Custom Stationery Printing Services

Monograms offers a complete range of custom stationery printing services for all occasions, including:

• wedding stationery (including invitations, RSVP and accessory cards, order of service covers & inserts, place cards, menus, bonbonniere tags, thank you cards),
• personalised stationery
• birth announcements
• baby showers & baptisms
• anniversary
• engagement
• special occassions
• birthday invitations
• graduation announcements
• religious ceremonies
• memorial services and sympathy cards

View information on etiquette and wording examples (scroll down) or call or email us and our staff can advise you on design, etiquette, and printing processes to help you design a unique invitation that will reflect your personality and impress your guests.

How Our Custom Printing Service Works

The Process:

1. Discuss your needs with one of our experienced staff.

2. Secure your order by paying your deposit and providing all necessary information including wording, price lists etc.

3. Within a week you will receive a proof (final draft) of your order via fax or by appointment in store. This will allow you to make any last minute changes or correct any errors.

4. Collect your order.

Printing Options:

In-store or Digital Printing: (Laser Printing, Ink Jet Printing, Laser copying)

Digital printing

Digital printing offers the added advantage of having the guests names individually printed on each invitation.

Laser Printing

Laser printing and copying is most effective for smooth, uncoated stock between 100gsm and 200gsm. It is available in black only and is recommended for short print runs (less than 100 pieces). Laser printing works by transmitting light to a photosensitive drum to create an image, which in turn attracts toner, and is then set by heat

Ink jet printing

Injet printing involves spraying ink onto the stock. It is a slower process than laser printing as it works line by line and is also recommended for short runs. Ink jet printers allows a greater use of colour, making multi- coloured designs more affordable. The variety of paper stock available for ink jet printing is more limited than other printing options however, matt, light coloured paper stock is recommended.

Off-set Printing / Lithography

This is a traditional print making process that results in flat printing.

Thermography or Raised Printing

Known by many different names, this style of printing has the look and feel of engraving but at a lower cost. An extension of off-set printing, where a powder is applied to the ink while it is still wet and then heated causing it to expand or raise.

Engraving/Embossing

Both of these processes require a plate to be etched and then pressed, either
with or without ink, into the paper creating a three dimensional image.
These processes are expensive and not widely used in Australia for one off
printing jobs but are more often used for personalised stationery.

Calligraphy:

Monograms offers the services of two of Brisbane’s best calligraphers each
with their own individual style. Most commonly used for handwritten names in
invitations, envelopes, placecards and bonboniere tags. Alternatively a
master copy of an invitation can be caligraphed and then digitally printed
for a personal handwritten feel.

Special letters, poems, or certificates are also able to be calligraphed.

Special Functions and Wedding Invitation Tips

Some tips for organising your wedding invitations: (many of these apply to any special function)

• The design of your invitation should reflect the formality and style of your wedding. They offer the important information of who, what, when, and where. They are your first point of contact with your guest and therefore they set expectations and the mood for your special day. Many of your guests will keep your inviation as a keepsake so it is important that you choose your inviation wisely.

• Choose your invitations at least four months before your wedding. Invitations could take up to four weeks to print and assemble and then they may need to be hand addressed which can take some time. The invitation should be received six to eight weeks prior to the wedding.

• RSVP dates should be 2-3 weeks prior to the wedding to allow you to confirm numbers and organise table plans

• Invitations are issued by the hosts of the wedding, usually the bride’s parents. The host therefore is the person/people doing the inviting.

• The font or typeface selected should also reflect the formality of the wedding along with your personal style. It also needs to be a practical decision. If you are using patterned papers or a light ink then consider using a clear and simple typeface so you invitation is easy to read.

• Estimate how many invitations you will need. You will not need an invitation for every guest – many will be couples and families. Adult
  children over 16 should receive their own invitation as should your parents, members of the wedding party and the celbrant or priest. Don’t forget that elderly relatives and family or friends living abroad will appreciate your invitation even though you may already know they can’t come. Your list should be built around family and friends that you are likely to be in contact with for many years after your wedding day.

• Always order extras. Ordering additional invitations after your order is completed can be very expensive. It is always better to have a few extra than to be caught short.

• You must proof read your final draft carefully – checking everything including venue, dates, names, addresses, spelling and grammer. Pass your printing proof over to someone else for a fresh set of eyes.

• Overseas and interstate guests should be notified informally of the wedding date as soon as it is set to allow them to make travel plans.  A "Save the Date" card is a nice way of doing this.

• Invitations going overseas should be sent out one or two weeks prior to the remaining guests. Invitations ideally should be sent to arrive around the same time to avoid dissappointment.

• Invitations with embellishments (studs, ribbobs etc) should be hand franked so they are not crushed. (Franking is the red stamp over your postage stamp. It is normally done by machine that passes through rollers) Hand franking is done by request at Australia Post and does not incur a fee.

• Envelopes should be addressed in the same manner and with the same pen as the invitation is written. Traditionally guests names in your inviatations are to be hand written. Calligraphy is a nice alternative. If you are using digital printing you have the option of mail merging the guest names and addresses. This is a modern alternative and is suitable in some instances.

• Invitations that are not post office preferred size will coist more to post. Don’t foget to allow for this in your budget. Post Office Prefered size is 240mm (w) x 130mm (h) x 5mm (d).

• Colour swatches are generally printed on plain white stocks. The same colour will take on different hues depending on the colour stock it is printed over. This is most important when using ink jet printing.

Wedding Invitation Formats

Wedding invitations traditionally use the formats shown below. These wording examples are shown to help you find the most suitable way of wording your wedding invitation. They are however just examples and you can choose to follow them, or not, if you wish.

Fonts:

There are hundreds of fonts to choose from and the size is adjusted to suit the format, layout and size of your invitation or accessory. Here is a list of our most popular…

Amazone

AvanteGarde BkBT

Bernhardmod BT

Cataneo

Copperplate Gothic Light

Edwardian Script

English 157 BT

Lucia

Miss

Monotype Corsiva

Palace Script

Papyrus

President

Roundhand

Safrole

Sloop Script

University Roman

Vivaldi