As a branding expert and stationery designer, I look at weddings and events differently. Here at Fig 2. Design, cookie-cutter simply doesn’t exist. Everything I do is customized and tailored to your personality, vision, and event. You might think branding is limited to businesses and influencers, but believe it or not, your event has a brand, too! And it’s my job to make sure your wedding brand introduces your guests to the experience you want them to have. Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of designing some of my favorite wedding stationery with me, from inquiry to wedding day!
The Process of Designing Wedding Stationery
Step One: Inquiry
The BEST part of designing wedding stationery is finding a way to incorporate special details about your love story. Whether I’m working with your wedding planner or directly with you, I do everything I can to get to know you and this life you have built together. During the initial inquiry, I learn exactly what you’re looking for (invitations, menus, signage, etc.) and start brainstorming ways to make it happen!
Step Two: Timeline
As soon as the contract is signed and the deposit is paid, I send a timeline so you and your planner know exactly what to expect. The most common feedback I receive is about how organized I am! For me, staying organized and on-task is key. No one wants to pay rush fees or fix a last-minute issue with no time!
Step Three: Concept Document
At this point, I put together a document with examples of different print methods, swatches of paper, and other materials that will help bring your project to life. Depending on the depth of the project, I’ll often include thoughts on menus, a details booklet, or a welcome insert. This is the time to make the decisions that will impact the overall budget! Please know that I take your budget very seriously. If I do include an idea that wasn’t originally in your budget, I always find ways to save on costs by reusing elements in creative ways.
Step Four: Drafting & Review
After everyone signs off on the concept document, I begin designing the wedding stationery in earnest! Here, I put together the first draft of the save-the-date or invitation. This draft will include all of the information so you get a clear idea of what your final stationery will look like. This is also where I get creative about reusing elements! If we are doing a wacky die-cut for the invitation, it would be a shame to only use it once. So maybe I’ll use it again for the program, or a reply card, but I will crop it differently. If it’s a die that’s been used for the invitation suite, I often reuse it for the menu!
In this stage, you or your wedding planner, and I go back and forth on what you like and don’t like until we have something you absolutely love! I always ask you to print out a copy to triple-check that all of the details are correct.
Step Five: Production
Once the details have been confirmed, I send the stationery to production. I take hours pouring over every inch of the design, ensuring that everything is perfect. I live by the saying, “Measure twice, cut once.” After I’m confident that everything is set, I send the stationery to get printed.
Step Six: Assembly
After the printed pieces are delivered, I do a happy dance. And then I start assembly. I have a small team of helpers who assist me with lining envelopes, assembling stacks, and applying postage and mailing labels. My favorite (and the most reliable) way to send invitations is through USPS Ground Advantage because it allows us to track every package. It’s a little more costly than using regular postage, but I think the peace of mind is worth it.
Working Alongside Your Vendors
It takes a team to make stunning events come to life. Magic happens when couples trust their vendors and everyone works together. Usually, wedding planners have a strong vision, and every vendor does their part to create a cohesive plan. I love working alongside planners. Just brainstorming together has led to some of the most incredible collaborations!
The Ferris Wheel Menu pictured in this blog is a great example of what can happen when your vendors work together. Gretchen, the owner of Rocket Science Events, was planning a Chicago wedding and wanted to create a custom menu shaped like a Ferris wheel. I thought, “Why stop there?” and created a free-standing, Ferris wheel-shaped menu that spun on a center axis. It is, to this day, one of the coolest things I have created.
Designing Your Wedding Stationery with Your Love in Mind
Your stationery is the thread that ties your wedding together. From the invitation to the place cards, your stationery unifies your guest experience. From sticking to a color scheme to reusing design elements, we aim to create a cohesive, immersive event that your guests talk about for years!
“Claudia’s special sauce is her ability to capture the essence of the project in whatever she’s designing. Her attention to detail is incredible, and her combination of creativity and organization is unparalleled. Claudia’s super fun to work with and she’s crazy talented, so she’s going to be a fit for just about anyone really. Unless you’re looking for something basic and boring, then you shouldn’t call her.”
— Gretchen Culver, Rocket Science Events
If you’re looking for something out-of-the-box, exciting, and completely yours, I would love to work with you. I specialize in creating cool designs that feel unique to you. Explore my wedding stationery portfolio or contact me to start designing wedding stationery!
Vendors:
Alex and Ethan
Stationery: Fig. 2 Design
Wedding Planning: Rocket Science Events
Photography: Marit Williams Photography
Videography: K. LaFleur Films
Ferris Wheel project
Stationery: Fig. 2 Design
Wedding Planning: Rocket Science Events
Photography: Abigail Lewis Photography
Videography: Morning Light Video
