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The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast
The Preferred List is a podcast that pulls back the curtain on the wedding industry, featuring honest conversations with the pros behind the scenes. From planners to photographers to DJs and florists, we dive into the real stories, lessons, and moments that make weddings unforgettable — and what it really takes to earn a spot on the list.
The Preferred List: A Wedding Vendor Podcast
Episode 35 Turning Details Into Timeless Moments: RSVP Love
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A wedding invitation is more than paper—it’s the prologue to your celebration. We sit down with Ashley, the stationer behind RSVP Love, to unpack how thoughtful design, clear information, and smart timelines turn stationery into a powerful guest experience. From the first save the date to the last seating chart, Ashley shows how details can be beautiful, functional, and on time.
We dig into the real differences between fully custom and semi-custom suites, the art of choosing fonts, textures, and color without chasing trends, and why simplicity creates timeless results you’ll love years from now. Ashley shares her workflow for discovery and revisions, how she builds buffers around venue headcounts and USPS slowdowns, and the practical ways to avoid mailing pitfalls with wax seals, ribbons, and heavy embellishments. She also highlights the most overlooked pieces—day-of print like menus, bar signs, and welcome signage—that quietly remove friction and elevate your guests’ experience.
Collaboration matters. We talk about syncing with planners and photographers so the look that starts in the mailbox flows all the way to the reception. Ashley even breaks down her favorite styling advice for photographers: flat lays aren’t flat. Add depth, guide the eye, and let the hero pieces shine. Along the way, we cover guest list management, quality control, Canva pitfalls, and the value of carrying motifs and monograms across every touchpoint. Most of all, Ashley reminds us to plan for a marriage, not just a wedding, and to choose details that mean something.
Enjoy the conversation, share it with a friend who’s planning, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review so we can keep bringing you smart, practical insights from the wedding industry.
https://www.rsvp-love.com/
https://www.instagram.com/rsvp_love/
Welcome And Venue Spotlight
SPEAKER_01Welcome to the Preferred List, a podcast about the people behind the best wedding days. I'm James, a wedding filmmaker. I've spent years in the industry working alongside incredible vendors, and this show it's all about real conversations with the ones who make it happen. Whether you're a vendor or a couple, you'll get honest insight, good stories, and maybe a little inspiration along the way. Let's meet today's wedding vendor. Hey Ashley, how's it going?
SPEAKER_00Hey James, thanks so much for having me.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'm so glad to have Ashley on. She runs RSVP. Love. She does custom stationery. We're gonna get into all that. We're gonna learn what a stationer is. There's an R in there, stationer. Um I'm so excited because your stuff is just so good. Every time I see it on Instagram, I'm like, yep, love it, love it.
Introducing Ashley And RSVP Love
SPEAKER_00Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um, but before we do, we are here at the booking house. The booking house is an industrial, modern chic wedding and event space in Mannheim, PA, rich with character and history. It was originally built in 1884 as the old General Cigar Company warehouse. The venue blends historic charm with contemporary style across 15,000 square feet, and it's centrally located in an easy drive from Philadelphia, Westchester, New Jersey, Maryland, and even New York City in just under three hours, serving both local couples and destination celebrations. It's perfect for intimate gatherings and even large gatherings of up to 250 guests. The booking house offers separate spaces for your ceremony, cocktailer, and reception all on one property. It's open year-round, and their newly added atrium brings an open-air feel without the weather worries. And an experienced caring team providing in-house bartending and coordinating. They're dedicated to making every detail seamless so you can enjoy an unforgettable day. And I will say, it's just so fun to meet other vendors in venue spaces that are close by that we love working at. For a minute. For a minute.
SPEAKER_00We had summer and start of school. I know.
Origin Story And Early Lessons
SPEAKER_01And then I reached out and you're like, sorry, I'm busy for like a month and a half. And I was like, okay, cool, we'll get this. We'll figure it out. We will figure it out, I promise.
SPEAKER_00We have like weird wedding season compared to everybody else sometimes. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, I get that. Um, so tell me about RSVP Love. Where did this whole stationer thing start for you?
SPEAKER_00Right. So uh I went to school for graphic design many, many moons ago, uh over 20 years ago. Um, so while I was in school for graphic design trying to figure out which segue of design I would go down, I actually had a cousin that was getting married, and she was like, hey, you're in school for design. Can you make our wedding programs? And I was like, Of course I can. Like I've done that so many times. Um did not know what I was doing at all. Um, in fact, it's kind of a funny story. They picked this like really beautiful paper that I found at the boutique Michaels. I don't know if you've heard of it, you know. The classy paper. And it was this really beautiful shimmer, and I had a printer at the time, and I start printing these programs off while the ink would not like adhere to the paper. So I had like 150 programs spread out on my apartment floor, just praying that they would dry in time for the wedding.
SPEAKER_01Um, so like barely like walk through.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. I was like, page one, page three is over here. Like uh, so yeah, and I still chose it even after that disaster.
SPEAKER_01And then Well, you probably have a nicer printer, I'm a soon. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00It goes a lot smoother now. But um, so that kind of gave me the bug. Um, I was also engaged at the time to my high school sweetheart. So we were planning our wedding and kind of going through the motions of of wedding planning, going, there's no like where to really get invitations. There were like some small shops that you would go, and they'd have these huge books, and you would look through the books, and nothing was jumping out at me. And I'm pretty sure it was my mom who was like, You could obviously do this.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
What A Stationer Actually Does
SPEAKER_00So I was like, right. So I ended up creating all of our wedding stationery um and just kind of going from there. And over the years, it just kind of evolved from doing things for relatives or friends and friends of friends, and and taking a big leap of faith at one point. So um, yeah, it's funny because a lot of people are like, well, what is a stationer? Um, and I always say it's it's stationary with an E. A, stationary with an A means you're standing in one place. Stationary with an E with a space. Because I'm terrible at spelling. We'll just blame it on autocorrect when it's wrong. Um, but that is like fully encompassing for me from everything from save the dates to actual invitations, um, different printing methods, different papers, um, doing the assembly, mailing, um, all the way to day of print, and that can be anything from those programs um to large seating chart installations um that we do on our laser printer. So um all sorts of fun stuff. Get to use with, you know, different materials. It's not all, it's not all paper anymore.
SPEAKER_01So I'm curious, like when you were in your apartment with those like 150, maybe there was like 300 pieces of paper just like scattered everywhere. Were you sitting in that moment, like, yeah, I could see myself 20 years later like still doing this? Or was it just like, what have I gotten myself into? Or maybe it's some of both.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think a little bit of both. What did I get myself into? But just the the process for me, I think is what is continually drives me to stay in this industry, is is getting to work with couples. And if it's something small, like programs where I'm taking that off of their plate or their save the dates or going to the post office for them, it's the process for me that um makes it all worth it. So um even even in those uh situations where I'm just like, what of what did I get myself into? How can I figure out how to get out of this? Um, I enjoy the process.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, I'd have to imagine I mean it this is true for everything, but the monotony of like folding 150 like pieces of paper.
SPEAKER_00So true.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's like, oh man. Yeah, I love the design, but like this part of it needs to be automated for sure.
SPEAKER_00My husband, bless his heart, like he has been with me from the very beginning. Yes, getting paid zero dollars. Um as as the spouses usually no, um, yeah, so it's it's not for everyone because that that sort of thing can get mundane, but also in that is the artisan part of it where it's like these are being crafted by hand, you know, they're not hitting a machine. Um, and there's a lot of love that it's going into the details for you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, when you're sitting back and you're seeing that, like uh, you know, unfortunately, you're seeing your finished product a lot of times in someone else's finished product in like photos or videos or something. Um but I'm curious, like when you're seeing that all put together in that curated flat lay with the florals and everything, like what are you sitting there thinking when you're seeing that kind of all come together for the couple?
Process, Craft, And Seeing The Work Photographed
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I I wish that people could see how long the process takes, you know, even from the initial consultation with couples, like, are we a good fit? Is this what you're looking for? How can I serve you best? Um, to sifting through all their information, all their details, making sure that there's nothing left unturned so their guests are getting the best experience, and then going through that printing process, the assembly process, mailing, praying that they get there through USPS, love-hate relationship, but um, and then they're finally there, and it it's what is setting the tone for the day, and just seeing that in this one flat lay, it represents the whole vendor team. You know, it's the venue, it's the photographer, it's the videographer, um, it's the florals, it's jewelry. Everyone is kind of combined into this moment, and it's I don't take it lightly.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, because you could very easily be like, I'm just paper. Right. Yeah. But there's a lot more to it. Um, and I'm I'm curious, like, is there a way that you've found to kind of describe your style specifically?
Style: Classic Meets Modern Fine Art
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so for my style, I tend to lean to what I call like a classic but modern fine art style. Um, and that's just kind of taking my inspiration from old art. Um, we were just in Canada for a work trip with my husband, and we went to the Royal Museum, and they had some of the Dutch old master paintings. And so I'm always pulling inspiration from the old and trying to make it new and reflect what's going on in the industry and what's going on for our couples. Yeah. Um, but yeah, that's something about an invitation is so classic, is so timeless. And it's that piece of mail that we'll hopefully never stop receiving. Yeah. Um, you know, bills can go away and things like that. But hopefully, you know, when you see an envelope that looks different than the normal mail that you're getting, something sticks out in that and it just gets couple uh guests even more excited for a couple's big day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Are there ways that the I mean kind of like laid out where you're kind of getting inspiration from? How does that affect, you know, things like fonts, textures, um, you know, even the ways that you're kind of bringing colors into the mix too?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's I think for hopefully all vendors, we can kind of put some of our preferences aside and focus on what our couple is looking for. So occasionally there's things that my couples might lean to that, you know, it wouldn't be my first choice. Um, but I do try and guide them in that process of saying, hey, this sort of texture looks great in this image that you found on Instagram or something, but in reality, this is what it's gonna look like, or that's what this color is gonna look like.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. So it's almost like an in-hand, like, it might not be what you're thinking it's gonna be.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. Exactly. There's a lot of education that comes along the way, and you know, I know I'm not the only vendor that has to end up doing that for our couple.
SPEAKER_01I feel like I feel like I have to do it a lot too, because it's just um most couples have not done any video related things.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Just, I mean, the same, like they're probably have never ordered, you know, truly custom paper products.
SPEAKER_02Right, right, exactly.
Guiding Couples On Fonts, Textures, And Color
SPEAKER_01Like maybe they've ordered like a Christmas card or something off of like VistaPrint or something. Um, but like what you're doing is like truly, truly custom. Yeah. Um, when couples are coming to you in that like process, they're inquiring. Sounds like you know, part of that process is figuring out if you're a good fit.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Once you've figured out if you're a good fit, what's that process look like for them to design um, you know, the invitation suite or figure out like maybe even just like what products they need from you?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So we spend a lot of time digging into their information. Um, I think it kind of surprises couples, you know. They think, oh, yeah, I can just jump into this, the fun stuff I call it. Yeah. Um, the colors, the fonts, the wax seals, the ribbon color, all that stuff. Love it, of course. Um, but my one of my number one jobs is to really make sure that we're getting the information that their guests need. Um, that's gonna take away the extra text and the extra phone calls from couples, like, what does casual attire mean? You know, like let's talk about that. What does that really look like for your event? Um, each event is so different and unique. So I'm really sifting through that information um before we dive into the design process. Um, if couples choose to go the fully custom route, so two years ago I launched a semi-custom line, which is something I said I would never ever do.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
Inquiry To Design: Custom Vs Semi-Custom
SPEAKER_00Um, but it it's turned out to be a win-win for both myself cutting down on design time, um, and for couples as well, just have something that's probably a little bit more budget-friendly. Um, and that process goes really pretty quickly compared to a fully custom suite. Um, so custom suites can take about eight weeks to get through the design process, print, assembly, um, and then a semi-custom line can just be about half that time. So it really depends on you know when couples are coming to me. The earlier the better.
SPEAKER_01I was gonna ask, like, is there a like preferred, you know, are are they basing it off of when they should be sending the invitations out? Is like what timeline does that look like? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think that's a big misconception with timeline for sending uh invitations or save the dates. Um, I actually work backwards off of when your wedding date is, but when your final count is due to your venue. So that's different for each venue. That's different for um the type of wedding that a couple is having. So whether that's they're having a buffet, they're having a plated meal, or they're just doing a dessert uh buffet or something in the evening. Um, that all comes into play with their timeline. So I'm really creating something custom for each couple, just kind of based off of those few things. Um, and then I pack in extra time. So RSVPs are, you know, kind of the bane of my existence.
SPEAKER_01Um, yes.
SPEAKER_00I needed to incorporate it right alongside the love part, you know.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah, put them together for sure.
SPEAKER_00Position there.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um, so I always, you know, try and educate couples, like no matter how simple you make it, whether now it's an online RSVP or we put a stamp on the envelope and we make it pretty and we make the check boxes really simple, is people are still gonna hesitate to send that back in. So let's give you some cushion in your timeline. So you're not thinking, oh, it's four weeks out before the wedding and I need a final count. No, your final count to me is due like eight weeks out. So giving them that extra time in the in timeline.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it even seems like you're kind of building in a little bit of a fail-safe on your end of it, even though you're you're not necessarily like the planner, the coordinator, or someone from the venue.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. Yeah, it it helps us as well. Um, just different times of years um depending on the product that we might need to be printing. Um, print shops are getting backed up, just takes a little while longer. So I like to have that cushion of timeline in there. Um, seating charts are always kind of that big, you know, oh, I can't do it until the last minute. I always tell my couples start doing that as you're making your guest list. Believe it or not, it's gonna take off so much pressure those last few weeks of the wedding planning.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And as you're getting RSVPs back in, you can start taking them off of your table list and and start planning accordingly.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I mean, it seems like you, I mean, you've been doing this for a couple years, so you've learned a couple things.
Timelines, RSVPs, And Buffer Time
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes. In the almost 20 years, you know, I am grateful to be able to share some of that experience with my couples. You know, I'm trying and approach it where I'm a friend and they can come to me and vent, you know, weddings are tough. There's family stuff, there's just those dynamics. Um, even with wording, you know, there's they'll say, How do I word this family situation on my invitation? Um, so being there to be a sounding board, educate them, help them with those little details that they weren't thinking about, um, is one of the reasons why I do it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, it's so fun. And it's such a it could be a crazy time, it could be an easy time. Like you just never know what couples are kind of like managing in all of that too. Um when couples are in that reaching out process, uh, maybe they're just starting the like design process with you. Do you find a lot of them have like a lot of ideas? A lot of them kind of like they have no idea. And if they are on either side of that kind of spectrum of like design knowledge or preferences, like how do you help them kind of figure out what's the best design suite or products to kind of go with?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it's funny. I think it's usually about half and half of couples, some will just be like, This is my favorite part, this is what I'm so excited for. Um, you know, I I've been planning this in my Pinterest board the longest, and they're the most excited about this part. Um, and then the other half are like, I have no idea. That's why I hired you. I trust you. Um, anything you say is is golden, which you know, love that. But you know, I also I'm here to create something that's reflecting them as a couple as well.
SPEAKER_01As much as the like, I trust you is like fun, you're like, but I also want to honor you exactly through this too.
Seating Charts And Late-Stage Stress
SPEAKER_00Yes. So that's where that going through that information time is super helpful. I'm asking them questions about their relationship. What do they like to do for fun together? Um, what do they, you know, what is one word that they could use to describe their relationship? Um, and I think they're often taken aback by that. They didn't realize they were gonna have so much homework talking to the stationer. Um, but it really helps me get a sense of who they are as a couple. Um, and then kind of taking that and helping that guide their design process. If it's someone that is really just struggling and and doesn't really mind necessarily what it looks like, but still wants it to feel like it's them, then I'm gonna pull some of those things. If it's someone that is very um has already had their whole Pinterest board planned out with it, then I can kind of go off of their flow. I allow them to have the art direction a little bit more, um, and they feel like they're part of the process, which is really fun too.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because I feel like some some couples are like they want to be all in the whole time, and some are maybe like, eh.
SPEAKER_00Right. And some of their schedules, some of their careers just don't allow them to do that and to have the time to do that.
SPEAKER_01Um, could you kind of demystify a little bit of the difference between I know we kind of mentioned it before, but like that semi-custom to that full custom, and even just if you could for the couples that are listening, like what kind of couple is gonna kind of thrive off of those two different styles of stationery?
Being A Sounding Board For Family Dynamics
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So a semi-custom is a line of pre-made designs. Um, what I do with my designs is they can still change some things around. So we can still change some colors, we can still change fonts, take a monogram from one design, flip it over to another. Um, so there's a lot less uh moving pieces in that versus going fully custom. We're starting from scratch, it's a lot more in-depth. Um, I want to get the whole vision of what a couple is planning for their day, um, bringing their personalities into it. Um, and then there's usually additional artwork that's involved. Maybe it's a venue illustration or watercolor. Um so those things take a lot more time. So the couples that are kind of having a more simple event, I would say, um, kind of thrive off the semi-custom. They want a place where guests can find that information. They maybe have an online QR code that they can respond to. Um, versus the semi-cust I'm sorry, the fully custom is like that's their personality fully shining through and really catered to everything.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, or even if they just have like a specific idea, like you gotta go the fully custom route so you can really get that exact that fully into the stationary. Um it in the process where you're kind of developing the look, maybe the color scheme a little bit, maybe the fonts, um, is there kind of like a revision process with that and kind of what's that look like for couples?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so that's my favorite part of the process is um I'll send them two options based off of the things that we've discussed. Um, again, those design consultations are about an hour to an hour and a half long if it's uh semi-custom and if it's fully custom. We're we're closer to two hours and we're really digging in deep. So that way when we do get down to the actual proofing process, I don't want it to feel overwhelming for couples. I want them to be like, yes, this is what we talked about. I like this font over this font, change this here.
SPEAKER_01Like simple yeses and no's and not like big heavy design decisions.
Discovery, Homework, And Art Direction
SPEAKER_00Yes. I feel like it's the last thing that they need with all the other many decisions that they're making during the wedding planning process. Um, so like I said, I kind of give them that art direction back. In their hands for a little bit so they feel included in the process. It feels like part of them is shining through. And then we'll go back through. And usually within the next round, we've we've landed on something perfect. And then the rest of the suite will follow through if there's additional pieces that we need to create. But I'll just kind of present them with that main invitation piece first, again, to keep that stress down and not have so many options to think about off the bat.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. And there is, I mean, even if you just looked at like the paper choices.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Like I'm sure you could list like 10 like that.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_01And there's probably hundreds more.
SPEAKER_00So many colors. And it's like, what kind of sage green are you talking about? Like, here's our five different options.
SPEAKER_01So what would what would be helpful for couples to know? Maybe it's something paper related, maybe it's something printing related, but just like something that'd be helpful for them to kind of understand about the process. Or maybe there's a couple things that you're thinking that, like, hey, before you even like start trying to find someone or start trying to design anything, it's like if you know these couple things, you're gonna like kind of be off on the right, yeah, the right foot.
Revisions, Options, And Paper Choices
SPEAKER_00I think one thing is just this is probably the one sector of the industry where we're dependent on a third party to get a final product to its destination. So, meaning the postal service. So there's so many variables that can go along with that with postage, with you know, if they have a wax seal or oh, I saw this ribbon tied on, and what does that actually translate to? So um I think just knowing what that the postal service has a big uh part in in this part of the process. Um, having someone like me that can help you navigate those things. I'm watching, you know, prices on postage go up every six months. I'm telling you, well, this is over two ounces, so now you need another stamp. Um so I think that's the one of the parts that if a couple is trying to DIY, they end up getting pretty tripped up on, um, not knowing the ins and outs of the postal system.
SPEAKER_01I mean, it could be just as something as simple, like you said, it's a little overweight. Yes and they put one stamp on instead of two, and then it's a whole big mess.
SPEAKER_00Yes, they're getting returned or never show up. Um, so yeah, that's I would definitely say to just understand that a little bit more um to build in time. Build in time. Yeah. Um, it's certain times of year, especially right now what we're heading into with holiday season. So if you're sending out save the dates for next May, June, is knowing that, well, there's probably gonna take a little while longer.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, maybe don't do a plain white envelope that's just gonna get along stuck with the rest of holiday mail and people open it up in January, February and go, oh, this was actually a save the date or an invitation. I should have opened it sooner.
SPEAKER_01So how do you balance the design, creation, like the creativeness in all the whole process? And a part of that, like most of the stuff that you're making also has to be functional.
Postal Realities And Design For Mailing
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes, it's so true. And I know most of uh us vendors know what a solid shoot is, but some listeners might not understand what that is. But um, just kind of a day where we can all get together and showcase our work in different ways. And some of those shoots will involve things that might not be as practical for mailing purposes. So over the years I've tried to steer away from that. So when they see something on my Instagram and say, Oh, I want that big bow, I want that um, I don't know, big rhinestone thing on here, and I'll say, Well, that's gonna cost you quite a bit to mail through the system. Um so I try and keep that in mind. Um, if couples are really stuck on something, I will do my best to kind of help them navigate that and say, okay, I know you wanted this type of ribbon, but if we use this type of knot, it's not gonna be as cost, uh yeah, it's not gonna cost as much. So I'll try and guide them through that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I just feel like like there's a huge, huge difference sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes from what you see on Instagram, what you see on Pinterest. And to your point, like you could see the most elegant whatever it might be, bow, design, backdrop, envelope, but it's like it looks great for the flat light, and maybe it's something that you could include in the flat lay materials to be photographed, but it's not gonna necessarily be the thing that you want flying through the mail.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yes. Maybe it's not and even budget-wise, too. You know, they'll say, Oh yeah, I I wanted X, Y, and Z. And I'll say, Well, budget-wise, this is not gonna work, but this is what you could do, you know, instead. Um, I'm not here to have couples, you know, take out another line of credit to get a wax seal and a ribbon and pay five dollars for shipping a box or something. So um, I'm working within their budgets to kind of make some of those wants happen.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Is there any other part of the process that helps like the timelessness uh piece kind of hold true? So it's not just like, you know, this trend, that trend, these like trendy colors, but it's like when you look back on the photos, the flat life photos, or if you look back on just the process working with you, it's like we got steered in a direction that really like at any point, man, that would would still hold true in that timeless kind of manner.
Balancing Aesthetic, Function, And Budget
SPEAKER_00I think simplicity, I think um sometimes couples will come and they'll have, you know, 10 different colors in their color schemes. And I love them all, I love it all. But sometimes I'll just say, let's just reel it in and keep it simple. Your wedding day will speak for itself. This is setting the tone. Um, and so when you do look back on something, you know, having some of those more timeless colors, classic um fonts and things like that, that you're not gonna say, This is definitely, you know, from 2006. Like I look back on my wedding colors with a little bit of regret.
SPEAKER_01So those four colors. Yeah. Um, it is it is funny like how much the industry as a whole can kind of like push and pull things in different directions, especially as creatives. Like we're often pulling, like you said, inspiration from things. If our inspiration changes, like the stuff that we put together might change a little bit. Um do you think that there's like are there any sort of smaller details that couples are like overlooking that might really make a big difference in terms of their stationery or even like something like you're talking about the installations for uh the seating charts and things like that?
Timeless Over Trend: Simplicity Wins
SPEAKER_00I think day of print overall can tend to get overlooked. Um, when we go through that process, um it's usually a few weeks after um the invitations have been mailed, they're starting to get some responses back. And then I think reality is starting to set in for couples like this is happening, you know, the day is getting closer, and then realizing, oh, well, I forgot that we need signage for the bar. Um, I forgot that we need a sign, just a welcome sign. So I think that's a big thing that just gets overlooked. Um, and it's important because it just takes that pressure off of your guests of figuring out where do I go? What can I expect? What's for dinner? You know, there's the menu right there. Some people say, well, it's just a buffet. Well, let's do a menu on the back of the table number so people know what they're eating. Um, your guests, it just helps with the overall guest experience. And I think kind of towards that last like two-month stretch, couples are kind of exhausted from all the decision making, for sure, all the planning. Um, and so my job kind of to come back in and say, yeah, here's a few more decisions you have to make, but they're pretty easy because we've already done the design, everything's gonna feel cohesive now. This is the information that I need from you, and it'll just show up on your wedding day and make it so much easier.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. It's kind of funny because I feel like, and maybe correct me if I'm wrong, uh your part in all of this happens pretty early.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01For couples. Like it maybe, maybe they have their photographer, maybe they've just gotten their engagement photos, and they're then now they're trying to think like, okay, now we got to send these out. Is that kind of like the time frame that a lot of couples are reaching out to start the process?
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Um, usually it's about 12 to 18 months out from their wedding, um, especially if we're doing save the dates. So um that just helps kind of take that pressure off of couples is they know, okay, I already have, even though maybe I don't even have my photos yet, but I know I'm gonna have them done through Ashley and they're going out, and I just have to get my guest list together. Yeah. Gives them that extra time cushion. Um, but yeah, 12 to 18 months um is super ideal. And then we spend a lot of time together talking through the process, um, just because there's like three sections to the process, basically.
Overlooked Day-Of Print And Guest Experience
SPEAKER_01When couples are thinking like they want a team that's gonna work together super well, right? And your side of it, from my vantage point, it seems like maybe more design heavy planners, um maybe not coordinators as much. Some some coordinators are kind of design heavy, but I I feel like there's there's planners that are maybe kind of design heavy. Um if they're kind of worried, like how do we know that our team's gonna kind of work together and create a cohesive look? So it's not like, oh, there's Ashley's like table numbers that don't really match, you know, like whatever they set up for the bar or something like that.
SPEAKER_00Yes, that I mean it's happened. It's happened. Um, and I think when we are working with planners, um, the more detail the better earlier on. Um, sometimes uh what we end up designing helps then just navigate the rest of the planning process. Um, it's kind of surprising. They'll go, yeah, you know, we we put those flowers on and I wasn't thinking about it, but now that made me choose all of these other things um during the process. So um sometimes we're kind of spearheading it um with what we've designed, and other times, yeah, the more um the more on board everyone can be and just kind of have that overall vision that we're all locked in on, the more cohesive it's all going to be.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I mean, it we say it all the time on the podcast. Like, if if you're a vendor and you're not like a team player, like you probably should find a different job.
SPEAKER_00Dude, yeah, find a new job. Yeah, find a new industry. Um, it's it's not a place for ego. You know, this is it's about this couple. And I want every couple to feel like they're my only couple, that they're that special, they're getting that much attention because it is such a big day. Um, they're spending so much time, so much money, um, and just to make them feel that much more special during the process.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love that because they're they're definitely not your only couple.
SPEAKER_00No.
Building Cohesion With Planners And Teams
SPEAKER_01But as much as you can make them feel that way in the way that you have your process, um, if you're a vendor listening, like you should definitely, I want to like take that and run with it because it's just it's such a good concept. Um and maybe like, you know, maybe in some ways, if you're a vendor listening, you might already be doing it, but what could you be doing even more so to kind of embody that? Um going back to like the design process. Are you? I'm just like sitting here thinking, I'm like, are you in like some Adobe product? Like create, like, are you in Photoshop? Are you like are you pulling like where are you what are you doing?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. So uh Adobe Product. You can get like techie. Yeah, okay. I'm like curious. I love it. Uh I PC. Sorry, Max. Oof.
SPEAKER_02Um rough.
SPEAKER_00I don't love my printers as much. Oh, really? Yeah, yeah. Um, so yeah, using the Adobe Suite, um uh Illustrator is meant for vector graphics. So that's pretty much what um if if I'm creating like say a line art drawing, I will take that into Photoshop first, clean that up a little bit, and then take that into Illustrator, Vectorize. Um, and then um even if I have to use like an InDesign, Adobe InDesign, um, that's more for um like batch printing and things like that. Um, but most of the time I'm designing an illustrator. Um I will because of what I do is so specialized and customized, um, I do not take illustrations from couples. Like sometimes in the past they've come to me and said, Oh, well, my aunt is uh, you know, an artist and she has this, and I'll just, you know, kindly say, unfortunately, I'm not able to print other people's artwork.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um quality control sort of thing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
Tools Of The Trade And Quality Control
SPEAKER_00Um, but yeah, with um with the advent of AI, I I haven't used that much to be honest. Um it just seems a little too wonky right now. Um, I know for photographers, it's it's probably a little bit easier. Um, but uh with things like Canva popping onto the scene, um, I think more couples are taking some of the design part into their hands. So they're saying, oh, well, I have this pre-made design in Canva. Can you just print it for me? It's like, well, no.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Can you like unpack why though? Because I'm sure the couple sitting there like, I hear you, Ashley, and I appreciate you and I appreciate your art, but like why?
SPEAKER_00Right. Yeah. So just one quality control often, those won't be maybe the best graphics. Maybe they're getting compressed as they're being sent on. And then as me, I'm just responsible for the end result, right? So if it's not up to their standards, then it's not up to mine.
SPEAKER_01It could, guys, it's as simple as texting a photo to someone else, and it literally cuts the quality. Yep. Do it with my videos all the time. I have to airdrop everything.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Because it just doesn't.
SPEAKER_00It's not the same as as me creating it on those programs that, yeah, we we pay a lot of money to subscribe to and unfortunately. Unfortunately.
SPEAKER_01Adobe.
SPEAKER_00Yes. Killing us, killing us, Adobe. Um, sponsor this podcast now. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That would be fun. Yeah, sure. Honeybook, Adobe, all the people.
SPEAKER_00All the people.
SPEAKER_01Um, so there's a quality control. Is there other things outside of quality control that like that kind of answer that why?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I think um it kind of takes away that process part that we've spent time on, getting to know one another. Um, and I don't just want to be your print shop, you know. I want to be here for you full stop as a vendor who truly cares about you as a couple, who cares about the quality of your day and the process leading up to that day. Um, so there, you know, now there are many places where you can get things like that printed, um, good and bad. But um yeah, just want to be there for couples, you know, from start to finish, and just instead of coming in halfway through or at the tail end of a process.
Canva, IP Concerns, And Process Value
SPEAKER_01Yeah, not just like a random designer just making like paper products for a couple.
SPEAKER_00Right. And to be honest, like unfortunately, there are some things in the industry where designs are stolen. You know, it could be, and it has happened, where oh, I did already talk to this designer. They started this process, but you know, we parted ways for whatever reason. And now I'm dealing with copyright issues, other people's artwork. Um, so that's just not an avenue that you know we want to be spending time on.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, definitely don't want to be doing that. Um is there a way that couples can kind of get their invitation stuff? I'm saying stuff because there's just a lot of pieces, right? I don't hold it against you. Yeah. Um, the invitation suite, everything that's involved with the invitations to to really flow nicely. So like I'm just thinking of like the design mindset of like they get the invitation in the mail, the guest does. And then when they come, it's just like a continuation for the day of products.
SPEAKER_00Definitely.
SPEAKER_01Is there like a thought process behind that? I I know there is, but like what is the thought process?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, is it's that cohesiveness. You know, I want it sometimes. You can tell when you go to a wedding and you kind of see this looks like it's from this Etsy shop, or this is from, you know, this hand-me-down uh wedding shop or something that you might have bought on Facebook Marketplace or something. Um, but kind of having those similar, you know, fonts, the designs that we've already chosen, um, and just using them in new and unique ways that it still feels like it's part of what we started with. Um, and I love that part because it goes back to even the save the date where maybe we pulled a color, maybe we pulled um started a custom monogram or crest or something. And that's carried through the whole thing. And it just feels like every step of the way something was thought out, even though it might be a simple sign.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, because to everyone that's there, it's just like, oh, it's a sign.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_01But there is there's a huge value in that cohesiveness. Yeah, it seems like.
Carrying Design From Mailbox To Reception
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely. It it just streams line streamlines everything. Um, so when we're going through um that day of print process, you know, we're going through each and every part of the day. So starting at their ceremony, guests are walking up. Well, they're gonna see a welcome sign. Should they have some programs? You know, what's what does your ceremony look like? Is this um uh a church ceremony where it's gonna be an hour long and maybe people aren't familiar with um some of the you know traditions that are happening? We need to explain those. Um, I've done programs where we've had like three languages on them and you know, explaining that, and that's all part of the guest experience. You know, you want them to feel welcomed, you want them to feel like they're here to celebrate you.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I'm curious if you could just give us like what is your number one stationary tip for couples? Oh man. The top, the top tip. Like, what's the most important thing that you'd want couples to kind of take away from from all of this?
SPEAKER_00Oh, top tip, uh, a big one, I think, is just your guest list. I think that is just it's such a struggle to get addresses. Um, it's a struggle to know how to address people. Um, but one thing I do is I help couples set up with that. So they have a guide to help them out, they have a Google Doc that it's continuously going. And once they have it, they're gonna have it forever. They're gonna have it to send their thank you cards, they're gonna have it to send their Christmas cards.
SPEAKER_01I will say we still use ours to send Christmas cards.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. So as as difficult as it is, as time consuming as it is, just keep trudging through the process, and one day you just won't have to do it again. So yeah.
Flat Lays: Purpose, Tips, And Training
SPEAKER_01So I mentioned this a little earlier in the podcast, but your finished stationary product, the ones that's that are sent, are usually being photographed in some sort of flat lay. Yeah, it could be a full-blown thing, it could be, and I maybe I want to get your take on flat lays too, but it could be this like kind of thrown together on whatever's there kind of thing. Before we jump into uh your thoughts on actually putting the flat lays together, because I knew you have some thoughts on that. How do you feel about this new kind of like thing that's popping up where it's like we're doing a flat light, but we're not bringing anything, we're just like throwing it on, I don't know, like this floor. We just throw it on the floor, throw it on this rug because it kind of matches.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01What are your thoughts on that?
SPEAKER_00Oof, I mean, it's all about the couple at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, if that's something that is important to them and it helps tell their story, then I'm I'm all about it. Um, from a stationer's perspective. Um, do I wish that sometimes there could be a few more minutes just to kind of put the put every piece out? So it's like it feels thoughtful um because these are things that the couple's chosen. Now I know not every couple, not every invitation is uh custom or semi-custom that they've worked with a stationer. Um, but they still thought about it. They still picked that um, you know, from the many, many things online or whatever the circumstance was. Um, so taking the time to lay it out, lay out the details, um, those are all the things that brought this couple to that day. Um, so it is kind of one of those things I do have some opinions on. I do help photographers um learn how to do flatlays for a wedding day. Um, I was a second shooter myself many moons ago. Yeah. So I I get it, I know how. Busy and know how stressful wedding days are. You're sweating, you're trying to find lighting, and you've got like 20 pieces of paper that you don't know what to do with. Um, so I've come up with a guide to kind of help uh photographers on that wedding day do something quick, but also look beautiful and classic. And um again, it that flat light encompasses almost all of the vendors, you know, and it's just a way that even though photographers aren't necessarily working, you know, for the stationer, they're working for the couple. Um, it's a great way to just be that team, have that team mentality that we were talking about earlier. Like everyone's in this together.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, because in that flat lay, you really could be highlighting venue. Uh obviously the photographers highlight highlighting themselves a little bit. You know, the couple's personalities in their stationery jewelry, shoes, flowers.
Top Flat Lay Tip: Add Dimension
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like so many people are are incorporated into that.
SPEAKER_01So you are a fan of the traditional flat lay.
SPEAKER_00Very much a fan.
SPEAKER_01Uh what's your so I think and I may be just speaking from a videographer's perspective, but it it seems like maybe some of the like thrown together flatlays are coming out of this idea of like uh you know, this big elaborate setup isn't maybe serving the couples as much as it would be serving like us as the creatives. Um, but if you were if there were like some in between, right, where you're like, you kind of said it, just do a little bit more intentional.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_01What would be your like top one or two things that you're like if you could be in the ear of the photographer in that moment and you're like, hey, you know, just adjust it this way or or or put this here, put that there, or you know, angle it this way, or get this type of light, or like what would the top tip be?
SPEAKER_00My top tip is that flat lays are not flat. I know it's like mind-blown, what? Uh flatlays are not flat. So adding dimension, so picking certain pieces and choosing to elevate them. Maybe it's the back of your lens cap or your phone. I use acrylic risers, um, it's it's gonna automatically literally elevate your design, um, but also just make it just look so much more cohesive. Um, and it it draws attention to certain pieces, say the actual invitation, or maybe they had a beautiful illustration and you want to showcase that. Um, finding those most important pieces, letting those shine through and the others just kind of be backup.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh it does seem like just a little bit of intentionality for your sake would go along with it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, definitely. Definitely.
Marriage Over Wedding: Final Advice And Closing
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I mean, I I love when the flat light is all put together because it looks really nice and generally we don't have to do any work for it. Appreciate you for talk first. Right. Um, but I do understand like if it's taking away from the couple and their day and the experience that they're having and they're not they don't love it, then like maybe don't spend all day. But it sounds like from what you're saying, it's like elevate a couple things, yeah, take just a little bit of a second. Yeah, even if it's just, you know, for that vendor, um the stationary vendor who kind of thrives off of those photos, yeah. Probably helpful for you guys.
SPEAKER_02Be helpful.
SPEAKER_01Um, I love that tip. Is there is there a kind of parting tip? Uh maybe it's not not even like stationary related, but just for couples, as they're kind of like in this big, big planning stage of of life change and and kind of like making this commitment to each other.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's you spend a lot of time planning. Um, but I try and encourage my couples to spend more time planning for their marriage than their wedding day. The wedding day is one day, um, and you do spend a lot of time, but um, your marriage is day in and day out. So I encourage my couples to go on dates where they don't mention the word wedding, um, and they're just talking about the future. They're talking, you know, about how compatible they are, about the things that they're gonna face together, how are they gonna face them together? Um and and just encourage them through that, you know. The wedding day is kind of where it all starts. Um, and then you have forever together.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's so fun. And I I love the like, you know, even from the stationary. Like I just I love the the mindset. Um and I I'm finding like the good wedding vendors have that mindset where it's like it's not just a wedding film, like or it's not just wedding photos, it's uh an experience and intentionality for our couples to really be focused on the right things.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um and I always say this all the time. It's like that commitment that you guys are making, it's it's so so important and so valuable. Um it just like it shapes the way that we capture things as videographers.
SPEAKER_02Definitely.
SPEAKER_01And there's I think there's more to it than like it's not like don't think of yourself as just a stationary or just a photographer or just a planner. Like you're walking these couples through a huge life commitment.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, and we want them to be like we want them to enjoy themselves, but also to experience the day in its in its fullness and then be excited and pumped for what's to come.
SPEAKER_00Exactly.
SPEAKER_01That was so fun. Ashley, thank you so much for being on. This conversation so so good.
SPEAKER_00Thank you. Thank you for doing all this, for shining a light on this community, for bringing vendors together and helping couples through their process. You guys are awesome.
SPEAKER_01I appreciate that. It's been a dream of mine to have this podcast go. And um, yeah, it's just been so fun to connect with all these different vendors, including yourself. And I know we were trying for so long to get you on, and we have you on now, and it was just such a good conversation. Um, where can people find and follow along with what you're doing with RSVP Love?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so they can go to my website, which is rsvp hyphenlove.com. There's a little RSVP tab up at the corner, and you can fill out some information. Um best give me an overall idea of what your day is looking like. Um, and then Instagram is RSVP underscore love. Um, a little bit of a difference. Let's catch that.
SPEAKER_01We'll get those links in the description so people if if you're a link clicker, you can click on the link down there. So um what what kind of things do you have coming up that you're excited about?
SPEAKER_00Um well, speaking of flatlays that we were talking about earlier, I love uh just coaching and helping photographers with that. So um that'll be happening um coming up, um just leading a one-on-one styling sessions. Those are always available for photographers or videographers, planners, or other stationers um as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's so fun. Well, thank you so much for being on. Thank you so much, Ames. Everyone that has been listening and you've made it this far. I appreciate you because it's just so fun um to be doing this. And if you're watching on YouTube, make sure you subscribe so you see, maybe hit the notification bell. I don't know if that's still a thing. Um, and give this video a like, share it with all of your friends, maybe leave a comment down below if you have any questions for myself or for Ashley. It'd be so fun. If you're listening on a podcasting app, what's up? How's it going? Hopefully this episode's been super valuable for you to listen to, maybe on your drive or your walk or your workout. Um, if you're listening on a uh podcast app, Spotify, have a fun. It would be amazing, it'd be so helpful if you could leave us a review, just let us know what you're thinking of the show. And that's all for this episode, and we'll catch you next time on the preferred list.
SPEAKER_02Thank you.