Follow These 5 Steps For Eye Catching, Stress-Free Custom Wedding Invitations

Planning a wedding in Chicago can be downright overwhelming. There are so many moving pieces that it can be difficult to get what you really want, and you might find yourself compromising on things that were once important to you simply to get them out of the way. Thankfully, we have just the solution! We know that there is no shortage of wedding websites that offer custom designs and prints. But did you know that working with a graphic designer to solidify your perfect design, picking your own paper, and selecting your own finishing options can be faster and cheaper? At AlphaGraphics, we help brides and their families achieve their desires for dream custom wedding invitations. Let us help you out!

Step 1: Graphic Design

This is all up to you! Do you have specific colors or shapes in mind? Would you like to use a specific font or photo on your invitations? Please let us know! Whether you are able to secure your own graphic design assistance or you’d like to utilize our full in-house graphic design studio, the design is up to you!

Step 2: Decide on Paper Stock and/or Special Finishes

[caption id="attachment_725" align="alignleft" width="1524"] A great use of silver foil for a stunning wedding invitation.[/caption] Our expertise can really shine here! We have thousands of paper stock choices, colors, and textures to show you. Sometimes, the design guides the paper choice; other times, the paper choice guides the design. Are you thinking about adding a funky twist to your invitations? Consider cutting your cards into a funky shape or printing on an unconventional material, like plexiglass or cardboard. Maybe you’re looking for a way to really make a statement. Why not add raised lettering, letterpress, or embossing to your custom wedding invitations? All of these special, custom features can be elevated by your paper stock choice, and we’re ready to help you make the right decision for your pieces!

Step 3: Which Pieces Do You Need?

While we can certainly guide you though this process, decisions are certainly up to you. Will you be sending a save the date card? Are you mailing it as a postcard or in an envelope? Will you include an RSVP card and envelope so your guests can respond, or will you be collecting RSVPs online? We can certainly assist with printing any and all pieces you need on the same or similar paper to create a cohesive set. If you’d like us to address envelopes (either recipient envelopes or RSVP envelopes), we can certainly help out with this piece as well!

Step 4: Review Your Complimentary Proofs

We know this is a big decision for you, and we want to help you make the best impression possible! Once we’ve got design and paper choice in order, we’re happy to provide hard copy proofs for your review at absolutely no additional cost! Take them with you, take your time, and pull the trigger when the timing (and printing!) is right.

Step 5: How Much Help Would You Like

Once hard copy proofs have been approved, we can get to production! Production on most projects only takes 24-48 hours, and we can be as involved as you’d like. If you’d like to receive all of your pieces individually so you can stuff, seal, and mail your own invitations, have at it! Or, if you’re pressed for time, let us do the hard part for you. We are happy to assemble and send pieces for you, and we’ll even let you assemble the first few to ensure that envelopes are stuffed, sealed, and mailed just the way you would do it. There are so many exciting options in the world of custom wedding invitations, and we look forward to working with you!