How to have a perfect wedding graphic design

Please introduce yourself to our readers

Hi, I’m Tasha Fontanes and I started Tasha Rae Designs in 2001 when I was searching for my own wedding graphic design. At that time (long before Pinterest & Instagram) you had to head to a stationery shop to look through sample books to find wedding invitations. I was not impressed with the lackluster choices I found.

I had a degree in Graphic Design, so the obvious choice was to design my own. As soon as they went out, friends started asking if I would design theirs too, and Tasha Rae Designs was born!

How would you describe your wedding graphic design style?

I personally like clean, modern, minimalist design. But I also love a challenge! Over the 18 years I have been doing wedding graphic design, I have touched on every style I can think of. Romantic, traditional/classic, eclectic, bohemian, rustic, vintage, industrial...I love it all!

What are the most common questions that couples ask you?

Most of my clients want to know how to get started with the custom wedding graphic design process and how much it’s going to cost. My process is to talk with each couple about what they are envisioning for their wedding day, and from there I create 2 or 3 initial designs that work with their budget. I encourage my clients to share some personal details with me so that I get a sense of who they are and I can represent their personalities and style in my designs.

Tips for couples who are interviewing a wedding graphic designer?

I think the most important part of choosing a wedding graphic design is to see physical samples of their work. I often have clients come to me after they have ordered invitations online, sight-unseen, and they are disappointed with what they received.

”Weddings are a very personal event that you are sharing with your closest friends and family. I want them to be wowed when they open the invitations in the mail and see a reflection of the couple in the design.”

Photography credits to Mallory Munson http://www.mallorymunson.com

What wedding graphic design packages do you typically offer?

I create save-the-dates, invitations, menus, programs, escort cards, signage, thank you notes, personalized wedding favors, water bottle labels, banners, seating charts...anything you need to be printed for your wedding day! I’ve designed custom decks of playing cards, puzzles, coasters, even car graphics. The wedding graphic design packages possibilities are endless!

How much should the couple influence your work?

I start every wedding invitation card design with input from the couple. We talk about colors, style, personalities, location, and the feeling they want to convey to their guests on their wedding day. Weddings are a very personal event that you are sharing with your closest friends and family. I want them to be wowed when they open the invitations in the mail and see a reflection of the couple in the design.

What additional services do you offer?

A lot of my wedding clients become longtime customers, as I go on to I print baby announcements, logos for new businesses, holiday cards, brochures, posters, wedding anniversary gifts and personal stationery. While wedding graphic design makes up the majority of my business, I work with numerous non-profit organizations, local schools, small businesses and corporations to create marketing and promotional materials.

”Never rule out custom designs, even if you have a small budget. Always ask!”

Any tips for those on a tight budget?

Never rule out wedding graphic design, even if you have a small budget. Always ask!

I base my pricing on a few factors: The number of invitations and how quickly they are needed, and the complexity of the design. If the couple is on a tight budget, I can recommend ways to keep the costs down with different print styles and paper options. If I can’t accomplish the job within the budget, I am happy to give tips on where the couple might find a solution.

Was there ever a time you had to improvise?

When I deliver/ship invitations, I include a list of tips for mailing them out. On the bottom, it states, “Put your invitations in a safe spot when you receive them, not next to a plant that may leak when watered, or a place where your dog might chew them to bits, or near the trash where they are accidentally thrown away...all TRUE stories!” In all of these cases, I helped to replace the invitations at a lesser cost to the client, and then reminded them that there’s always one thing that goes haywire during wedding planning, so now they can cross that off the list and everything else will be smooth sailing!

”Tell me what you like and what you envision, and then give me some room to interpret it. Then we can fine tune it together. Have fun with the process!”

Photography credits to tmdexter photography https://www.tmdexterphotography.com

If you could ask one thing of the grooms and brides that would make your job easier, what would it be?

Let the creatives be creative! Don’t micromanage the job. You contacted a designer so that you would have something unique and personal. Be open-minded to new ideas. Sometimes we get so caught up in the planning and details that it gets too stressful. I love doing wedding graphic design that represents the personalities of the couple and the love they have for each other. Tell me what you like and what you envision, and then give me some room to interpret it. Then we can fine tune it together. Have fun with the process!