How many invitations should I order?

Of course it depends on the size of your wedding, but you should order at least 25 extras of each of your wedding ensenble: invitations, envelopes, reply cards, etc. You'll want to have extra invitations for keepsakes as well as for additions to your list. Extra envelopes are always handy if you make a mistake while addressing them. Ordering extras at the time of purchase is relatively inexpensive, compared to writing a new order. It also saves lots of time in the midst of your very busy wedding planning schedule.



Should I include a map card?

If you're having guests coming from out of town to an unfamiliar location, it is a great service to include a map card. Nobody wants Uncle Charlie to get lost on the way to the hotel, wedding or reception. Many couples are now including map cards with their invitations. They also can be sent separately, especially if there are any questions regarding where your activities are going to be held. Your map card should match the style of your other wedding papers.



Should I send out Save-The-Date cards?

Many couples are setting their wedding date a year or more in advance of the date. In these hectic times, a Save-The-Date card will help ensure that your wedding gets on the calendar. If you're planning a wedding at an exotic destination or around a holiday, you'll definitely want to give your guests the extra time to plan for travel and other arrangements. Save-The-Dates can be sent out as late as three months before the wedding.



Do I need to send response cards?

For the most formal weddings, guests are expected to reply to your invitation by a handwritten response. In less formal settings, response cards are becoming very popular because you do most of the work for your guests. All they have to do is reply yes or no and put the card in the mail.



When should I place my order?

You can order your wedding ensenble as soon as you're sure about Who, What, When and Where. Invitations should be sent out six weeks before your wedding, so you should order them at least two months prior to allow time for addressing and calligraphy if you so choose. It never hurts to have a preliminary conversation with your Crane stationer well in advance of your wedding to make sure any timing concerns are addressed.



How long will it take to get my invitations?

Each wedding order is different, with some requiring more time than others, but here's a general rule of thumb. For a set of invitations and accompanying accessories, we can fax a proof to your stationer between 24 and 48 hours of your order. If you've given yourself enough time, we recommend a mailed proof for better clarity. After you've approved your proof, we will need about seven days to work on your order prior to shipping. It's important to remember that we're located in Zone 1 out here in New England, so UPS Ground can take several days to the West Coast. You might want to consider a faster form of shipping. Your Crane stationer will help you with all those details.

A note on proofs: This is a very important step in the process of creating your invitations. Please check all the details very carefully, and feel free to do so with your Crane stationer. We want to make sure that everything is perfect before we put ink on paper.



How does the Post Office handle mailing my invitations?

We recommend you take a completely assembled invitation package to your local post office for two reasons. The first is to make sure you will be attaching the correct postage. Some formats will require additional postage. The second reason is to make arrangements for your invitations to be hand-cancelled rather than go through their automatic equipment. Hand-canceling will help ensure that your invitations will arrive in beautiful condition.



Are tissues still important?

If you order engraved invitations from Crane, tissues are included and your invitation package comes already assembled. Tissues are sent separately for thermographed invitations. Tissues help protect your papers from any ink smudging or transfer that may occur during handling and delivery. White tissue is standard; ecru tissues are available upon request.



I have a special ink color I want to use. Can you match it?

We certainly can. Your Crane stationer has dozens of standard ink colors. If your special color isn't one of them, we can do a custom color-match for an additional charge.



I'm thinking about using some engraving and some thermography with my wedding papers. Is that OK?

It's OK, but you need to understand that these are very different printing processes that use different inks. Engraving inks are opaque and are not affected by the color of the paper. Thermography inks are more translucent and will change their appearance with different paper colors. And because of this inherent difference, a dark blue thermographed ink will appear different from an engraved dark blue ink even on the same paper.



Can you reproduce a special piece of artwork for my Crane paper order?

Sure. We do this all the time, and have a staff of artists to help turn your idea into a work of art, whether it's a line drawing, custom engraved motif, family crest, monogram or supplied calligraphy. For additional information please read about our electronic art submission policies.