What is a Design Fee Retainer?

February 22, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

I’m continuing the trend of answering the most asked questions at the Chic Ink studio.

Next up, what is a “design fee retainer”?

This is a pretty simple one. This $150 fee is paying for the time and talent of your custom wedding invitation designer – me.

 

Let me back up a bit so I can explain how this fits into your invitation package.

 

We start our design process by having a consultation – either over the phone, via an email questionnaire, or in person. I gather all the details about what you are looking for and we talk colors, styles, and more. After we have this chat, I send a follow up note regarding what we discussed and a preliminary price quote based on your special event stationery needs. If you decide you’d like to proceed, the $150 design fee retainer is collected and work begins on your custom invitations. You get to sit back and relax while I start designing. This retainer guarantees that there is room on our calendar and allows enough time for digital proofs and edits. Again, this retainer is paying for your custom designs.

 

Because each proof is created just for you, it takes time to set up and edit. This retainer is not applied to your invitation order and the main reason I can do this is because I get great deals from fabulous vendors and can pass those production savings on to you. If you do some research for custom invitation designers, you’ll find that our $150 initial investment is on the low side. I’ve seen as much as $500 design fees or even 50% of your invitation order as a requirement.

 

Have more questions about our process? Check out the FAQ page here.

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When Should I Order My Invitations?

February 20, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

Since we are in prime engagement season, I wanted to revisit our invitation timeline. It’s best to reserve your spot early on our calendar since we only take on a limited number of customers each month so that we can provide the highest level of service.

 

See below for our recommended timeline.

Wedding Month Reserve Date Send Out RSVP date
January May November December
February June December January
March July January February
April August February March
May September March April
June October April May
July November May June
August December June July
September January July August
October February August September
November March September October
December April October November

 

 

It’s really easy to get started. Just fill out our contact form to start the process and you’ll be on your way to getting your fabulous invitations.

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Fun Mountain-Themed Wedding Invitation

February 17, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

Getting married in Aspen? I have the perfect letterpress wedding invitation for you!

This letterpress invitation suite features a fun mountain motif with a bright and cheery yellow envelope liner.

My favorite part of this whole ensemble is the cute gondola lift! Want to see more pics of this fun invitation? Click here to view the full gallery and see pricing.

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How Much Do Chic Ink Invitations Cost?

February 15, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

I get this question all the time. The phone rings and the customer on the other end asks one simple question – how much do custom invitations from Chic Ink cost?

 

There’s a simple answer – it depends. I know it’s not what the answer you are looking for, but it’s the truth!

We have different options for printing, size of your invitation, number of inserts, embellishments, and layers.

I wanted to shed a little light on our prices and outline them below.

Letterpress invitations start around $7.50 each for 100 guests. This price includes an invitation, reply card, and matching envelopes.

Flat printed invitations start around $5.50 each for 100 guests. This price includes an invitation, reply card, and matching envelopes.

 

This is a jumping off point and can increase if you want to add layers, rhinestone buckles, pocketfolds, and more!

If you’d like your own personal price quote, just fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you!

 

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Weddings in Woodinville – recap

February 10, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

I had such a great time participating in the annual Weddings in Woodinville show last month. Chic Ink created the paper goods for the Matthews Estate Tasting and Barrel room. Our theme was “Love is in the Air”. Thanks to BreeAnn Gale at Pink Blossom Events for coming up with such a great concept.

 

Thanks to the other great vendors who made Matthews Estate such a fabulous location!

Alyssa Rose Photography

Laurel’s Floral Decor

Gourmondo Catering

Pink Blossom Events

Matthews Estate

 

Hop on over to the Chic Ink Facebook page to see more photos from the event.

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Need a Dose of Humor While Planning Your Wedding?

February 9, 2012 by Heather | 1 Comment

My latest Pinterest addiction brought me to an awesome tumblr blog that has pics of Ryan Gosling (*drool*) telling us that it’s okay to do all those fun things at our wedding. Here’s a few of my faves:

 

 

Need more Ryan goodness? Head on over here and make sure you follow my Pinterest boards – I’m sure to find more goodies while trolling the ‘net.

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What To Write in Those Blank RSVP Cards

February 7, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

Last week I showed you a cute wedding invitation with hearts and love birds on it that had a great big box on the reply postcard. I promised to share what you’re supposed to write in that empty spot.

Blank reply cards should be written in the same manner as the invitation. Refer to yourself in the third person and list the names of those who will be attending with you.

 

If you are accepting the invitation, you may write the date and time of the event.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen
accept with pleasure
the kind invitation
of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Black
for Saturday, the thirtieth of June
at seven o’clock

 

If you are declining, you only need to write the date. Oh, and don’t worry, you don’t need to say why you won’t be able to make it.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cullen
regret that they will be unable to accept
the kind invitation
of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Black
for Saturday, the thirtieth of June

 

So, what do you think? Would you include a blank RSVP card in your invitation?

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Valentine’s Day Wedding Invitation

February 3, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

Getting married on Valentine’s Day? I just love this wedding invitation. It looks perfect for a Valentine’s Day event!

Wondering what to write in that black RSVP box? Stay tuned for a blog post on that topic…

 

Even though it’s a little too late to order invitations for a Valentine’s Day wedding this year, you could get ahead of the game by ordering your save the dates for 2013. It’s really easy to place your order on our website!

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Wedding Programs – A Guide to Your Special Day

February 1, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

One item to consider adding to your wedding stationery ensemble is the wedding program. It allows your guests to know the wedding party, the timeline of events, and even any special verses or memorials you’d like to include.

We love creating programs that match the style and theme of your event.

Click on either of the above images to place your order for custom wedding programs in our Chic Ink Etsy shop.

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Invitations – Where Do I Start?

January 30, 2012 by Heather | Leave a comment

We recently guest posted on The Wedding Preview Event’s blog when a newly engaged couple had a question about how to order their wedding invitations.

Here’s their question:

Where do we start with invitations? Can we get Save the Dates at the same time (something simple)? What goes into the whole ordering process and how do we know what I’ll need. Our wedding isn’t super-formal but we want our first impression to really catch the eye of our friends and family. Where do I start?

 

Chic Ink Answers:

Hi M & J,

What a great question. It can be very overwhelming when trying to order your wedding invitations. Click here to read the rest of the entry.

 

And stay tuned for more info about the fun Wedding Preview Event. Chic Ink is participating again this year!

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