doesn't have the strength required by the presses. However, Scribbles is committed to finding as many green stationery vendors using recycled or cotton paper as we can and everyday more follow suit. Stay tuned, we'll be adding even more environmentally-conscious vendors in the coming months!

Helpful Hint: Consider using a postcard reply card to save on paper and postage. Want to go even greener? Visit our How can I green my wedding? section just a little bit farther down.

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9.) What’s the difference between custom and imprintable stationery?

Custom stationery is outsourced and printed by one of our many vendors around the country, whereas imprintable paper is sold at Scribbles and can be printed in-house or on most home printers. Custom stationery can be engraved, embossed, letterpressed, screen-printed, thermographed or lithographed (flat printed) whereas imprintables most often tend to be the latter two. Scribbles has lovely, varied options for both custom stationery and imprintables, we'd love you to take a look (coming soon)!

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10.) How much will my stationery cost?

The cost of your wedding stationery depends entirely on the vendor and invitation set you choose. Scribbles is proud to offer a range of invitations to ensure that you find paper to please both your taste and budget.

A typical invitation set includes

• a printed invitation
• an outer envelope with a printed return address
• and reply set (in most cases, a printed card with a corresponding printed envelope)

Price ranges from about $3 to $35 per set, with most of our clients spending near $8 per set.

Our vendors use many types of printing and an array of paper stocks. These factors, combined with design and labor, affect the price of each invitation. It's helpful to know that lithography (flat printing) and thermography are less expensive printing techniques than letterpress, engraving, and screenprinting.

Whatever your budget, let Scribbles help you find an invitation that both you and your credit card love!

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11.) Do I need an appointment to come in?

We always encourage appointments. They are not required, but highly recommended, whether you're just starting to look or ready to order.

Any time that Scribbles is open please come in, head to our comfortable stationery section at the back of the store, and browse through as many books as you like. We are currently open Monday - Saturday from 10 am - 8 pm and Sundays from 12 pm - 6 pm. We don't require appointments in case you find yourself downtown with a moment to look or have decided on a whim that today you're ready to order! If you know ahead that you'll be coming into Scribbles, please do make an appointment. This ensures you exclusive attention from one of our many talented staff members.

We'd love to meet with you - schedule an appointment with us at your earliest convenience!

Helpful Hint: Ordering your invitations during the week allows us to contact customer service if need be, as opposed to waiting until the next business day to get the more unusual questions answered.

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12.) Can I make my own invitations?

By all means! Making your own invitations is an excellent way to have the stationery of your dreams and in many cases save money in the process. Scribbles carries paper, envelopes, and accessories designed to run through home printers, in many shapes, textures, weights and sizes. We have a lovely selection of:

Waste Not Paper, Envelopements, Jonathan Wright, Crane & Co., Kate Spade, Black Ink, Snow and Graham, and more

Get as creative as you’d like with mounting papers, natural botanicals and leaves, or perhaps integrate your favorite motifs and designs into the invitations.

We also offer exquisite ribbon from Midori and May Arts to tie your ensemble together, as well as sealing wax and seals for an antique finishing touch.

If you would like to assemble your own invitations but prefer Scribbles to print for you (off-set, ink-jet beauties), we happily provide that service.  Scribbles prints on any printable stock purchased in the store.

Helpful Hint: Your bridal party is an excellent resource for help assembling invitations. Consider hosting a Wine and Wedding Invites Party or bond with your sweetheart over glue sticks and good jazz.

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13.) Can I use my own artwork?

If you're interested in having your artwork printed by our companies, be it calligraphed text, a hand-drawn local barn, or a favorite tattoo, no problem! Most stationery companies accept customer supplied artwork at no additional charge when sent in the proper format (pdf, tiff, jpeg, camera ready black and white, hard copies to be scanned). If your artwork is to be printed in a different ink color than the text, additional charges apply. Design fees may also occur if the file needs more work than simple shrinking or enlarging, although this is rare.

Browse through some samples of customer-supplied artwork - splendidly unique (coming soon)!

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14.) What companies does Scribbles carry?

Scribbles is very proud to offer you the following list of hand selected vendors. Those companies marked with an asterisk are exclusive to our shop.

• Abby Jean

• Anna Griffin

• AREN

• Carlson Craft

• Checkerboard

• Crane & Co.

• Elum*

• Embossed Graphics

• Encore Studios

• Envelopements

• Fontaine Maury

• Haute*

• Hello!Lucky*

• Julie Holcomb Printers

• Kate Spade Paper*

• Lallie

• Louella

• Mr. Boddington's Studio*

• Neah Bay Designs

• Page

• Prentiss Douthit

• Rita Renning

• Sweet Pea Designs

• TRU

• Twig & Fig*

• William Arthur

• Vera Wang*

We also print invitations here at the store and are constantly on the look out for exciting, unusual designers. Please contact stationery@scribblesvermont.com if you’re an artist, designer, or printer interested in partnership.

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15.) What wording should I use?

The wording of your invitation sets the tone for your entire event and therefore serves a very important role.   Whether you're having a formal wedding paid for by the parents of the bride or a small garden ceremony in which many have contributed, the Scribbles staff is well versed (pun intended) in how to properly word your invitation.  Not only is our team an excellent etiquette resource (and composed of many English majors oddly enough) but our wedding albums are bursting with examples. Please browse through our gallery of invitations and take notice of the various types of phrasing (coming soon).

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16.) When should I mail my invitations?

Ideally, invitations are mailed 9 - 12 weeks before the wedding.

Traditional etiquette recommends that invitations are sent out 6-8 weeks in advance, but experience has taught us that erring on the side of caution allows for smooth sailing during your final weeks of preparation.

Request responses from your guests 4 weeks before the wedding, and give them anywhere from 4 - 8 weeks to put those replies in the mail.  This timetable eliminates the need to track down tardy repliers the week before your wedding (something that's bound to please your caterers and venue contacts too).

If you find that you're past this deadline, don't worry!  These are merely suggestions and weddings have come together in weeks, not months. Let us know how we can help you! 

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17.) How can I green my wedding?

Check out this blog to find out. . .

• Use tree free or recycled paper for your wedding stationery
• Chooose a caterer and a florist who use local and organic goods
• Donate the unused food to a local charity or shelter
• Pass your flowers along to a local hospital or seniors home
• Compost and Recycle
• Use outdoor space for natural light
• Request digital photo proofs
• Buy dresses, shoes, and glassware you will reuse after the ceremony or find a thrift shop to consign with
• Offer a carpooling service/shuttle to transport guests from place to place
• Enjoy an eco-friendly resort for your honeymoon

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