Heidelberg Windmill Printing Press
Frequently Asked Questions...
So....what exactly is letterpress?
Letterpress printing is the process by which a raised surface {image or type} is inked. As the paper passes through the cylinder of the press or makes contact with the platen, the pressure of the paper against the raised surface creates a crisp impression into the paper. This results in a beautiful three-dimensional image.
How do I start the custom process?
Following these steps will insure timely completion of your project and the least amount of stress for you, we promise! For custom invitations, please contact us 4-6 months before the wedding date. Because we only take on a limited number of projects monthly and to give each of our couples the attention they need for custom projects, we cannot guarantee availability sooner than 4 months before your date.
Fill out online inquiry from website. Start by filling out the questionnaire on the contact + pricing page and we'll get back to you to set up a phone consult and ask a little more about your event. The more information we have from the get-go, the better. Let us know your event date, quantities, pieces you'd like in your suite and any design ideas/motifs you'd like. For wedding invitations, it's best to start the process at least 6 months before your big day.
*Please review our investment guidelines here .*Phone call. The purpose of this call is to chat about the selections you made on your inquiry form and get a better sense of what your needs are, and if we think working with each other will be a good fit!
Proposal. Because each project is custom to fit each client’s unique needs, proposals take approximately 1-2 days to prepare. For more complex proposals, please allow up to 4 business days.
Review proposal in person/FaceTime. When your proposal is ready, we’ll schedule a time to meet (currently via FaceTime or Zoom) to go over your proposal. Please make sure all decision makers are present. For example, if the couple is deciding on invitation design but parents of the one partner are paying, we’d like them all present. We have found this eliminates a great deal of back and forth if everyone is present and we can answer any questions that anyone who is going to be a part of this process may have. We'll also use this time to look at the many samples we have and further discuss your project. If you decide we're a good fit, you'll have the opportunity to sign the proposal and contract at this time.
Deposit. Once we go over the proposal, a signed contract and deposit is due to reserve time on our press schedule and design calendar.
Timeline + Welcome packet. Congrats! You are now officially a #fiorepressbride! We’ll send you a welcome packet that includes a timeline for design and printing and other important information. From there we'll start creating and tweak the design until it's just to your liking and you'll be able to view your proofs in a private client portal.
How long does it take to get my invitations?
For a standard 1-color wedding invitation suite consisting of invitations, reply cards and envelopes the average turnaround time for production is 4-6 weeks after final draft is approved. 2-color projects, or those that are more complex (with embellishments or requiring assembly) may take longer. Letterpress is not a quick print method! Everything is done by hand {including mixing ink} and each sheet of paper is pulled one by one.
I'm getting married in ___ months, when should I order my invitations?
We recommend contacting us at least 6 months before your wedding date. The standard timeline is to send invitations out 6-8 weeks before the wedding, allowing additional time for stuffing and addressing envelopes. For a June 1st wedding date, 8 weeks prior to that is April 1st; a week of stuffing and addressing envelopes is March 21st. 4-6 weeks production time puts you at mid-February, but remember, that is after your final draft is approved. Figure about 2-3 weeks of design and revisions {this depends on how many times you change your mind or how simple/complex your invitation suite is} and this puts you at the end of January.