Our Design Process

D E S I G N   &   A R T W O R K

CUSTOM ORDERS

STEP ONE
Let's Chat
We start our process by finding out what you want for your wedding stationery. We can chat on the phone or over email about what you are dreaming up. This will allow us to discuss all of your design options and find the suite that will be the perfect fit for your aesthetic, timeline, and budget. After the initial consultation, we will send the formal estimate based on the design direction we discussed.

If you already know what you want made skip to step two.
STEP TWO
Order
If you are happy with the estimate, we will create a custom listing for you to purchase.

For those who already know what they want created. Please purchase from our many custom listings. Make sure you fill out all the information in the listing.

If there is something you want made that is not listed on our site. Please reach out.
STEP THREE
Artist Brief
After payment is made, the fun starts. Your designer creates an Artist Brief to review and approve. An Artist Brief contains reference photos, verbal descriptions, and other notes about the project that will be shared with our Art Department to create your custom artwork. Once your Artist Brief is completed – taking 3-5 business days – it is shared with you for review and approval.
STEP FOUR
Artwork Creation and Proofing
Once the Artist Brief is approved, one of our talented artists will start creating your custom artwork and designing your suite. Within 3 – 15 business days, you will receive a Design Proof containing your custom artwork and layout to review.
STEP FIVE
Revisions and Approval
You'll work 1-1 with your designer to perfect your stationery. Wording, colors, layout, and artwork adjustments can be requested. Three rounds of changes can be requested for free before incurring a $25 fee billed separately for each additional round of revisions. Please note that we give you up to 7 days to respond with revisions. If we have not heard from you within 7 days, we will have to release your assigned artist to move on to another project. If you come back with revisions after the allowed 7 days, a $25 fee is billed to re-engage your artist.  Once you're 100% satisfied with your artwork and designs, you'll give your final approval via email. Nothing prints until we have your blessing.
STEP SIX
Printing and Shipping
 Your order will then be handed off to our printers. Digital printing takes 6 business days. All letterpress and foil printing projects take three weeks. After your items are printed, we will ship them to you with your chosen speed. You will receive a shipping confirmation email once your items are on the way.

NON-CUSTOM ORDERS

STEP ONE
Customize
Add the items you would like made to your cart. Customize each item by filling out all the information in the listing like the paper material, paper edges, ink color, wording, etc.
STEP TWO
Design Creation
Once you place your order, one of our talented artists will start designing your suite.
STEP THREE
Proofing
Within 3 – 5 business days, you will receive a Design Proof containing your layout to review.

STEP FOUR
Revisions
You'll work 1-1 with a talented artist to perfect your stationery. One round of changes can be requested for free before incurring a $25 fee billed separately for each additional round of revisions. Please note that we give you up to 7 days to respond with revisions. If we have not heard from you within 7 days, we will have to release your assigned designer to move on to another project. If you come back with revisions after the allowed 7 days, we bill a $25 fee to re-engage your designer. 

STEP FIVE
Approval
Once you're 100% satisfied with your design, you'll give your final approval via email. Nothing prints until we have your blessing.
STEP SIX
Printing and Shipping
We then hand off our order to our printers. Digital printing takes 6 business days. All letterpress and foil printing projects take three weeks. After your items are printed, we will ship them to you with your chosen speed. You will receive a shipping confirmation email once your items are on the way.
W A X   S E A L S

CUSTOM ORDERS

STEP ONE
Select Listing
Custom wax seals are ones that we create for you or that uses artwork that you already created. If you are uploading your artwork, you will need to purchase one of our Custom Wax Seal listings and select "Use Supplied Artwork" from the options. 

STEP TWO
Customize
Customize your wax seal by selecting your quantity and color. Then if  upload the artwork you would like cast to create your wax seal. If you are uploading your artwork, please note to get the best results follow our artwork guidelines:
- AI, PDF, EPS format (ideal), JPG, PNG (workable)
- A vector image with no 3D or shading effects (rough cross-hatching is okay)
- High-resolution image at 300 DPI

If you aren't sure, we can engrave your artwork, send it to us in an email to hello@sterlingstripes.com and our customer team will help you. Please note if you do not have the rights to the artwork you upload, you are liable for any copyright damages.

STEP THREE
Briefing and Creative
Once you've placed your order, one of our designers will reach out in 1-2 business days to discuss the design of your custom artwork in more detail. After gathering all the intel we need to create your design, we will create an Artist Brief. An Artist Brief contains reference photos, verbal descriptions, and other notes about the project that will be shared with our Art Department to create your custom artwork. Once your Artist Brief is completed – taking 1-3 business days – it is shared with you for review and approval. 

 

If you have supplied your artwork, you will skip this step. 

STEP FOUR
Creation
Once approved, the first available artist will start creating your custom artwork. Within 3 – 5 business days, you will receive a Design Proof containing your custom artwork to review. Three rounds of revisions can be requested for free before incurring a $25 fee billed separately for each additional round of revisions.

 

If you have supplied your artwork, you will skip this step. 

STEP FIVE
Proofing
Once approved, our engraving team will email you a PDF proof containing the placement of your artwork with recommendations to optimize your design within 1-2 business days to review. Your purchase includes one free round of revisions. Additional revisions after the 1st round will incur a $25 fee billed separately. Once you are happy with your artwork, respond with Approved. 

STEP SIX
Production and Shipping
Once you have approved your proof, we are now ready to make your wax seals. It takes 6 business days to hand stamp each of your custom wax seals. Please note that doesn't include shipping times. Making your wax seals tends to take longer than shipping them. We like to make sure everything is perfect! If you don't receive an email from us, your delivery is moving as planned and will be delivered by your estimated date at checkout. After we have made your wax seals, we will ship them to you with your chosen speed. You will receive a shipping confirmation email once your items are on the way.

NON-CUSTOM ORDERS

STEP ONE
Customize
Customize your wax seal by selecting your desired quantity, edge, and color.
STEP TWO
Production
It takes 4 business days to hand stamp each of your wax seals. Please note that doesn't include shipping times. Making your wax seals tends to take longer than shipping them. We like to make sure everything is perfect! If you don't receive an email from us, your delivery is moving as planned and will be delivered by your estimated date at checkout.
STEP THREE
Shipping
After we have made your wax seals, we will ship them to you with your chosen speed. You will receive a shipping confirmation email once your items are on the way.
 
E N V E L O P E   A D D R E S S I N G
STEP ONE
Download and Populate Spreadsheet
If you want guest and/or inner addressing, please download our spreadsheet included in each listing or here. A correctly populated spreadsheet is required before we can begin designing your envelopes. Incorrectly formatted spreadsheets will be sent back for correction. See the formatting instructions to ensure your order moves along smoothly. 
 
Formatting Notes
Please don't change anything inside the document, only fill it in with the information you would like printed. Whatever is written down in the spreadsheet is exactly what will be printed. For example, if you put down St. we will not change it to Street. If you mistakenly misspell something, it will be printed that way. So please take the time to review everything you type into this document. The spelling of the names, addresses, cities, and states are the responsibility of the customer. For names or addresses that you would like to have on a second line, use a two asterisk ( ** ) to denote the line break.
STEP TWO
Order and Upload Spreadsheet
Once you have populated our spreadsheet with the appropriate information, go to the listing you want to purchase and select your addressing option. Uploaded your spreadsheet in the listing at the time of ordering, or email it to us later at sterlingstripes@gmail.com. If you plan on submitting it via email, please reference your name and the order number. If you are already working with a design, please email it to them directly. If you are purchasing custom addressing, please email us the font file. 
 
Please note we only import one spreadsheet per order.
STEP THREE
Design and Proofing
Once you've placed your order, one of our designers will review your spreadsheet and layout your addresses. Within 3 – 5 business days, you will receive a PDF Proof containing your addresses laid out to review and approve. Please note spelling and grammar are the responsibility of the customer. If you approve your proof, we will print the addressing as shown in your proof. We are not liable for any information that is printed incorrectly if you approve it.
 
If you order white ink addressing, your proof with show the addresses in blue due to our printer's requirements, but please note that your addressing will be printed in white ink.
STEP FOUR
Revisions and Approval
Please look through the PDF Proof and double-check to ensure everything is correct. Any requested adjustments to your addressing will be made. You can request revisions to 10 addresses for free. If you have more than that, a new spreadsheet will be required, and a $25 spreadsheet re-import fee will be charged, so please check your addresses carefully before submission. 
 
 Changes to proofs and email response time are a significant factor in processing time. To ensure your order moves along as quickly as possible, please make sure your information is correct, and you respond promptly to the proof approval email. Delays in response time can extend processing time.
 
Once you are happy with your proof, please provide your approval via email stating, "APPROVED". We are unable to begin production on your order until this is completed.
STEP FIVE
Production and Shipping
Once your PDF Proof is approved, your order is handed off to our printers. They will process and print your addresses in 5-7 business days. After printing is finished, we will ship them to you with your chosen speed. You will receive a shipping confirmation email once your items are on the way.