Where do I start?

Gathering all of the details prior to ordering your stationery is the best way to start, and it should be fun, not painful. Take the time to figure out what you want, but spend just as much time figuring out what you don’t want.  Here are some questions to help:

• How would I describe my event in 25 words or less?
• What is the theme of my event? Do I include this theme in my invitation package?
• What colors, shapes, seasons, time periods are reflected in my event?
• What do I want my invitations to say with -- and without -- words? 
• What colors, sizes, and styles do I not want reflected in my event?
• What additional components do I want to include with the invitation?
• What ‘look’ do I want for my invitation? How would I describe it in one word?
• How many invitations will I need?
• Should I send save-the-date cards?
• How formal or casual will my event be? Should my invitations reflect this?
• Is all the information finalized?  What things may still change?
• What is my stationery budget?

Remember this is your event.  You need to be comfortable with the look and feel of your event stationery. Don’t feel pressured or intimidated into selecting stationery you are not comfortable with.

What are the main components of a wedding stationery package?
There are a lot of components that can be added to your wedding invitation, depending on the type of wedding, guests, budget, and style of your celebration.  We’ve broken down some of the essential elements, and included a list of additional items to give you an idea of the pieces that may be included with (and/or follow) your invitation.  

Essential Invitation Components:
The invitation
The outer envelope
The inner envelope (need no longer exists but tradition remains)
The RSVP, response, or reply card

Additional Components:  
Reception card
Directions card
Menu card
Program
Save-the-date card
Seating cards
Place cards
Thank you notes
                                                                                                
When do I place an order?

You should probably consider your invitations one of your top priorities in planning your event.  The earlier you start looking for your invitation, the better. Once you have a guest list and know when and where your event will take place, you are ready to place your order.  For a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah, it would be safe to start your search at least six to twelve months prior to the event, and place your order at least three to four months before the event.  For less formal events like birthday celebrations and showers, you can risk a little less time in planning and placing an order. 
                                                                                                
When do I send my invitations?

For an event like a bar/bat mitzvah or wedding, invitations should be sent out eight weeks before the event. If there are other factors, such as events on a holiday or events requiring many of your guests to fly, you should try to send out your invitations ten to twelve weeks in advance.  Or, send out a save-the-date card and follow the normal timeline for your invitations.  For less formal events, it is appropriate to send invitations approximately four to six weeks in advance. 

How many invitations should I order?

This is a challenge, as the guest list can fluctuate almost until the event itself. For a close approximation of the exact number of invitations you’ll need, you might want to consider a healthy buffer of extras.  Here are some examples where extras may be needed:

• Invitations returned to sender due to wrong address, or incorrect address on envelope
• Last minute additions to guest list
• Invitations that were ‘lost in the mail’ that may need to be resent
• As souvenirs

Who assembles my invitations?
We will work with you to determine if you will assemble the stationery packages, or if you would like CC Design and Print to assemble them for you. We can also affix postage and mail them for you if you'd like (all definite timesavers).

How are invitations and custom stationery priced?
There are a lot of components involved in custom stationery. Factors such as paper and envelope materials, decorative accessories, labor, printing, and level of customization make up the fixed costs of your invitation order.  Materials and assembly account for the largest portion of the cost, as using quality materials and assembling your invitations correctly, are critical.

Material
The following costs may be factored into the material cost. Keep in mind that those things such as overhead costs, packaging, marketing, etc. play a role as well. 

• Ribbons - Wider (non-standard) ribbon widths may be used on a standard invitation, and they often carry additional costs. Also, the quality of ribbon can vary greatly.  There are ribbon manufacturers all over the world –with our experience we know exactly where to find the best imported ribbon for a specific design.
• Cover Papers – cover papers can be thick, embossed, high-quality, patterned and/or textured, in different colors, sizes, and styles. When you run your hand across the outer invitation paper, you should feel the quality of the cardstock.  Some cardstock has a unique shimmer, texture, or deckled edge. The best cardstock was originally imported European papers from renowned paper mills in Italy, France, and Germany, and that can still be the case today. Many of these paper mills are still family-run operations by the descendants of their founders.
• Inner Papers/Overlay Papers - Inner papers often have the same attributes as cover papers. However, they can be thinner and include various shades of translucent vellum papers.
• Envelopes - Envelopes are sized according to your invitation selections. Ideally, an invitation should fit snugly into a matching and/or coordinating envelope. Depending on the size of your invitation, a custom-sized envelope may be required, which can also add to the package cost since it's not a 'standard' size.  White and ivory are still the standard colors. We can offer envelopes in a variety of colors, shades, styles, shapes, linings, and sizes. Be aware that non-standard envelopes often result in additional postage costs. 
• Adhesives – It’s necessary to use the proper adhesives for each step of your invitation and stationery construction.  Some parts of your invitation (i.e. decorative embellishments) may have a self-adhesive backing, while others may require a glue gun to adhere. The majority of invitation materials should be professionally attached with special commercial adhesives not found in your local craft shop.  Adhesives remain an integral component material of proper invitation construction and also an added expense.

Assembly
Labor is the next significant cost; it includes proofing, cutting, folding, printing, and assembly of the invitation and related materials.

• Proofing – We work with you until you’re completely satisfied with your wording and design.  Remember completing your order may be a labor-intensive process under a normal timeline, let alone in a rush situation or if there's a lot of “back-and-forth” proofing. 
• “Putting it all together” – There are typically a number of steps involved in this stage, and we offer you a variety of assembly levels. Often we pull in a number of people to ensure proper coordination and quality control steps so that we can be sure your invitation is perfect! 

Customizing does not necessarily mean spending more money. There are countless varieties of invitation stationery. You may be able to opt for a thinner stock paper, or a non-embossed cover paper that looks nearly identical to the thicker, embossed version. You’ll even save on postage, as heavier invitations cost more to mail.

Here are a few additional suggestions:

• Black Ink: Consider invitation styles that use black ink.  Color ink is usually more expensive than black. If you have your heart set on an invitation that uses color ink, ask us if it is possible to print it in black instead.  Black is still a very acceptable formal color, and in many cases it is the preferred print color for many invitation and stationery designs. 
• Choose and Order Early:  As soon as you have a date and place, you are ready to order. Costly mistakes are often made because of rushed invitation orders. Also, last minute custom changes, reprinting or missed component ordering may bring up the cost as well. 
• Simplicity:  Invitations that fold and/or contain covers, pockets, multiple layers etc. tend to cost more than single card styles.  Remember simple is still elegant.
• Order extra:  Always order more than you think you will need. You never know when you'll need to add another guest to your list. Also consider ordering a few extra envelopes in case any errors are made while addressing. These items cost a lot more when you have to order them at the last minute.