My goal was to design my own invitations but have them produced by an outside source. I minored in graphic design, so I’m knowledgeable of design and printing. C&P provides creative space coupled with guidelines and production assistance.
Warni...ng: DO NOT design your invitations last-minute. You must allow time to order samples. Not doing so will result in frustration and losing money, as C&P does not give refunds for customized products. They are also sporadic in their delivery time, anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks. It’s best to start no less than 6 months before the wedding.
Product Quality: The variety of papers, colors, and invitation styles allow for lavish or simple designs. The paper quality is good, and I recommend cover weight for invitation cards. The different styles allow for complex designs with multiple inserts (full pocket sets) or simpler, single-card invites without sacrificing style (gate cards, petal folds, slide-in cards). The laser products are great quality. I ordered 130 pieces, and not one had a defect. Finally, the Zip-Dry glue leaves no mess or ripples and is easy for a novice crafter. The gluing was MUCH easier than I anticipated.
Printing: C&P includes an in-depth printing guide to help you set up a print file. READ IT. It will save you a lot of headaches and money in samples. Some of it may new territory for those without graphics training, but those parts are more applicable to graphics software. I do recommend their print services because the quality is good and their machines are calibrated for their products, so printing with them will be more seamless.
Pricing: C&P can be expensive or cheap. The more inserts or laser products you use, the higher your price. Some laser products are pricier than others, but you’ll still get a nice invite for little money without them. Some printing services, like the pocket sets, are well priced for the volume. For single cards, the price is good if your design uses a lot of ink, but not necessarily for text only. Same goes for envelope addressing. I had my envelopes printed locally for a lot less money. See what’s available in your area before committing.
Website Usage: Everything you need to know about products and sizing is on the website, but the navigation and design of the site is mediocre, so details are easy to miss. Take time to research thoroughly and double-check your cart before ordering.
Overall, I am extremely happy with C&P. I highly recommend, but only if you allow plenty of time and are somewhat seasoned with DIY projects.