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.

See below for our recommended timeline.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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!