Today on the blog I am SO excited to chat with fellow SCAD alum and wedding industry professional, Anne Callahan! Anne is an incredibly talented wedding stationer based in the New England and NYC area. She creates some of the most beautiful paper goods for weddings that I’ve ever seen. Anne and I met a few years back when we both studied abroad in Lacoste, France. I was able to snag Anne away for a few minutes to talk about the importance of having a stationer and to hear about her personal process and experiences- take a look!

Tell us about yourself! How did you get into stationery?

Hi! I’m Anne, graphic designer and business owner. Since I was little, I had always wanted to take after both of my parents and run my own business. After I graduated from SCAD in Savannah, Georgia with a BFA in graphic design I moved back up North and worked at a small stationery studio. I fell into the world of wedding invitations and quickly realized that this is what I would launch on my own! After I listened to some podcasts and observed other stationers in the industry, I launched my own website in a week! I love being able to use my design skills for such an exciting time in my client’s lives and it’s so rewarding to see the final printed pieces come to life! There is so much room for creativity within a standard invitation suite and I love brainstorming how things can be done differently. 

What are your favorite materials to work with?

My favorite invitation suite starts with cotton paper and letterpress. If we can add a little gold foil in there that’s always fun too! I love mixing paper colors or using colored envelopes to showcase the couples theme and aesthetic for their wedding day. Now that we have the paper and printing techniques, I like to take it a step further with added embellishments like a wax seal or a printed vellum wrap. Each design element is an additional way to customize the suite specifically for my clients wants and needs. 

What is the process like when working with a stationer?

Of course, when working with a custom stationery designer each client’s process is a little unique to them. Depending on how a client will first inquire with me, I will send them pricing right away or we will talk on the phone to discuss any ideas they might have. When they decide to book with me, I send a couple of forms to gather all of their information for wording and personal details like how they got engaged or what they like to do on the weekends.

After I get a better idea of their personalities, I create a custom look book for each client! It’s so exciting for them to see inspiration photos, their color palette and sketches for the first time. Once we are aligned with the overall vision I send design proofs through their online portal. It’s so easy for them to view and send feedback right on my website! The process of us working together is truly one-on-one and I’m here for them every step of the way. 

How far in advance should you start looking for a wedding stationer?

Ideally, we like clients to inquire about 6-7 months in advance of their wedding day. However, we book several clients over a year in advance to create their Save the Dates! These clients are getting a cohesive design from me throughout all of their wedding pieces. So once you have your date and venue picked out, we can start designing those!

Why should couples use a wedding stationer vs something like Minted?

These other larger companies have beautiful designs but cannot compete with the one-on-one service that a stationer will provide. I work with my clients for about a year and am a real person they can always reach out to with questions. It will end up saving couples time, and they will avoid conflicts that could end up costing more! As a custom stationery designer, I provide designs for the entire event! After the invitations are sent out, I continue to work with my clients on their day-of pieces for a cohesive event design.

What’s one piece of advice you could give to someone planning their wedding?

Focus on what is most important to you and your fiancé. Whether that is spending quality time together or skipping the details that you could live without, do whatever will make you feel most happy. This is your event and the start to your future together! Don’t sweat the little things.

I always love having the opportunity to share other creatives and their passions here on the blog. Anne has such an eye for really telling a story before the wedding even happens as a wedding stationer. Make sure to check out her website, and give her a follow on Instagram and Facebook!

That’s all for today, but make sure to keep an eye out for the next blog coming out soon! And as always, be sure to stay connected with me on Instagram for all the latest and greatest.

XO,

Amy