Custom Design
The Lilywillow Custom Design Process, where your wedding stationery is exclusively designed to reflect your celebration style and vision, provides each bride and groom with a one-of-a-kind invitation suite, unique to you and your event. Think of it as like having your very own graphic designer with you every step of the way!
1. Learning About You
2. Design & Approval
3. Pre-Press & Printing
4. Assembly & Shipping
Step One: Learning About You
We ask all custom design clients to complete our Wedding Vision Survey, either online or to print, and mail or fax back. This survey allows us to learn about you, your style, your vision, the stationery pieces you’d like designed, and any other details you think are important and should be considered by our designers when we being your wedding invitation suite design.
Within 24 hours of completing your Vision Survey a Lilywillow representative will schedule a Complimentary Consultation. The initial conversation typically lasts 45 minutes and occurs over the phone. We will review your survey responses with you but what we really hope to do is hear in your own words all about your special day - The more information we have to work with, the more individual and unique your designs become!
During the consultation we outline your preferences, the pieces you want, the quantities you need, colors, typestyles, paper and envelope, embellishments, printing methods, etc. Within 5 days of the phone conversation you will receive a Project Brief via email. The brief contains a project overview, a design schedule, a cost estimate, our standard design contract, payment information form, and deposit invoice.
Once you have APPROVED your Project Brief, a $350 deposit is required to proceed. The balance of the project will be due when the project goes to the printer. Once we’ve received a signed contract, payment information form, and design deposit your custom design project will be authorized to begin.
Step Two: Design & Approval
We will need to finalize your Design Element Choices (colors, typestyles, etc.) and Invitation Suite Wording before design begins. Lilywillow will provide an outline of what copy is needed for your stationery suite pieces and you can simply email your text to us for placement – info@lilywillow.com.
First Draft: Within 10-14 days your designer will email you 3-4 custom design options in Adobe PDF format for review and concept selection. Once a concept has been chosen you will have the opportunity to provide feedback and thoughts, edits and changes before a second draft is prepared and submitted for approval. All comments should be returned via email, fax, or post.
* You can ABSOLUTELY combine elements from the concepts going into the 2nd Draft…if you love an element of one design (color, type, size) but actually prefer another design concept, Lilywillow can easily combine these for you.
Second Draft: A second draft, with your comments and edits incorporated, will be sent for edits or approval. This is the time to Review and Verify each and every detail for accuracy – layout, wording, names and dates, spelling & punctuation, typestyles, colors, etc. Please take the time to proofread carefully and clearly mark all changes.
* Any changes/edits after a 3rd proof will be billed to the final invoice at $25 per draft set.
Approval: Once your edits have been included and everything is confirmed, a Final Draft pdf will be sent with an Approval Contract for official “Sign Off.” The Approval Contract must be returned to Lilywillow and indicates approval of all stationery suite pieces, design layout, wording, and colors and provides us with clearance to proceed with printing.
*Please Proofread VERY Carefully! Lilywillow cannot be held responsible for mistakes or errors after the files have been sent to press.
Step Three: Pre-Press & Printing
After Lilywillow receives your Approval Contract, we will coordinate your press date with the printer and prepare your files for press. A Balance Invoice will be submitted to you and Payment Must Be Received before your project will be released for printing.
Printing time (business days) is 10-14 days for digital printing, 14-21 days for offset printing, and up to 30+ days for letterpress printing. RUSH printing may be available depending on the time of year with a rush fee.
Step Four: Assembly & Shipping
Unless previously determined, Lilywillow’s standard contract does not include assembly, calligraphy, or mail services and your custom invitation suite pieces will be shipped directly to you.
Assembly involves the preparation of your stationery suite for mailing, where all the pieces are formally “assembled” or placed within your outer envelope, sealed, and prepared for post. We can also have your invitation “metered” at the post office and apply your postage. These special services are available at $30 an hour plus the total cost of your postage with the understanding 3-5 days will be required before mailing or shipping to you is possible depending on the number of invitation suites prepared.
Lilywillow offers two types of calligraphy – Computer Calligraphy and Handwritten Calligraphy and we work with reputable calligraphers to provide this additional service. We will need a COMPLETE invitation mailing list and an additional week to 10 days to complete
The supplementary charges associated with assembly, calligraphy, mailing preparation and postage will be included on your final Balance Invoice.
We ship our stationery via Insured Fedex – 3 Day. Rush shipping (2 Day and Overnight) is available at an additional charge. Your shipping rate will be calculated and included on your final Balance Invoice.