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Process

 

/ offer more than a service.

/ offer an experience.

 

The stationery process doesn’t need to be overwhelming. I will personally guide you through every step of the design

and ordering of your invitations. An expert in etiquette, color pairings, paper choices, and print methods, I strive to make your experience easy and enjoyable. Simply fill out our inquiry form and I’ll help you from there. 

 

 

INQUIRE

Use the inquiry form on our website so I can learn more about your needs, preferences, and budget. 

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CONSULTATION

Next, we’ll schedule a consultation (in person or virtual) to discuss your vision more in-depth. We’ll consider design, font, paper and color samples. This is also my opportunity to get to know you and learn how I can incorporate your personality and love story into your stationery. Together we’ll come up with a design for your wedding stationery. 

 

PROPOSAL

I’ll send you a stationery proposal based on your desired package, print methods and embellishments. Upon receipt of your signed contract and deposit, you will receive a timeline for design and execution. 

 

For fully custom invitations, I’ll send you a mood board presentation to establish the custom look of your invitations. 

 

THE FUN BEGINS!

I’ll begin designing your invitations 8 months before your wedding. I will provide you with expert help on invitation wording and etiquette. During this time, you can make changes, corrections, and updates to your stationery. After the revision period and receipt of the balance, everything will be sent to print! 

 

DELIVERY

Once I receive your order, I’ll hand assemble your invitation suites. Then your stationery is ready for pick-up! You will receive a keepsake copy of your wedding suite to cherish for years to come and I will also send a couple sets to your wedding photographer so you will have beautiful photographs of your stationery to include in your wedding album.  

 

HAPPY MAIL

You should mail your invitations at least 12 weeks before your wedding date. Your guests will experience their first glimpse into your wedding, instilling them with anticipation and excitement! 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Where are you located?

My home studio is located in Commack, New York. I can work in-person with any local clients and through Zoom and e-mail with clients nationwide. â€‹â€‹

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What are your hours? 

I schedule consultations between the hours of 11:00AM-6:00PM Monday through Friday, but I try my best to accommodate other times depending on your work schedule. 

 

When should I contact you about my stationery? 

If you are in need of save the dates, please inquire 8-12 months before your event, as they will need to be mailed 6-10 months in advance. 

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For wedding stationery, please inquire 8-10 months before your wedding. Your stationery will need to be mailed 3 months before your big day. 

 

What is your turnaround time for invitations?

I begin designing your invitations 8 months prior to your event. I set aside two months for the design phase, one month for printing and production, and one month for assembly. You will receive your invitations four months before your event, leaving you a month to stamp and stuff your envelopes so you can mail them out at the three-month mark. 

 

Do you accommodate rush orders?

 I do not accommodate rush orders for fully-custom invitations due to the amount of time and care they need to be done properly. 

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Under certain circumstances, I will accept rush orders for semi-custom invitations. Rush fees vary depending upon the turnaround time needed for them. 
 

What printing techniques are used?

Our standard package includes digital printing but you can upgrade to thermography, letterpress, foiling, or embossing. 

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Digital: Digital printing, commonly called “flat” printing, is the most affordable print method. There is no texture achieved through digital printing, leaving a flat surface to the touch. Any ink color can be achieved and you can use as many colors as you'd like. A variety of papers are available to achieve a stunning design at an affordable price. 

 

Thermography: Thermography is used to achieve a luxuriously raised texture. This printing methods can be used with any color ink including white and it works well with light or dark paper. It can also be used on vellum paper.

 

Letterpress: Letterpress is widely loved for its deep impression into paper. Originating in the 1400s, letterpress involves creating a metal plate with your design on it. This plate is inked and pressed into each sheet of paper. Thick, cotton paper is best for letterpress printing and light-colored papers are ideal. No ink can be used to create a “blind” impression. Metallic inks are available for letterpress.

                 

Foil Stamping: Like letterpress, foil stamping also involves a metal plate being created with your design on it. Foil stamping is great for both light and dark paper and it is the only way to achieve a truly metallic finish. Although silver, gold, and rose gold are the most popular colors for foil stamping, several other colors are also achievable.

 

Embossing: Despite its age-old roots, embossing remains a popular and widely used printing technique in the modern world. Embossing is a printing technique that involves creating a raised, three-dimensional image on a surface. It adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to printed materials. Whether it's a simple monogram or a complex pattern, embossing can bring any design to life in a tactile and visually appealing way.

How many invitations should I order?

Once you have your guest list complete and you figure out how many households you will need to send invitations to, I always recommend couples order 10 to 15 extra wedding suites. You want at least one keepsake set for yourself. Your parents will also usually want a pristine copy that hasn’t been sent through the mail. 

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In several cases I’ve seen a guest or two accidentally left off the list, at least a couple get lost in the mail and lastly, there are always people who move and don’t send out an announcement with their new address.

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What is the minimum order quantity? 

You can order as many or as little as you need. I do not have a minimum order quantity and I don’t require you to order in certain increments. There are price breaks as the quantity increases, so please be sure you are ordering enough invitations to cover your guest list and have extras just in case. If you need to reorder a small quantity later on, the price will cost much more per piece.  

 

What is your standard stock? 

We have several standard stocks that range between 250gsm (92# cover) and 300gsm (110# cover) depending on which color you choose. For a more luxurious feel, paper can be upgraded to double or triple thick or to cotton paper. For letterpress or embossing, a paper upgrade is required to achieve a proper impression on the paper.  

 

Will I see a proof of my invitations?

Yes, I will send you digital proofs of your stationery throughout the design process as well as a digital mock-up with embellishments included so you can envision what your hardcopy stationery will look like.

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If you are ordering digitally printed stationery, a hardcopy proof can be obtained at an additional fee. 

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Because of the time-consuming set-up and nature of printing with thermography, foil, letterpress, or embossing, it is not possible to order one hardcopy proof. 

 

How do I match my colors? Will my invitation look exactly how I see it on my screen?

All computer monitors and phone screens are backlit and are calibrated differently which causes color discrepancies, so your prints will typically look slightly different than what you see on screen. All printers print differently as well. During our meetings if we picked out specific colors to use on your stationery, I will color match those as best as I can so that the final, printed product will match the color swatch as close as possibly. 
 

When should I mail my save the dates or invitations? 

Your save the dates should be mailed 6-8 months prior to your event or 8-12 months for a destination wedding or a wedding that falls on a holiday weekend. 

 

Your invitations should be mailed 12 weeks prior to your wedding or 16 weeks for a destination wedding or a wedding that falls on a holiday weekend.

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When should my rsvp date be? 

Your rsvp date should be 4-6 weeks prior to your wedding. I always recommend going with 6 weeks so you have plenty of time to track down anyone who didn’t respond and to create your seating chart.  

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How much postage is required to mail invitations?

We suggest taking one completely assembled invitation set to your local post office, where they will weigh it and let you know what postage is needed. Typically, invitations will require a two-ounce stamp as well as a non-machinable stamp.

 

What does it mean to hand cancel invitations? 

While you're at the post office, you can ask if they will hand cancel your invitations.  Hand-canceling is the process by which the mail is processed by hand as opposed to going through the large processing machines which can potentially damage your invitations. Hand-canceling minimizes the amount of stamping, bar codes, and other marks the post office automatically puts on mailings. The process also ensures your invitations don't get caught, torn, or damaged by the machines.​

COPYRIGHT ©2025 SILENTLY SCREAMING DESIGNS. long island, New York. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

CONSULTATIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 11AM TO 6PM

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CONTACT:

BELLAGIORNATAPAPERCO@GMAIL.COM

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