Process + Policies + FAQs

1. Purchase a design fee listing 

{ these are available in our Etsy store here }

2. After purchase, we will email you the next steps { which includes a design form to provide wording and details for personalizing }

3. Submit your information to us { the design & proofing process begins, more info on fonts, colors, mailing and more is here }

4. Once approved via email, a printed proof can be mailed { if your timing allows, 1 sample is included in the design fee } 
Make sure to have your guest addresses submitted to us if you are wanting us to print them.

5. If your order is approved to print, we will email an invoice for the quantity of stationery needed

 

6. When the invoice is paid, production begins { we will ship your order and provide a tracking number, see below for more information on turnaround time }

7. Mail your custom stationery and get your guests excited for your special event!

The design fee covers the personalization (within 3 proofs) and press set up of your custom order.

Colors, fonts, paper and more can be changed, as well as the items per suite. Consider the designs in our store as a jumping off point to creating your own custom stationery. Need an extra insert, or a different style of RSVP card? Want extra embellishments or different cardstock? You can get an estimate on your printed items on here.

One printed sample is included in your design fee, if your timing allows.
Some things may not be able to be sent for a printed sample, such as specialty printing (letterpress or gold foil) and some other custom items that may require the full order to be done at once. However, we can mail/ship something similar or as close to the final product as possible.

Total cost after the design fee
What is the total cost, you might ask? All of our designs can be customized, so the items you need may vary! Your cost is the Design Fee + Cost Per Each (multiply by quantity needed) + Shipping. We are always happy to provide an itemized estimate to help with your budget and planning.

All you pay to get started is the design fee, once your artwork is approved we will invoice you for the quantity needed + shipping. Shipping varies on the size of your package and location, but can be $14 – $35 for UPS ground/domestic orders. We are a small, hands-on company, so please message us with questions, we would love to help make your invitations special and within your budget! At this time, we are not shipping internationally.

DESIGN TURNAROUND TIME:
• Your first proof may take 1-2 weeks, depending on the level of customizing needed (orders with custom illustrations are closer to the 2 week range)

• Proof changes and edits can take 2-4 days, depending on what needs to be changed

PRINTING/PRODUCTION TIME:
Postcards are 7-10 business days after final artwork is approved (excluding holidays)

Invites are 15-20 business days after final artwork is approved (excluding holidays)

Please note this is for business days (Monday – Friday), and does not include the time for the design + proofing process. Remember, this is a creative process and timing can vary. Your prompt responses to email and proofs is appreciated. As always, if you don’t hear from us in 1-2 business days, please reach out so we can keep your order moving in a timely fashion.

RUSH ORDERS:
We are happy to provide a rush order, if possible. However, the design process can not be rushed, only the production of your order.

It’s best to request this prior to starting the design process of your order, so that we can confirm timing, cost and availability. Once your order is sent to print, we can not add a rush order. Rush orders for postcards start at $75 and $250 for invitations (this can be more depending on the quantity, type of printing, and complexity of the order). Faster shipping can also be added to your order once it is ready to be mailed to you.

Shipping varies on the size of your package and location, but can be $14 – $55 for UPS ground. Postcard orders are typically shipped via USPS Priority Mail, and invitation orders are shipped via UPS ground. Once your order ships, we will mail you a tracking number. IMPORTANT: Please make sure you approve your shipping address on the invoice we email you for your order – we recognize that sometimes your Etsy account may have an old address. To ensure accurate delivery, we will ship to the address listed on your invoice, so make sure double-check this. 

At this time, we do not ship internationally.

If you are using our guest addressing service, note that we will mail all invitations to you (addressed and blank) for mailing. We do offer a mailing service for an additional cost – this is available on a case by case basis. 

Sealing Your Envelopes:
Not all envelopes are created equal and some envelopes may be hard to seal, or keep closed, especially if your invites are thicker. We recommend a double-sided adhesive to close your envelopes, or a pretty sticker is a nice option as well!  

Hand Canceling:
It is recommended all stationery be hand canceled if possible to avoid being run through any machines (see more information below). Serendipity is not responsible for lost or damaged stationery once mailed. Please make sure you are applying enough postage, and don’t forget to apply postage to your RSVP card if they need to be mailed back to you from your guests. It’s always recommended to take one to the post office prior to mailing.