Helpful Tips and FAQs | United States | An Affair To Remember By Marci

Yes, we do offer consultations!

METHOD

In Person, Email, Voice Phone or Virtual consultation is complimentary.

HELP US TO HELP YOU

Emailing details at least 5 days before appointment will help to maximize your consultation time with our preliminary preparation.

INSPIRATION

Show your inspiration photos, Pinterest Board, Dress, Flowers, Colors, Location, Time of Day, etc...

BUDGET

By providing us with your budget and expectations for components and services before appointment, along with your Inspiration may help us hone in on invitations to show you at the consultation.

To make the most of your appointment, a little preparation goes a long way! We recommend starting by organizing your guest list — including each guest’s full name, address, and zip code. Take some time to double-check spellings and confirm details in advance; this will make ordering your save-the-dates and invitations much smoother.

Next, determine your estimated mailing date and RSVP deadline. It’s a good idea to check with your caterer about when your final headcount is due, then build in a little buffer time for guests who may not reply right away (it happens more often than we’d like!).

Finally, plan to order your day-of stationery—such as seating cards, ceremony programs, menus, and cocktail napkins—at least four weeks before your event date. Having these details finalized early helps ensure a seamless and stress-free experience leading up to your celebration.

It’s best to start exploring your Save-the-Date designs about 8–10 months before your wedding (or even earlier for destination weddings). This gives you time to collaborate on design ideas, confirm your guest list, and gather mailing details before placing your order.

We recommend ordering your Save-the-Dates approximately two months before you plan to mail them. This allows ample time for design, proofing, production, and shipping. During busier seasons—especially around the holidays—consider allowing an extra month to account for seasonal closures and higher workloads.

For local weddings, mail Save-the-Dates 6–8 months prior to the big day. For destination weddings, aim for 8–12 months prior, including your wedding website link to help guests plan their travel arrangements.

Planning is essential to achieving the best results. It’s always better to be early than to be late.

I recommend finalizing your complete guest address list about seven months before your wedding, so you can place your invitation order no later than six months prior. This gives you plenty of time for the creative process and ensures your invitations arrive beautifully and on schedule.

Here’s what a typical bespoke invitation timeline looks like:

Design & Concept Development (4–6 weeks): Creative consultation, mood boards, sketches, and first drafts.
Revisions & Proofing (2–4 weeks): Making adjustments, refining details, and approving the final design.
Specialty Printing & Production (6–8 weeks): Letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, and assembly — especially if embellishments like ribbons, wax seals, or custom envelopes are included.
Delivery & Cushion Time (2–4 weeks): Shipping, quality checks, and ensuring everything arrives well before mailing.

All of these steps combined are why I suggest a 6–12 month lead time for fully custom work. It ensures the process is stress-free and that your invitations reflect the level of detail that makes them truly special.

For simpler or semi-custom invitations, the timeline can certainly be shorter — it just depends on the scope and style you choose.

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When to Send Invitations

Invitations should be mailed to your guests 6–12 weeks before the wedding.

Use the following as a guide:

6–8 weeks in advance – if all guests are local
8–10 weeks in advance – if most guests are within the U.S. but traveling
10–12 weeks in advance – if guests are international or travel is required

If you're wedding or mailing date falls near the holiday season, it’s best to send invitations slightly earlier to allow for postal delays and guest travel planning.

Every couple’s love story is different, and so is their stationery. Bespoke invitation packages are designed from the ground up to reflect your unique style and celebration. Pricing can vary depending on details such as quantity, paper selections, printing methods, artwork, monograms, embellishments, and overall design complexity. From simple elegance to intricate luxury, your stationery can be as individual as your wedding vision.

Minimum investment: $2,800 for bespoke stationery packages Average investment: $5,500 for an An Affair To Remember By Marci couple’s dream stationery suite

For couples looking for a more streamlined option, our Personalized Stationery Collection offers beautiful pre-designed templates that can be customized online. Pricing is listed directly on those website links through my main website, providing an elegant and convenient choice for couples who prefer simplicity with style.

Yes! Based in Boynton Beach, Florida (Palm Beach County), I work with couples across the Continental USA to create classic, elegant designs. My goal is to craft invitations that leave a lasting first impression on your guests, with timeless details and meticulous craftsmanship that reflect each couple’s unique style. I love incorporating personal touches that bring your wedding vision to life, no matter where your celebration takes place.

When planning your invitation order, it’s helpful to consider:

1+ per household (unless grown children will receive their own invitation)
2–3 keepsake invitations for your personal collection
1–2 for your photographer and videographer

It’s also wise to order 10–20 extra invitations and enclosures in case your guest list grows or an invitation is lost in the mail. Additionally, ordering 20% extra envelopes is recommended, especially if you are self-addressing or hiring a calligrapher, to account for any addressing mishaps.

Ordering these extras with your original set is far more cost-effective than placing a new order later. Any additional invitations, enclosures, or envelopes requested after proof approval are treated as a new order, typically subject to minimums and additional fees, even if the same proof files are used. Planning ahead ensures a seamless process and protects you from unexpected costs.

Photos can add a unique and beautiful touch to your wedding stationery, helping to create a truly custom design. If you’re including photos, here are some tips to ensure the highest quality results:

Taking the Picture:

Use a digital camera with the highest resolution setting and turn off the date stamp.
Natural light is best; aim for peak daylight hours. If using a flash, stay within its effective range (no more than ~5 feet).
Solid color backgrounds work best — avoid sheer or shimmering fabrics. Black or white fabrics with natural lighting create elegant results.
Focus on capturing meaningful details, whether it’s a candid moment or specific features, like a baby’s tiny hands or feet.
Experiment with angles, distances, and delayed shots to capture the perfect expression or composition.

Scanning Photos:

Clean the scanner bed before use to avoid dust or debris.
Scan at 600 dpi in color for best resolution.
Send images in large file sizes (1–3 images per email to avoid compression).
Natural color is preferred; we can convert to black & white or sepia as needed.

File Requirements for Printing:

File type: Vendor requirements vary; your invitation consultant can guide you on acceptable formats for photos, logos, or other artwork. Common high-quality formats include AI, PDF, PNG, and JPG.
Resolution: Preferably 600 dpi or higher (300 dpi may be acceptable in some cases).
Color profile: sRGB is recommended.

Following these guidelines helps ensure your photos and artwork look crisp, vibrant, and beautifully integrated into your invitation suite.

The RSVP deadline is the date by which your guests are asked to confirm their attendance. Setting a clear deadline ensures you have enough time to finalize seating arrangements, provide accurate counts to your vendors, and order any favors, accessories, or small signage.

We recommend setting your RSVP deadline about 4–6 weeks before your wedding day. This gives you a comfortable buffer for guests who may respond late and allows time for gentle follow-ups if needed.

Including a specific date on your RSVP card and offering an easy way for guests to respond—by mail, email, or your wedding website—helps ensure timely replies.

Choosing the right fonts is a key part of creating invitations that feel polished and reflect your wedding’s style. Here are some guidelines:

1. Legibility is essential:

Script or decorative fonts can be beautiful, but make sure they are easy to read. Avoid overly intricate lettering for critical details like names, dates, and addresses.

2. Pair fonts thoughtfully:

A common approach is to pair a script or calligraphy font for names and headings with a serif or sans-serif font for body text. This creates contrast while keeping the design elegant and readable.

3. Consider your wedding style:

Classic & formal weddings: Elegant script and serif fonts work beautifully.
Modern & minimalist weddings: Clean sans-serif fonts with simple lines are ideal.
Whimsical or playful weddings: Feel free to add a fun or casual font for accents but keep the main details clear.

4. Limit the number of fonts:

Stick to two or three fonts maximum to maintain cohesion and sophistication. Too many fonts can feel chaotic and distract from your design.

5. Test before finalizing:

Print a small sample of your chosen fonts to see how they read in real life. Some fonts look great on screen but may be harder to read when printed.

We always recommend bringing one fully assembled invitation suite to your local U.S.P.S. branch for an official postage assessment. They can accurately determine the correct postage based on the size, weight, and thickness of your envelopes, ensuring everything arrives beautifully and without delay.

For international guests, postage should also be verified at the U.S.P.S. (Note: you do not need to include a stamp on reply envelopes being mailed overseas—your guests will obtain the proper postage in their own country.)

Because bespoke invitations often include layered cards, specialty printing, or embellishments, postage can vary. Taking the time to confirm it in advance helps ensure a smooth, worry-free mailing experience.

Yes — paying a little extra attention to your response cards will help keep things smooth and stress-free.

1. Assign a “secret number” to each guest. If a guest forgets to fill in their name on the RSVP card, you’ll still know who the reply belongs to. Simply assign a small number (penciled) to each guest in your list and mark the same number discreetly on the back of the corresponding card. This trick helps you match cards to guests quickly — no decoding tiny handwriting required. (As I mention in my blog post “Response Card Tip.”) mysite

2. Set a clear deadline. We recommend setting the response deadline 4-6 weeks before the wedding date. That gives you the time you need to finalize counts, create seating plans, and order favors, signage and other details. mysite

3. Make replying easy. Whether via mail, email or your wedding website, make sure the format is clear and simple. Provide the required information (name(s), number attending, meal choice if applicable) in a layout that’s easy to read and complete.

4. Order a few extras. Always have additional blank response cards on hand in case you need to add guests or replacements. It’s easier to plan for extras now than to scramble later.

Tissue paper is a beautiful finishing touch, but it’s not a requirement — you have options. Traditionally, thin tissue sheets were placed between invitation pieces to prevent smudging, however, today using tissue paper is entirely about style and elegance, not etiquette. mysite

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f you decide to include tissue paper:

Place one sheet on top of the flat invitation or just inside the fold of a folded invitation. mysite
Make sure your invitation’s fold, print side, and insert order remain as intended when you add tissue.

If you opt not to use tissue:

That’s perfectly acceptable and completely elegant in modern stationery. mysite
You may want to use a non-machinable postage stamp, especially if your invitation suite is thick or embellished, to avoid postal machine damage. mysite

Ultimately, it’s your choice — select the look and feel that align with your wedding style. Whether you go with a soft sheet of tissue or a clean-edge presentation, what matters most is that your invitations reflect your vision and arrive beautifully in your guests’ hands.

Addressing your envelopes is an important step that helps set the tone for your invitations and ensures they reach your guests without issues.

Outer Envelopes:

The outer envelope is formal and used for mailing. Include your guest’s full name(s) and mailing address.
For couples or families, use proper titles (Mr. & Mrs., Dr., etc.) if desired.
Handwriting adds a personal, elegant touch. Many couples opt to hire a calligrapher for a polished, professional look.
If you prefer convenience, electronic addressing services or printing directly on envelopes are also acceptable. Just ensure your font is clear and legible.

Inner Envelopes (if applicable):

Inner envelopes are optional and usually used with formal invitations. They list guests’ names only, without addresses, and help indicate who is invited (e.g., “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” or “John & Jane”).
They can also be used to clarify children or plus‑ones.

Tips:

Always double‑check spelling, titles, and addresses before sending to avoid corrections later.
If using multiple addressing methods (handwritten + printed), consider consistency in style for a cohesive, elegant presentation.

Invitation assembly refers to putting together your invitation suite, including affixing layers, inserts, and any embellishments such as ribbons, wax seals, or decorative elements.

Some invitation lines come pre-assembled, while others may require assembly. If your chosen suite requires assembly and it’s not included, please consult with us regarding additional costs, which vary depending on the complexity and time required.

For those interested in white-glove envelope stuffing, please see consult for pricing.

For more tips and details, you can also check out our blog post on Invitation Assembly.

The U.S. Postal Service offers a wide variety of stamps that can be used for your invitations, including classic, commemorative, and vintage designs. Vintage stamps, in particular, are a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your envelopes.

We highly recommend visiting your local USPS facility to have an assembled invitation weighed and assessed for postage before purchasing stamps. Many invitations require multiple stamps to meet the correct postage, depending on weight and thickness. Whenever possible, you can also purchase the highest denomination stamp to reach the correct postage more easily. The advantage of buying directly from USPS is that there are no markups.

Helpful resources:

USPS Custom Mail Stamps
Stamps.com (Check with your local post office to confirm current usage, as USPS may have updated ownership.)

Please note: Custom-designed stamps have been discontinued by USPS as of June 8, 2020, so options for fully custom stamps are no longer available.

Hand-canceling was the process by which postal workers manually stamped envelopes to prevent them from being damaged by USPS sorting machines. It was especially useful for 0thick, oversized, or embellished invitations with layers, ribbons, wax seals, or delicate printing.

Important Update:

The option to hand-cancel has largely been replaced by the use of non-machinable stamps.
Many post offices no longer allow hand-canceling.
Even with a non-machinable stamp, envelopes may still pass through machinery at various points in the postal process, so absolute protection is not guaranteed.

Why it mattered:

Preserved the beauty of invitations by minimizing marks, bending, or smudging during processing.

Tips for today:

For high-value or elaborate invitations, use non-machinable stamps and consider dropping off at the post office in person to minimize handling.
Always verify procedures and fees with your local post office before mailing.

For more background and guidance, check out our blog post: Hand-Canceling: Is it a Thing of the Past?

I happily work with couples across the continental United States to create and deliver beautiful, bespoke invitations. No matter where your wedding is taking place, your invitations will be carefully packaged and shipped directly to you, ensuring they arrive safely and on schedule.

Tips for smooth shipping:

Invitations are typically shipped via trackable carrier to ensure security and delivery confirmation.
For larger or more elaborate suites, we may suggest signature-required shipping to prevent loss or damage.
Always verify your shipping address before your order is finalized to avoid delays.

For international shipping, please consult directly to discuss options, costs, and lead times.

We make the payment process simple and secure through our online portal. Once your invoice and contract are ready, you’ll receive access to your personal account, where you can create your own password and manage your documents.

Through the portal, you can:

View and sign contracts and proofs using the built-in electronic signing tool.
Pay invoices using a variety of secure payment methods accepted by the platform.

This system ensures your transactions are safe, organized, and convenient — giving you peace of mind while we focus on bringing your wedding stationery vision to life.

Yes. We collect and remit sales tax for all shipments delivered within the State of Florida.

For shipments to other states:

We do not collect sales tax, as it is not required.
Your purchase may still be subject to sales or use tax in your state unless it is specifically exempt.
Please note: purchasing online, by catalog, or through other remote means does not automatically exempt you from state taxes. Some states require consumers to declare and pay sales or use tax annually using the appropriate tax forms.

For more detailed information, please consult your state’s Department of Revenue website to determine your responsibilities regarding sales or use tax.