Around the same time, I stumbled across LetterboxInk on Etsy. I instantly fell in love with the work of US based graphic designer Laura Nehls and quickly set about placing an order for the vintage ticket wedding invitation. I was particularly taken with the way the RSVP tears off, just like a real ticket.
The design process was fairly straightforward, and not hindered at all by the great distance between us. Mr. LA and I selected the text for the invitations and picked out all the fonts and colours. We also provided Laura with a regular map of the venue which she was able to turn into the beauty you see in the top right-hand corner. Various proofs were emailed over to us and once we had given her the go ahead, Laura had our design printed and shipped.
However, it was not all rainbows and unicorns people. Certainly not. I learnt two very difficult lessons while selecting, ordering and mailing our wedding invitations. The first was this:
Despite having the online proof checked by 4 other people aside from myself and the Mr, we managed to miss a spelling mistake in the directions printed on the back of the invitation. I can laugh about it now, but when I spotted the error, having first ripped open the beautifully packaged parcel and excitedly poured over the beautiful paper goods it contained, my heart sank.
There were tears.
I may even have kicked a chair.
And said the F word.
Just a little. {OK. A lot}.
But hey, you live and learn I guess. God knows I won’t make the same mistake next time I get married 😉
We could have sent the invitations out typo and all, but in the end we decided it was worth re-ordering that part of the bundle. Laura was happy to oblige, and the second package arrived just as speedily as the first.
My advice to anyone ordering invitations in this manner would be to, wherever possible, print a copy of the design proof. While we all missed the spelling mistake when viewed on screen, it jumped out at me from the paper within seconds of casting my eyes over them.
Oh well. *sigh*
The only addition we made to the invitations was a Moo Minicard with our gift list information printed on the reverse. The front features a black and white image of Gregory Peck {swoon} in front of the Pinewood Studios sign that I pilfered from the Internet. I think I paid around £10 for 100 of these. They’re miniatureness {yes, that is a word} pleases me no end.
As you know, once envelopes had been stuffed and stamps adhered, I skipped along to the post office, my entire being overflowing with glee, and mailed these beauties to our 100+ guests. Here lies the second lesson learnt:
Check, and then double check, and then triple check that you have paid the correct postage on your wedding invitations.
I’m not a complete imbecile. This thought had occurred to me. When I visited my local post office to lay down a considerable amount of money on stamps I had enquired as to whether a second class stamp would be sufficient. The nice lady sat behind the desk pushed one of our envelopes through the slotty thing {I *think* that’s the technical term} she had stashed beside her till and told me it would be fine. She did not, at any point, check the length of our invitations.
Alas, a week or so later, guests began to inform me they had received those cards that tell you to collect an item that has been mailed with insufficient postage.
Turns out our invitations are literally milimetres over the maximum allowance for second class post and should, therefore, have had a large letter stamp. It’s barely visible to the naked eye but, as the manager of my local post office has since informed me, the member of staff should have checked it against their measury thing {again, a technical term}. He also told me that, and I quote, ‘someone at Royal Mail needs to get a life’! The discrepancy is minimal, and it’s so obviously a wedding invitation, that you’d think that, well, someone would have a heart, just maybe?
My advice? Measure and weigh your invitations yourself. Check it against the figures online and then get them to check it again at the post office.
We were left with no choice but to contact every single guest to (1) apologise profusely and (2) ask them if they would mind paying the £1.22 to collect their wedding invitation. It was mortifying. And time consuming.
My story has a happy ending though. The invitations seem to have made it. Our guests have laughed and smiled and expressed their excitement, despite our postage blunder. We jokingly refer to the incident as ‘The Great Wedding Invitation Saga of 2011’. And the RSVPs have started rolling in.
All’s well that ends well I guess.
Loveaudrey xxx
PS. You would think that was it, right? Invitations DONE. But no, I’m yet to share the beautiful paper used to solicit the attendance of our evening guests. Bet you can’t wait!?
*makes mental note not to ramble so much, it’s just paper*
I love them! So classy and elegant and exactly a fit for the wonderful venue 🙂
They are amazing! So unusual and classy and most of all so you! My only little bug bear and it’s just cos I’m a Mummy and a worrier is that you’ve put your address details on the big old bad world wide web. Stay safe missis! xxx
They are so utterly fabulous! I love them.
I owe you email, and will be replying later today, so excited to be arranging your pre-wedding shoot 🙂
x
LOVE!
Hello, just stumbled across your blog today. Your invitations are beautiful.
The very same postage problem happened to us. Ours were posted with first class stamps on, they are small squares, weigh 45g (the limit is 100g) and fit just fine through the slot thingy – I have one in work you see – yet some of our guests have had to pay £1.12 ransom to the Royal Mail so that they’d release them. Beyond embarrassing.
x
They’re beautiful. I do wish someone at the Post Office had a bit of a heart, especially as they must’ve sorted them all at once. Obviously wedding invites.
These are very beautiful indeed x
I think these are the most exquisite invitations I’ve ever seen! They’re STUNNING! I use the F word for a lot less, so in the circumstances I feel you were very restrained 😉 Gregory Peck *sigh* they don’t make them like that any more do they?! I’m partial to a bit of Cary Grant myself 😀 xx
That is hands down to best darn wedding invite I ever did see!! I really need to get off my ass and start planning my own wedding! 🙂 xxx
these invites are just beyond perfect. SO you. I love love love them. 🙂
xx
Thank you for all your lovely comments. I’m so glad you like them! We’re thrilled with the finished product, despite all the mishaps!
@Laura Yes, so embarrassing! Although I’m convinced I felt worse about it than any of our guests. They were all so nice about it. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment 🙂
@Grace London You’re right. I know of at least one that has gotten through without a fee so I can only assume that there are some nice Royal Mail employees out there. Apparently there was a funny sticker on the invite but it had been crossed through.
@The Pampered Sparrow I’m quite partial to a little Carry Grant myself! Have you seen Charade? Him + Audrey = Heaven!
@Ms. Wedgie Yes, get planning lady, it’s so much fun!!
Loveaudrey xxx
Absolutely stunning! x
They look fantastic.I think people will be talking about those forever.Very origional and one of a kind.
These invites are fabolous!, so original x
@sweetpea Thank you, we’re so pleased with them 🙂
@vintage_kitten They’ve certainly caused a stir among the older generation of our relatives! I think they were expecting your usual traditional invite, which these are definitely not!
@Emma Awww thank you, so glad you like them.
Loveaudrey xxx
Having now received the much awaited envelope, containing such beauty, joy and originality, I’m so happy I can now have read this post 🙂
I’m ridiculously excited by the invite, it is SO incredibly cool, hands down the best invite (of any kind) I’ve ever seen!
You bloody rock! xxx
Really evocative and wonderful. They make me think of Smythson’s wedding luggage tags. x
They are beautiful! I love them!
WOW! They are stunning. I’m going to bookmark this if you don’t mind 🙂 Great inspiration.x
@Laura Awww thank you honey, I’m so so glad you like it {and that it finally made it through your letterbox!}
@Simone Thank you! We’re so incredibly pleased with them and our guests really seem to love them too.
@Heather Thank you 🙂
@Victoria Of course, bookmark away! So glad you like them and that you find them inspiring.
Loveaudrey xxx