Ask yourself the following questions:
1) How much time do you have before you need to send out save-the-date cards and/or invitations?
- Remember, save-the-dates are supposed to be sent out 4-6 months before the wedding date while invitations are supposed to be sent out 6-8 weeks before the wedding date.
- If you are pushed for time, you might want to take a look through the design books at your local invitation shop and order that day. It usually takes about two weeks for the invitations to come in.
- If you have the time, research different designers and find one that fits your style. DESIGNERS CANNOT READ YOUR MIND! You can send inspiration photos to give him/her an idea of what you are looking for.
- Do not give up or settle on something that you are not 100% happy with. However, if you are a picky, indecisive person, you may need to settle at some point. There is nothing worse than a bride who always finds something wrong with every draft. Give constructive guidance and you cannot go wrong.
2) Are you looking for a customized invitation design for all of your "paper" (save the dates, invitations, etc.) or are you going with the more traditional format?
- If you are envisioning a personal monogram or logo, typically you will need to work with a independent graphic designer.
- The books at your local invitation store will have invitations that are unique and different, so do not feel like you have to hire a designer to get anything other than the traditional ecru card stock. To sum it up...the books are typically a "get what you see" deal, but you can still find some unique designs.
- If you have no idea of what you want your design to be, I would recommend starting with your local invitation store. How will a personal designer know what direction to go in if you don't know!
- Start looking in magazines and online. Pull anything you like and send it to the designer and tell him/her what you like about each one. Nine out of ten times, the designer will be able to pull it all together and create something you really like.
A happy medium is definitely a new invitation vendor I met a few weeks ago.....A+Z Ink. They offer an amazing variety of high quality/uniquely designed invitations. The below pictures are from their collection.
The other outstanding graphic designers I love to work with also include Rice Designs, Catherine Currie Designs and Razzle Dazzel Creative Design. Each of them are a pleasure to work with and do a great job.