Custom Designed Wedding Invitations: My Process

So it’s time to order your wedding invitations and you just can’t find “the one”. Maybe you have visions of something that doesn’t yet exist or you want something created specially for your big day based on your wedding theme and inspiration. In either case, many designers offer the option to create a unique, from-scratch suite if you’re willing to participate in their process. Custom designs take time, collaboration, and bouncing ideas between the client and designer. It’s a constantly evolving process and I’m sharing what goes into creating custom designed wedding invitations!

1. Consultation and Inspiration

It’s important to find a designer who has a style similar to what you’re looking for since the custom design process is so collaborative. Both parties, the client and designer, need to enjoy this process and communicate openly. I want to do my best work and if I feel that I may not be a good fit for a potential client, will refer them out. I want to make sure this is a positive experience for everyone and creates a result you are so excited about!

In order to make sure I am a good fit for a custom job, I ask for inspiration from the client. I love to see images other than stationery – custom designs should begin with ideas from the overall wedding theme. I encourage clients to provide me with some descriptive wording about their theme, rather than just what they would like to see in their invitations. For example, if a bride describes her big day as “modern, romantic, and fresh” that gives me an idea of where to start.

If there’s a specific element of a stationery suite that a client really loves, I like to see that to incorporate into their design. However, I am unable to work with clients who request a reproduction of an existing design created by someone other than myself.

2. Color and Concept

Once receiving your inspiration, together we will look at color options as well as materials. The concept is how the final product will look, not including the actual design of the printed invitation pieces. Your concept might include envelope liners and twine or glitter and metallic paper. I will discuss different options, taking into consideration your budget for wedding invitations.

3. Quote and Deposit

After finalizing a color palette and materials, I will create a custom quote including any and all options we have reviewed. I require a signed contract and $100 deposit to begin on custom designs, which is applied toward your final total. This is where the fun begins!

4. Design

Prior to designing your first round of proofs, we will discuss overall look, layout, and font choices. Together we will look at options for accents, graphic, and/or artwork for your invitation suite. I will create at least two versions of your invitation to get the design process started. Between the variations, I will show different options for layout and fonts.

5. Revisions and Evolution

Based on the starter proofs, you will decide which design most closely fits your vision and can make any changes. With your feedback, I will revise the original proof for you. The process of creating a custom design is an evolution. With open communication, I will edit the design to match your specific vision.

After the invitation is finalized, I will create the remaining pieces to match. Revisions are included for these pieces as well, to make sure everything fits together perfectly!

Interested in working together for your custom design? I would love to chat about your inspiration and see what we can come up with together! Get in touch with me here.