Getting hitched? Well, let me be part of YOUR Future with a custom designed wedding collection. I will work with you to create your perfect stationery -- from invitations to programs and thank you notes. Hopefully I have answered all of your questions below, but let me know if I haven't.
How "I Do" Weddings
Tips for Custom Weddings
Custom Collection Policies
General Policies
How "I Do" Weddings
Well, custom does not mean I drop your name into a pre-designed template.
Custom means we work together to create -- from scratch or from where you got stuck -- the look, feel, design, font selection and every other aspect of an entire wedding collection that is YOUR wedding collection. We use the colors and theme you want for your wedding and we find ways to put it in printed design. Then I prepare 2-4 concepts for you to see. Concepts no one else has had for their wedding. Concepts that are about YOUR special day.
Custom also means I will make every effort to find materials and resources that will complete your look and feel.
Accordingly, custom means your project will be priced based on your specific requests and needs. All pricing is created just for your project with your budget and needs in mind.
You are welcome to look through my collections of stationery and pre-designed collections as well as any concepts I post from other brides or just for fun. But what I create for your wedding collection will be a representation of your vision and not copied from anywhere else.
Custom means we work together to create -- from scratch or from where you got stuck -- the look, feel, design, font selection and every other aspect of an entire wedding collection that is YOUR wedding collection. We use the colors and theme you want for your wedding and we find ways to put it in printed design. Then I prepare 2-4 concepts for you to see. Concepts no one else has had for their wedding. Concepts that are about YOUR special day.
Custom also means I will make every effort to find materials and resources that will complete your look and feel.
Accordingly, custom means your project will be priced based on your specific requests and needs. All pricing is created just for your project with your budget and needs in mind.
You are welcome to look through my collections of stationery and pre-designed collections as well as any concepts I post from other brides or just for fun. But what I create for your wedding collection will be a representation of your vision and not copied from anywhere else.
To ensure the best creative process and the least amount of stress for you, I recommend we start working on your custom collection at least six months before your wedding. More than six months and we can have some real fun!
Yes and no. Depending on your needed timeline and my current calendar, I may be able to squeeze in a rush order or I may need to say no (they're always telling busy women to say no, after all). But it doesn't hurt to ask! Rush fees would be included in the agreement amount.
If you want to see something in person that I've designed in the past, I'd be happy to send you something.
Send me an email at whatsmyfuturestationery@gmail.com and I'll send you a short creative brief so I know where you are in your planning, what you like and your contact preference. Once I review that, I will schedule a time for us to chat. Please add my email address to your email contacts and/or check your junk mail folder just in case!
Then we meet online or over the phone (or if you are in my area, we could meet at a local coffee shop) and spend 30 minutes to an hour (or a series of emails) discussing the your vision. We discuss where you are in your overall vision and planning, discuss what you want to convey in your wedding collection and then we discuss logistics of budgets, elements, quantities and timelines.
Then we meet online or over the phone (or if you are in my area, we could meet at a local coffee shop) and spend 30 minutes to an hour (or a series of emails) discussing the your vision. We discuss where you are in your overall vision and planning, discuss what you want to convey in your wedding collection and then we discuss logistics of budgets, elements, quantities and timelines.
Thanks for choosing me! To move forward with the process, I will quote you a design fee based on the consultation and create a "Custom Reservation" for you in my Etsy shop. The design fee covers my design time and all materials I will gather for your concept presentation. The cost will be anywhere from $50 to $150, depending on what we discuss in the consultation.
At this time, ANY and all information you can provide me about your wedding day will ensure the best design process possible. Having a barbershop quartet or high tea? Is the location on a farm or at a hotel with a tropical decor? Let me know even the details you think I won't need to know. They really will help me.
And this is definitely the time to commit to a budget so I know what limits we have in materials and design elements.
At this time, ANY and all information you can provide me about your wedding day will ensure the best design process possible. Having a barbershop quartet or high tea? Is the location on a farm or at a hotel with a tropical decor? Let me know even the details you think I won't need to know. They really will help me.
And this is definitely the time to commit to a budget so I know what limits we have in materials and design elements.
Now the fun begins! I will draw, paint, play in Photoshop, walk through parks and craft stores, peruse Pinterest and art resources to find visual inspiration to match your vision and develop 2-4 concepts to present to you. If we discussed a variety of papers, embellishments, alternate printing techniques, etc., in the consultation, I will also spend this time researching and sourcing the materials and/or resources.
At this time, I will only focus on creating concepts for the invitation set (invitation, envelope, reply card, reply envelope) while keeping other elements in mind. Once a design is chosen, all other elements will be created. I will also create ideas for messaging at this time.
During the design process, I will likely contact you frequently via email with questions.
At this time, I will only focus on creating concepts for the invitation set (invitation, envelope, reply card, reply envelope) while keeping other elements in mind. Once a design is chosen, all other elements will be created. I will also create ideas for messaging at this time.
During the design process, I will likely contact you frequently via email with questions.
Once the concepts are finished, I will ship mock-ups of the invitation sets for you to see and feel. I will also include any materials that would pair well with other elements in your collection, i.e. gift tags, menus, coat check bags.
We will schedule time to discuss the concepts and you will choose your favorite design of the presentation. At this time, you can request changes, tweaks and clarifications. It's best to have a list of questions and comments ready to keep us focused. Once I start making changes, you will receive two hours of design time for changes. Any additional time needed for changes will be billed at $10 per hour.
We will schedule time to discuss the concepts and you will choose your favorite design of the presentation. At this time, you can request changes, tweaks and clarifications. It's best to have a list of questions and comments ready to keep us focused. Once I start making changes, you will receive two hours of design time for changes. Any additional time needed for changes will be billed at $10 per hour.
Once you give FINAL approval on the invitation set design, I will create designs for the remaining elements of your collection and send you one more round of mock-ups -- this time of the entire collection. This process will take about two or three weeks.
We will schedule time to discuss the final presentation. And, like the first presentation, at this time, you can request changes, tweaks and clarifications. It's best to have a list of questions and comments ready to keep us focused. Once I start making changes, you will receive thre hours of design time for changes. Any additional time needed for changes will be billed at $10 per hour.
We will schedule time to discuss the final presentation. And, like the first presentation, at this time, you can request changes, tweaks and clarifications. It's best to have a list of questions and comments ready to keep us focused. Once I start making changes, you will receive thre hours of design time for changes. Any additional time needed for changes will be billed at $10 per hour.
Once I have your approval on the overall collection design and materials, I will generate an agreement with dates, pricing, materials and quantities. We can always add addendums to the agreement later if you decide to add new elements to the mix: i.e. coat check tags, wine/cocktail menus. We will spend time getting the agreement just right, from dates and materials to quantities and items needed.
As soon as the agreement is approved, I will create a "Custom Package Phase One" in my Etsy shop and you will pay the agreed first payment (generally about 75% of the agreement amount). This covers my time as well as ALL of your collection's materials. At this time, you will send me all the pertinent details and messaging for the invitation set (if you haven't already) as well as the first phase elements. Custom collection pricing will vary drastically depending on the design, materials and resources needed, as well as quantities, number of elements, etc.
An invitation set may start at $6 and go up to $14 depending on the elements and complexities. A program may be as little as $2 or go up to $6. It all depends on what you want. Pricing of the pre-designed products in the online catalog would be a base to start from for reference.
Now I begin the layout of your phase one elements. Phase one items are typically items that are needed prior to the event or at the event but straight-forward, such as the invitation set, reply cards, thank you cards, table numbers, etc. From this point forward, the agreement is our guide. You can expect the layout of EACH element to take up to 7 days unless the agreement states otherwise.
An invitation set may start at $6 and go up to $14 depending on the elements and complexities. A program may be as little as $2 or go up to $6. It all depends on what you want. Pricing of the pre-designed products in the online catalog would be a base to start from for reference.
Now I begin the layout of your phase one elements. Phase one items are typically items that are needed prior to the event or at the event but straight-forward, such as the invitation set, reply cards, thank you cards, table numbers, etc. From this point forward, the agreement is our guide. You can expect the layout of EACH element to take up to 7 days unless the agreement states otherwise.
Our agreement will reflect our timeline, but you can provide input at any time before a due date.
As phase one layouts are completed, the approval cycles begin. I will email you files for review. You will have the option to approve or request changes. Approval time is dependent on your schedule but we should stay as close to the agreement schedule as possible to meet your dates.
You receive 3 digital proofs per element. Any additional approval rounds will be billed at $10/hour.
After final approval for each piece in phase one, then printing, cutting, folding, embellishing, etc, begins. Once this stage begins, there will be no refunds. (More details on cancellations/refunds below.) This can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks per element depending on quantities and complexities. For example, table cards take less time than place cards; place cards take less time than programs and menus.
You receive 3 digital proofs per element. Any additional approval rounds will be billed at $10/hour.
After final approval for each piece in phase one, then printing, cutting, folding, embellishing, etc, begins. Once this stage begins, there will be no refunds. (More details on cancellations/refunds below.) This can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks per element depending on quantities and complexities. For example, table cards take less time than place cards; place cards take less time than programs and menus.
Addressing the invitations and reply envelopes will take far more of your time than you realize. If you are having someone do them for you, they will need plenty of time, as well. As soon as I have final approval on your invitation set, I will ship the envelopes so that you may get started. If you have any mess-ups, let me know and I will include extra envelopes with the invitations shipment. You can have up to 10% of your quantity at no extra charge.
As elements are finished, I will ship based on the agreement schedule. Obviously, time-sensitive elements like the invitation set will be a first shipping priority and will likely be their own shipment. However, if we are working far enough in advance, I may be able to add more elements for shipping efficiencies.
Based on the agreement schedule, usually as phase one is winding down or has shipped, it's time for phase two. Phase two items are at-event items that needed to wait on details -- such as programs, place cards, menus, etc. We will then follow the same steps as phase one as far as layout, approval, printing, cutting, shipping.
As soon as the final elements are printed and assembled, I will have you order the "Custom Package Phase Two" in my Etsy Shop. Once you pay the remaining agreement amount, plus any additional charges for added elements, extra changes, rush shipping, etc., then I will ship phase two elements.
Once the final payment is received, the final shipment is made and you are that much closer to saying "I do"!
As soon as the final elements are printed and assembled, I will have you order the "Custom Package Phase Two" in my Etsy Shop. Once you pay the remaining agreement amount, plus any additional charges for added elements, extra changes, rush shipping, etc., then I will ship phase two elements.
Once the final payment is received, the final shipment is made and you are that much closer to saying "I do"!
What's My Future provides the services of a proofreader to reasonably catch typos or grammatical errors of a general wording nature. However, our proofreader will not be held responsible for dates, addresses, spellings of names, places, etc., if they match your initial input. We will expect you to thoroughly proof the dates, addresses, spellings of names, places, etc or words our proofreader would not generally know. Please double and triple check even the name of the groom!
Any mistakes missed by the client and identified after final approval will only be corrected and reprinted at the expense of the client. Any general typographical errors made by What's My Future will be corrected immediately at no cost to you.
Any mistakes missed by the client and identified after final approval will only be corrected and reprinted at the expense of the client. Any general typographical errors made by What's My Future will be corrected immediately at no cost to you.
Because I am a small, home-based business, quantities don't affect my pricing either way. So, aside from free standard shipping, I do not provide quantity discounts and you can order exactly the quantity you need.
Absolutely! Once we start the process, I will want you to contact me with any questions or concerns. I don't post a phone number online, in order to prevent crazy amounts of soliciting calls, so I will share it privately.
As much as I want and can do for you, there are just going to be things I can't -- like cakes and cookies or runners and drapes. But I can definitely work these needs onto our agreement and provide you files for you to give to vendors who CAN make those items.
Depending on the nature of the materials and processes used, there may be variations in ink, cuts, placements, etc. However, great care will be taken to make each and every piece special and beautiful. That's the beauty of custom and handmade!
Tips for Custom Weddings
The post office charges by shape and size. A square envelope costs more to ship than a rectangular envelope and a heavier envelope costs more than a lighter one. As we discuss your collection, you will want to keep postage in mind.
This is one of those things that can drive a bride batty! But the answer is: say what you want to say. There is formal and casual, fun and serious. Your best messaging is messaging that represents who you two are. But you should keep in mind, especially if you are a young couple, that you will look back at your invitation and program years from now and it would be nice not to cringe at what you said on them.
So here are some great resources to help us find the messaging that says you -- you today, and you in 40 years.
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-invitations/articles/standard-wedding-invitation-wording-examples.aspx
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/invitation-wording#slide_1
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-programs/articles/diy-wedding-program-basics.aspx
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/wedding-program?page=3
So here are some great resources to help us find the messaging that says you -- you today, and you in 40 years.
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-invitations/articles/standard-wedding-invitation-wording-examples.aspx
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/invitation-wording#slide_1
http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-programs/articles/diy-wedding-program-basics.aspx
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/wedding-program?page=3
Custom Collection Policies
I would hope you'd never need to cancel, but if you do, there is a $100 cancellation fee for entire orders cancelled prior to the first layout approval date. Refunds will only be issued for unused, returnable materials. Refunds will not be issued for the custom design portion. Individual elements can be cancelled prior to the printing stage of that element and materials costs will be refunded if the materials can be returned or the materials can be absorbed by the creation of new elements.
Depending on how close we are to your "I do", we can definitely add new elements. Any new element added after the initial agreement will be priced and added in an addendum to the agreement. A $20 hourly rate for design and layout will be included in the pricing. If a new item can absorb the materials from a cancelled item, then there will not be additional materials costs. If new materials are needed, their cost will be included in the addendum and paid in phase two.
All standard, flat-rate USPS shipping is free and reflected in our agreement's timeline. Any requests for overnight, or faster than the agreed shipping, will incur fees. If I miss a date, at no fault of yours, I will pay any required rush shipping fees. If a rush shipping fee is incurred at no fault of mine, the cost will be charged to you and will be added to the final payment due in Payment Phase 2.
General Policies
The information received by What's My Future will be kept confidential. Your information will NEVER be given or sold to a third party (because I hate that). Etsy and PayPal have their own policies and security in place and I adhere to each of their policies. Any announcements or invitations I show as representations of my work are changed to random names, dates and places.
By viewing these images, you agree that you will not copy, print, download or otherwise reproduce any part of these products just to avoid buying something.
Texas residents will be charged 8.25% sales tax on the products as well as any shipping costs, per Texas tax laws. What's My Future acts as a tax collector and the tax rate is based on the taxes in the jurisdiction where What's My Future is located. Sales taxes are sent to the Texas State Comptroller by What's My Future. Per federal tax and trade laws, What's My Future is not responsible for collecting sales taxes if a buyer lives outside of Texas.
All designs are printed as seen but due to changes in paper, ink, hand-cutting and varying monitors, final products may vary slightly from what is presented online. That is the risk and coolness of buying something made to order by hand. By purchasing from What's My Future, you agree that neither What's My Future nor its owner shall be liable for any direct, consequential or incidental damages arising out of any aspect of your order, including but not limited to product variations and/or delivery. I only guarantee, through refund of item and shipping costs, that you will receive the correct item you paid for. If your package gets lost or damaged in the mail, please contact me right away for resolution via the contact page.
The What's My Future logo and website are on most general catalog products -- the backside of note cards, announcements, and calendar reminder sheets. The only wedding elements with the logo are the thank you note cards.
The What's My Future logo and website are on most general catalog products -- the backside of note cards, announcements, and calendar reminder sheets. The only wedding elements with the logo are the thank you note cards.
All paper for the general catalog is from 100% green energy mills and is either 100% Post Consumer or 80% Post Consumer and 20% certified well-managed forest, acid-free and archival. Custom Collections will vary depending on the client's needs but great care will be taken in finding the most environmentally-friendly options. Most general catalog items are packaged in craft paper boxes and plastic lids and you are encouraged to reuse the boxes (tips for clever re-use are included). All designs are created with paper and ink efficiencies in mind. Shipments are packed with shredded paper or recycled packaging filler I received from vendors and the most Earth-friendly shipping supplies are used.
All personalized general catalog items without dates or other details are printed, cut, assembled and packaged within 4 week days from receipt of order. Orders made between Thanksgiving and Christmas will be produced withing 7 week days of order. Personalized items with dates and other details are prepared and sent via email within 4 week days for your final approval. The items will be printed, cut, assembled and packaged within 7 week days after your final approval. Orders cancelled or changed after the initial order is placed will be refunded only if printing has not started. If you must change your order, contact What's My Future (via Etsy convo or email) for possible solutions..
Free shipping is via standard USPS and the most cost-efficient form of shipping is always used. Shipping times depend on the most efficient option and distance from What's My Future so please allow up to 7 days for delivery within the US -- longer for international.
What's My Future reserves the right to update, change or add any policy without notification. As a growing small business, all policies will be centered on necessity not frivolity and customer impact will always be considered.
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