Serving up fresh invites

Working with a Graphic Designer

As a client it is often hard to look at things from the designers point of view. As a designer the same is true. Here is a look at the common interaction blunders that can put any project off track and ways to avoid them.

What do graphic designers do?

Are you thinking about hiring a graphic designer? Do you think you need professional design help but are not sure where to look or what is available? You are not alone. Here is a look at what a graphic designer can and cannot do for you.

Wedding Websites - A review

There are many options for creating a website for your wedding from a complete custom page to hosted template that allows you to upload words and images. Here we look at some of the most popular sites and consider what elements you might want to include on your site.

Wedding Invitations - printing

There are may ways a invitation set can be printed. They can be printed on a desktop printer like the ones many people have in their homes or offices. Sometimes this labor intensive but cost saving method can still allow room in the budget for a custom designed invitation that is provided to you as a high resolution rgb file. You will need to purchase all the paper and envelopes and may have to cut and trim many sheets of paper.

Commercial printing or offset printing involves separating artwork into cmyk plates and look very clean and professional. Trimming and collating are included. Commercial printing also has the ability to ad specialty inks such as metallics, pastels, clear gloss, and spot colors. You can think of spot colors as a type of paint or premixed color that can be used when a color is hard or impossible to made with a combination of cmyk (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). Commercial printing also has the ability to add dye-cuts, embosses, debosses, and foil stamps which can add exceptional beauty to an invitation.

Another method of printing no longer cost effective enough to be used on a large scale but still popular for wedding invitations is letterpress. This method creates a distinctive look and feel as the areas of color are actually pressed into the paper. While standard commercial printing can deboss areas they cannot match the quality of a letterpress.

Another method used for wedding invitations is thermography. This involves heat setting the areas of color, which can only be solid colors and leaves a raised texture. Most popularly used for inexpensive business cards this can also be a cost effective solution for invitations on a tight budget.

Wedding Invitations - the elements

There are many elements to consider when planning wedding invitations. From the initial Engagement Announcements and Save The Dates to Thank You Cards you will want all of the elements to coordinate and follow your theme. A good way to do this is to establish a monogram. A monogram serves as a logo or icon for the couple and can be made up of first names or simply initials. This is a great way to coordinate bridal shower, bachelor party, and bachelorette party invitations as well. At minimum a wedding invitation set needs to include the actual invitation and corresponding envelope and a response card and coordinating envelope. Other items could include Rehearsal Dinner Invitations, Maps, and Area Information Cards.