Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Winter Wedding Promotions


William Arthur Engraved Invitation, Photo courtesy of William Arthur

Every time I turn around these days I seem to be getting an email or fax with yet another incredible promotion from one of our great wedding invitation lines so I wanted to make sure that I shared them all with you so that you (or someone you know!) could take advantage of these ridiculous savings and cross yet another item off your never-ending wedding to list!

William Arthur Weddings Volume I & II, Vera Wang On Weddings & Rita Renning Weddings: Order 75, get 25 free through March 28th


Vera Wang Zinnia Invitation, Photo courtesy of William Arthur

Crane’s Classic Weddings, Crane’s Bliss, Crane’s Letterpress, Kate Spade Weddings & Martha Stewart Weddings: Order 50 & get free return address printing (or free engraving or letterpress dies) through April 12th


Martha Stewart Peony Wedding Suite, Photo courtesy of Crane's

Prentiss Douthit: Free return address printing on all orders through March 31st

Smock Letterpress: Free Save the Dates with a Wedding Invitation order OR Free return address printing on outer invitation envelopes through December 31st


Smock Rhon Letterpressed Invitation, Photo courtesy of Smock Paper

Checkerboard A Marry Occasion & Blue Moon: Order 25, get 25 free through March 28th



Checkerboard Thermographed Invitation with Ribbon, Photo courtesy of Checkerboard

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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Designer Spotlight - Smock Paper








If you are a lover of all things letterpress, like we are, then you are going to go ga-ga over our Designer Spotlight this week: Smock Paper. Based in Syracuse, New York, this new letterpress line combines all of our favorite things – sustainability and gorgeous, fresh design - into one truly beautiful invitation line. Smock believes so strongly in being sustainable that they’ve gone the extra mile to not only include using renewable materials (bamboo paper & soy-based inks) and recycling at their offices but by also doing things like providing bus passes for their employees and donating a percentage of their profits to environmental organizations. Their luxury bamboo paper is so soft & supple that you’ll want to stop in just to feel the beautiful samples for yourself! From floral & graphic designs, patterned pocketfolds, printed envelope liners, printed back patterns and hand-calligraphy, all of which are completely customizable, Smock has something for everyone! And as if we couldn’t love this line enough already, Smock is currently offering two incredible offers for 2010 – free return address printing on outer invitation envelopes OR free Save the Dates with a wedding invitation order (WOW!!!) I think we’ve died and gone to letterpress heaven! So, contact us soon to set up your bridal appointment so we can show you the full Smock invitation line in person. We promise you’ll be as head over heels as we are!







All images courtesy of Smock Paper.

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Wedding Invitation FAQs : Part 1



While talking with brides recently at the Maine Wedding Association Bridal Show we were asked several common questions – questions we are very used to answering but have to remind ourselves that as a bride, you’ve never had to think about before! Such as "How much do wedding invitations cost?" (by far the most popular) or "When should I order my invitations?" So I thought it would be good to share some of our Frequently Asked Questions (included in our Bridal Packets – if you’d like a copy, just give us a call, 207.871.9722 or email us at design@papiergourmet.com & we’ll pop one in the mail to you!) I hope you find these helpful as you begin the wedding invitation process.

Stay tuned next week for Wedding Invitation FAQs: Part 2!

Q: How much do wedding invitations cost?
A: Although this is certainly the most common question, it is truly the most difficult to answer. The cost of wedding invitations is dependent upon many factors - paper type, quantity, printing type, the inclusion of enclosure cards, embellishments, etc. On average, an invitation (with a printed return address on the outer envelope) and reply card/envelope set costs between $4 and $8 per invitation/reply card set. A price quote by one of our knowledgeable sales associates is the only true way to get an idea of pricing for invitations for your wedding.

Q: How soon before my wedding should I order invitations?
A: Wedding invitations should be ordered 4-6 months before your wedding – allowing 3-4 weeks for the ordering, proofing and printing as well as time to assemble, address and stamp your invitations. Additional time (4-6 weeks) should be allotted if ordering engraved or letterpressed invitations (more labor-intensive printing methods) or plan on having a calligrapher address your envelopes.

Q: How much does it cost for a bridal invitation consultation?
A: Nothing! Coming in to look at wedding invitations and gather price quotes does not cost anything. We do recommend, however, that you call ahead to make an appointment so that you will have a sales associate’s undivided attention, especially if you’d like to come in on a Saturday. Bridal appointments are available Tues – Fri starting at 10:30a through 3p and on Saturdays at 10a, 12p & 2p. You have no obligation of payment until an invitation order is placed at which time a 50% deposit is required with the balance due upon receipt.

Q: What are the advantages of buying my invitations from a stationer such as Papier Gourmet rather than an online retailer?
A: Although online retailers are plentiful in our modern age of technology, nothing replaces the tactile experience of feeling the paper stock and the quality of printing in person. Also, as colors are often different in person than when viewed on a computer screen, it is always best to see exactly what you are ordering. As you wouldn’t purchase a wedding gown without feeling the fabric and trying it on or a wedding cake without tasting a sample first, it’s advisable to know what you are getting when ordering wedding invitations. Other intangibles such as guidance on proper etiquette and wording as well as design and creativity are provided when ordering your wedding invitations with an experienced stationer.

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Friday, January 15, 2010

Featured Wedding: Hilary & Glenn


Had to share this wonderful "Real Wedding" post featured on theknot.com of one of our favorite 2009 wedding couples. Hilary, who owns the wonderful Old Port shop Blanche & Mimi just around the corner (sidenote: if you have not been there before, you have GOT to go - so many cool things including antiques, bath/body, baby & my personal fave, Orla Kiely handbags!) & Glenn were married this summer in Dublin, NH and my good friend (and former employee) Kari Herer captured it all with her beautiful photography. Hilary selected a gorgeous invitation from one of my favorite letterpress lines, Studio Olivine, based in Portland, OR. The handmade, 100% recycled, textured paper went well with the rustic setting (the bride's sister's backyard) yet still imparted a sense of elegance, while the bright blue & orange color scheme set the tone for a light-hearted, initimate event, as you can see from Kari's incredible photos! To view more photos of this beautiful event, visit Kari's blog. Congrats again, Hilary & Glenn! It was a pleasure working with you!

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