How much does a suite cost?

Build your own estimate with the calculator. Choose your pieces and quantities and the number updates as you go. There is no call to schedule and no waiting on a quote.

How long does it take?

When every mockup is approved and your final addressing spreadsheet is in my hands, I will write up the final invoice. Production begins once it is paid in full. Four weeks later your suite ships from the studio by UPS 3 Day. Four weeks means 20 business days, and any holiday that falls inside that window adds a day.

So the design and proofing stage happens before that clock starts. You can see where it sits in the full process.

How far ahead should I order?

This one is nuanced, because every couple and every wedding is different. A lot of variables come into play: whether your wedding falls on a holiday weekend, whether you sent save the dates, whether it is a destination wedding, when your venue needs a final count.

What I always suggest is starting your invites as soon as you know your wedding date and your venue. We can begin with the main invitation, and if you do not have all the details for the rest of the suite yet, we work on those as your information comes in. It is much more enjoyable when you are not rushed.

Is there a minimum order?

Letterpress carries a lot of upfront labor and cost before the first card goes through the press, so I cannot print one, two or three. The absolute minimum is a quantity of 25, and the smallest suite that can be is an invitation, an online RSVP and a blank envelope.

When does the design work start?

After the deposit is paid. Send me your wording and I will start on the layout, beginning with the main invitation.

How many rounds of proofs do I get?

As many as you need. Proof rounds are unlimited, and I would far rather you spoke up than settled. Please allow 24 hours between rounds. The studio runs Monday through Friday.

Once the invitation is settled I will mock up the rest of the suite.

Can you match a specific color?

Yes! I custom mix the ink for every job, so the color can be matched to something that is uniquely yours: your envelopes, your crest, the green in your college logo, a flower from your bouquet.

I can get the color into the right family from an online image. If you want it closer to exact, I will have you mail me a physical swatch.

Please note: with letterpress we can get very close to an exact shade, but there will be slight differences from print to print. That is inherent to letterpress, and I think it is worth celebrating rather than correcting.

Do I have to have hand calligraphy?

Not at all. If calligraphy is not where you want your budget to go, there are dozens of beautiful script fonts to choose from, and your cards are letterpressed either way. The impression in the paper is the same.

Do you do the letterpress printing yourself?

Yes. I print each and every card on a 1,200 pound Chandler & Price platen press built in the late 1800s.

Can I see a sample before I order?

I sell sample packs of past orders, so you can see and feel the quality in your own hands.

I do not create samples with your specific information on them. Letterpress carries so much upfront labor and cost that a one-off personalized sample would be cost prohibitive.

Do you take rush orders?

Depending on my schedule, I may be able to take on a rush order. It is priced as an upgrade.

For a quote I need to know exactly what your suite entails and how soon you need it in hand. The sooner you need it, the higher the rush upgrade costs.

What if my guest count changes after printing?

Order a few more than you think you need. It is very common to think of a few more people at the last minute, and adding 5 to 15 at the same time as your main order costs very little.

If you need to add more after printing, it is priced as a brand new job, with the same minimum of 25.

What is your cancellation policy?

Deposits are non-refundable. Once the final invoice is paid your suite goes into production.

Please do not pay a deposit if you are unsure. This is a very custom process, and a great deal of time and labor goes into making your suite right for you.

Where are you located, and do you offer in-person consultations?

Dancing Pen & Press is based in Cypress, Texas, just outside Houston, and works with couples throughout the U.S. and worldwide. All consultations and design work are handled virtually rather than in person.

I do my best creative work from the quiet of my home-based studio, where I can focus fully on each suite as it takes shape. Throughout the process, we'll collaborate through your private client portal, where you can review digital mockups and proofs, share feedback, and keep everything for your project in one place. This makes it easy to work together no matter where you are or where your wedding is taking place.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, happily. I ship worldwide.

Shipping is paid by you, as are any duties, taxes, levies or tariffs your own country charges when the parcel arrives. Those are set where you live rather than here, so they fall outside my control and I cannot quote them in advance.

What do you need from me?

Three things, and not all at once. Your wording to begin the design, your approval on each mockup, and a final addressing spreadsheet before the last invoice is written.