Reasons To Hire A Designer For Your Wedding Stationery (Hint: no tears!)
Oh man, can weddings get really expensive. Once you start planning those numbers just add up and up and up. The whole engagement period and planning process is such a joyous time, but also filled with many compromises. That said, while there are so many ways you can bring your own creativity and handcrafted, do-it-yourself touches, I don't think the invitation is one of them.
For instance, your save the dates and/or your invitations are going to be the first taste your guests have of your wedding. Is it going to be impressive and memorable first taste, eliciting delight and anticipation? Or just another piece of forgotten mail, doomed to the pile with bills and catalogs?
Don't forget that invitations are also going to outlast the wedding day itself. As a single piece (or suite!) with your names, the date and details of the event, it's a perfect heirloom memento to cherish and keep!
Still not sure if it's worth it? If you care about quality, design and saving your precious time, here are a few more reasons why you might want to hire a professional designer.
Design Skills!
When you hire a professional designer, you know you're going to get something different, something special. Something you. Not just another generic invitation on someone's refrigerator. If you've got a vision and Pinterest board full of ideas, color palettes and imagery, you'll still need to transform all of that into a cohesive, finished product.
Your designer will use special software to deftly wield letters, colors, and shapes to produce something wonderful and unique. With their talent, experience, and investments in the right tools (industry standard software, high-quality typefaces, and graphics), professionals create sophisticated designs far beyond the capabilities of basic programs.
A designer is also dedicated to their creativity, and brings far more than just color-wheel knowledge and software skills. She might also be an accomplished calligrapher, or an interior designer in a past life. They will also be aware of customs, traditions and etiquette and can make recommendations to you that you may never have considered. Chances are he/she will bring far more to the table in additional inspiration, skills and resources that truly makes the investment worthwhile.
Quality
This is absolutely the top reason why you should hire a professional designer, and by far the biggest difference you'll see between generic off-the-rack designs and DIY solutions.
Why? Well, not everything is available in stores or online. Sumptuous thick papers and beautiful embossing cannot be bought and made at home. Even the quality of digital printing is vastly superior with a professional printer compared to the best home machine.
Over time, designers curate relationships with vendors and printers, and have spent years understanding the materials they work with. They know where and how to order paper and envelopes, and when best to use which one. Have you seen the incredible selection of white paper out there? Your stationer will have access to all of the right resources, and have the relationships needed to get things done. However, not everyone places the same importance on quality, so make sure the person you work with is as discerning as you are.
Most importantly, hiring a experienced designer to work directly with you means you can really tailor-make the product to your needs, and not anyone else's. Find someone willing to walk you through your vision and work with your ideas and budget to bring the dream to life!
Peace of Mind
If you're thinking about wedding invitations, then you're probably thinking about a whole lot of other things. Planning the decor, flowers and lighting, hiring photographers, getting your guest list finalized, etc. While DIY ambitions are admirable, hiring a professional can truly spare you from a lot of headaches and mistakes.
In reality, the few hundred dollars you may save doing the work yourself is likely to cost you precious time, and just bring a whole lot of frustration. Why not let a professional designer help you get it right the first time with no tears and no stress? Seriously. Give yourself the peace of mind that allows you to focus on the fun parts of your wedding planning!
