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Birth Announcements and Photo Baby Announcements
Baby Shower Invitations
Baptism & Dedication Invitations

Photo Wedding Invitations and Wedding Announcements
Wedding Shower Invitations

Anniversary Invitations
Birthday Invitations
Graduation Announcements and Invitations

Photo Thank You & Note Cards
Stationery
Framed Keepsakes

Christmas & Holiday Cards
Typestyle Selections
Wording Suggestions
Artwork Options


INFORMATION FOR SPECIFIC PRODUCTS
Includes how the process works, turnaround times, what's included with your order, minimum quantities, design options & proofs, etc. If your product is not listed in this section, please see the General Information for All Products section for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

For Babies:

For Brides:

For Everyone:

Other Special Occasion Invitations:

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL PRODUCTS

BABY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR BIRTH AND ADOPTION

SHOWER INVITATIONS - BABY SHOWER & BRIDAL SHOWER

BAPTISM & CHRISTENING INVITATIONS

WEDDING INVITATIONS

PHOTO THANK YOU CARDS

PHOTO HOLIDAY CARDS & CHRISTMAS CARDS

INVITATIONS FOR OTHER OCCASIONS -
Anniversary Invitations, Graduations Invitations, Birthday Party Invitations, etc…

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR ALL PRODUCTS

Birth Announcement Creation - how does the process work?
The process to have your beautiful, custom designed birth announcements created is very simple. There are a few decisions for you to make - selecting the design layout you prefer, the paper type and color you want, card size, ribbon type & color, your font choice and your wording. If at any time you want help with your decisions, you can call us to discuss your options. Next, you can place your order online or by phone, for photo birth announcements send your photo by mail or email, and the rest is up to us!

We create your layout and design around your artwork or photo, we do all of the work needed on your photo to make your birth announcements absolutely beautiful. Your photo does not have to be professional, it does not have to be perfect and it does not have to be black and white. We convert it to black and white if needed for the design you want, we crop it, resize it, touch it up and optimize it. We take out unnecessary objects in the background - blankets, cribs, people, couches, walls, etc.

Send us a photo you love of your baby, we will make it the most beautiful birth announcement possible. We will send you an online proof, then you approve it or request changes. Once approved, we print, process, and ship them off to you - fully assembled and ready to go, with matching or coordinating envelopes professionally printed with your return address.

In a few short days, you will have elegant, custom made birth announcements with a beautiful photo of your baby to send to all of your family and friends who are anxious to see your new little angel. You will also have a treasured keepsake for your baby.
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What are my Design Options for my Birth or Adoption Announcements?

To create your baby's birth or adoption announcements we use your selections and preferences of the following items: design style, announcement size, paper type and color, ribbon type and color, font preference & wording. We take your selections and your photo and we custom design every order. Your photo does not have to look like or "fit into" one of our designs - every photo birth announcement order is custom designed just for you!

If you like one of the layouts in the online catalog, you can tell us to emulate it as closely as possible - you can use any of our ideas for your baby's announcement or combine our ideas with your own preferences in paper color, ribbon, font and wording to make your baby's announcement as special and unique as they are!

Your options include:

  1. Design - First, you decide if you want to use artwork for your baby's announcements, or if you want photo birth announcements. For photo birth announcements, select your favorite layout using one or three photos, color or black and white. For either artwork or photo birth announcements, you can select from styles using cardstock only, vellum overlay with ribbon or a note card style which opens like a greeting card. For full pages of samples and descriptions of all the current design options, see the Birth Announcement section of the Product Catalog.

  2. Size - Next, you choose the size of announcement you want. If you have selected the vellum overlay or cardstock only styles, we currently offer two sizes - small measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 and large measures a bit larger than 5 x 7. If you have selected to use a note card for your birth announcements you also have a large and small option. Small measures 3-1/2x 5 when folded and large measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 when folded. Note card styles open up like a greeting card.

  3. Paper - Next, you choose papers for your baby announcements. For cardstock only or note card styles, you select from white, natural cream or ivory linen cardstock. For vellum overlay styles of birth or adoption announcements, there are over 10 color choices and three layers of papers are used. Heavy cardstock in either linen or parchment makes up the back layer. The top layer is made of transparent vellum and this top layer has your baby's photo printed on it along with the wording for your announcement. Because the top layer of vellum is transparent, we use a middle sheet in white, natural cream or ivory so that your baby does not appear pink or blue, cranberry or emerald from the back card showing through. This middle sheet casts a beautiful hue through the vellum and the results are fantastic.

    Cardstock - The Back Layer
    You select the color of your back cardstock layer and if you prefer linen or parchment for the cardstock. Linen cardstock is classic and elegant and has a texture to it, just like linen cloth. You can select from 10 colors if you choose linen for your back card - including non traditional colors like cranberry, midnight blue & emerald green in addition to the traditional pink, blue and ivory. We also offer traditional parchment cardstock, which has a cloud-like or marbling effect on it

    Transparent Vellum - The Top Layer
    There is only one kind of vellum overlay, so that is used for everyone.

    Hand Torn or Straight Edge - The Middle Sheet
    You can make two choices on the middle sheet - the color (white, natural cream or ivory) and if you want the optional "hand torn" deckled edge paper to be used instead of a straight edge sheet. The hand torn deckled edge gives your baby announcement added texture and depth and is very pretty but does cost extra. Many samples of both the deckled edge and straight edge styles can be seen in the Birth Announcement section of the Product Catalog. You can also leave the decision of the middle sheet color up to us and we will use whichever looks the best with your baby's birth or adoption announcement photo, your design, and your other color selections.

  4. Ribbon Type and Color - For birth announcement styles that include ribbon, there are several styles and colors to choose from. Satin ribbon in any color is included, all other ribbons have an extra charge. You can see samples of your options including ginghams, sheer organzas, embroidered ribbons and those with gold and silver edges throughout the Product Catalog for Birth Announcements or by selecting the PAPER & RIBBON tab off the top bar.

    Once you select the PAPER & RIBBON tab, your PAPER options will appear. There is a button on the bottom left that says RIBBON. Press this and you will have your RIBBON page. Occasionally we offer new options that will appear on the ORDER FORM before they appear on the RIBBON page! We'd be happy to send you a sample of any ribbon we offer.

  5. Typestyle or Font - your baby's announcement can be created using any one of the 20 fonts that we currently offer. You may select two fonts if you want - one for your baby's name & another for baby's birth information, introductory and closing lines. You can view your options in the Typestyle Selection Table accessible here, throughout the Birth Announcement product catalog or from the Birth Announcement Order Form. If you have a typestyle or font you prefer that we don't have listed, we'd be happy to use it - let us know and we'll see if we have it in-house or you can email it to us. Remember that your Return Address is printed on your envelope flap in the same font as your announcements, included with the price of your order. An elegant, finishing touch.

  6. Wording - your baby's adoption or birth announcement is a personal creation from you & your new family to your extended family and friends. We want to help you make it as classic and formal or as fun and creative as you want it to be. We have several wording suggestions for you, which you can look at on the Birth Announcement Order Form. But these are uniquely yours - feel free to use our ideas as they are, or as inspiration for wording of your own. You may use them, edit them, combine them or ignore them in coming up with the feeling you want your announcement to portray.

Ordering Baby's Birth Announcements

  • When should I order my baby's birth announcements - before or after our baby is born? You can make your selections ahead of time, before baby is born, and we'll create a pre-order file for you. Once the baby is here, call or email us with your baby's birth information, send or email us the photo, and we'll get to work. Or, you can wait until baby is here and then call in or send us all of your information at one time. It's up to you! As always, feel free to call us anytime if you need help making your design decisions or if you have any questions at all. We will be happy to walk you through the process or provide you the information you need to make your decisions.

  • How should I send my birth announcement order? Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - securely online, over the phone or by mail. Please see the Ordering Your Products information in the General Information Section for details on how to order online, how to order by phone or how to order by mail. If you need help making your decisions, call or email us at anytime.

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Minimum Quantities & Reorders for Birth Announcements
For Photo Birth Announcements, we have a minimum initial order requirement of either quantity 35 or an order total of $100. You can meet these minimums with more than one product - by ordering thank you notes for your baby, or a keepsake of baby's birth announcement at the time of your order. If you really love our announcements but you cannot meet the minimum order requirements send us an email or give us a call - we will accept orders less than the minimum when our workload allows.

You can reorder any number of birth announcements you require at anytime - no minimums, no setup fees. Turn around times for reorders run 3 - 5 business days depending on our workload.
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Turnaround Time for Birth & Adoption Announcements
Normal turnaround time for birth announcements is 2 - 3 business days for the online proof to be delivered and 2 - 3 business days after proof approval for shipment, that is 4 - 6 business days in house plus shipping. The holiday season is very busy for us, and during the months of November and December, turnaround times for Holiday or Christmas Card / Birth Announcement Combinations run a few days longer. Birth Announcement orders are prioritized and are produced as quickly as possible without compromising the quality of the end product. Rush shipment options of overnight and 2 day are available at the time of order. Rush shipping applies only to shipping and not to the production of your birth announcements.
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Can I Order Envelopes Ahead of Time for Baby Announcements?
Yes! Call anytime to pre-order envelopes for your birth announcements, or you can order securely online or by mail. They will be shipped in 1 -2 days after your order is received. There is a deposit of 20 cents per envelope, which is fully credited to your final order, and a flat shipping rate of $5 regardless of quantity. You will need to decide what color envelopes you want, the size, quantity and the typestyle you want to use so we can print your return address on them in the same font as your baby announcements will use.
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Proofs - Can I get an online proof of my Birth Announcement before it is printed?
Yes! An online proof of your birth announcement is included at no charge. We want to make sure all your information is accurate and that you approve of the design and layout. There is no charge to make changes to text or layout after the proof and before printing. If you decide you want to use a different photo however, and we have to completely recreate the design, there is a $25 re-design fee that may apply. Some people request a physical proof be mailed to them which we are more than happy to do.
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What is included in the price of my Birth Announcements?
Everything you need is included in the price: the cardstock that makes up the back layer, the vellum overlay, a middle sheet if needed and the satin ribbon. Envelopes are included and we print your return address on the envelope flap, at no charge, using the same font as your announcements. Extra envelopes are always included to allow for addressing errors. In addition, we provide the service of assembling your baby announcements & tying the ribbons - at no additional fee. If you prefer to assemble your cards yourself, you can receive a self-assembly discount of 25 cents per piece. It is not hard to tie the ribbons, however it is quite time consuming.

What is not included in the price?
There are specialty ribbons - including ginghams, sheers & embroidered ribbons - you can elect to use for your birth announcements in place of the satin ribbon which comes standard in the price. There is also deckled edge paper, which you can select for a fee instead of the straight edge middle-sheet, which is included. Current pricing for all products, their options & upgrades are listed on the website under the PRICING tab.
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ALL ABOUT YOUR BABY'S PHOTOGRAPH

  • What if my photo isn't perfect - none of the photos I took look like your announcements!
    We don't expect your photos to look like our announcements! We convert, crop, resize, touch-up, take-out and lighten things in your picture to create your baby's announcement. We can remove scratches, marks, blemishes and spots on baby's skin and remove unnecessary objects from the background (cribs, walls, pillows, hands, people, bouncies, tables, etc.). Don't worry if your photo isn't perfect or if baby (or the photo) has some scratches - making your photos work well for your announcements is a big part of the artistic service we provide for you.

    Every order is individually designed. We don't try and force your photograph into one of our layouts - we optimize your photo, then create your baby's announcement layout around it… however, a little prep work goes a long way. Consider the suggestions in our Helpful Hintson Taking the Pictures for your Photo Birth Announcements at the end of this section to ensure you begin with the best photo possible.

  • What format should my photo be in?
    You can send either a digital or processed printed photo.

    For processed printed photos you can physically mail them to us or scan them into your computer at home and send them to us electronically via email. If you are scanning at home, please scan them in at a resolution of 200 - 300 dpi, which is what we do here.

    For digital photos, you can attach the photo to an email, physically send a CD or have us download the photo from a share site like Kodak EasyShare. You can send your digital photos in almost any format - .jpg .tif or .bmp are the most common. .jpg are the smallest and easiest to send. We don't find any quality difference in the formats once they go through are process and are printed.

    If you are emailing your photos - please attach them as a file to your email and do not "insert them as a picture" into the body or text of your email. We cannot extract them from the body of the email, or cut and paste them as those methods lose valuable resolution. They must be sent as an attachment.

    Please do not do any work on the photo before sending it to us. Or, if you want to crop and recolor or convert your photo to black & white yourself and send it to us so we can see your vision for the end result, that is fine, but please send the original as well.

    Please call if you need any assistance! We are happy to help.

  • Does my photo have to be black and white?
    No - if we are creating a black and white design for you, we will convert your color photo to black and white. You can send a black and white photo, but you do not have to. In fact, we sometimes do a bit of the work on the photo in color before converting it for the finished product.

  • Should I edit, crop or try to "fix" my photo before sending it to you?
    No - please do not do any work on the photo before sending it to us. The artistic services we provide are part of what you pay for - and our process is very specific to get the photos to print beautifully on the vellum paper. If you want to crop and recolor or convert your photo to black & white yourself and send it to us so we can see your vision for the end result that is fine, but please send the original as well. If you only have the "edited" version we certainly can work from it, we just prefer to have the original photos when possible.

  • Can I send more than one photo and let you choose which will work best?
    YES! Please mark your preferences in order on the back of the photos, or if you are sending them digitally let us know your preferences in your email. We will use the best photo for the design you've selected and will make every effort to use your first or second choice. Try to limit what you send to 3 - 5 favorites, but you can send more if you just can't decide. Don't send any photos that you don't want us to use!

  • Do I get my pictures back?
    YES! We will send them back with your order.

  • Can I send a picture of my baby with their big brother or sister?
    YES! You can, though it is very important that your children's faces are as close together as possible, so that the bulk of the photo isn't taken by your older child's body only. If the older child is sitting straight up and the baby is in their lap, the photo will have to be quite small to get the faces of both children in the frame of the announcement. Good poses for this design include a photo of the two of them sleeping together or lying next to each other; having the older child cuddling up next to the newborn on the floor or couch; or having the older child leaning over the newborn with their face next to or even touching the newborns, where the older child is looking at the camera. Let us know if you would like to see a sample of this design and we can forward a few via email.

  • Can I use a professional photo?
    YES! You must obtain permission from the photographer to use that photo. This is your responsibility and by sending us a professional photograph, you agree to obtain this permission. Most photographers will readily agree and thank you for asking permission to use their work.

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Helpful Hints on Taking the Pictures for Your Photo Birth Announcements & Baptism Invitations

  • To produce the best results, use a high-resolution digital camera (anything "mega pixel" should work great) or a standard 35mm and 200 or 400 speed color film depending on your lighting.

  • Set up your photo - remembering to keep it simple! Your baby is the only important subject.

    • Select a firm surface for baby - such as the floor, changing table, bed or couch.

    • Cover the surface with light-colored, non-patterned blankets and block-out background objects by creating a backdrop with light or white blankets or pillows.

    • Consider using textured blankets under baby for added depth and effect.

  • Let lots of light into the room. Open curtains and turn on lights. Use natural sunlight streaming in whenever possible - it is beautiful in the photographs.

  • Using our samples as a guide, get baby ready:

    • Choose a simple, light, white, ivory or pastel colored outfit

    • For a formal announcement or baptism invite, consider a christening gown or outfit

    • Cotton day gowns produce beautiful results as the sun streams nicely through the fabric

    • Or, leave baby naked draped with a blanket

    • Dressing baby in a simple newborn t-shirt is precious too!

  • Make sure it is a good time for baby - that they are happy, calm or sleeping peacefully. Then, lay baby in the area you prepared on their back, side or tummy (or sitting if they are older).

    • When using the couch, you may want to nestle baby's back in the crease.

    • When laying baby on their tummy, try getting their hands in the picture.

    • To add some "texture" and "depth" to your photo let the blankets be rumpled up a bit here and there - but be careful not to let them cover baby's face at all!

  • Once baby is ready, take photos from about 3 - 5 feet away - so that baby takes up most of the frame either horizontally or vertically but not both! Auto focus cameras are helpful.

    • It is very important that you try to eliminate dark shadows and dark backgrounds around baby's head and hair. If your baby's hair appears very dark or black on your photo, it will appear dark or black on the announcements too.

    • It is easy to miss a blanket covering a chin, or a sleeper bunched up covering part of baby's face. So, before you take your pictures, give a little tug on the outfit and make sure blankets are not covering baby's face.

    • If one or both of baby's hands are in your frame, try to include them and not cut them off. It's a precious part of them that looks great in the announcements.

    • Baby's head should be at least one inch long or wide in your printed photograph. Two to 2 ½ inches are just right.

    • We need space to place your wording, so try and leave some of baby's upper body in the picture. If baby is too close (4 inches or more of just baby's head in a 6" photo), we may need to make it a bit smaller to accommodate your announcement.

  • Have Fun! Relax and take your time taking your pictures - don't be afraid to take lots of shots - they will turn out great. After all, there is no cuter baby in the world than YOURS!!!

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BABY ANNOUNCEMENT KEEPSAKES

  • What is a baby announcement keepsake?
    A baby announcement keepsake is a beautiful matted and framed version of your baby's announcement design. We enlarge the vellum portion of your announcement to approximately 6 x 8, back it with ivory or white cardstock, then matte & frame it in an 8 x 10 frame. Included in the price is an optional satin ribbon tied through the matte in your choice of color.

    Baby Announcement Keepsakes are perfect for baby's room - so you can look at their beautiful announcement every day - nicely matted and framed to coordinate with their room. Announcement Keepsakes are also perfect gifts for your parents or grandparents who have come to help with the little one after they were born, or for those who live far away and they make great gifts for daddy's office.

    The frames are wood, and lightly whitewashed, so are subtle in color. We currently offer ivory, pink, baby blue, country blue, pastel green and yellow frames. Mattes come in white, ivory, pink or blue & ribbon is available in 14 colors. We can special order some additional frame colors such as black or white - please let us know if you have a special order request.

    There is currently no shipping charge for keepsakes if you order them with your baby announcements.


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Baby Shower Invitation & Bridal Shower Invitation Designs - I like the layout of one sample but the artwork & colors of another, what are my design options?
If you like one of the layouts in the online catalog but you want that artwork with a different color paper, different font or with different ribbon - that is fine. Every order is custom made - you select the artwork or design you want, the paper color, ribbon & font. We design the layout using your choices and the wording you need for your event - then send you an online proof to ensure your invitation is exactly how you want it. Layout and text changes can be made during the proof process, prior to printing with no problem.
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Adding A Photograph - How do I add a photo to our bridal or baby shower invitation?
Adding a photo is simple. You send us your .jpg .tif or .bmp photo file electronically - or mail us a copy of your printed photo and we design your invitation around it.

We can use the photo in the design a number of ways - sometimes we make it a small cameo sized square or oval at the top of the invitation, just under the ribbon. Sometimes we put the photo on one half of the invitation and the wording on the other. We can also convert your photo into a "watermark" so it appears as if it is in the background, then put the wording around the photo. Or, we can print the photo on the cardstock underneath the vellum. We will work with you to make your baby or bridal shower invitations are as unique and special as the big event coming soon! Send us your photo and your vision if you have one, for your design - or let us share our ideas with you - we can normally take one look at a photo & the wording for the event and know which layout options will give you the most beautiful product.

To order a photo design for your baby shower invitation or wedding shower invitation, simply select the "Add A Photograph" option on the order form in the Design Options section - an additional design fee applies to photo invitations. Please read the section entitled All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photographs in the General Information section for important information including: cropping, retouching, getting your photos returned, sending digital photos electronically, sending more than one, and sending professional photos.
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How Do I Order My Baby or Bridal Shower Invitations?

How should I send my shower invitation order?
Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - securely online, over the phone or by mail. Please see the Ordering Your Products information in the General Information Section for details on how to order online, how to order by phone or how to order by mail. If you need help making your decisions, call or email us at anytime.
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Minimum Quantities & Reordering Additional Baby Shower Invitations
For shower invitations, we have a minimum initial order requirement of quantity 25. You can reorder any number you require at anytime - no minimums, no setup fees. Turn around times for reorders run 3 - 5 business days depending on our workload.
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Turnaround Time for Baby and Bridal Shower Invitations
Normal turnaround time for baby shower or bridal shower invitations is 2 - 3 business days for the online proof to be delivered and 2 - 3 business days after proof approval for shipment, that is 4 - 6 business days in house plus shipping. See Rush Orders below if you are in a hurry! The holiday season is very busy for us, and during the months of November and December, turnaround times may run a few days longer.

Rush Orders - Rush shipment options of overnight and 2 day are available at the time of order. Rush shipping applies only to shipping and not to the production of your product. Rush processing can be done for an additional fee. If you require rush processing & rush shipment, please let us know the date you need your order in your hand, either by calling us or by putting the information in the COMMENTS section of your order form & we will let you know if we can accommodate you and what the fee will be. Rush processing normally runs $10 - $15 PLUS the cost of rush shipping.
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Proofs - Can I get an online proof of my Baby or Bridal Shower Invitation before it is printed?
Yes! An online proof of your shower invitation is included at no charge. We want to make sure all your information is accurate and that you approve of the design and layout. There is no charge to make changes to text or layout after the proof and before printing. If you decide you want to use a different photo however, and we have to completely recreate the design, there is a $25 re-design fee that may apply. Some people request a physical proof be mailed to them which we are more than happy to do.
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What is included in the price of my Bridal Shower or Baby Shower Invitations?
Everything you need is included in the price: the cardstock that makes up the back layer, the vellum overlay, a middle sheet if needed and the satin ribbon. Envelopes are included and we print your return address on the envelope flap, at no charge, using the same font as your shower invitations. Extra envelopes are always included to allow for addressing errors. In addition, we provide the service of assembling your invitations & tying the ribbons - at no additional fee.

Discounts are available if you omit the return address printing or if prefer to assemble your cards & tie the ribbons yourself, see the Pricing or the Order Form for current discount rates. It is not hard to tie the ribbons, but quite time consuming.

What is not included in the price?
There are specialty ribbons - including ginghams, sheers & embroidered ribbons - you can elect to use for your shower invitations in place of the satin ribbon, which comes standard in the price. There is also deckled edge paper, which you can select for a fee instead of the straight edge middle-sheet, which is included. Current pricing for all products, their options & upgrades are listed on the website under the PRICING tab.
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Baptism & Christening Invitation Creation - how does the process work?
The process to have your beautiful baptism invitations created is very simple. There are a few decisions for you to make - selecting the artwork or photo design you prefer, choosing the paper type and color you want, card size, ribbon type & color, and selecting a preferred typestyle or font. If at any time you want help with your decisions, you can call us to discuss your options.

We'll need the information for the event - day of week, date, time of day, location name, location address, rsvp information and reception time & location. We will design the information into the artwork or photo for you. We will also need baby's name, parents names, any other people "hosting" the event - godparents, grandparents, etc. and any introductory scriptures or quotes you may want to use. There are wording suggestions on our order forms and in our samples.

Next, you can place your order online, by phone or mail. For christening or baptism invitations with a photograph, send your picture by mail or email, and the rest is up to us!

In a few short days, you will have elegant, custom made invitations created with our exclusive artwork, or a beautiful photo of your baby to send to all of your family and friends. You will also have a treasured keepsake for your baby's memory books. If you want to have the invitation framed & matted so it can be displayed in baby's room, in your home or office, or as a gift for their godparents, please look at our Keepsakes for Invitations & Announcements where we enlarge, then matte & frame your invitation.

For Photo Baptism and Christening Invitations, please read All About Your Photographs for Baby Announcements & Baptism Invitations.
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Designs
To create your baby's christening invitations, we use your selections and preferences of the following items: design style, size, paper type and color, ribbon type and color, font preference & wording. We take your selections and your photo and we custom design every order. For photo designs, your photo does not have to look like or "fit into" one of our designs - every photo invitation is custom designed just for you!

If you like one of the layouts in the online catalog, you can tell us to emulate it as closely as possible - you can use any of our ideas for your baptism invitation or combine our ideas with your own preferences in paper color, ribbon, font and wording to make your invitation as special and unique as your baby is!

Your options include:

  • Design - First, you decide if you want to use artwork for your baptism invitation, or if you want a photo invitation. Next, you decide if you want a vellum overlay and ribbon design or a note card style. Note card styles open up like a greeting card. The photo and some wording are printed on the front, the invitation information is printed on the inside of the card. Vellum overlay designs are cardstock overlaid with vellum. The photo is printed either on the vellum or underneath it. The papers are tied together with ribbon. You can decide if you want the artwork or photo printed ON the vellum or UNDER the vellum - or you can leave it up to us. Samples of each are on the website under Baptism & Christening Invitations.

  • Size - Next, you choose the size of baptism invitation you want. If you have selected the vellum overlay or cardstock only styles, we currently offer two sizes - small measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 and large measures a bit larger than 5 x 7. If you have selected to use a note card for your birth announcements you have a small, medium & large option. Note card styles open up like a greeting card. Small measures 3-1/2x 4-7/8 when folded, medium measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4, large measures 4-1/2 x 6-1/4. If you want to insert additional photos for your friends & family inside your cards, the medium size accommodates 3 x 5 photos and the large size accommodates 4 x 6.

  • Paper - Next, you choose papers for your christening or baptism invitation. For cardstock only or note card styles, you select from white, natural cream or ivory linen cardstock.

    For vellum overlay styles of birth or adoption announcements, there are over 10 color choices and three layers of papers are used. Heavy cardstock in either linen or parchment makes up the back layer. The top layer is made of transparent vellum and this top layer has your invitation wording and may have your artwork or photo on it as well.

  • Ribbon Type and Color - For vellum overlay styles of baptism invitations, the papers are tied together with ribbon. Satin ribbon is included with the price of your order in any of the 14 colors we stock. All other ribbon types - such as gingham, sheer organza, gold & silver edge & embroidered ribbons have an extra charge.

  • Typestyle or Font - your baby's baptism or christening invitation can be created using any one of the 20 fonts that we currently offer. You may select two fonts if you want - one for your baby's name & introductory lines & another for the invitation wording. You can view your options in the Typestyle Selection Table accessible here, on each page in the online product catalog or from any of the Order Forms. Remember that your Return Address is printed on your envelope flap in the same font as your announcements, included with the price of your order. An elegant, finishing touch.

  • Wording - provide us the event information and any introductory scripture, poem or saying you would like and we will create the layout for your invitation incorporating your baby's photograph or your selected artwork. You may make any changes to the wording or layout when you receive your online proof.

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How Do I Order My Baptism, Christening or Dedication Invitations?

  • Which Order Form do I use?
    If you are ordering vellum overlay designs, use the "Invitations for Babies" Order Form for Baptism, Christening & Baby Showers. If you are ordering the Note Card style, use the Thank You & Note Card Order Form.

  • How should I send my invitation order?
    Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - securely online, over the phone or by mail.

    Please see the Ordering Your Products information in the General Information Section for details on how to order online, how to order by phone or how to order by mail. If you need help making your decisions, call or email us at anytime.


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Minimum Quantities & Reordering Additional Baptism Invitations
For baptism & christening invitations, we have a minimum initial order requirement of quantity 35. You may order in any increment above the minimum. You can reorder any number you require at anytime - no minimums, no setup fees. Turn around times for reorders run 3 - 5 business days depending on our workload.
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Turnaround Time for Baby and Bridal Shower Invitations
Normal turnaround time for baptism & christening invitations is 2 - 3 business days for the online proof to be delivered and 2 - 3 business days after proof approval for shipment, that is 4 - 6 business days in house plus shipping. See Rush Orders below if you are in a hurry! The holiday season is very busy for us, and during the months of November and December, turnaround times may run a few days longer.

Rush Orders - Rush shipment options of overnight and 2 day are available at the time of order. Rush shipping applies only to shipping and not to the production of your product. Rush processing can be done for an additional fee. If you require rush processing & rush shipment, please let us know the date you need your order in your hand, either by calling us or by putting the information in the COMMENTS section of your order form & we will let you know if we can accommodate you and what the fee will be. Rush processing normally runs $10 - $15 PLUS the cost of rush shipping.
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Proofs - Can I get an online proof of my Baptism or Christening Invitation before it is printed?
Yes! An online proof of your invitation is included at no charge. We want to make sure all your information is accurate and that you approve of the design and layout. There is no charge to make changes to text or layout after the proof and before printing. If you decide you want to use a different photo however, and we have to completely recreate the design, there is a $25 re-design fee that may apply. Some people request a physical proof be mailed to them which we are more than happy to do.
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What is included in the price of my Baptism or Christening Invitations?
Everything you need is included in the price: the cardstock that makes up the back layer, the vellum overlay, a middle sheet if needed and the satin ribbon. Envelopes are included and we print your return address on the envelope flap, at no charge, using the same font as your shower invitations. Extra envelopes are always included to allow for addressing errors. In addition, we provide the service of assembling your invitations & tying the ribbons - at no additional fee.

Discounts are available if you omit the return address printing or if prefer to assemble your cards & tie the ribbons yourself, see the Pricing or the Order Form for current discount rates. It is not hard to tie the ribbons, but quite time consuming.
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What is not included in the price?
There are specialty ribbons - including ginghams, sheers & embroidered ribbons - you can elect to use for your shower invitations in place of the satin ribbon, which comes standard in the price. There is also deckled edge paper, which you can select for a fee instead of the straight edge middle-sheet, which is included. Current pricing for all products, their options & upgrades are listed on the website under the PRICING tab.
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ALL ABOUT YOUR BABY'S PHOTOGRAPH
Click here to jump to the information - All About Your Photographs for Baby Announcements & Baptism Invitations in the Birth Announcement section.
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Wedding Invitation Creation - how does the process work?
The process to have your beautiful, custom designed wedding invitations created is very simple. There are a few decisions for you to make - selecting the design layout you prefer, the paper type and color you want, card size, ribbon type & color, your font choice and your wording. If at any time you want help with your decisions, you can call us to discuss your options. Next, you can place your order online or by phone, for photo wedding invitations send your photo by mail or email, and the rest is up to us!

We create your layout and design around your wording, artwork and / or photo, we do all of the work needed on your photo to make your wedding invitation absolutely beautiful. Your photo does not have to be professional, it does not have to be perfect and it does not have to be black and white. We convert it to black and white if needed for the design you want, we crop it, resize it, touch it up and optimize it. We take out unnecessary objects in the background - tables, windows, buildings, people, walls, etc.

Send us a photo you love and we will do all the work necessary to make it as beautiful as possible for your invitations. We will send you an online proof, then you approve it or request changes. Once approved, we print, process, and ship them off to you - fully assembled and ready to go, with matching or coordinating envelopes professionally printed with your return address.

In two short weeks, you will have elegant, custom made wedding invitations with a beautiful photo of you & your fiancé or with our stunning watercolor designs to send to all of your family and friends. You will also have a treasured keepsake for memory album.
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What are my Design Options for Wedding Invitations?
To create your invitations, we use your selections and preferences of the following items: design style, paper color, ribbon type and color (for vellum overlay designs), font preference & wording. We take your selections and your photo or artwork and we custom design the layout for every order. Your photo does not have to look like or "fit into" one of our designs - every order is custom designed for each client. All finished invitations measure 5-3/8 x 7-7/8 (almost 5-1/2 x 8).

If you like one of the layouts in the online catalog, you can tell us to emulate it as closely as possible - you can use any of our ideas for your invitation or combine our ideas with your own preferences in paper color, ribbon, font and wording to make your invitation as special and unique as your special day will be!

Your options include:

  1. Design Style- First, you decide what style of invitation you want. There are samples of each kind we offer in the online product catalog and you may request samples of up to 2 styles at no charge. A brief description appears below - more extensive information is available in the online catalog.

  2. Photo, Artwork or Text Only - Next, you decide if you want to use a photograph, one of our beautiful watercolors, or if you prefer a text only design. You may use a photo of something other than yourselves if you prefer. One couple asked us to use a photo of the Rocky Mountains, another had us use a photo of the lights depicting the Twin Towers shortly after 9/11. As long as you provide the image, we can incorporate it into your unique wedding invitation design.

  3. Design Descriptions & Paper Options - Next, you choose the papers for your wedding invitations. The number of papers you select depends upon the design style you are creating.

    1. Single Layer Cardstock - you must choose a light color of paper so the wording will show crisply. White, ivory, natural cream, pink, light blue, even lavender would work fine. Let us know what you have in mind, we will let you know if it will work.

    2. Double Layer Cardstock - , you can select any color for the back card, the top should be light enough for the wording & artwork or photo to present beautifully.

    3. Triple Layer Cardstock - , we most often see the top and bottom layers as the same color, with a coordinating or contrasting color in the middle. A white back card, black for the center, then white again on top for instance. Any color combinations will work as long as the top layer is light enough for the wording. This is a stunning card!

    4. Invitation with Top Sheet - this invitation has a cardstock back and a sheet of either linen straight edged paper or a smooth finished deckled edge paper overlaying the cardstock. The back cardstock can be any color. The top sheet needs to be white, natural cream (a soft-off-white) or ivory.

    5. Invitation with Vellum Overlay - this design has three layers of paper tied together with ribbon. The back card is cardstock and you select the color. The middle sheet is either a straight-edged linen paper, a hand-torn deckled edge paper, or a hand-made paper with rose petals & twine. If you select the hand-torn deckled edge or straight edged linen, you select white, natural cream (a soft off-white) or ivory for the middle sheet. The hand made rose petal paper is a soft off-white. The top layer is a transparent vellum overlay. There is only one type of vellum, so there are no color selections to make with this.

    6. Layered Booklet Style - The layered booklet style can be created using straight-edged or booklet is backed with a layer of cardstock to give it substance. Wording is on each layer in the booklet and generally includes The Ceremony invitation, The Reception information & Directions. It can be topped with a vellum overlay with wording, artwork or a photo. The booklet itself must be ordered in white, natural cream (soft off-white) or ivory. The cardstock backing it and the ribbon tying it can be any color.

    7. Layered Booklet over Layered Cardstock - This invitation is similar to the one above, with a white, cream or ivory booklet containing information about your Ceremony & Reception. However, the booklet is created in a smaller size than the one above, then put on top of layered cardstock. The reason you may want to order this invitation vs. the regular booklet is to enable you to use more color in the invitation. The layered cardstock can be in any color combination - including all darker colors if you want. The wording all appears in the booklet, which is tied to the layered cardstock with ribbon.

  4. Ribbon Type and Color - Some invitation styles include ribbon. There are several styles and colors to choose from. Satin ribbon in any color we stock is included in the price of your invitations. Sheer organza ribbons, gold edge taffeta or gold or silver edged sheer ribbons & all other ribbons have an extra charge (unless you are buying the booklet styles of invitations in which you may select any ribbon style or color included with the price). If you are selecting an invitation style that does not come with ribbon, you may add ribbon for an additional charge.

    You can see samples of ribbons including ginghams, sheer organzas, embroidered ribbons and those with gold and silver edges throughout the online Product Catalog or by selecting the PAPER & RIBBON tab off the top bar. Once you select PAPER & RIBBON, the PAPER page appears. There is a button on the bottom left that says RIBBON. Press this and you will have your RIBBON page. Occasionally we offer new options that will appear on the ORDER FORM before they appear on the RIBBON page! We'd be happy to send you a sample of any ribbon we offer.

  5. Typestyle or Font - your wedding invitations can be created using any one of the 20 fonts that we currently offer. You may select two fonts if you want - one for your names & maybe your introductory line - and another for the body of the invitation wording. You can view your options in the Typestyle Selection Table accessible here, throughout the online Product Catalog or from the Wedding Invitation Order Form. If you have a typestyle or font you prefer that we don't have listed, we'd be happy to use it - let us know and we'll see if we have it in-house or you can email it to us. Remember that your Return Address is printed on your envelope flap in the same font as your invitations, included with the price of your order. An elegant, finishing touch.

  6. Wording - your wedding invitations are a personal creation from you & your fiancé to your extended family and friends. We want to help you make them as classic and formal or as fun and creative as you want them to be. We have several wording suggestions for you, which you can look at on the Wedding Invitation Order Form. But these are uniquely yours - feel free to use our ideas as they are, or as inspiration for wording of your own. You may use them, edit them, combine them or ignore them in coming up with the feeling you want your invitations to portray.


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Ordering Custom Wedding Invitations

    How Early Should I Mail My Wedding Invitations?
    You should mail your invitations at least 6 weeks prior to your wedding date. If you have guests coming from out of town who will have to make travel arrangements, it is courteous & customary to send them 8 weeks prior to the date so they may secure the lowest airfares. If your wedding is anywhere near a holiday (including labor day, memorial day, 4th of July, etc.) then it is even more important to send your invitations 8 weeks prior to the date. If you cannot send your invitations this far in advance, then a "Save the Date" card should be sent to guests that must travel - and to all guests if your event is near a national holiday.

  • When Should I Order My Wedding Invitations?
    You need to order your invitations at least 3 weeks before you want them in your hand. Consider the time you need to address your envelopes when calculating when to place your order.

    You will have your online proof of your invitations in 5 - 7 days. Once we have approval on the proof, we require 7 - 10 days to ship them. Shipping time ranges from 2 - 5 days depending on your location in the country. Rush Processing is available for a fee - let us know you have a RUSH order and when you want to have the invitations in hand. We will let you know if we can accommodate your request & what the fee will be. Rush Shipping of 2 day or overnight is also available if you are pressed for time.

  • Can I Order Envelopes Ahead of Time for Wedding Invitations?
    Yes! Call anytime to pre-order envelopes for your wedding invitations, or you can order securely online or by mail. They will be shipped within 2 - 3 business days after your order is received. There is a deposit of 20 cents per envelope, which is fully credited to your final order, and a flat shipping rate of $5 regardless of quantity. You will need to decide what color envelopes you want, the size, quantity and the typestyle you want to use so we can print your return address on them in the same font as your invitations will use.

  • How should I send my invitation order?
    Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - securely online, over the phone or by mail. Please see the Ordering Your Products information in the General Information Section for details on how to order online, how to order by phone or how to order by mail. If you need help making your decisions, call or email us at anytime. If you are ordering photo wedding invitations, please read All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photograph.

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Minimum Quantities & Reorders for Wedding Invitations
For Wedding Invitations, we have a minimum initial order requirement of either quantity 35 or an order total of $100. You can meet these minimums with more than one product - by ordering response or reception cards, thank you notes for your wedding, or a keepsake of your invitation at the time of your order. If you really love our invitations but you cannot meet the minimum order requirements send us an email or give us a call - we will accept orders less than the minimum when our workload allows.

You can reorder any number of wedding invitations you require at anytime - no minimums, no setup fees. Turn around times for reorders run 5 - 7 business days depending on our workload.
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Turnaround Time for Wedding Invitations
You will have your online proof of your wedding invitations in 5 - 7 days. Once we have approval on the proof, we require 7 - 10 days to ship them. Shipping time ranges from 2 - 5 days depending on your location in the country. The holiday season is very busy for us, and during the months of November and December, turnaround times for may run a few days longer. Rush shipment options of overnight and 2 day are available at the time of order. Rush shipping applies only to shipping and not to the production of your invitations. Rush processing is available for a fee. If you require Rush Processing, please let us know at the time of your order and we will let you know the fee and if we can accommodate your request.
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Proofs - Can I get an online proof of my Wedding Invitations before they are printed?
Yes! An online proof of your wedding invitation is included at no charge. We want to make sure all your information is accurate and that you approve of the design and layout. There is no charge to make changes to text or layout after the proof and before printing. If you decide you want to use a different photo however, and we have to completely recreate the design, there is a $25 re-design fee that may apply. Some customers request a physical proof be mailed to them, which we are more than happy to do but of course will delay the printing of your order until we have your approval.
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What is included in the price of my Wedding Invitation Order?
Everything you need for your wedding invitation is included in the price: the cardstock & papers that make up the invitation, the layout & printing of your design in black ink & ribbon if included with your design selection.

Envelopes are included and we print your return address on the envelope flap, at no charge, using the same font as your invitation. Extra envelopes are always included to allow for addressing errors.

In addition, we provide the service of assembling your invitations & tying the ribbons - at no additional fee. Wedding invitation orders may not participate in the self-assembly discount option we have for our other products. Assembly is very time consuming - particularly for the layered & booklet styles - and we use this time in assembly to inspect every invitation, every layer to ensure they are all just right.

What is not included in the price?
Ribbons are included in some of the invitation styles but not others. The cardstock only invitations - with one, two or three layers do not include ribbon, but ribbon can be added for an additional charge. Please see the Pricing section or the Order Form for current pricing.

Black ink is included in the price of your order. Colored ink is an additional charge.

For Style 4 - Invitation with Ivory or White Top-Sheet & Ribbon - The top sheet is created with linen paper with a straight bottom edge. If you want the hand-torn deckled edge paper, there is an additional charge. If you want the top layer to be cardstock, you need to order Style 2 - Double Layer Cardstock and add the optional ribbon.

For Style 5 - Invitation with Vellum Overlay and Ribbon - This invitation has three papers - the back card in cardstock color of your choice, the vellum overlay with your wording, and a middle sheet in ivory, cream or white if your cardstock is not ivory, cream or white. This middle sheet is created using a linen paper with a straight-edge bottom. If you want the hand-torn deckled edge bottom or the hand-made paper with rose petals & twine for your middle sheet, there is an additional charge.

Matching Accessories such as Response Cards, Reception Cards, Direction Cards, Table Cards, Place Cards, Menus & Programs can all be added to your order. Accessory cards can be one, two or three layers. Ribbon can be added to the accessories to match your invitations.
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ALL ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPH FOR YOUR WEDDING INVITATIONS
Click here to jump to the information - All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photograph in the General Information section.
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Photo Thank You Card Creation - how does the process work?
The process to create your beautiful, custom designed photo thank you notes is very simple. There are a few decisions to make - selecting the design layout you prefer, the card size, style & color you want, selecting a font, and your wording. There are a couple of optional items you can select - such as adding ribbon to the card, deciding add text to the inside of the card, or requesting colored ink. If at any time you want help with your decisions, you can call us to discuss your options. Next, you can place your order online, by phone, or mail & send your photo by mail or email, and the rest is up to us!

We create your layout and design around your photo. We do all of the work needed on your photo to make your note cards absolutely beautiful. Your photo does not have to be professional, it does not have to be perfect and it does not have to be black and white. We convert it to black and white if needed for the design you want, we crop it, resize it, touch it up and optimize it. We take out unnecessary objects in the background (if you want us to) such as people, tables, buildings, walls, etc. If your photo is professional, you have the responsibility to obtain permission to use that photo. We assume no liability for its use.

We will send you an online proof, then you approve it or request changes. Once approved, we print, process, and ship them off to you - fully assembled if you ordered them with ribbon - ready to go, with matching or coordinating envelopes professionally printed with your return address.

In a few short days, you will have elegant, custom made thank you notes with a beautiful photo to send to all of your family and friends. You will also have a treasured keepsake for your memory books.

For important information including: cropping, retouching, getting your photos returned, sending digital photos electronically, sending more than one, and sending professional photos, please read the section entitled All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photographs in the General Information section if you are a bride, individual or family & please read All About Your Baby's Photograph & Helpful Hints on Taking Your Baby's Photo if the photo thank you notes are for a new baby.
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Photo Thank You & Note Card Designs - I like the layout of one sample but the card style & color of another, what are my design options?
If you like one of the layouts in the online catalog but you want that layout with a different card style, color, different font or with different ribbon - that is fine. Every order is custom made using your preferences in card style, color, font choice, etc. We create the layout around your photo & text, then send you an online proof to ensure your cards are exactly how you want them. Layout and text changes can be made during the proof process, prior to printing with no problem.
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How Do I Order My Photo Thank You Cards?

How should I send my order?
Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - securely online, over the phone or by mail. Please see the Ordering Your Products information in the General Information Section for details on how to order online, how to order by phone or how to order by mail. If you need help making your decisions, call or email us at anytime.
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Minimum Quantities & Reordering Additional Photo Thank You Notes
For photo note cards, we have a minimum initial order requirement of quantity 35. You can reorder any number you require at anytime - no minimums, no setup fees. Turn around times for reorders run 3 - 5 business days depending on our workload.
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Turnaround Time for Photo Thank You Note Cards
Normal turnaround time for photo note cards is 2 - 4 business days for the online proof to be delivered and approximately 3 business days after proof approval for shipment, that is 5 - 7 business days in house plus shipping. See Rush Orders below if you are in a hurry! The holiday season is very busy for us, and during the months of November and December, turnaround times may run a few days longer.

Rush Orders - Rush shipment options of overnight and 2 day are available at the time of order. Rush shipping applies only to shipping and not to the production of your product. Rush processing can be done for an additional fee. If you require rush processing & rush shipment, please let us know the date you need your order in your hand, either by calling us or by putting the information in the COMMENTS section of your order form & we will let you know if we can accommodate you and what the fee will be. Rush processing normally runs $10 - $15 PLUS the cost of rush shipping.
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Proofs - Can I get an online proof of my Photo Thank You Cards before they are printed?
Yes! An online proof of your design is included at no charge. We want to make sure all your information is accurate and that you approve of the design and layout. There is no charge to make changes to text or layout after the proof and before printing. If you decide you want to use a different photo however, and we have to completely recreate the design, there is a $25 re-design fee that may apply. Some people request a physical proof be mailed to them which we are more than happy to do.
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What is included in the price of my Photo Thank You Cards?
Everything you need is included in the price: your cards, the printing, matching envelopes with your return address printed on the envelope flap, at no charge, using the same font as your thank you cards. Extra envelopes are always included to allow for addressing errors. Ribbons are optional and if you purchase them, tying the ribbons through the cards is included in their price.

Discounts are available if you omit the return address printing. See the Pricing section or the Order Form for current discount rates.

What is not included in the price?
Ribbons are not included in the price of your cards. They are optional. If you would like to add them, you can see pricing in the Pricing section or on the Order Form. Tying the ribbons through the cards is included in their price.
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Photo Holiday Cards & Christmas Cards - how does the process work?
The process to have your beautiful, custom designed photo holiday cards created is very simple. There are a few decisions for you to make - selecting the design layout you prefer, the paper color you want, card size, ribbon type & color, your font choice and your wording. If at any time you want help with your decisions, you can call us to discuss your options. Next, you can place your order online, by phone or mail & send your photo by mail or email, and the rest is up to us!

We create your layout and design around your photo and we do all of the work needed on your photo to make your photo holiday or Christmas cards absolutely beautiful. Your photo does not have to be professional, it does not have to be perfect and it does not have to be black and white. We convert it to black and white if needed for the design you want, we crop it, resize it, touch it up and optimize it. We take out unnecessary objects in the background - blankets, cribs, people, tables, couches, walls, etc.

Send us a photo you love and we will make it the most beautiful holiday card possible. We will send you an online proof, then you approve it or request changes. Once approved, we print, process, and ship them off to you - fully assembled and ready to go, with matching or coordinating envelopes professionally printed with your return address.

In a few short days, you will have elegant, custom made holiday cards with a beautiful photo to send to all of your family and friends. You will also have a treasured keepsake for your family.
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Photo Holiday & Christmas Card Designs - I like the layout of one sample but the colors of another, what are my design options?
If you like one of the layouts in the online catalog but you want it made with a different color paper, different font or with different ribbon - that is fine. Every order is custom made around your photograph & your selections of paper color, ribbon & font. We design the layout using your choices and your holiday greeting - then send you an online proof to ensure your card is exactly how you want it. Layout and text changes can be made during the proof process, prior to printing with no problem.
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How Do I Order Photo Holiday or Christmas Cards?

How should I send my holiday card order?
Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - securely online, over the phone or by mail. Please see the Ordering Your Products information in the General Information Section for details on how to order online, how to order by phone or how to order by mail. If you need help making your decisions, call or email us at anytime.
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Minimum Quantities & Reordering Additional Baby Shower Invitations
For holiday cards, , we have a minimum initial order requirement of quantity 35. You can reorder any number you require at anytime - no minimums, no setup fees. Turn around times for reorders during November & December run 5 business days.
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Turnaround Time for Baby and Bridal Shower Invitations
Turnaround time photo holiday cards runs 3 - 5 business days for the online proof to be delivered and 3 - 5 business days after proof approval for shipment, that is 6 - 10 business days in house plus shipping. The holiday season is very busy for us, and during the months of November and December, turnaround times run a few days longer than normal. If you order by December 5th, you will have your order in plenty of time to mail your cards for delivery prior to Christmas. We will let you know when we receive your order what the estimated turnaround time is during these months. See Rush Orders below if you are in a hurry!

Rush Orders - Rush shipment options of overnight and 2 day are available at the time of order. Rush shipping applies only to shipping and not to the production of your product. Rush processing can be done for an additional fee. If you require rush processing & rush shipment, please let us know the date you need your order in your hand, either by calling us or by putting the information in the COMMENTS section of your order form & we will let you know if we can accommodate you and what the fee will be. Rush processing runs $10 - $25 PLUS the cost of rush shipping depending on the size of the order and how quickly the order must be produced.
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Proofs - Can I get an online proof of my Holiday or Christmas Cards before they are printed?
Yes! An online proof of your holiday cards is included at no charge. We want to make sure all your information is accurate and that you approve of the design and layout. There is no charge to make changes to text or layout after the proof and before printing. If you decide you want to use a different photo however, and we have to completely recreate the design, there is a $25 re-design fee that may apply. Some people request a physical proof be mailed to them which we are more than happy to do if time permits.
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What is included in the price of my Photo Holiday and Christmas Cards?
Everything you need is included in the price: the cardstock that makes up the back layer, the vellum overlay, a middle sheet if needed and the satin ribbon. Envelopes are included and we print your return address on the envelope flap, at no charge, using the same font as your holiday cards. Extra envelopes are always included to allow for addressing errors. In addition, we provide the service of assembling your cards & tying the ribbons - at no additional fee.

Discounts are available if you omit the return address printing or if prefer to assemble your cards & tie the ribbons yourself, see the Pricing or the Order Form for current discount rates. It is not hard to tie the ribbons, but quite time consuming.

What is not included in the price?
There are specialty ribbons - including ginghams, sheers & embroidered ribbons - you can elect to use for your holiday cards in place of the satin ribbon which comes standard in the price. There is also deckled edge paper, which you can select for a fee instead of the straight edge middle-sheet, which is included. Current pricing for all products, their options & upgrades are listed on the website under the PRICING tab.
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All About Your Photograph for your Photo Holiday & Christmas Cards
Please read the section entitled All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photographs in the General Information section for important information including: cropping, retouching, getting your photos returned, sending digital photos electronically, sending more than one, and sending professional photos.

If your holiday or Christmas card will be used for a Birth Announcement / Holiday Card combination, please read All About Your Baby's Photograph & Helpful Hints on Taking Your Baby's Photo.
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Ordering - How Can I Order Invitations for Special Occasions that are not listed on your website?
You may call to order any product for any occasion at anytime. If you want to order online and you want a layered cardstock or vellum overlay style of card, you can use the Wedding Invitation Order Form. If you want a note card style invitation (which opens like a greeting card) please use the Thank You and Note Card order form.
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Minimum Quantities
The minimum quantity for any product is 35 cards. You can order in any increment over the minimum. Reorders have no minimum requirement and no setup fee.
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Turnaround Time
Turnaround time for invitations is normally 3 - 4 business days for an online proof and 3 - 4 business days after proof approval for us to ship. That is 6 - 8 days in house plus shipping time. Shipping is normally 2 - 4 days depending on your location. Rush processing and rush shipping are both available for a fee - call or email for a quote if you require rush processing. Let us know your product, quantity and date needed by, we will let you know if we can accommodate your request.
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Proofs - Can I get a proof of my invitation before it is printed?
Yes! Online proofs are emailed to you at no charge. Changes to text & layout can be done at this time. If you simply do not like the photo you selected and want us to start over, a $25 redesign fee may apply.
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Price - What is included in the price?
Use the Wedding Invitation Order form for pricing for layered cardstock or vellum overlay invitations or Thank You & Note card pricing for note card style invitations. Included are all the papers you need, your printing in black ink, matching or coordinating envelopes with your return address printed & assembly if you are purchasing an invitation style with ribbon.
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All About Your Photograph for your Special Occasion Invitation
Please read the section entitled All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photographs in the General Information section for important information including: cropping, retouching, getting your photos returned, sending digital photos electronically, sending more than one, and sending professional photos
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Requesting Samples
You may request samples free of charge for any of our products at anytime. Simply send us an email at questions@babiesandbrides.com or give us a call at 1-877-478-2229. Please see the guidelines below for each product area for specific information regarding the samples that are available.

  • Requesting Samples for Baby Products:
    We are happy to provide samples at no charge for Birth Announcements, Baby Shower Invitations and Baptism and Christening Invitations. Samples are also available at no charge for Thank You Notes and Stationery. We may not have samples pre-made of EVERY announcement that is online. But we have announcements ready to send for a boy or girl, in the large or small size, in all of the design layouts - Tender Moments, Here I Am or Little Angel, and in any cardstock color we carry. If you want a specific sample, it might take a bit longer to receive your samples than if you just say "for a boy" or "for a girl". We will always have samples of the Clara, the Gabi & the Zane - our most requested layouts.

  • Requesting Samples for Wedding Products:
    Samples for Bridal & Wedding Shower Invitations, Thank you notes and Stationery are available at no charge.

    Samples for Wedding Invitations may or may not be chargeable depending upon what you are requesting. We will send you a copy of up to 2 styles at no charge - but additional styles and color combinations will take longer and may result in a charge for processing and shipping. Let us know what you would like to see and we'll let you know if there will be any charges associated with the samples.

  • Samples for Holiday Cards:
    Samples of our holiday cards are available at no charge. We have samples of large and small cards, combination holiday and birth announcement cards, bridal and family cards.

  • Samples of Thank You Notes and Stationery:
    Samples of our Thank You Notes and Stationery are available at no charge. We have samples of the large and small cards, as well as our stationery, in each color and paper style offered.

Ordering Your Products

  • How should I send my invitation or announcement order?
    Once you know what you want to order, you can place your order several ways - over the phone, securely online or by mail.

  • Ordering Your Invitations or Announcements by Phone
    You may simply call us anytime to place your order. We are happy to take you through the options step by step and answer any questions for you along the way.

  • Ordering Online
    You can place your announcement or invitation order online through our secure ordering system by selecting ORDER FORM from the top bar of the website, then selecting ORDER ONLINE. Next, check the box for each of the products you'd like to order - baby announcements, shower invitations, wedding invitations and / or thank you notes or stationery, and keepsakes, etc. Once you have all of the products you'd like to order marked, then press CREATE ORDER FORM.

    The system will create an order form for you to order ALL of the products you selected, with step-by-step instructions and all of your options for each step. At the end of the form, press CONTINUE and it will give you a Confirmation Page with all the details for your Order. If you want to make changes, use the BACK button to go back to the order form, or if you are satisfied with your selections, press CONTINUE. You will be given a TOTALS page outlining the cost for your order. If you want to make changes, use the BACK button to return to the form - or press SUBMIT to send it to us.

    You will be sent an email confirmation within 24 hours along with any questions we may have at that time. Once we have everything we need - your order, your payment information and your photograph if applicable, we will begin work on your design, let you know if we have any questions and we'll deliver you an online proof. We ship 2 - 3 business days after proof approval.

    If you are ordering a design with a photograph online and need to send us your picture(s) - you can email or physically mail them to us. Both addresses show up on your "Thank You" page after your order has been successfully submitted. The order form also asks you how we can expect your photo(s) and we let you know via email when they arrive. For information on proper formats for your photos, sending more than one photo, etc. - please see About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photographs.

    Payment can be safely submitted with your order, you can snail mail it, or phone it in separately. See the Payment section for more information.

  • Ordering by Mail
    If you want to sit down with the order form, you can print it out using the "Order Offline" option on our site. From the ORDER FORM page, select ORDER OFFLINE, and then click on the product you would like to order. The order form will be displayed via Adobe Acrobat Reader, which must be installed prior to using this option. Most computer systems come standard with the program preloaded. Depending on what version of Adobe Reader you currently have, the Typestyle or Font Selection Table may not display OR print your font selections correctly - they may not look like the actual fonts will. You can correctly display the Typestyle or Font Selection Table from numerous areas throughout the Product Catalog and also you can see it displayed correctly in the ONLINE ORDER FORM. We are also happy to mail or fax you a copy of the order form upon request.

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All About Your Pictures & Sending Us Your Photographs
For photo birth announcements, please see the section All About Your Baby's Photograph in the Birth Announcement Section above. For all other products with photos, please read the information below.

  • Sending Us Your Photographs
    If you are ordering a design with a photograph and need to send us your picture(s) - you can email or physically mail them to us. Both addresses show up on your "Thank You" page after your order has been successfully submitted online. The order form also asks you how we can expect your photo(s) and we let you know via email when they arrive. If you are physically mailing your order, the address to send your order and photographs to can be found on the CONTACT US page or on the order form itself.

    We can also download your photos from share sites like Kodak EasyShare if you send us the link to your specific pictures.

    If you are emailing your photos - please attach them as a file to your email and do not "insert them as a picture" into the body or text of your email. We cannot extract them from the body of the email, or cut and paste them as those methods lose valuable resolution. They must be sent as an attachment.

    Please call if you need any assistance! We are happy to help.

  • What format should my photo be in?
    You can send either a digital or processed printed photo.

    For processed printed photos you can physically mail them to us or scan them into your computer at home and send them to us electronically via email. If you are scanning at home, please scan them in at a resolution of 200 - 300 dpi, which is what we do here.

    For digital photos, you can attach the photo to an email, physically send a CD or have us download the photo from a share site like Kodak EasyShare. You can send your digital photos in almost any format - .jpg .tif or .bmp are the most common. .jpg are the smallest and easiest to send. We don't find any quality difference in the formats once they go through are process and are printed.

    Please do not do any work on the photo before sending it to us. The artistic services we provide are part of what you pay for - and our process is very specific to get the photos to print beautifully on our papers. If you want to crop and recolor or convert your photo to black & white yourself and send it to us so we can see your vision for the end result that is fine, but please send the original as well. If you only have the "edited" version we certainly can work from it, we just prefer to have the original photos when possible.

  • Does my photo have to be black and white?
    No - if we are creating a black and white design for you, we will convert your color photo to black and white. You can send a black and white photo, but you do not have to. In fact, we sometimes do a bit of the work on the photo in color before converting it for the finished product.

  • Should I edit, crop or try to "fix" my photo before sending it to you?
    No - please do not do any work on the photo before sending it to us. The artistic services we provide are part of what you pay for - and our process is very specific to get the photos to print beautifully on the vellum paper. If you want to crop and recolor or convert your photo to black & white yourself and send it to us so we can see your vision for the end result that is fine, but please send the original as well. If you only have the "edited" version we certainly can work from it, we just prefer to have the original photos when possible.

  • Can I send more than one photo and let you choose which will work best?
    YES! Please mark your preferences in order on the back of the photos, or if you are sending them digitally let us know your preferences in your email. We will use the best photo for the design you've selected and will make every effort to use your first or second choice. Try to limit what you send to 3 - 5 favorites, but you can send more if you just can't decide. Don't send any photos that you don't want us to use!

  • What if my photo isn't perfect - none of the photos I took look like your samples!
    We don't expect your photos to look like our finished products! We convert, crop, resize, touch-up, take-out and lighten things in your picture to create your announcements & invitations. We can remove scratches, marks, blemishes, spots and remove unnecessary objects from the background (cribs, walls, pillows, hands, people, tables, etc.). Don't worry if your photo isn't perfect - making your photos work well for your invitations or announcements is a big part of the artistic service we provide for you.

    Every order is individually designed. We don't try and force your photograph into one of our layouts - we optimize your photo, then create your announcement or invitation layout around it… however, a little prep work goes a long way. Consider the suggestions in our Helpful Hints on Taking the Pictures for your Photo Birth Announcements to ensure you begin with the best photo possible for your baby's birth announcements and see Helpful Hints for Your Invitation Photo for Bridal Shower, Baby Shower or Wedding Invitation Photographs.

  • Can I send a professional photo?
    YES! However, it is your responsibility to obtain permission for using the photo from the photographer or studio. By sending us a professional photo, you acknowledge and agree that you have obtained necessary permissions and take full responsibility for using the photo.

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What is Included with My Order
Everything you need is included in the standard pricing of your order. All of the cardstock & papers you need, your printed design on vellum or cardstock (whichever you ordered), satin ribbon for all vellum overlay designs, envelopes that either match your cardstock or coordinate, extra envelopes to allow for addressing mistakes, return address printing on your envelope flaps and full product assembly.

Discounts are available. If you would like to omit the return address printing on your envelope flaps or if you want to tie the ribbons yourself, you can save. Self-assembly discounts are not available for wedding invitations. Please refer to the Pricing section or the pricing on the Order Form for your product for current discount rates.
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Minimum Quantities
All invitations, announcements, holiday cards, stationery & thank you notes have a minimum initial order requirement of either 35 cards - or an order total of $100. If needed, you can meet minimum $100 order total by ordering more than one product - such as birth announcements & thank you notes, or birth announcements and a keepsake. You can order in any increment above the minimum number, you do not have to order in sets. Keepsakes have a minimum quantity of 1. Reorders can be placed for any number of cards with no minimums and no set up fees.

If you cannot meet the minimum order but really want to order our cards, please call or send an email. We will accept orders less than the minimum quantity as our workload allows.
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Turnaround Times
Turnaround times are product dependent. Normal turnaround times appear below. RUSH Processing and RUSH shipment options are available - please see the next section for information.

Turnaround for photo birth announcements, baptism & christening invitations, baby shower invitations & bridal shower invitations run 2 - 3 days for your online proof & shipment 2 - 3 days after proof approval. Orders received in late November & December that are combination holiday cards / birth announcements may run 2 -3 days longer due to the volume of orders we process at this time of year.

Thank you notes and stationery run 3 - 4 days for your online proof & shipment 2 - 3 days after proof approval.

Holiday cards run 4 - 5 days for your online proof, shipment 4 - 5 days after proof approval. If you are ordering holiday cards past the December 5th deadline, which ensures delivery by mid-December, we will let you know what your expected delivery time is once we receive your order.

Wedding invitations run 5 - 7 days for online proof and shipment 7 - 10 days after proof approval.

RUSH Processing
If you require a RUSH on the creation and processing of your order - as well as rush shipping - we will most likely be able to accommodate your request. Give us the date that you need the product in your hand - you can call, email or send us the information in the COMMENTS section of your order form. Put RUSH - Order Needed By and the date you need the order by. At that time, we will contact you and let you know if we can accommodate the request and what the RUSH processing fee will be. Normal RUSH fees run $10 - $15 per order.
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Shipping Options
Standard shipping is normally done via UPS Ground - we can use US Postal Service Priority Mail if it will result in a significantly faster delivery for you. US Postal packages cannot be tracked, so if there is an issue, it is more difficult to resolve. We prefer UPS for that reason, but happy to send USPS if it makes sense to do so.There are options are on each order form for guaranteed 2 - 3 day UPS shipping or for overnight delivery. These rush shipment options apply to shipping only - not to processing your order. Overnight delivery means once your product is produced, it will be shipped overnight - not that it will be created, printed, assembled and shipped to you in one day. Charges for shipping are product, quantity and method dependent and will appear on the order form. You can change your selected method of shipping prior to submitting your order.
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Making Payment
Payment is required on all orders at the time of ordering. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, personal or business checks and money orders. You can submit your credit card information securely online with your order, phone in your payment separately or snail mail your credit card information or your check.

Checks are deposited when received, credit cards are processed at the time of proof approval. All orders are guaranteed and can be returned in their original condition within 10 days for a full refund. Payment must be received before any work will begin on your order.
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Return Policy, Mistakes on Products & Our Satisfaction Guarantee
We are committed to the highest standards of doing business. Our products are produced with unbelievable care - every card, every announcement and invitation is individually inspected before it leaves our offices. We make every effort to ensure there are no data errors on products that leave our doors. They are looked at by the designer, by a second employee and then are proofed by you. However, if one is missed and there is a mistake on your final order, we will correct it as quickly as possible and send you any replacement pieces needed. If the error is our mistake, there will be no charge for the replacement pieces required and we will get them to you as quickly as possible - normally overnight. If the error is due to incorrect information supplied by you, then we will provide the replacement pieces at the lowest possible cost.

Babies and Brides would like you to know that we have never had a product returned for a refund in the 8 years we have been creating these beautiful cards. However, if you are unhappy with your order for any reason, OTHER than a text mistake that was on an e-proof that you approved or information you submitted incorrectly, you may return it - in its entirety and original condition - for a full refund within 10 business days.
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Why Should I Choose Babies and Brides to Create my Baby Announcements or Invitations?
We offer the highest quality products and outstanding customer service. We are completely committed to the highest standards of conducting business and to the highest standards of product creation. We back this with 8 years of satisfied customers, limitless customer testimonials & referrals - and an unconditional quality satisfaction guarantee. We promise to create your products with the same commitment and care we use to create each and every order.

  • Quality. Your order will be personally custom designed by the owner of the company who has extensive experience in graphic arts, in computer technology and in creating these beautiful cards. We couple the depth of that experience and the resulting beautiful designs with the finest materials to create classic and elegant cards that are simply stunning. We then use the best printing process available - not laser printers - and the results are incredible! Each card is individually inspected before it comes to you. Our products are produced and finished with unbelievable care.

  • Customer Service & Commitment. You may speak directly with your designer at any time. That means you can speak directly with the owner of the company at any time. No run around, no wasted time, no having to explain your request to multiple people multiple times as you are transferred from one to the other. You get the absolute best service possible - every customer, every order, every time.

    We are completely committed to the success of our business and that means we are completely committed to the satisfaction our customers. Most of our customers take the time to email us after they receive their order and tell us that what they received far exceeded their expectations. We care about what we do and what we create and it will show in your order.

  • Satisfaction Guaranteed. Babies and Brides would like to let you know that we have never had a product returned in the 8 years we have been in business. However, if you are unhappy with your order for any reason, OTHER than a text error on a proof that you approved or incorrect information you submitted on your order form, you may return it - in its entirety and original condition - for a full refund within 10 business days of delivery.

Please take a moment to read some of our Customer Testimonials for feedback from customers just like you. Customers who loved the look of the products, some who were concerned about ordering online - read what they have to say about their products & their experience with us! And as always, call us any time if you have questions or need help in making your decisions. Thank you again for visiting our site. We look forward to creating something extraordinary for you!
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Birth Announcements | Baby Shower Invitations | Wedding Invitations | Wedding Shower Invitations | Thank you & note cards | Stationery | Holiday Cards | Keepsakes | Baptism & Christening Invitations | Font List| Wording Suggestions- Birth Announcements