Where to start when it comes to finding your wedding invitations

You’re engaged, and it’s time to get started on wedding invitations. You’ve Googled, scrolled endlessly through sites like Minted & Etsy, and still, you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. If that sounds familiar, don’t worry — most couples feel the same way. Let’s break it down & help you find the wedding invitations of your dreams.

CDS semi-custom wedding inivitation suite

Types of Wedding Invitations

Before we dive into where to find your wedding invitations, it’s important to understand the different types of invitations out there. Understanding these differences will help you narrow your search to find exactly what you’re looking for and determine what’s within your budget. 

So what kinds of invitations can you get? Basically, there are 3 types:

• Pre-designed wedding invitations

• Semi-custom wedding invitations

• Fully custom wedding invitations

Custom wedding invitations designed for K&M’s yacht club wedding in Centerport, New York

Pre-designed wedding invitations

Pre-designed wedding invitations are exactly what the name implies – invitations that are pre-designed for you to plug your information into. These are the most limited kinds of invitations, meaning you typically won’t be able to change much about them. 

For example, let’s say you found a design that speaks to you, but you’re not totally in love with the font, or the size & spacing doesn’t seem quite right … you probably won’t be able to change that. But luckily, there are tons of pre-designed options out there, so you might just have to keep searching!

When looking for pre-designed invitations, use search terms that match your vibe (try “elegant wedding invitations” or “modern wedding invitations”). Obviously the more specific you get with your search, the more likely it is you’ll find what you’re looking for. But what if you’re still not finding “the one”?

Chartreuse color option for details card in the CDS semi-custom suite

Semi-custom wedding invitations

Enter semi and full custom invitation suites. Semi-custom wedding invitations are similar to pre-designed invitations, but you’ll have more choices and options when it comes to colors, fonts, paper types, and print methods.

For example, you found the perfect design but want to change some of the colors or fonts, and maybe there’s a small detail you think would look great printed with gold foil instead of regular ink. If that sounds familiar, then semi-custom invitations might be for you.

With semi-custom invitations, you’ll be working with an invitation designer, so you’ll get a little more personal service, but it’s important to note – just like the name implies, you only get to customize some of the design. So while you’re more likely to get wedding stationery that feels more personal to you, you’re still working within a pre-designed template, and most likely, the choices are still limited. 

Custom wedding invitation suite for E&J’s fall wedding at City Winery Hudson Valley in New York

Custom wedding invitations

Now this is where custom wedding invitation design comes into play. Whether you have a specific vision for your invitations or you know the vibe but can’t seem to find invitations to match, custom invitation design is for you.

With custom invitations, you’ll work closely with a stationery designer who will bring your vision to life. They’ll create invitations you literally won’t find anywhere else, which makes custom design the perfect choice if you’re looking for unique wedding invitations.

E&J’s wedding invitation card for their custom wedding invitation suite

Where to Get Your Wedding Invitations

Pre-designed invitations can be found on sites like Zola, Minted, Etsy, Zazzle, etc. It’s important to note that getting your invitations from big box retailers like these is a mostly transactional experience. You may be able to ask a few questions about the design via email or live chat, but it’s mostly a click-and-buy type of thing. 

With semi and custom wedding invitations, you’ll work with a wedding stationer or wedding invitation designer. Finding the right stationer involves a little more work – I suggest starting by searching for stationers local to you. 

From there, you’ll want to consider a number of factors, including the artist’s overall aesthetic, pricing, and most importantly, their professionalism & personality. Because after all is said and done, you want someone you enjoy working with, who gets your vibe, and is someone you can trust with your love story.

Invitation card featuring custom venue illustration & calligraphy for K&M’s custom wedding invitation suite

The Cost of Wedding Invitations

So, how much can you expect to pay for each type of invitation?

Naturally, the cheapest options are pre-designed invitations. For 100 invitations, these can range anywhere from approximately $450 - $1,500. For semi-custom invitations, expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 - $3,500. With custom invitations, pricing varies quite a bit – depending on the designer, it can start at $3,500 and go up to as much as $10,000 - $15,000, sometimes higher. 

Now, I realize that can feel like a truly wild price tag, but what’s important to emphasize is that custom design is a service, not a product. Not only is your invitation designer an artist who will create something completely unique just for you, but think of them like your wedding stationery concierge – they’ll help guide you every step of the way, providing valuable insight and advice you wouldn’t get with pre-designed templates or even semi-custom suites.

Please note – these prices aren’t a hard and fast rule … they’re just rough estimates. Of course, you might be able to DIY it for a cheaper price tag than those listed above, but between learning how to use design software (even if it is a simple tool like Canva), researching different paper suppliers, printers and print methods, that will take up a lot of your time and energy. But if that sounds fun to you – go for it! This is your wedding, and I believe it should be exactly how you want it to be.

RSVP cards for the CDS semi-custom invitation suite

Finding Unique Wedding Invitations That are Right for You

At the end of the day, you want to consider the overall experience. Do you want to go online shopping and simply click and buy? Or would you prefer a little more flexibility and personalization? Or, do you want something completely one-of-a-kind, along with personalized service and expert guidance on all the questions that pop up along the way?

Here at CDS, I know how important invitations are in bringing your special day to life. So whether you’re leaning toward pre-designed, semi-custom, or fully custom invitations, I hope this post helps you understand the countless options when it comes to wedding stationery. 

Ready to make your wedding invitations as unforgettable as your day? Reach out or click here to learn more about the custom design process. Together, we can create an invitation suite that’s uniquely yours.

Creating wedding invitations for an enchanting, garden-inspired celebration in the Hudson Valley

As a wedding invitation designer & calligrapher, I have the unique honor of putting a couple’s love story on paper, creating keepsakes that mark the start of a beautiful chapter in their lives. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to celebrate Ashley & Sean’s love story, designing the invitations for their fairytale wedding at Blooming Hill Farm in the Hudson Valley. Here’s an inside look at what went into creating their dreamy, floral wedding invitation suite.

How to start with custom wedding invitations

When Ashley reached out to me about designing their wedding invitations, she was in the middle of a whirlwind of planning. Engaged just three months earlier, her wedding date was less than five months out – and she admitted she wasn’t really sure where to start.

“I’m inexperienced with all things wedding,” she said, explaining she had no idea when to send invitations, whether or not she needed Save-the-Dates at such short notice, what the right etiquette was when it came to wording, or really, how to even start. 

Now, here’s the thing. It might seem like everyone magically inherits all this knowledge about wedding planning once they get engaged, but the truth is … you’re not supposed to know all of that! Chances are, even if this isn’t your first wedding, you don’t know what the “rules” are or how to plan it all – and that’s normal. It’s where your vendors – not just planners, but also wedding invitation designers & calligraphers like myself – can help.

Getting started with custom wedding invitation design

Ashley & I took it one step at a time. We talked about her vision – what colors she liked (orange & green), her favorite florals (sunflowers), the aesthetic she wanted (unsure – but something that tied into the venue), and what she already had planned (her dress). 

And the moment she showed me her wedding dress … it literally took my breath away! It was the most stunning V-neck gown with layers and layers of soft tulle. I couldn’t get over how romantic and dreamy it was. Immediately, I knew we had to find a way to use it as inspiration for the wedding invitations. 

Shortly after, Ashley & Sean found their dream wedding venue – Blooming Hill Farm, a charming family-owned & operated farm nestled in the idyllic Hudson Valley of New York. As a wedding venue, not only do they serve the most incredible farm-to-table food, they also grow and design all their own florals - just one of the many reasons Ashley fell in love with the space.

The inspiration behind A&S’s dream wedding invitation suite

Inspired by the venue, summer florals, and Ashley’s beautiful dress, we started designing. And because invitations are the first impression guests have of the wedding, we wanted Ashley & Sean’s to communicate exactly what their vibe was – summer, farm & floral.

To start, we knew that in order to elevate the design, we had to create letterpress wedding invitations. From there, I leaned into Ashley’s love of flowers, creating a watercolor border of summer wildflowers that surrounded the most gorgeous, deep letterpress impression. For the details card, I kept it simple with a letterpressed border and lush green ink to color-match the envelopes.

Finally, to tie it all together, I suggested a handmade, burnt orange silk ribbon – a nod to Ashley’s stunning gown and her favorite color. And I have to admit, seeing the design come to life, I absolutely loved how they came out. 

The final result - dreamy, romantic letterpress wedding invitations

Besides seeing it for myself, my absolute favorite part of creating this suite was Ashley & Sean’s reaction. They were overjoyed and felt exactly how I did, which was that the invitations perfectly captured the spirit of their wedding – warm, inviting, and effortlessly romantic.

It’s moments like these that make me love what I do – turning a couple’s unique vibe into a beautiful reality, all while taking the stress out of the wedding planning and invitation process. So if you’re dreaming of a wedding that truly reflects your story and style, I’d love to help you bring that vision to life. Let’s create something beautiful together … reach out today to start your own wedding invitation journey!

Photos by Carisse Design Studio & Marlon Ramos Photography

Venue, florals & catering – Blooming Hill Farm, Monroe, New York

Wedding dress – L’amour by Calla Blanche

Custom wedding invitations & calligraphy – Carisse Design Studio

Summer bridal shower inspiration in the Hamptons

It was all pretty in pinstripes & pink for this poolside editorial in Southampton, New York. Planned by Michelle Rea. Photographed by Siobhan Becker. Menus & calligraphy by Carisse Design Studio.

Hot pink letterpressed menus paired with calligraphy place cards set the tone for this vibrant, poolside bridal shower

In June, Long Island wedding planner Michelle Rea put together an incredible team of vendors for a styled shoot at the Bentley Hotel in Southampton, New York. The pool deck was bathed in sunlight, making it a picture perfect day – from the vibrant décor to impeccable bridal outfits, this editorial was bursting with creativity & inspiration for a summer bridal shower. 

Long Island-based wedding planner Michelle Rea flawlessly styled & coordinated this Hamptons summer bash with ease

The day kicked off with model Theodora – who also happens to own Pretty Little Pearl Boutique – getting ready in one of the Bentley Hotel’s 40 suites. The rooms at the Bentley are bold, colorful & playfully designed, each with a separate living area, kitchenette and outdoor patio, making it perfect for bridal parties & weekend getaways. 

Bridal wardrobe from Pretty Little Pearl Boutique in Long Island

Meanwhile, Michelle and the team executed her flawless vision – bright, floral & fun with vibrant pink & orange hues as the color palette.  

Nicole of Glitzed Events hit it out of the park with the florals – vibrant blooms were impeccably placed along the table runner and hung from the most picturesque champagne cart from Le Petit Chariot. Naturally, Table Talk Rentals had the perfect glassware to match. Paired with the cutest bow-top drink stirrers and garnished with dried orange slices, these were some of my favorite details!

The table was set against a colorfully painted mural that was just the right vibe for the event. For the menus, I was inspired by the Bentley’s resort-style pool and chose bright, hot pink pinstripes as a design focal point. They were letterpressed on double-thick cotton cardstock – it’s a small detail, but I like it when the menu rests flat on the plates (instead of bending slightly), which is why double-thick paper is so important. 

Printing menus on double-ply paper ensures they rest perfectly on top of your place settings

I love working with Michelle because she adores calligraphy just as much as I do, so of course we added calligraphy place cards to the tablescape. We decided on elegant, white ink calligraphy on bright orange tented cards, which paired perfectly with more dried orange slices placed delicately on top of the menus. 

White ink calligraphy pops on brightly colored paper, making it perfect for this pink & orange themed bridal shower

Stacy from Shanti Studios dreamed up the signage for the shoot – I’m obsessed with her work! The die-cut hanging welcome sign made such a statement. With its organic shape and playful colors, it signified fun & festive before you even walked into the party.

Now, the outfits … Theodora of Pretty Little Pearl in Long Island curated an impeccable collection of outfits perfect for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, or really, any wedding-related event.

And of course, every detail was beautifully captured by wedding & family photographer Siobhan – from the sparkle of the engagement ring during the toast to the perfectly placed place cards. 

I loved being a part of this shoot and collaborating closely with Michelle & the other vendors to execute the vision of bright, fun and floral. Michelle wanted a chic & colorful aesthetic, and I was more than happy to design menus & place cards to match. It's wild that summer is already almost over ... I want more summer parties like this one! If you're looking ahead towards summer 2025 and want bridal shower or day-of calligraphy details like these, it's not too early to book. Reach out to me here - I can't wait to see what we can dream up together!

Vendors:

Planner & Creative Director: Michelle Rea, By Michelle Rea Events (@bymichellerea)

Venue: Bentley Hotel Southampton

Photographer: Siobhan Becker, Photos by Siobhan (@photosbysiobhan_)

Videographer: Mia & Peter Santa Cruz (@santacruz_photography_)

Content creator: @postwithjoy

Hair: Kerri of Ritual Bridal Co (@ritualbridalco)

Makeup: @gabkglam

Linens: The Finishing Touch Linen Rentals (@thefinishingtouchny)

Rentals: Table Talk Rentals (@tabletalkrentals)

Florals: Nicole Esoff, Glitzed Events (@glitzevents)

Wardrobe & Model: Theodora of Pretty Little Pearl Boutique (@shop_prettylittlepearl)

Champagne Cart: (@lepetitchariot_nyc)

Signage: Stacy Roth, Shanti Studios (@shantistudios)

Menus & Calligraphy: Carisse Moy, Carisse Design Studio (@carissedesignstudio)