FAQs

ORDERING & TURNAROUND TIMES

1. Do I have to order online?

While our invitations and save the dates are available to view and order online, we understand if you prefer to speak to one of our wedding specialists to get the order process started. Please give us a call and we’ll be more than happy to guide you and answer any questions you may have. Or if you live in or near Boston, you can schedule an appointment to meet us right at our studio to discuss your wedding invitations. Just give us a call to set up a visit!

2. When will I receive my invitations/save-the-date cards?

Once you have approved your proof, it takes us 10 to 15 business days to print your invitation or save-the-date set and get it all packaged and ready to be delivered. All domestic orders then are shipped via UPS ground service, which can take anywhere from 1 to 5 business days to arrive depending on how far you live from the Boston metropolitan area.

3. Do you offer rush service?

If you are on a tight timeframe, please let us know upon placing your order. We will then check our production schedule about the possibility of rushing your order. If accepted, rush orders ship within 5 business days from time of proof approval. A 50% rush fee will be applied (not including expedited shipping costs).

4. How do I check on the status of my order?

Wake up in cold sweat wondering if we received your final copy or when we are scheduled to print to your order? You can easily check in by giving us a call at the studio: 617 242 8228, or sending us an email: weddings@smudgeink.com.

5. How many invitations/save-the-date cards should I order?

First of all, you do not need an invitation or save the date for each individual guest. Believe us, it can be easy to confuse your guest count with your invitation count depending on how late it is! You should plan to order one invitation per household whether this may be an individual, couple, or family. Although for children who live at home, proper etiquette says that those over 18 receive their own invitation.

Once you’ve added up all of the households, we strongly advise you to add 25 extra invitations to your order. These will come in handy in case of any last-minute additions to your guest list, lost or misrouted invitations in the mail, or you want to hold onto a few for keepsakes. It is considerably more cost effective to order extra invitations upfront rather than place a second order later on.

You’ll also need extra envelopes as backup for any addressing errors. In fact, if you are using a calligrapher they may even require this. As part of your order, we provide 10% extra envelopes free of charge. Please order additional envelopes if they are needed.

6. When should I place my order?

We recommend that you place your order with us 4 to 5 months in advance of your wedding. However, every situation is different, and we will work closely with you to set up a realistic timeline and make sure everything will be completed as promised. (See Stationery Timeline to learn more about what to consider in setting up your timeline.)

7. Can I order samples?

Why, of course! In fact, we can’t emphasize how important it is to see and feel the paper, ink colors, and impression firsthand. The quality of our letterpress printing and craftsmanship will make the decision for you. We’re pretty confident you’ll be happy with what you see that we’ll deduct the cost of the sample should you go ahead and place an invitation or save-the-date order with us.

PRINTING

1. What is letterpress printing?

Letterpress printing is a form of relief printing where a raised image, usually a plate, is set into a press, inked, and then pressed into a piece of paper. The raised surface creates an impression in the paper leaving a lovely, three-dimensional effect that cannot be achieved with other forms of printing.

2. Do you offer any other kinds of printing besides letterpress printing?

We offer digital printing on select pieces, namely: the extra information card and all day-of items such as programs, place/escort cards and menus.

3. Can you print my guests’ addresses on my envelopes?

The nature of letterpress printing does not allow for us to print a different name and address on each of your outer envelopes. This would require a plate and set up for each envelope, which would be extremely expensive and time consuming to do! While we are unable to provide this service, we can recommend a calligrapher to do this for you. (See Addressing Your Invitations for more tips and recommendations.)

SHIPPING

1. What shipping options are available?

All U.S. orders are shipped via UPS Ground Service, which can take anywhere from 1 to 5 business days to arrive depending on how far you live from the Boston metropolitan area. If you need to expedite shipping, we can also ship via UPS 2-day or next-day shipping.

2. Do you ship internationally?

Yes, we also ship to countries outside of the U.S. If you would like to place an international order, you will be responsible to cover all import duties and taxes.

PAPER & ENVELOPES

1. What kind of paper do you print on?

All of our wedding designs are printed on Italian-made Arturo paper selected for its soft, textured surface that makes it perfect for letterpress printing.

2. What are your standard sizes?

The sizes of our invitations match European sizes. We think you’ll agree that the sizes are a subtle distinction that will set them apart from other invitations. Below are the exact measurements:

Invitation: 5.88 x 7.88 inches

Reply card: 3.35 x 5.12 inches

Reply envelope: 3.54 x 5.51 inches

Outer envelope: 6.38 x 8.63 inches

Inner envelope: 6.13 x 8.38 inch

The sizes for our save-the-date announcements are a standard A2 size which is 5.5 x 4.25 inches for the card and 5.75 x 4.375 inches for the envelope.

3. Do you offer outer and inner envelopes?

Yes, every order of outer envelopes automatically comes with inner envelopes.

CUSTOMIZATION

1. How may I customize my invitations?

While we strive to select the best colors, papers and fonts for each design, we encourage you to tailor your wedding stationery to your unique style. The customization options are outlined here.

2. Do I have to choose from the designs I see on your website? Or may I order something completely custom?

We do offer custom design services where you can work with a wedding specialist to design a new wedding suite just for you. There are additional costs and design fees associated with this service. Please contact us to inquire further.

3. May I order an item not listed on your price guide?

Yes, we are happy to accommodate this request. Please let us know what you need and we’ll provide an estimate and proof along with the other pieces of your design suite. 

CANCELLATIONS & RETURNS

1. What if I need to cancel my order?

We accept cancellations at any point prior to giving us your final proof approval. If a proof has been issued, we will retain the non-refundable deposit. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any cancellations or returns once we have your approval to go to press..