COMMON QUESTIONS:
What are your hours of operation?
Mon-Fr: 6:30-8:00pm ET
Sat-Sun, Major Holidays: CLOSED (available for appointments only)
What is the best way to get in touch with you?
I prefer to be reached by email so that we can always refer back to our communications.
You can, also, set up a phone meeting so we can speak at a specific time. My phone time is limited so this is the best way to get me on the phone.
If you have an urgent matter to discuss with me, then you can absolutely give me a call. Please do not send any texts.
What are your starting prices?
A basic digital press Invitation + Reply Card + Reply Envelope + Mailing Envelope starts at about $250 for 100 sets. A basic letterpress Invitation + Reply Card + Reply Envelope + Mailing Envelope starts at about $710 for 100 sets. Both estimates include return addressing on the reply envelope and mailing envelopes.
What homework do I need to do before I speak/meet with you?
DETERMINE YOUR BUDGET - Start on that notorious guest list now. It will save you A LOT of heartache in the end. Figure out how much you can afford per invitation based on the number of guests (even a rough count will help) and your budget.
PICK A STARTING POINT - More often than not, it is a color or two that is the focus of the design. Other times, it's a locale (the first meeting place, a favorite restaurant or travel spot, etc..), a line from a poem, a picture, a season, or even ethnic backgrounds of the couple. It can be anything. Here's your chance to show your creativity!
When should I get started on my invitations?
As soon as possible! Do as much research as you can before deciding on a style. Etsy and Pinterest are great places to start. Then, focus on printing methods. Digital printing has the quickest turnaround time. Including design time, we can get things done in 3-6 weeks if we communicate quickly. Thermography and Letterpress can take anywhere between 6-12 weeks. You want to give yourself enough lead time for any diy that you may have to do such as address printing, stamping the rsvps and invitation envelopes, adding ribbons or crystals, gluing envelope liners, etc... I can help save you time by doing all those things for you, but it's a good way to save some money if you have the time.
What are the typical turnaround times?
The design process depends on how quickly we communicate with one another varying from 2-4 weeks to 10-12 weeks. See "When should I get started on my invitations?" section above. I typically respond to messages within 1-2 business days. If you can do the same, we can have your project ready on the shorter end of the range.
TYPICAL PRINTING TURNAROUND:
DIGITAL PRINTS - 5-10 business days from the time the final proofs are approved.
LETTERPRESS, FOIL & THERMOGRAPHY - 10-15 business days from the time the final proofs are approved.
I need my items sooner than your typical turnaround time. Can you help me?
I can usually fit in a rush job, but it's not always possible. Please don't be afraid to ask though! In order to move your project up in the queue, I have to move less urgent ones back. It disrupts my workflow, but if it doesn't cause a problem (i.e. all my current jobs need to be done asap) then it is definitely possible.
Unfortunately, I do have to charge a RUSH FEE in order to put you a the top of the queue. See RUSH PROCESSING FEES listed below.
What are your Rush Processing Fees?
Each fee below is additional, may be combined depending on the situation and is separate from any rush delivery charges.
SEATING CHART -
process by same day (on the weekend) - $30
process by same day - $15
process by next business day - $10
INVITATION SUITE -
process within 2 business weeks - $100
process within 4 business weeks - $50
DAY OF STATIONERY (per item: i.e. programs + menus + escort cards = $75) -
process within 1 business week - $25
DROP OFF at USPS or UPS for NEXT DAY shipments - $2
DROP OFF at client's location (time/miles x 1.5 --> i.e. 50 miles x 1.5 = $75)
I found a design that I love online, can you copy it?
The answer is an absolute NO, NO, NO! It is wrong to replicate other people's work and I refuse to do it. I can, however, use their design as inspiration. We can do something similar with similar elements, but no exact anything. If you do want the same exact design that you found online, then you should get those invitations straight from the source. Please don't ask someone else to copy it for you.
I have created, or had someone else create, the design files for my project/invitations. Would you print them for me?
The short answer is no. I only print my own designs. In the past, I have offered this service, but have found that there is a lot of tweaking on my end to get the files provided set up properly for my press vendors. Even when the original AI or ID files are provided, I would have to charge a setup fee of $50 to make up for the time that I spent setting up the files. There are just so many issues (i.e. What you see on your screen may not match up to the printed end result.) to worry about. Sorry that I can't help!
What forms of payment do you accept?
At this time, we accept payment through PayPal (preferred), Chase Quickpay and personal checks. Orders are not placed until payment is received and cleared by the bank. Please keep in mind the extra time need for mailing and clearing checks before placing your order.
CHASE QUICKPAY - Chase Account to Chase Account. Orders are placed by the next business day or sooner.
CHECKS - Orders are placed once the check is received AND cleared by the bank. Please consider method of delivery and clearing time. There is a $30 fee for returned checks.
SQUARE INVOICE - Credit Card Payments. Orders are placed by the next business day or sooner.
PAYPAL - Credit Card Payments. Orders are placed by the next business day or sooner.
How do I request a quote?
Email your request to jo@kalijoworks.com for custom designs. An email reply will be sent to you within 1-2 business days.
Can I order a custom sample?
It depends...
For digital samples, the answer is yes you can. The cost per custom sample is $50+ depending on the suite (i.e. flat vs. layers, pockets, ribbons, etc..) and is non-refundable.
For foil, thermography, letterpress & laser cutting, the answer is no. Sorry! Due to the specialty print methods used and the custom nature of each order, a single hard copy proof cannot be printed. However, I can send samples of past work to give you a good idea of the kind of quality pieces you would be receiving.
What types of printing options do you offer?
There are several options ranging from high to low:
LETTERPRESS - My personal fave! Wording and artwork are pressed onto a gorgeous cotton stock. 1 to 2 ink colors only. 1 side.
FOIL - Wording and/or artwork are hot stamped with a matte or metallic foil color. 1 to 2 ink colors only. 1 side.
THERMOGRAPHY - Wording and artwork are raised on premium card stock. 1 to 2 ink colors only. 1 side.
DIGITAL - Most economical. Full color. 2 sides.
Who is responsible for proofreading?
YOU, the client, are 100% responsible for proofreading every item in a project, for typing all of your own text (so that I may copy and paste it, not retype it for you) in the format and order that it should be (i.e. not in all caps). Never go over proofs via a mobile device (especially a mobile phone!). Please take the time to review each line, font, color, graphic and placement at least 2x with at least 2 pairs of eye before giving me the ok to print OR taking digital orders (i.e. seating chart pdfs) to your local copy shop. The only time a refund (partial or full) will be issued is if there was an error on my part AFTER a project was ok'd for press. If you find an error after you gave me your final ok, you are responsible for the cost of any reprints.
Can you print my the addresses on my mailing envelopes for me?
Yes, but only if you are ok with me printing on my own envelopes. Please email me for a template and pricing.
Do you do all the assembly?
It depends... If there are layers (i.e. a backing layer for the Invitation Panel or the Invitation Panel mounted on a pocket fold), then I will glue those for you. However, any inserts that need to be slipped into pocket enclosures and/or envelopes will be done by you. The invitations pieces will arrive in separate packaging. Also, any folded cards (i.e. escort cards, programs, table cards, etc...) will come to you flat. Please keep this in mind when ordering your day of stationery.
Some of my guests have mentioned that they received their invitations slightly smudged or damaged. Will you give me a refund or some sort of discount?
Unfortunately, this can happen even when we take extra measures to prevent them from occurring. The USPS mail system can be tough on our mailings. You can ask to have the invitations hand canceled, but that doesn't mean that they won't go through USPS' tight rollers somewhere else in transit. In fact, they can still run through their machines 1-2 times after they've been hand canceled. If you received your invitations in perfect condition and we took extra care in adding tissue/vellum, then there is nothing I can do for you as far as compensation or reprinting. If I neglected to advise you about this possibly happening, then I will take responsibility for that error and offer a way to make up for it.
What is your refund policy?
There are no refunds given for custom designs after the printing process has begun. However, if you no longer need or want to continue with a project at any point after the deposit is received and printing has not begun, the deposit amount will be forfeited to cover the design and supply costs incurred.
Do you have a contract I can review before I decide?
Absolutely! Email me and I'll send you a copy.