Frequently asked questions
What is your typical turnaround time?
2-6 weeks from the time your design is finalized, depending on what our current workload is when the order is placed. Dec-March tend to be especially busy. Please reach out to ask for current turnaround time. Rush orders are sometimes possible for an added fee.
Find info about the timing of your wedding invites here.
What is your minimum quantity?
The minimum quantity for each piece of wedding stationery is 25. The larger the quantity though, the better price you’ll pay per piece.
What ink colors do you have? I mix all ink colors as needed, so it can be whatever shade you want, but you can check out this page and refer to colors there to let me know what you’d like.
What kind of images work best with letterpress? Line drawing tend to be ideal, while art with large solids (filled in areas larger than 1/2”) tend to have a slightly textured look that’s almost heathered, called “salting,” so the ink will be less opaque. See filled in blue mountain image to the right to see what that looks like. This effect is not so noticeable with lighter colors of ink. Most people like this hand-printed look, but it’s good to know what to expect.
Can you print light colors on dark paper?
Foil stamping is ideal for printing lighter colors on dark paper. Letterpress inks are semi-transparent, so don’t work well for printing light colors on dark paper. I do offer white ink digital printing on envelopes for an additional charge.
Do you offer foil stamping?
Yes. You’ll find that option on the pricing page or write us for a quote. The color options are more limited with foil stamping. You’ll find a video of the foil options here.
We enthusiastically support marriage equality.
Here’s an example of a large flood of color, so you can see the effect.
Do you offer embossing? All letterpress printing is debossed, meaning the art is pressed into the paper (usually as it applies ink). There is also the option to do blind debossing which is where the image is pressed into the paper without ink. We also offer embossing, which is a different process resulting in the art coming up out of the paper (without ink). Embossing costs more than debossing.
Do you offer digital printing?
I work with a high-quality local digital print shop to print the digitally printed portion of your design. They can print on 110lb Lettra paper (100% cotton). For an added fee, you can have double thick (220lb) paper.
Do you offer guest addressing of envelopes? Yes! They are digitally printed. I can send you info on how to set up the spreadsheet that you’ll need to send.
Do you offer corner rounding, embossing, perforation, and die-cutting? Yes, I do! I have some pre-made cutting dies, but custom dies can be made. The cost of custom dies varies a lot, depending on the shape and complexity. Please write me for a quote.
What’s the largest size you can print? The largest size image my press can accommodate is 8” x 12”. The paper can be a little bigger. The larger the image though, the less of an impression you'll get.
Does 2-sided printing work with letterpress?
1 sided printing is ideal for letterpress, but if you need 2 sided printing, thicker paper (160#, 185#, or 220#) is recommended. Keep in mind that the impression is more shallow with 2 sided printing to prevent the impression showing through on the other side. Plus, the first side that's printed first gets the impression knocked out of it a bit when the second side is printed wherever the front and back designs overlap. You can pick which side has the deeper impression. Ideally, neither side would have a fill in the artwork since fills require more pressure to get good ink coverage.
Why chose letterpress over digital printing? By going with letterpress printing for your wedding stationery, every invitation is like a little work of art, a tactile piece that gives weight, meaning, and importance to your big day. The effect of letterpress, which is printed on thick, luxurious paper is elegant and classic. It’s not for every budget though, so digital printing is ideal if you need to keep the cost down or if paper goods are not something you want to prioritize.
Emboss vs. deboss
Here are the relative sizes of the different paper options. Other sizes are possible - these are just the most popular.
A1 = 3.5x4.9 | A2 = 4.25x5.5 | A6 = 4.5x6 | A7 = 5x7
If I want to be extra formal when writing out an address, what are the rules for that?
North, South, East, and West should be written out if part of the street name (1234 West Street Name) unless it's a directional al the end of the address like in DC (1234 Sample Street SE).
Street, Road, Avenue, Boulevard, and Lane should be written out, not abbreviated.
For additional address information, such as Apartment number, spell out the word, Apartment vs. Apt., or Suite vs. Ste. The apartment/unit info can directly follow the street address on the same line or you can put it on its own line.
States are spelled out in full (for example: Georgia, not GA). The one state exception is Washington, DC which can be written as DC as opposed to District of Columbia
Do you actually do this as a full-time job? Yes, this is my real, full time job. Lucky me, right??
