Wondering what it’s like to design a custom wedding invitation suite from scratch?
It’s an adventure, but a super fun one! Here’s what to expect: 

1. Proposal. Your first step is submitting an inquiry form. Within a couple days I’ll set up an online client portal for you, which will include a link to your detailed proposal. I’ll break down the prices of every single piece or element that you’re interested in for your invitations, and I’ll make suggestions based on your style and your budget. 

2. Contract. Upon looking over the contract, you then decide which pieces and options you’d like me to include in your custom invitation design contract. Once you’ve made your choices, I’ll write up your contract. I’ll do a happy dance because I get to design pretty things for you (yippee!!), and then you’ll send me a retainer fee that is 50% of the total contract cost. This serves to reserve space in my calendar for me to work on your custom designs.

​3. Design Questionnaire. Before I start working on your designs, I’ll send you a questionnaire. It will be full of personal questions about your love story, your wedding plans, your favorite things, and your design preferences. This is my chance to start to get to know you two, and I’ll get lots of ideas for how to make your designs super special. 

4. Design. For several weeks, I’ll brainstorm, sketch, write, brainstorm some more, write some more, paint a bit, scan, edit, and then probably get a totally new, totally gorgeous idea and start all over. I’ll probably lose some sleep because I’ll get so obsessed with making your design perfectly perfect for you that I’m dreaming of little calligraphed flourishes.  I create all the drafted calligraphy and illustrations by hand on paper, and then scan and digitize everything to create designs that can be printed on high-quality papers and fabrics. And then, (this is the most exciting part for me!)  I’ll send you the first online draft of your suite designs.
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5. Drafting. Next, you’ll explain to me what you do and don’t like about your invitation suites. I totally expect that you will want to make a few changes - you won’t hurt my feelings! The whole purpose of having a custom suite is that it’s exactly what you want, and that’s what I love to do! I’ll make those changes and then send you a new draft. Every SM Studio contract includes three drafts. Then, if it’s still not perfectly perfect, you can always request additional drafts for a small extra fee. 

​6. Print, baby, print. After you approve your final draft, you’ll send me the remaining balance on your invoice. I’ll send all your designs to the printers and order any add-ons you requested. If you ordered hand-calligraphed guest addresses or envelope assembly services, I’ll work on those before sending them your way. If you would prefer to assemble them yourself, I will box everything up for you to delivery them to you first!

7. Special Delivery! Last but not least, it’s time to go to the post office and send those beautiful babes to their new homes in the care of your friends and family! And then you just sit back and wait for the “Oh my gosh, this is the most beautiful wedding invitation I’ve ever seen” text messages to start rolling in...​​

Photo by Tiffaney Childs

​Timing
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The whole design process can take 8-12 weeks from first inquiry to the glorious day at the post office, so please make sure that you contact me at least 3 months before you’re hoping to send out your invitations. And don’t be afraid to contact me way earlier than that to get on my design calendar before it fills up, especially if your wedding is during a popular time of the year! I take on a limited number of couples each month in order to give each design the attention it deserves. 

For your reference: Invitations are traditionally sent 6-8 weeks ahead of the wedding date. If most of your guests will be traveling far, you might want to send out invitations a few weeks earlier. Be sure to give yourself a little extra wiggle room if you’ll be opting to do the assembly yourself. Stuffing envelopes takes longer than you might think! Additionally, if you want to also order coordinating save-the-dates, those usually go out 6-8 months before the wedding. 

If you’re ever unsure, you can always shoot me a message to check to see if there is enough time in my design calendar for the project you have in mind! 
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Working with Sam was one of the best decisions we made throughout the wedding planning process. She not only brought our ideas to life, but also lent her own design expertise to ensure that the end product was something we’d want to cherish long after our special day. She’s accommodating, detail-oriented, and has true talent – all qualities that were especially valuable to us as we prepared for such an important milestone. We are so grateful!  -Deirdre, a custom design client

Header photo by Zachera Wollenberg. ​
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