The Perfect Invitation (on Merchantcircle.com)
By Owner of Kiku Kami, Tisha Woytenko. Posted on Merchantcircle.comThe perfect invitation matches your theme, uses correct etiquette, and is pleasing to the eye. This is where a professional stationer or graphic designer steps in. You may have the confidence and experience to do it yourself but it is always less stressful when you have one less thing to deal with.
Be careful not to wait until the last minute to do invitations. You will increase your cost if a rush order is necessary and may have costly mistakes. It is safe to order invitations 2-3 weeks before your send out date which should be 4-8 weeks before your event. In case of weddings, you want as much lead time as possible and may want to have your details set at least 2-3 months ahead of the date. Time flies quickly for such important events.
Always make sure to have the necessary information before shopping for invitations: Honored person(s) preferred written names, date, place, time, wording, rsvp date, invitation and rsvp address, and information for rsvp. The quantity of information matters in selecting the size of your invite and type of invitation. Remember, good stock means a good party. You should choose the paper quality according to the kind of event you are having and they way you want your guests to dress. The most formal style is a thicker handmade paper with engraved text and designs (no photos.) The least formal may have pictures and is on a glossy style paper. Your stationer should be able to advise you properly on paper selection etiquette.
If you are submitting photos, choose ones that are clear, sharp, even contrasted and complimentary background. Professional photos are best but require the permission of the photographer. If you are able to submit digital pictures, that is the easiest for the graphic designer to deal with. The same rules (clear, sharp, etc.) apply to digital as to printed pictures.
Accessories are thank you notes, inserts, menus, programs, favor cards, place cards, table tents, favors, guest books, etc. The most important of these accessories are thank yous. We overlook the quality of the thank you and tend to think a cheap store bought thank you is sufficient. The idea is that your guests feel thanked before they even open your card. A beautiful thank you (custom or not) is warming to the heart and will promote a great guest turnout at the next event. The perfect thank you is handwritten, addresses the person(s) by name, and is three to four sentences long. You may cheat and have others handwrite them for you, however, make sure you included a sentence about their gift and thoughful attendence to your event.
For more information on "The Perfect Invitation" visit Kiku Kami.
Tip from the Expert (in Hawaii Bride and Groom)
Check it out at Hawaiibride.com
EXPRESSIVE INVITATIONS
The quality and style of your invitation is the first impression of your event, in other words, good (paper) stock means a good party. Consider choosing an artistic invitation and accessories that are custom designed to fit your theme. You may be surprised to find it doesn't cost much more than manufactured products and may save you time to work with someone who can create them just for you. Another worthy, but underestimated, investment are etiquette books. These help you in every aspect of your event from verses to your roles during the event. It will prevent any embarassment and truly make your event memorable.
Tisha Woytenko, Kiku Kami
A little about the artist and the company...(on Bridesclub.com)
Check out Bridesclub.com if you need planning help and suggestions.
Aloha! Many people ask what Kiku Kami means. Kiku is my middle name meaning chrysanthamum and Kami means paper. Both are Japanese, which I am one quarter, however much of my design is Hawaii inspired.
All the images belong to Kiku Kami and have been produced/created by me. Therefore, if you need custom invitations that include a particular flower or design, don't hesitate to ask. For a nominal one time fee, I can create the very design that will match your theme from invite to table tents.
One of the unique paper stocks I use is handmade in Italy. This means there is a thicker, finer quality to the stock not found in plain linen or white cardstock. This will enhance your invitations without being too stuffy and over-formal. See for yourself and order a sample today!
Look forward to working with you to make your event awesome.
Aloha a hui hou!
First time ordering from a professional?
You may be nervous about what to expect and even clueless about what kind of content, pictures, design to use. RELAX! You are in the hands of a capable professional with 5+ years in the industry. I know my reassurance isn't enough, so here are some ways that you can lessen the nervousness and really start planning your exciting event.
1-Have all your information when you order or meet for your first consultation. You may email me or request an informational questionaire from me.
2- Please have your details set- when, where, how, etc. You don't want to have to delay or reprint your invites because the banquet facility didn't reserve your date. It has happened before!
3- When you receive your first email sample, reply back as soon as you are able. This way, your hard copy sample will be sent right away. This increases your production time, however, is well worth it. If you choose to forego the sample, you have to accept the way it is printed and may not have time or budget to reprint.
4- Your hard copy is an actual print of the final order. Pay attention to the spelling, placement and colors of the copy. If any of it needs to be changed, send an email or call as soon as possible. State all your changes in one or two emails. Please don't call or email repeatedly. That will only confuse your situation more and cause unnecessary delays.
5- After your final email sample with all the corrections/changes, you will have to confirm that it is okay to send to print either via phone or email. It will be the next in line to print, depending on the quantity of jobs for the week.
6- If you have a deadline, let me know! I will work within your deadline. However, if you give me 3 weeks before your event, then unexpected delays (like time for shipping) may be a problem. You may rush the job ($45 fee for 24 hours or less in Hawaii or 3 days or less for anywhere else) plus have it shipped via express mail to shorten the production time.
For now, I hope you are more comfortable in what to expect and what your roles are. If you have any questions, let me know by emailing me at info@invitationsbykiku.com
Timing is Important!
Yes, timing is important. Every professional loves to work with a safe cushion of time in each project. That is not always the case, but it is for the good of the client and the event to have this courtesy.
I have worked on many rush jobs, such as the example above. In some cases it is not possible to have a design ready in 24 hours if you are outside of Hawaii. Those are tragic misfortunes of not planning securely enough.
For weddings: The best scenario is a year to three months in advance of your send out date. Some of you brides and grooms are extremely prepared and have even researched several years in advance for this potentially expensive wedding event. I love these clients, but they are few in between. Most clients are three months or less in advanced, leaving almost no time for sending invitations to a second guest list.
For other events: Three months to four weeks in advance of the send out date. These events are birthdays, anniversary parties, baptisms, barmitzvahs, batmitvahs, yakudoshi, kanreki, first birthdays, etc. These occasions are usually informal and can be sent in less notice. However, if you give yourself more time, you can also send out a set of invitations to a second guest list in case there are those that can't come.
There may be potential problems in the production of your invitations. I don't like to admit it, but I'm not perfect and neither are you! Humans need time to correct our mistakes and allowing that cushion makes everything flow smoother. Even for things you think are minor, you will be happy to have time to correct your project. You don't need more stress!
And of course, if you are short on time, let me know! We should always set up a deadline for your project to be done and received. If you have any questions or comments, email me at info@invitationsbykiku.com
