Getting Started.
This is a quick overview of our "Quick Info." So you can see what information you might need to know.
Comparing Prices: Perhaps the first place most of our customers want to start is seeing if our prices fit your budget. You can click on the "Quick Info" Prices link, or just look at our "Pricing Estimator." (This calculator pops into a new window. You might have to enable pop-up windows for our site). This calculator is giving you a quick estimate to see if our prices fit your budget. Prices are based on the size of the card, how many sides are printed, and how many you order. Prices may change if you change your quantities and/or add options that are not on this quick estimator.
Choosing a Size/ Paper type: We have basically four card sizes: 5 x 7" and 3.5 x 5" (or 4x6" on photo paper), and then folding card in both of those sizes (folding cards are twice those sizes when unfolded, so a 5x7" folded card is 10x7" when unfolded). We also print on either Photo paper or Cardstock. In a nutshell, Photo Paper is a bit shinier and has a bit better photo quality. Cardstock can be printed 2-sided and made into a folding card, while Photo paper is limited to 1-sided and no folding.
Picking Designs: When you have found that card will fit your budget, you need to choose your design. Choosing your design is probably where you will spend a majority of your time. This is because we have many designs to search through. Plus, because all of our cards are customizable, you might base an 2-Sided invitation on a front panel off of an insert design and a back panel you like from a Thank You Card design. Meaning you can take designs from anywhere and use them on any card.
Here are two tips on searching our designs:
Tip #1: Start taking notes early on. We suggest using a word processing document such as MS Word to organize your designs and your wording in. This way you can save ideas for later, and simultaneously run the wording through it's automatic spell checker. Just copy the design images from our site (by right-clicking and selecting "copy") and paste them into the word document. Do remember to label the image immediately. For example: "Design 01 Invitation Panel 3." Our Designs are categorized by their design group (we have 12), the card they are originally designed for (Invitation, Save the Date, RSVP, etc.) and which panel they were made for.
Tip #2: Look through all of our designs. Even if you just want a Photo Wedding Announcement, and won't ever need a Response Card or Thank You Card, it is advisable to look through all of the designs. You might find a design panel on a Thank You Card that you absolutely love and want on your Announcement. You can scroll through ALL of our designs in our "Build-A-Card Catalog" (This catalog pops into a new window. You might have to enable pop-up windows for our site).
While the "Build-A-Card Catalog" is the most powerful tool for seeing all of our designs and making a custom card, you might want to first navigate other parts of the catalog. Especially the specific catalog that for your type of card (i.e. the "Invitations" catalog if you want an invitation). Those catalogs show fully designed cards and explains how the panels work together.
Once you have your design picked out, you are ready to order. For more info on that process, see "How This Works" under "Quick Info."
Cardstock -or- Photo Paper
We offer our photo cards in two paper types. Each choice has advantages and disadvantages. We've put together this chart to compare the two. If you are still indecisive, visit our contact us page and request a free sample of both.
| Photo Paper | Cardstock | |
| Photo Quality | Excellent | Good |
| Thickness | Photo Paper Thickness (think of photo Christmas cards) |
Thicker, 120 lb. index |
| Printable Sides | 1 | 2, Plus Foldable |
| Cost | Same (but only for 1-Sided, because Photo Paper can't do multiple sides) | |
| Finish | Luster (also known as "Matte" and "Semi-gloss") |
Semi-Matte (between luster and true matte) |
As you can see from this chart, our customers generally pick Photo Paper for the photo quality, while they pick Cardstock for the thickness and versatility in printing options.
Photo Quality: Photo Paper is an actual photograph with words on it, so it follows that the photo quality is excellent. Cardstock still has good photo quality, but if you look closely (closer than normal viewing distance - only 8" away), then you can start to see the individual color dots that make up the image. But you have to be looking for them in most cases to see them. In black & white images the dots are a bit easier to see because there are fewer dots.
Thickness: To understand the thickness of our photo paper, just pick up a photo from your local lab, or think of a photo Christmas card. The cardstock is about 50% thicker/stiffer than the photo paper. It is not as thick as the thickest variety of business card stock (12 pt., which is almost as stiff as a board). Our mid-weight cardstock allows our invitations to only require one stamp (when combined with RSVP cards & envelopes, registry cards, etc.).
Printable Sides: The photo paper is, again, like all other photo paper, and printing is on one side (the other side includes our logo and printing info like most photo paper prints). The cardstock allows for both sides to be printed. This allows for more information, photos, and/or design.
Cost: They are the same cost. Again, however, Photo Paper is limited to 1-Sided printing, and Cardstock costs a bit more as you print on multiple sides. Also, the small sized cards are different between the two papers. Photo paper is 4 x 6" at the smaller size, and Cardstock is 3.5 x 5".
Finish: The two finishes are not much different. The photo finish is sometimes called "matte" by labs, but in reality it is a "semi-gloss" or "luster." It is half-way between glossy and true matte (true matte is like a normal piece of paper - it doesn't reflect light like any form of "glossy"). Semi-matte is the finish of our cardstock. It is between true matte and luster, though a little closer to the luster side.
Again, if you are still unsure or confused, simple request a free sample.
Quick Wedding Invitation Pricing Info
Wedding Card Price Calculator: "Pricing Estimator" (it pops in a new window, you may have to allow pop-ups for this site).
For a quick look at prices, and automatic calculation, visit our "Price Estimator." It is an "estimator" because it doesn't calculate all options available. Plus your final count, card size, etc. might change. It is mean merely as a quick tool to see if our prices are within your budget. Note: In this calculator you can choose the size and # of sides printed for the main card, but the two additional card options are set at 1-sided 3.5 x 5" cards. Again, this is a quick estimator. You may choose your additional cards to have multiple sides and/or be larger. This is just an abbreviated tool.
Pricing Explained: Our pricing structure is based on quantity discounts. The more you buy, the more discounted your per card price becomes. You also get a significant discount on additional cards added to your order.
Main vs. Additional Items: Have you ever had a coupon that gave you a discount on an item after you first buy an item of "equal or greater value?" That is the same way our Additional Items Pricing works. Your "Main Item" is the card that costs the most, or the "greater value." Any additional cards are discounted at the "Additional Item" price. Normally the "Main Item" is an Announcement, Invitation, or Save-the-Date Card. But it can be any item, it is just the one which has the greatest total value. Our prices are already very competitive, but our significant discounts for additional cards probably makes us by far the best deal for those who need more than one card.
Free Shipping!: All orders receive free US Postal Service Priority Mail shipping. Canadian customers have an added $15 fee. We only ship to USA and Canada. Other shipping options are on our full pricing page (link at the bottom of this box).
Basic Pricing Structure: Price per card for Single-Sided cards with envelopes. All items have a minimum order quantity of 25.
| Our standard prices are based on single-sided - with - an envelope. For multi-sided or no envelope, see below. | ||||||||
| Single-Sided | Quantity: | 25-49 | 50-99 | 100-199 | 200-299 | 300-399 | 400-499 | 500+ |
| 5 x 7" (Cardstock or Photo Paper) |
Main Item | $1.90 | $1.60 | $1.40 | $1.25 | $1.10 | $0.95 | $0.85 |
| Additional | $0.80 | $0.75 | $0.70 | $0.65 | $0.65 | $0.60 | $0.60 | |
| 3.5 x 5" (or 4x6" on Photo Paper) |
Main Item | $1.65 | $1.35 | $1.15 | $1.00 | $0.85 | $0.70 | $0.60 |
| Additional | $0.55 | $0.50 | $0.45 | $0.40 | $0.40 | $0.35 | $0.35 | |
More Pricing Options: We also sell cards without envelopes and cards that are multi-sided. Here is how those options affect our base prices. For any card (regardless of the quantity, size, or whether it is a main or additional item), add or subtract these amounts to the price per card:
2-Sided Printing: Add $0.10 to each card (not available on Photo Paper).
Folding Card (4-Sided Printing): Add $0.35 to each card (not available on Photo Paper).
No Envelope: Subtract $0.10 from each card.
For a full chart with all of the options extended and calculated out, visit our comprehensive wedding invitations prices overview.
Some of the options, products, and services covered in that comprehensive pricing guide are:
"Some Assembly Required" Actually, most (if not all) of the assembly is required on your part. We design, print, and ship. You stuff, fold, lick, stamp, address (if you don't have us print addresses), and send. This manual labor is best left up to you. You know who gets what cards, and it is much cheaper for you to put in the "sweat equity" rather than to pay us to do so. Folding Cards: These come flat and unfolded, but with a score (crease) that makes them easy and ready to fold. I guess you could say that we sell "folding" cards, not "folded" cards.
Click for our more comprehensive Wedding Card Prices Overview
What Sets Us Apart
Yes, this is under "Quick Info," but we have so much that sets us apart, so this is a rather full list. It is also hard to know which of our unique attributes you will like the most. The one that excites you most might be at the bottom. So please browse through this whole section to get a better idea of why we are the right company for you.
Why should you choose us to help you announce the most important day in your life? We have some reasons that we think might answer that question. We have been designing and printing photo wedding invitations for more than 5 years now, and we have developed some unique specials, policies, and other ways of serving our customers. Here are some of them:
Complete Custom Design: We do have a design catalog online, but that doesn't mean your wedding announcements will be "cookie cutter." We take your photos, wording, and input and then design your invitation from the ground up. If you like a design, but not how a certain element is placed. We will change it, no problem. Some companies will make you adhere more strictly to a design so it will save them time.
Proofing Process: We give you up to 5 free emailed proofs. What does that mean? We don't just print it without you seeing and approving the invitations first. We email you an electronic image of the design that you can approve or have anything changed. If you request changes, we make them and then email you another proof. We find that 99% of all our customers can nail down their dream invitation in just 5 proofs.
We have that limit because if we had unlimited proofs, our brides would be less careful looking over each proof. With a limit of 5 they make sure each one counts, and they look it over more thoroughly before requesting changes. So this limit benefits us and the brides because they spot more mistakes this way. Extra proofs beyond the first 5 are $5 each.
Free Hard Copy Proofs: We don't know of many other photo wedding invitation companies that allow you to receive a free hard copy before ordering. A "hard copy" is basically one of your invitations printed and mailed to you before we begin printing and before you even have to pay for the order balance. You get to open exactly what your guests will open before you sign off on them. However, hard copies add at least a week to the turn-around time (they have to be printed and mailed), so you need to have time to spare.
Approval Before Payment: We don't make you pay for your invitations until you have had a chance to see and approve the design(s) of your card(s). Now, we do require a $30 deposit/ design commission before we begin the proofing process. That $30 does go toward the invitation balance, but if you change your mind during the proofing process, it then goes toward the design work already done. We only have about 1% of our customers change their minds, and most of those unfortunate cases are wedding cancellations.
Many of our customers find this delayed payment policy fits perfectly in their wedding planning. Not only can they approve a final proof before committing themselves to the invitations, but they can work on their guest lists and numbers as we go through the design process. They don't have to commit to a final count until they are ready to pay, and then their total is based on the (new) final count (minus the $30 deposit). This policy makes us incredibly flexible compared to other companies, and very few of our customers order too much or need to order more later.
Free Shipping: We don't charge you a dime for shipping, which is US Postal Service Priority Mail. Canada shipping is a flat $15 fee, and we do have Express Mail shipping available.
Early Envelope Delivery: Another flexible option we provide is early envelope delivery. This is desireable if you want to hand-write addresses on your envelopes, and you want to get an early start. So it does not make sense to do this if have us print recipient addresses on the envelopes*.
* (Yes, we offer not only return address printing, but printing recipient addresses from your entire guest list. If it interest you to have us print your guests' addresses, start typing your guest list in the appropriate format early on. That format is a spreadsheet with separate columns for Name(s), Street Address, City, State, and Zip).
Early Envelope Delivery is a flat $10 shipping and handling fee (you still get free shipping on the invitations order when it is completed, but this additional shipping has this flat fee). There is also a maximum of 500 envelopes shipped early, but that should keep most hands busy addressing them. You pay the fee when you pay the deposit (you are sent to the depsosit page when you submit your order).
Split Delivery Locations: We also offer the ability to split your order into two destinations for a flat fee of $15. For example: if you live in Seattle and the groom's family lives in Atlanta, and you want 200 invitaitons to go to each location, you can split the shipment for that $15 fee and the rest of the shipping remains free. You will just need to provide us with the addresses and quantities for each location. Again, this doesn't make sense if we are printing the entire guest list's addresses onto the envelopes. It only makes sense if people at both locations will be hand-writing addresses.
Cost-Effective Re-ordering: As stated, because of our flexible policies, we rarely have customers who need to reorder. But if you do need to, rest assured that we make it cost-effective. We do have a minimum order amount of 25, but even if you order just 25 you'll be in the same price bracket as your first order. This means if you originally had a quantity discount, that you will get your reprints at the same price per card as before. There is, however a flat $10 shipping charge for the reorder.
Repeat Business Discount: We understand that many brides want to order Save the Date cards, Wedding Invitations, and Thank You cards, but not all at once. You would receive the most discounts if you did order them all at once, but if you order them at different times, you can be eligible for our "Repeat Discount." If you have ordered from us within the last 9 months, then the main item in your order today will receive a $0.20 discount per card, regardless of quantity. This "Repeat Discount" is different from re-ordering a card you need more of, and they cannont be combined.
Multiple Events/Wording Discount: Do you have 2 events you are inviting people to? Well we are the place for you. Our prices are based on quantity discounts, but what if you need 150 wedding/reception invitations and 150 open house invitations because you are getting married and later you have a celebration in another state the next month? Should you have to pay for 150 invitations twice at the 100-199 price bracket?
Not if you take advantage of this unique policy we offer. If you have us design both cards so they are exactly the same (same photos, same size, same layout), except for the wording, we will allow you to combine them as if they were one design. This means (in our example) you would be paying for 300 cards at the 300-399 price bracket.
About Our Designs
Custom Designs: All of our designs can be changed to suit your tastes. We can custom design for you, but it is easies to start with a design that is already made and change it from there. That way we are on the same page.
Proofing: We give you up to 5 free emailed proofs. What does that mean? We don't just print it without you seeing and approving the invitations first. We email you an electronic image of the design that you can approve or have anything changed. If you request changes, we make them and then email you another proof. We find that 99% of all our customers can nail down their dream invitation in just 5 proofs.
We have that limit because if we had unlimited proofs, our brides would be less careful looking over each proof. With a limit of 5 they make sure each one counts, and they look it over more thoroughly before requesting changes. So this limit benefits us and the brides because they spot more mistakes this way. Extra proofs beyond the first 5 are $5 each.
Using Other's Designs: We cannot outright copy another company's copyrighted design. But what we can do is make anything you describe for us. Simply describe what you like (about their design) and we'll make it. Only it will be customized even more for you as we go through the designing process.
Designs For Different Sized Cards: Any design in our catalog can be adapted for your cards, regardless of it's original size. If you like a 3.5x5" 2-sided Save the Date card design that you want adapted to be a 5x7" Folding Wedding Invitation, we can do that. They obviously won't look exactly the same in the end (for one, the new card will have your photos and words on it), but we can take the elements you like and use them.
Differences Due to Accomodations: The final design is based off of your photos, words, and additional input. Design layout may have to change in order to accomodate what you give us. For example, if you like a layout that has 2 vertical photos, and you send in 2 horizontal ones, the layout will most likely have to change to accomodate your non-conforming photos. Wording is also a big factor. Some designs fit a couple short lines, others work better with multiple lines.
Deposit/ Final Payment: When you order your invitations, you are not really making a final order. Instead you are comissioning the design. This means that you are not paying for them until you have approved a final proof (emailed or hard copy -- See "How This Works" to learn more about proofs) and have your final count. Instead, you pay a $30 deposit (regardless of final qty.) to comission the design.
The deposit does go toward your final balance. It, however, is not-refundable once we start working on your design. If you change your mind and cancel the order, the $30 stays a design commission and pays for the work already done on the design.
However, the beauty of this "deposit/ design comission" is that you do not have to come up with your final count until we are done proofing -and- you are ready to lock in a final count. This means you can have us start working out the design long before you are sure on your guest list. And you aren't forced to pay for a final count until you are sure you like it (you have approved a final proof). This gives you the time and flexability to start the designing early, make sure you like the design, and then order when you are ready to lock in your numbers.
How This Process Works
The wedding invitations and other wedding products that we design and print for you are unique and custom made for you. This custom process is more time-consuming that just ordering a set of cards from a store (that are pre-printed and ready to ship now). Following are the steps that must be completed to ensure that you receive a high-quality custom product. We give you turn-around times to help you better plan and see if this process is right for you. However, these are estimates, and real time-frames are dependant upon your unique situation.
Step 1: Choose Your Design -
Before we can begin designing your invitations and other cards, you need to decide upon a design that you want to base them on. You also need to gather all of the elements for that design. You will need to have your photos ready, your wording ready, and begin to decide if you want any other services. We copy and paste your words directly into the invitation, so we strongly suggest you run your wording through both computer and human spell checkers. (Completion Time: Up to you)
Step 2: Fill Out Order Form -
We have a catalog of designs, but we have one order form. The form is more like a questionnaire. You are commissioning a unique designed "work of art," rather than just ordering a product. You answer questions about the designs you want and the products you want them on. You also select your photos and they upload with the form. We cannot start without your photos. (Completion Time: Up to you, uploading takes a few minutes).
Step 3: Pay the Deposit -
When your photos and order have uploaded you will be directed to a page where you pay the deposit/ design commission fee of $30. We do need this to start work on the design. For more information click on "About Our Designs," this deposit is fully explained in the bottom of that info box. (Completion Time: A Few Minutes)
Step 4: Fill Out "Additional Cards" Order Form (If needed) -
Our main order form is for your main card. Additional cards are commissioned using the Additional Cards Order Form (available under "Ordering" in the top menu). This form only requires your name and email address for identification, and does NOT need a deposit/ design commission fee. Additional cards are covered under the original $30 fee. (Completion Time: Up to you, uploading takes a few minutes).
Step 5: Design of First Proof(s) -
When we have your completed order(s), all of your photos uploaded, and you have paid the deposit we can begin work on your card designs. The first emailed proof will come to you (on average) in about 2 business days (during busy seasons it can be 3 business days, and we are closed Saturday and Sunday). If you pay a Rush fee, it is 1 business day on average. (Completion Time: 1-3 Business Days)
Step 6: The Proofing Process -
If you require changes, we make them and send you another emailed proof. These additional proofs are much quicker, and average just one business day because they are usually small changes. Those who pay the design rush fee are still put to the top of the queue anyway. You can have up to 5 free emailed proofs, which is plenty in 99% of cases. Completion time for this step is mostly up to you. What slows it down is if you are indecisive (asking for multiple, small changes and dragging the process out), and/or if you take a long time to get back to us with changes.
In order to help it so you get back to us quicker, when you place your order you can opt to have us text a cell phone when we have emailed you a proof. This also aids you with another frequent problem: losing the proof in your junk/ spam/ bulk mail folder. Because we send you an email with an attachment, and we are probably not listed as one of your "friends" with your email service, the proofs we send often go into junk folders. Signing up for this option is highly recommended - of course "standard text messaging rates apply." (Completion Time: Ave. of 1 week, but depends on you)
Step 7: Hard Copy or Not?
Once you approve an email proof you can request a printed hard copy proof that we will mail to you, or you can waive that option. Be advised that by waiving a hard copy proof, you agree to accept the proofs as is, so it is recommended that you take advantage of the option. With that said, we have had countless customers waive the hard copy and still have had no complaints. Waiving this option is often done to save time because it adds 1 week to the process (it must be printed and then mailed). You may have changes made after receiving a hard copy. The changes will be sent to you as emailed proofs. (Completion Time: 1 - 1.5 Weeks Average)
Step 8: Final Order/ Payment
Once you have approved a final proof (emailed or hard copy), you will need to complete your order and pay the final balance (your order total minus the $30 deposit). Instructions on how to complete your order are included with every emailed proof, so you can complete your order at anytime you are ready. We cannot begin printing until this final step occurs. This is because we need to know your final count and we can't print until they are paid for. Be sure you fully approve the proof before approving it and paying for it. By doing so, you "lock in" that design, and any changes will incur reprinting fees. (Completion Time: Whenever you are ready)
Step 9: Printing & Shipping
If all previous steps are completed, we will print and ship your invitations. Printing time is about 2-3 business days depending on your order amount and our current volume. Shipping is 2-3 business days unless you upgrade to Express Mail, then it is 1-2 business days (only 1 day saved). (Completion Time: About 1 week).
Step 10: "Some Assembly Required"
Actually, most (if not all) of the assembly is required on your part. We design, print, and ship. You stuff, fold, lick, stamp, address (if you don't have us print addresses), and send. This manual labor is best left up to you. You know who gets what cards, and it is much cheaper for you to put in the "sweat equity" rather than to pay us to do so. Folding Cards: These come flat and unfolded, but with a score (crease) that makes them easy and ready to fold. I guess you could say that we sell "folding" cards, not "folded" cards.
Summary:
This process in not the quickest in the world. This is because it is custom design and custom printing (even ordering pre-printed/ pre-designed items take a week to receive). If you Rush everything through, it can take 1-2 weeks. Without a Rush put on it the average is 3 weeks completion. With a hard copy added, the average is a month.
Photo Requirements
Matching the Design: If you want your photo wedding invitation to match a design, then you will need to submit photos that are similar to the ones pictured. (For example, if the layout has a horizontal photo in a position, then it would be best if you submit a horizontal photo for that position). If you submit photos that don't fit perfectly -- no problem. We will build around your photos (these are custom invitations), but we will try to stay to the look of the layout you requested.
Your Main Photo: These cards are custom-made for you, so it is easy for us (as mentioned above) to adapt the design around your photo. The most common adaptation we make is because of the main photo. The photo you pick as a main photo is often one where you both can (finally) agree that each of you (personally) looks "alright" in it. That "perfect" photo (or often a "compromise" photo) may not be the exact shape to fit in the design you like. We'll work the design so it fits the photo you like. However, be aware that the main photo must be large and sharp enough (not out of focus) to work in any case. If it doesn't meet the following requirements, we'll let you know, and you might have to find or take another photo.
Photo Size Requirements: If you send us photos taken from an old camera phone, then they probably won't be big enough for anything but the smallest photos on any of our designs. There needs to be a certain number of pixels in each photo for them to not look "blurry," "pixelated," or "grainy" (those words describe photos that are enlarged more than they should have been). Here are some guidelines with optimal sizes:
If you are having a friend or family member take your engagement photos, please have them read our "Photo Tips" page. Perhaps the most important tip in there is to make sure you have the images saved at a high enough setting. A 6 MP camera doesn't always take 6 MP photos. The camera can be set to save much smaller photos (which is tempting to do because it allows more photos to be saved on one card). In other words, you can even take unusable photos with a 12 MP camera if the settings are wrong.
Copyright Issues: You must either be the copyright owner of your photos, or have their permission to use the photos for us to be able to use them in your photo wedding invitations.
| Fancy Patterns | Stripes and Polka Dots | Plant and Floral Patterns |
| Heart Patterns | Fall Patterns | Winter Patterns | Other Patterns |
(Back to Background Catalog Home)
Winter-01
Winter-02
Winter-03
Winter-04
Winter-05
Winter-06
Winter-07
Winter-08
Winter-09
© 2009 MasterLab | Contact Us | Privacy Statement
