FAQs
THIS IS A LOT OF INFO! BUT WE THINK IT’S WORTH READING :)
how much does letterpress cost?
Price is dependent on factors such as quantity, ink colors, complexity of design, and any additional finishing or assembly. We’re happy to receive any pre-designed files or work with ideas you already have and use that to put together an estimate. Remember that each printing color adds to the cost, as it requires additional materials and a separate run on the printing press, since only one color can be printed at a time.
If you have a specific amount you’d be comfortable spending, we’re more than happy to elaborate on options to fit within that budget.
Contact us for our Pricing Forms with additional details.
how long does letterpress take?
To begin work, we request a design deposit and your signature on our general contract, which we will sign and return to you. We’ll send you a prompt to collect your information, and respond with your first round of designs in about a week.
The timeline varies depending on the scope of your project; it can take about 3-8 weeks to collect your information and go through the full design and revision process. Included in our pricing is three rounds of revision, and once all project details are approved via digital PDF, please allow 15-21 days for the ordering of materials and letterpress printing.
The final payment is due prior to shipping.
Since all projects are a customized collaboration, the timeline is greatly influenced by the details. Rush production is available on a case-by-case basis.
DO YOU address ENVELOPEs?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: We can letterpress print your return address on your invitation envelope flaps. We do not print individual guest addresses onto envelopes because letterpress is not suitable for variable printing. However, we do work closely with talented calligraphers and digital printers who can provide this service for you, and we’re happy to connect you.
WHAT CAN I CUSTOMIZE?
We’re very flexible! If you choose one of our notecard, wedding, or baby announcement designs, you are able to customize: paper weight, paper color, ink color, wording, imagery, and any finishing touches. We’re happy to answer any questions about this.
Each event has its own needs - you can add or subtract pieces to any of our templates, even if that particular piece is not shown in the photos.
A few photos of past customizations are included in some wedding set galleries so you can see what other couples have done!
Finishing touches to further personalize your stationery:
Envelope Lining
Custom Illustration
Edge Painting
Bellybands/Wraps
Corner Rounding
WHEN SHOULD WE START THE PROCESS OF ORDERING SAVE THE DATES AND WEDDING INVITATIONS?
Typically, save the dates go out 6-9 months before the event, and the invitations 2-3 months. With destination weddings, events where many guests will be traveling, or weddings at popular destinations, your save the dates can go out 9-12 months before your wedding, and your invitations 3-4 months before your wedding.
As detailed above, the process and timeline can vary greatly depending on the project details. It helps to think backwards from your wedding date.
It can take 3-8 weeks to collect your information and go through the design and revision process for all the pieces in your suite. Then, we ask 15-21 business days for production, longer if there are finishing touches like envelope liners. Your guests should receive your invitations 4-6 weeks before your RSVP date, and your RSVP date is typically 4-6 weeks before your wedding.
WHAT’S THE PAPER LIKE?
We print on 100% cotton (tree-free), archival, biodegradable paper. This paper is made specifically for letterpress printing and has a great texture while taking an impression beautifully. It is available in several weights in Brilliant White or Natural White, and has matching envelopes. Colored paper and envelopes are available too, and you can view some color options here. We generally stay away from deckled edge handmade paper for a lot of reasons, but we’re open to exploring some options if you’re absolutely set on it.
WHAT INK COLORS ARE AVAILABLE?
Click HERE to view our chart of recommended colors. We can match any color using the Pantone Matching System (Uncoated line) and are happy to mix something custom for your project.
*Important Notes regarding ink:
Metallics: Metallic letterpress inks print matte, not shiny! We have Gold, Copper, and Silver.
Light Colors/White Ink: Letterpress printing works best with darker inks on lighter paper so we do not print light text on dark paper, as the ink is not opaque.
Blind (no ink) deboss: We can print blind or with a transparent ink. This look is great for design accents or large type, but should be avoided for important information.
Large areas of color: Not ideal for letterpress printing, as the consistency is difficult to maintain and may cause a “salty” appearance, where fibers of the paper show through the color. Large solid areas often need to be printed with a more shallow impression.
CAN YOU PRINT A design I ALREADY HAVE?
Yes, we’d be happy to review your design - email us - and you’d be several steps ahead if you followed these specs:
PDF, .ai, or .eps files. Images should be vector-based or high quality PDFs (600dpi). No Procreate artwork!
Outline the type, and have the image in 100% CMYK solid colors
Extremely small or fine/thin type, or imagery with less than a .30 stroke will not be able to be printed
DO YOU ALSO make DAY-OF wedding STATIONERY?
Yes! This is a great way to keep your wedding design aesthetic cohesive.
We are currently working on updating our site with examples, but please get in touch if you’re looking for day-of items such as dinner menus, place cards or escort cards, table numbers or seating charts, and we will send you our pricing form with more details on letterpress and digital options.
Please keep in mind there are some limitations with these items based on the size of our printing press.
DO YOU OFFER DIGITAL PRINTING?
We realize letterpress is not the technique for every project. We can design for digital printing, which is then outsourced to our trusted local partners and printed on the same cotton paper as our letterpress work. We often use digital printing for wedding day-of stationery.
DO YOU OFFER CUSTOM ILLUSTRATIONS?
Yes, we would love to create something unique for your event or business. We specialize in line drawings that work great for letterpress printing, and especially love illustrating florals/botanicals, venues/buildings, cocktails and pets. Please note the charge for a custom illustration can vary and is additional to your stationery design and production.
All of our drawings are originals, done by Jes, so we might already have something in our image library that works for your project - just ask!