FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Start with the semi-custom or fully custom design inquiry form. Tell us your wedding date, approximate guest count, and other details. From there we'll set up a time to talk through details, review your options, and figure out what makes sense for your timeline and vision.

Yes! Letterpress on cotton paper really is a tactile experience. The impression, the texture, the softness of the paper — these things matter, and a sample kit lets you experience them before you decide.

Sample kits are $30, which includes domestic shipping. Each kit includes 2–3 fine paper selections, 2–3 hand-dyed silk ribbon colors, and 2–3 artisan wax seal colors. If you decide to place an order with us, the full $30 is credited toward your suite.

Visit the samples page to request one.

Semi-custom suites are existing designs — Dove, Wren, Kestrel, Robin, and Sparrow — where the layout is already set. You personalize with your names, wording, and choice of paper, ink, envelopes, and finishing details. It's the faster and more accessible path for tighter timelines and lower budgets.

Fully custom means we design your suite from scratch — original artwork, typography, layout — built entirely around your vision and special day. It's a longer, more collaborative process and a higher investment, but there's nothing else like it.

For semi-custom suites, reaching out 4–6 months before you'd like to mail your invitations gives us a comfortable runway. For fully custom work, the earlier the better — ideally 6–9 months out, especially for spring and fall wedding dates when our calendar fills quickly.

If your timeline is tighter than that, reach out anyway. We'll be honest about what's possible.

Yes. Meadowlark Paperie is a one-person studio, so I take on a limited number of projects each season to make sure every order gets the attention it deserves. Fully custom projects especially have a very limited availability each year — if that's the direction you're leaning, getting in touch early makes a real difference.

After your inquiry, we'll review your submitted details to make sure the project is feasible. From there:

For semi-custom: we prepare your proof within a few business days of form submission, which you review and approve or tweak, and then we move into production. Printed suites ship to you fully assembled and ready to address or pre-addressed.

For fully custom: we will schedule a complimentary discovery call with you to fully discuss your concept, and then move into design rounds, paper and print testing, and final production. We'll walk through the full timeline together during our consultation.

Semi-custom orders include two rounds of proofing. Most couples finalize within that, so we encourage consolidating all feedback before submitting each round. Additional rounds beyond the two included are available for $50 per round, invoiced before the revised proof is delivered.

Fully custom projects include more rounds built into the process, since the design itself is being developed alongside you.

For semi-custom orders you'll need: your finalized wording for each piece (invitation, details card, RSVP), your customization selections (paper, ink, envelopes, finishing details), your guest count, and your wedding date. The semi-custom design form walks you through everything!

For fully custom work, the more context you can share upfront — venue, aesthetic direction, colors, things you love, things you want to avoid — the better. Inspiration images are always welcome.

Suites ship to you pre-assembled. We do not typically mail suites, but will do so on a case-by-case basis.

Once a proof is approved and production begins, changes are not possible. Please review your proof carefully before submitting final approval — we'll always remind you to check wording, dates, spelling of names, and venue details one more time before you sign off.

The layouts of our semi-custom suites are fixed — that intentionality is part of what makes them refined. What you personalize is the wording, paper, ink color, envelope, and finishing details. If you'd like a layout designed specifically for you, fully custom is the right path.

We offer a wide range of letterpress ink colors — from classic deep ink and soft neutrals to blush, sage, navy, burgundy, and more. During the inquiry process, you can select a desired ink color or opt to have a custom color mixed. We will help consult if we think an ink color may clash.

Yes, though it's worth knowing that each ink color requires a separate print pass, which affects both timing and cost. Many of our most beautiful suites use a single ink color on a thoughtfully chosen paper — sometimes one choice well made says more than two.

Yes. Each semi-custom suite includes the core set — invitation, details card, RSVP, and coordinating envelopes. Additional pieces like rehearsal dinner invitations, accommodations cards, thank you notes, and day-of items (menus, programs, escort cards) can be added and are priced separately. Our pricing calculator on the How to Order page will help you build out a full picture.

Return address printing and guest address printing on envelopes is available and can be added to any order.

Letterpress is a relief printing method where a plate is pressed directly into the paper, leaving a tactile impression you can see and feel. It's one of the oldest printing processes and one that rewards slowing down — because the result is something you notice differently in hand than on a screen.

Each piece is printed individually on a 100+ year old press. No digital shortcuts.

Our primary paper is handmade cotton — a thick, soft, slightly textured sheet that accepts the letterpress impression beautifully and has a warmth that's immediately noticeable. We also offer cardstock and plantable seed paper (also cotton, embedded with wildflower seeds) for couples who want something sustainable.

A full overview of our paper options, colors, and what they look like is on our Customization page.

The design and layout will match, but colors and textures will vary slightly based on your specific paper and ink selections — and because letterpress is a handmade process, no two pieces are exactly the same. Minor variation in impression depth and ink saturation is part of what makes each suite one-of-a-kind. We'll share a digital proof before anything is printed so you can see your exact text in the design.

Letterpress is our primary method and the one we're built around. For certain day-of items — large signage, for example — we may recommend a trusted printing partner depending on your scope. We'll always be upfront about what method is best suited to each piece.

Our minimum for semi-custom suites is 25 sets. Letterpress is a process that requires setup time regardless of quantity, so smaller runs don't reduce cost proportionally — but 25 is a workable number for intimate ceremonies. If you're ordering for a larger guest list, we'll scale accordingly and the per-unit cost decreases.

We always recommend ordering 10–15 extras beyond your actual guest count to account for addressing mistakes, extras for keepsakes, and late additions to the list.

For semi-custom suites, plan on 4–6 weeks from the time you submit your wording and customization choices. That includes design and proofing (1–2 weeks) and printing and production (3–4 weeks), plus a few days for shipping.

Fully custom timelines are longer and project-dependent — we'll outline a specific schedule during your consultation.

Rush production is sometimes available for a flat $150 fee, in addition to your order total. Availability isn't guaranteed and depends on our current workload, so reach out first and we'll be straight with you about what's possible.

We recommend mailing invitations 8–10 weeks before your wedding date. If you have a lot of out-of-town guests or are planning a destination wedding, 10–12 weeks is better. Save the dates should go out 6–9 months before the wedding.

A simple way to work backward: take your wedding date, subtract your mailing lead time, then subtract production time, and that's approximately when you need to submit your order and wording.

We ship anywhere in the United States. International shipping is available on a case-by-case basis — reach out and we'll look into what's involved for your location. Domestic ground shipping typically takes 3–5 business days. Expedited options are available if needed. All orders ship with tracking.

All orders are packed carefully, but shipping occasionally has ideas of its own. If your order arrives damaged, please photograph the packaging and the affected pieces and email us within 5 days of delivery. We'll work with you to make it right.

Reprints are possible but costly — small runs require the same setup time as a full order. This is another reason we recommend ordering extras upfront. That said, if you need a reprint, reach out and we'll give you an honest estimate of cost and timing.

Semi-custom suites begin at $500 for a core set of 25 — that's the invitation, details card, RSVP card, and coordinating envelopes. Pricing scales with quantity, additional pieces (save the dates, rehearsal dinner invitations, day-of items), paper selection, and any finishing details like wax seals or ribbon. Our pricing calculator on the How to Order page lets you build out a full picture before you commit to anything.

Fully custom projects are quoted individually — there's no single starting number because the scope varies significantly. Design complexity, number of pieces, print method, quantity, and finishing all factor in. Most fully custom suites represent a meaningful investment; couples who pursue this route are generally budgeting several thousand dollars for their stationery alone. We'll give you a detailed quote during consultation so there are no surprises.

For semi-custom orders, full payment is due at the time of booking. No design work, proofing, or production begins until payment is received in full.

For fully custom projects, a non-refundable 25% design deposit is due before any creative work begins. The remaining 75% balance is due within 7 days of your final proof approval — if you need a little more time, just let us know and we'll work with you. Production doesn't begin until the balance is received.

We accept credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay via Stripe, as well as PayPal.

Because each order is made specifically for you, payments are non-refundable once design work begins. If you need to cancel before proofing starts, please reach out as soon as possible — we'll do our best to work with your situation. Once an order has been approved for print, it cannot be cancelled or refunded.

No — postage is not included and is your responsibility to arrange. Letterpress suites on cotton paper are typically heavier than standard mail, which means they often require additional postage. We strongly recommend taking a fully assembled suite to your local post office to weigh it before purchasing stamps in bulk. Decorative stamps are a beautiful finishing touch and worth seeking out.

If you order a sample kit ($30) and later place a semi-custom or fully custom order, the full $30 is applied as a credit on your project invoice. The credit is non-transferable, cannot be combined with other discounts, and does not expire. Sample kit fees are non-refundable regardless of whether an order is placed.