By Damilola Okuboyejo (Dami Studios)

bydamistudios.com

I’ve been a wedding stationer for almost 12 years. You know what they say, time flies when you are having fun :). In all my years of working with mostly awesome couples I have learned so much and seen trends come and go. I have compiled below 7 things that I believe your wedding stationer wants you to know

1. Ditch the rules that don’t serve you

I know there are lots of rules but quite frankly, a lot of rules were made for a totally different time and they don’t apply to the world we are living in now. No, you don’t have to wear white if you don't want to, you don’t have to carry a bouquet or even use the word “honour” on your invitations. Do what serves and speaks to you! Also there is a lot of influence thanks to social media and it is so easy to get carried away. Stay rooted in your originality and work with your stationery to create invitations that truly speak to your upcoming union, not the current Instagram wedding paper trend.

2. Good things take time

I find that everyone wants everything super fast now. Please know that there is a process and we have to respect that process. For invitations, there is the design and production times and neither of them should be rushed or microwaved for best results!

3. Read, Baby Read

Proofread and repeat. I can’t tell you how easy it is to miss an extra space, a name spelled wrong, etc. I always suggest that right when you think you have proofed your invitations and they are ready for production, have one more set of “fresh eyes” proof them. It is so easy to see what we think should be there but a new set of eyes can spot any needed edits.

4. Get the correct postage

We all know the post office is a stationer's best friend. NOT! But seriously, the worst thing is to go through the design process, end up with dope invitations and then no one sees them because the postage is wrong. Get them weighed (some of us go to multiple post offices cause we are crazy) and make sure you have the correct postage.

5. Get those addresses EARLY!

One major area of delay that I have noticed with my clients is gathering addresses. Do it early. Don’t start gathering when they are due.

6. Enjoy the experience

The goal is to only get married once right? So why not enjoy the experience. I think there is this false narrative that wedding planning has to be stressful. But you have to trust the professionals that you have in place (yep, I recommend hiring a planner). When you hire a professional stationer then know that they are professional for a reason. Yes, hiccups might occur but guess what, that is why you hired a professional. Let them do the worrying.

7. Go custom IF you value the experience

The last thing your stationer wants to hear is, “It is going to end up in the trash anyway.” This phrase indicates to me that this inquiry does not value custom stationery or better yet it is not an area they want to really focus on. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I am a firm believer that people should spend money on what they value and working with someone who does not value you and the price tag that comes with your expertise can really end up messy. So ask yourself, what role does stationery play in my wedding? Is it a leading role or is it just an extra in this production. And then move accordingly.

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