The Fine Print

Colors may vary. First, in a digital sense: computers have different calibrations and it's possible the color you see on your screen is slightly different than the color on our screen. I create totally original colors from the limited supply of inks I have. If your color needs to be exact, please provide a Pantone PMS Uncoated Color Number. Second: as we print your job, you may see very slight variation from the first print than the last one. I am working with physical ink and each sheet of paper removes a bit of ink from the press. The result of this is prints later in a run will be lighter than earlier ones. I do my best to monitor and adjust. 

This is a handmade process. I a strive for excellence and do my best to make sure everything is perfectly straight and registered correctly. There is still the possibly of slight human error. I believe that the human element inherent to this process is part of what makes it unique, special, and beautiful.

All text is the responsibility of the client. After the client has given the final approval, Macon York Press is not responsible for typos or mistakes. You will be responsible for new polymer plates, new paper if printed, and an hourly rate to re-print the job. 

Final payment is due four weeks before the deadline or upon final design approval, whichever happens first.

Once shipped, I am not responsible for your package. USPS Priority Shipping is included in the cost of your project. If you wish to upgrade to UPS or FedEx, please let us know.

FAQs

Process

We're interested in hiring you for our wedding invitation suite. How do we get started?
First, please fill out the Wedding Suite Inquiry Form with the following information:

1. What pieces do you need?
Examples include invitations, reply cards, programs, save the dates, menus, maps, itineraries, information cards, announcements, thank you cards, and more - the possibilities are endless! See Offerings for more details.

2. How many of each piece (number of households)?
Keep in mind the invitation count may be less than the total guest count if you are inviting couples or families and you plan to send one invitation suite per household.
3. When is the wedding? When do you need each piece by? 
Usually Save the Dates are sent out anywhere from 6 to 12 months before the wedding (especially for out of town guests). The Invitations and Reply Cards are sent out 6 to 8 weeks before. You may want to add an extra week or two to give time for stuffing and addressing. It may also be a good idea to have programs and other day-of pieces sent a week before the wedding so you have plenty of time to organize everything.
4. Do you have a theme or color palette? Do you have any examples of work that you like?
This won’t affect the price, but it helps to give me a sense of your vision while we are laying the groundwork. A Pinterest board is a great tool for this!

Can you tell me more about the timeline and process?
Getting Started: After contacting me through the Wedding Suite Inquiry Form and with the answers to the questions above, I will send you the price and a project timeline. If this suits you, then you will mail a 50% deposit and email your text and any design direction.
Design: After receiving payment, text, and direction, I can get started on the design of the first piece. This round takes the longest. I will send you an email PDF of different ideas for the first round and ask for your feedback. It is very important for you to communicate as much as possible what you do like and what you don’t like (you won't hurt my feelings). This gives me a good sense of how to move forward. When the first piece of the suite is final, I will apply that style direction to any additional pieces (reply cards, reception cards, etc). Please allow 2-6 weeks for the design phase.
Printing: Once all designs are approved, the remaining balance is due before the printing phase can begin. After receiving payment, I will order all the necessary supplies for printing and schedule a time to print the job. The time frame from final approval and payment to the delivery of your package to your door usually takes 2-3 weeks.
Finishing Touches & Shipping: After the job has been printed, I will carefully package everything for shipping. I believe in “reduce, reuse, recycle” so your package may arrive in a recycled box. I use USPS Priority, which includes a tracking number. I value customer service and communication and will keep you updated on the status of your order.

What is your time frame?
Usually 3-8 weeks. To be honest, waiting on client feedback is usually one of the biggest hold-ups during a project. I will honor all our deadlines and ask that you respond with feedback and provide payment in a timely manner.

Pricing

How much do you charge?
Each job is custom with multiple pricing variables. If I know how many pieces you need, quantity of each, and general time frame, we are happy to provide a complimentary price quote. Wedding suites minimums are $1250 regardless of size and scope.

How does payment work?
I require a 50% deposit before the design phase and the 50% balance is due after final approval or four weeks before the the printing deadline (whichever comes first). 

Extras

Do you offer custom lettering? We want our names in beautiful calligraphy.
Sorry, I do not offer this.

Do you offer calligraphy envelope addressing?
Sorry, I do not offer this.

Do you offer gold foil?
Sorry, I do not offer this.

Can you letterpress the return address on the envelopes?
Yes! I can print the return address on the back flap of the Invitation Envelopes and the front of the Reply Card Envelopes.

Can you do business cards, calling cards, baby announcements, personal stationery, thank-you cards, custom greeting cards, coasters, or other non-wedding work?
Yes! I love working on all sorts of custom-design & letterpress jobs. Please submit the Custom Inquiry Form.

Design & Imagery

Can I hire you for graphic design work? I don't need anything letterpressed but I do need a logo, layout design, wedding invitation that I will have printed at my local print shop, etc..
I am not taking on large scope design projects at this time.

I already have something designed, can you print it for me?
Possibly. Please email with more information.

Our wedding has a very exact color palette. Can you match colors EXACTLY?
This can be tricky because our computers may be calibrated differently. Plus, seeing something back-lit on a computer screen is different than holding a piece of printed material in your hand. The tone of the color will also change slightly from indoor lighting to natural lighting. That said, if color-exactness is important, there are two options: 1. You can physically mail to us a swatch of the exact color you'd like (this can be from fabric, paper, printed from your computer, etc). 2. We can order a jar of ink that will be professionally custom-made to match your Pantone PMS color exactly. *Additional $75 per color.

Details

What type of paper do you use?
My house stock is Boxcar Press’s Flurry paper in Pearl White. This is luxurious 100% cotton and it is designed for letterpress. Because it is made of cotton and not wood pulp, it is very soft, making the inking and impression of letterpress especially beautiful. It comes in two weights: 110# which is about the thickness of a postcard, or 220# which is super thick - it would crack if you bent it. 220# is lovely when pressed but adds 25% to the job price. I do not source other papers, but clients are welcome to provide their own paper.

When you say "110#" does that mean "110 hashtag?" I don't get it...
Long before the hashtag, that symbol meant "pound." It's 110-pound-weight. 

What about envelopes?
Our stock envelopes are also Boxcar Flurry, 100% cotton. They are super luxurious and also look really great when letterpress printed. I offer return address printing on the back flap of the Invitation envelope and the front of the Reply envelope.

What type of press do you use?
I own two Vandercook #4 presses and a small tabletop Chandler and Price (perfect for coasters!).

I'd love to see your studio? Can I stop by?
Studio visits and consultations are by appointment only.

What ink do you use?
VanSon rubber based letterpress ink. I mix colors from different cans to create an entirely custom, made-from-scratch color for you. The color mixing is one of my favorite parts of the process.

How environmentally conscious are you?
Very! I believe in living naturally, authentically and with great respect to our limited resources. In both my business and lifestyle, I believe in REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE - in that order! I first strive to reduce our consumption of goods (buying less junk or new items). I re-use what we already have (including composting, reusing paper, and boxes) and we re-use already exiting items (buying secondhand and vintage). As a final effort, I recycle everything else (paper, glass, and plastic - including the polymer scraps from each print job). Very little ends up in the waste basket.