Weddings Summer 2009 > Planner

Madison Signatures

A set of 100 four-piece invitations from this accommodating Upper East Side stationer starts at about $200. Customized invitations can be complemented with matching monogrammed napkins and matchbooks.

Mélangerie

Elana Dweck and Julie Tinker’s graphic-design firm is all about the personal touch, whether it’s working with clients to create a custom motif for their event, or hand-assembling invitations. From $2,500 for a set of 100 invitations.

Minted.com

Avoid the arduous process of going through books of invitations; pay an online visit to this high-end one-stop stationery shop. They feature the best designs from eighteen independent brands like Wiley Valentine and Ceci New York. Customize the design and get two free proofs before you go to print.

Moontree Letterpress

"Botanical elegance" is how some describe owner-designer Rebecca Kutys’s look. Inspired by flora, Kutys opts for small designs that are sweet without being twee, and simple without being garden-variety. One-hundred card sets (with two-color invitations, an RSVP card, and return addresses printed on the back of envelopes) average $1,250. By appointment only.

A Most Creative Affair

Run by sisters-in-law Andrea Most Gottschall and Elyssa Feldman Most, these stationers have shared a "love of all things paper" since 1999. Customized invitation suites can be created for every budget. From $4.50 each.

Mr. Boddington's Studio

The stylish creations at this cheeky studio combine high-end materials such as satin and knotty-combed silk with vintage-y reproductions of mid-century maps, wallpaper patterns, and motifs. Custom wedding suites start at $15 per invitation. By appointment only.

Mrs. John L. Strong Fine Stationery

Mrs. John L. Strong hand-engraves 100-percent-cotton invitations on steel dies and brass plates. Their designs incorporate classic images of Venetian lions and eternal knots. One-hundred invitations and reception cards with ivory-tissue-lined inner envelopes start at $1,200.

Nancy Sharon Collins stationer

A creator of bespoke, hand-engraved stationery, Collins has practiced graphic design and typography for more than 30 years. Each piece is individually made for the client using hand-engraved monogram-and-type styles from the twenties and thirties. Her office is 85-percent green and she uses vegetable-based (VOC-free) ink. One-hundred hand- engraved invitations start at $2,600.

Papyrus

Specializing in high-quality custom printing and engraving, these airy shops sell traditional invitations from a variety of stationers, including Crane & Co., William Arthur, and Checkerboard (from $100 for 25 printed invitations).

RSVP Press

For couples overwhelmed by choices, high-end letterpress designer Janet Kim comes to the rescue with her fresh collection of 25 theme-based wedding invitations-classic, vintage, and romantic, to name a few. These elegant, joyful designs are available at Bloomingdale’s (from $5 to $15 per invitation).

Sesame Letterpress

This Brooklyn-based press has been turning out one-of-a-kind invites for more than eight years. Matt Heindl and Breck Hostetter, the married duo behind the business, expanded the press to weddings shortly after their own nuptials. Most packages cost about $1,300 for 100 invites, but couples can add direction cards ($325), reception cards ($325), and more.

Serimony

From her tiny Carroll Gardens store, owner Karen Van Every custom-designs and hand-makes invitations. Her creations pay special attention to texture; she can incorporate pressed flowers or the fabric of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Her most popular design has a built-in pocket to hold the directions, response card, and envelope. A five-piece set ranges from $12 to $25 each.

Smock C

Deb Urbanski launched Smock, a letterpress printer that specializes in ecofriendly bamboo invitations, just last May. Brides can check out an album at local stores like Village Invites and Bloomingdale’s, or call Smock to consult about customization. A set of 100 invites is $1,900.

Smythson of Bond Street

A top source for sophisticated, high-end British stationery, this shop has loads of wedding invitations to choose from (100 engraved invitations with colored borders and tissue-lined envelopes from $1,433). Most engraving and tissue-lining is done by hand.

Stamps.com

Use your monogram or a themed illustration to personalize your invitation stamps with Photo-Stamps. The best part? You can order them in the postage you need.

Superdeluxe

Superdeluxe is the go-to for many design-minded couples. Partners Karin Spraggs and Adrienne Wong-one does silk screen, the other letterpress-print these bespoke invitations on a Vandercook proof press at their Lower East Side shop. Orders should be placed two to three months in advance. From $12 per set.

Swayspace

The full-service design shop remains true to the process of the letterpress, but with a modern spin. The Swayspace team designs well-tailored invitations for couples who don’t want a traditional template; they will do anything short of ruining their press, including printing on redwood veneer. The results bridge the gap between classic and contemporary. Two-color invitations start at $1,250 for 125.

Tiffany & Company

After registering for their china and silver, couples stop by the store’s custom-stationery nook to peruse sample books. Classic invitations with engraved, return-addressed envelopes start at $665 for 100; thank-you-note sets with engraved envelopes start at $665 for 100 invitations.

The Village Invites

Among their more than 90 brand portfolios are invitations by Smock, Arrabella, and Dauphine Press. Exclusive to the store is Oregon-based Studio Olivine, which makes delicate letterpressed invites. Prices upon request.

Wedding Library by Claudia Hanlin and Jennifer Zabinski

Among their more than 90 brand portfolios are invitations by Smock, Arrabella, and Dauphine Press. Exclusive to the store is Oregon-based Studio Olivine, which makes delicate letterpressed invites. Prices upon request.

Weddings by Lorelei

Couples who want something slightly off-the-beaten-path are advised to check out owner Laura Chavis’s creations. She works intimately with designers to produce stylish, floral sets using letterpress, thermography, engraving, and offset printing ($8 to $35 per invitation set), and helps send out the invites (physically stuffing, affixing with postage, and mailing).

WeddingWindow.com

Make an easy to create (and non-cheesy) wedding website to supplement your save-the-date and invite. You can include pictures, information about how you met, directions, and other details. You can even personalize your own domain name.

From the Winter 2008 New York Wedding Guide