Your invitations set the tone for your wedding.  They are the first thing your guests see and help them know the formality of your event, which helps them know what to pack and what to wear.  Whether you order an invitation from a pre-designed suite in an album or have a custom invitation designer create stationery pieces for you, there are certain questions you should ask before flashing your American Express Plum Card:

What is your fee for sample invitations?
If you are ordering your invitations online or from a custom designer, a sample can be beneficial in knowing the actual quality of the paper and printing process being used.  Samples are costly to produce however, so be prepared to pay if you want to receive some.  Another factor is the need for the artists to protect proprietary information, and many custom invitation designers will charge a significant fee for samples and then apply it to your order later should you decide to use them.  This protects them from people stealing their ideas (most people who won't think up their own designs also won't pay a sample fee) and still allows you to have something tactile as you make your decision. 

Will I get to see a proof? Will it be printed or digital?
Before your stationery sets go to print, you should have the option to see a proof, which is a mockup of the wording and layout of your wedding invitations.  Some companies will charge for a proof and some build the cost into the invitation's price.  You may receive a hard copy in the mail (usually for a higher fee) or as a PDF file.  I recommend going green and opting for the PDF file.  It will save you time and your invitations can go to print more quickly. 

How many revisions are included?
Each invitation company has a different policy for the number of revisions they allow before incurring an extra charge, so be sure to find out up front so that you can include this in your wedding stationery budget.

What is the turnaround time?
The turnaround time for your invitations is dependent on your design, the printing process you select as well as the number of revisions and proofs requested.  Find out how long the design process is and then ask how long it will be until you receive your invitations after the final proof is approved.

{Custom Save the Date Cards by Laura Hooper}