I was recently interviewed and asked, “What’s the one thing you wish all brides knew before seeking out an invitation designer?” I thought this was a great question and wanted to share the answer with all of you.  As it turns out, I wasn’t able to pick just one tip because there are so many details when it comes to invitation design. But I did narrow it down to four key points!

1. On a financial level:

Know your budget.

This is sometimes a hard request, but it’s important to understand how you want to prioritize the invitation design and where it falls in the over event plan before going into your invitation design meeting. Invitations, especially those that are custom made, can have a large price range depending on your style and preference. There is nothing worse than falling in love with a design that you later discover was completely unaffordable in the first place! Or, not a priority in the planning.

2. On a practical level:

Be sure of your venue and wedding date – it doesn’t make sense to start designing without it. Everything from the dress to the decor to the invitations depends on that essential bit of information. Get that settled before you begin anything!

3. On a creative level:

Embrace the fact that with couture invitations you don’t need pre-set designs or ideas before you come to the meeting. Turn yourself over to the talented hands of a real designer and let them do what they do best! If you come to your appointment with an open mind and heart, you will be amazed at what can be created just for you!

4.  On a technical level:

Do your homework and understand the difference between the various available printing techniques. Do you love letterpress? Or are you more traditional and must have engraving? Each means something different and has its own price, process and time frame.

Bonus Ceci Tip:

I highly recommend that you reserve your invitation designer directly after you book your venue and secure your event date. With so many items you have to send out to your guests, it’s important to get an early start. Also do not forget the long lead times for custom printing. At Ceci New York, we love it when our clients book us eight months to one year in advance.

To get an idea of Ceci New York’s recommended timing, please reference our timing calculator found at http://www.cecinewyork.com/wedding/process/couture.php#gettingstarted).

For more information on Creative Partner Ceci Johnson of Ceci New York, we invite you to visit her website and online magazine, Ceci Style.