You’re Invited…

December 30th, 2008 @ 8:31 am by Mrs. Lemonade

My original plan for our wedding was to craft all things paper with my own two hands. I love crafts and DIY and have had minor successes with both so I figured I could handle the task. Then came the save the dates that kicked my ass. After that experience I started prioritizing which projects I could tackle myself (read: easy, little ones), and which ones we needed to call the pros in on. The invitations have fallen squarely in the camp of the latter. I just couldn’t see myself crafting over 100 sets consisting of over 6 pieces each. Not. Gonna. Happen.

So, I set out to find someone to do it for me, and do it well, for I have standards that are a bit, ahem, high (to put it lightly). Conversely, our budget is not so much so. I hit up all the usual suspects in search of the perfect invites early on. I searched pretty much every website out there that might even think of offering invitations and came back empty handed. Yes, they offered an almost endless amount of options, colors, pocketfolds, and ink colors but nothing was jumping out at me as THE ONES. I had a very distinct image setup in my mind (more than likely thanks to those crafty bees) and nothing was measuring up. It went on like this for a few weeks. Everywhere I went I was on the lookout for inspiration and artisans to complete my vision.

Then it happened. I had just started my new job about a month prior. I had a piece that needed to be printed so I headed out to the print shop. Since I have a one track mind and I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask, I started to inquire about the services the shop had to offer (letterpress perhaps?). Unfortunately their services aren’t available to the public. Fortunately my contact had an employee who had a friend who recently got into letterpress (still following me?). A few emails and meetings in coffee shops later I had found what I was looking for. Not an invitation from a catalogue or box, but local artisans who were willing to work within our measly budget and lovingly slave away over a centuries old press in their garage to craft the invitation suite of my dreams. In letterpress. Holla.

Stay tuned as I share the rest of my adventures in letterpress…

Did you have a difficult time finding the perfect invitations?

Tags: invitations |

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12 Responses to “You’re Invited…”

Guest

laurajane

OMG, I need to know more. Can’t wait to see some of this work!

12/30/08 @ 8:49 am (reply)

Guest

Kenzie

Nope. I knew it was letterpress or bust, the entire time. It didn’t hurt that I’d worked on a press before thought. That sealed the deal long before our engagement.

12/30/08 @ 10:17 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Hot Cocoa (message) 1,715 posts, Bumble bee

I’m itching to see the final results!!!!

12/30/08 @ 10:26 am (reply)

Guest

Vic004

I am so excited for you !! I cant wait to see your invitations!

12/30/08 @ 11:06 am (reply)

Guest

jtg

I am so envious! I adore letter-pressed invitations.

12/30/08 @ 11:11 am (reply)

Bee

frenchbulldog (message) 6,063 posts, Bee Keeper

I can’t wait to see them! SO JEALOUS ABOUT YOUR HOOK-UP!

12/30/08 @ 11:28 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Powder Puff (message) 834 posts, Busy bee

I can’t wait to see the finished product! And I’m sooooo jealous of the letterpress!!!!!

12/30/08 @ 11:39 am (reply)

Guest

Jennifer

I love letterpress. Yes, I am budgeting more for the invitations than my dress. It’s all relative! I scoured everywhere and finally decided on Melissa from Blackbirdpress on etsy. Fabulous gal, and fabulous invites. I cannot wait to see what yours are going to turn out like.

12/30/08 @ 12:02 pm (reply)

Member

MelissaB (message) 414 posts, Helper bee

I’m still having a hard time deciding on invitations! Our invitations budget is modest, and at first I figured we’d go with flat printing. I’ve seen some lovely flat-printed invitations, but part of me keeps thinking “if you’re going with flat printing, why not just print the invitations yourselves and save a ton of money?” I’m also investigating ways to make letterpress work — maybe by ordering letterpress invitations but flat-printing our RSVP cards.

12/30/08 @ 1:25 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Peep Toe (message) 1,636 posts, Bumble bee

Love the letterpress!!! Can’t wait to see them!!

12/30/08 @ 2:47 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Dizzy

I was also letterpress or bust. I found a good letterpress person on etsy.

12/30/08 @ 5:37 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

Wolff2Be

Miss Lemonade, you are singing my song!! I decided to tackle the invitations myself, but am still not 100% confident that I can handle it. Unfortunately for me, I don’t know any printers in our area that would be willing to do letterpress for us.

Can’t wait to see yours