News
COVID-19 Announcement April 01 2020, 0 Comments
- If you have already ordered your wedding invitations from Design Pro and have had to postpone your wedding, I would like to extend the offer to reprint your invitation with your new wedding date FREE OF CHARGE.*
- If you have ordered your invitations from a source other than Design Pro, I would still like to help by offering to print your invitations with your new wedding date at HALF-OFF Design Pro's regular already low prices.*
How Much Are Invitations? March 07 2016, 0 Comments
“How much are invitations?” That is the number one question I get asked. The simple answer…costs vary widely.
There are many factors that go into determining the price of invitations, just like there are many factors that go into determining the price of a car. Asking a wedding stationery designer the cost of wedding invitations is kind of like asking a car salesman, “How much is a car?” As you know, costs vary widely depending on the style and features.
If you want a car “fully loaded,” the cost is, of course, going to be higher. Just like buying a car, if you want your wedding invitation sets to be “fully loaded,” the cost will be higher than a simple invitation.
In order to provide an accurate quote, we need to know more about your wants and needs.
1. How many invitations/invitation sets do you need?
- Please keep in mind, you will be sending one per household, not one per person.
2. What style of invitation do you want?
- Traditional Invitation: The most common type of invitation is the traditional 5 x 7 invitation.
- Square Invitation: Square invitations come in 5.5, 6, 6.5, and 7-inch sizes. Please note: Postage is more for square invitations because they are an unusual shape.
- Tea-Length Invitation: These longer, skinnier invitations are 4 x 9.
- Invitation with Rounded Corners: Rounded corners add a modern look to your invitations.
- Seal-n-Send Invitation: These invitations come with a detachable RSVP card and fold up to create their own envelope. Please note: The post office requires mailing seals on the edges of the invitations to keep them closed in the mail.
- Invitation with Belly Band: A band wraps around the invitation to hold the enclosure cards in place. They are available plain or printed.
- Pocket Style Invitation: The invitation is adhered to a folder, and the enclosure cards stack neatly inside a pocket. Please note: Postage could be higher depending on the weight of the fully assembled invitations. We recommend having the post office weigh them before buying postage.
- Die Cut Invitation: Invitations are laser cut into unique shapes.
3. What kind of paper do you prefer?
- Matte (White or Ivory): An uncoated, smooth card stock.
- Gloss or Semi-Gloss (White): A coated, shiny card stock; Recommended for solid color backgrounds or photos.
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Felt Weave (White or Ivory): A textured card stock; Almost looks like watercolor paper.
-
Linen (White or Ivory): A subtle textured card stock; Looks like fibers in linen fabric.
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Metallic Shimmer (White, Ivory, or Gold Leaf): Metallic pearlescent card stock with subtle sparkles in the paper.
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Brown Kraft: A rustic, brown speckletone card stock.
4. Do you need enclosure cards? If so, how many?
- RSVP
- Accommodations
- Directions
- Registry
- Other
5. Do you want specialty envelopes?
- Euro Flap
- Square Envelopes
- Lined Envelopes
- Inner/Outer Envelopes
- Guest Addressing Services
6. Will there be a wrap or embellishment?
- Belly Band
- Ribbon
- Lace
In addition to the cost of the invitations, sales tax will be added for clients in Illinois.
If you are interested in a quote, please email tanya@designpro1.com. Be sure to include the number of invitations needed, the style of invitation, the type of paper you prefer, the number of enclosure cards needed, and any special requests.
If you prefer to talk in person, call 217-342-3946 or email tanya@designpro1.com to set up an appointment.
T-Shirt Tuesday #14 February 03 2015, 0 Comments
Left Shark Tanked
Left Shark was the real Super Bowl MVP on Sunday because of his less-than-perfect dance moves. He stole the show during Katy Perry's performance at the Pepsi Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Show.
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® 2015 January 17 2015, 0 Comments
Effingham's Own Design Pro Wins a WeddingWire Couples' Choice Award® 2015
Effingham, IL – WeddingWire, the nation's leading online wedding marketplace, named Design Pro as a winner of the prestigious WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® 2015 for Wedding Stationery in Effingham.
The WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® 2015 recognizes the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism. The esteemed awards are given to the top local wedding vendors in more than 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their professional achievements from the previous year.
While many industry award winners are selected by the host organization, the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® winners are determined solely based on reviews from real newlyweds and their experiences working with Design Pro. Award-winning vendors are distinguished for the quality, quantity, consistency and timeliness of the reviews they have received from their past clients.
"It's always exciting to start the year by honoring the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network who represent more than two million reviews on our website," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. "Each of the businesses recognized are committed to quality, professionalism and all around top-notch service. We applaud Design Pro for their impressive achievements within the wedding industry."
As a Couples' Choice Awards® winner, Design Pro is highlighted within the WeddingWire Network, which is comprised of more than 200,000 wedding professionals throughout North America and abroad.
Design Pro is proud to be one of the top wedding stationery providers in Illinois in the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding sites such as WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. “We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. We value all of our clients and truly appreciate the positive feedback that helped us earn the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® 2015,” remarked Tanya Pedersen, owner and graphic designer of Design Pro.
For more information about Design Pro, visit their website at www.designpro1.com or their WeddingWire Storefront at www.weddingwire.com/designpro1.
To learn more about the Couple's Choice Awards®, visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.
About WeddingWire
WeddingWire, the leading technology company serving the $100 billion wedding and events industry, is the largest online vertical marketplace connecting engaged couples with event professionals. With more than two million consumer reviews, it is the industry leader in consumer reviews. The site enables engaged couples to search, compare and book from an extensive database of more than 200,000 recently reviewed event professionals, from venues to photographers. WeddingWire provides event professionals with the technology they need to serve their clients, including a SaaS platform, which powers advertising, marketing, and CRM needs of local wedding and events businesses nationwide.
Wedding Photo Fun November 13 2014, 1 Comment
During a recent trip to Las Vegas, we visited The Bellagio where my sister got married in 2011. After reminiscing about that beautiful day, on a whim we decided to have a little fun and try to recreate some of her wedding photos with our parents as the subjects. We found the exact locations where the photos were taken over three years ago and tried to pose Mom and Dad the best we could. As you can see, the results were hilarious and this time we were crying from laughter rather than joy!
Professional wedding photos by Cashman Professional. Funny wedding photos by Design Pro.
Upcoming Bridal Expos October 30 2014, 0 Comments
It's bridal expo time! Design Pro will again be participating in local bridal shows. We really enjoy meeting all of the newly engaged couples and discussing the ways we can help you create your dream wedding stationery. We hope to see you at one or more of these shows!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014
Walnut Street Weddings
314 W. Jefferson Ave.
Effingham, IL 62401
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
No admission fee!
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2015
Carriage House Event Center
8 W. Carriage Ln.
Altamont, IL 62411
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
No admission fee!
There will be a grand prize drawing at this event.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2015
Thelma Keller Convention Center
1202 N. Keller Dr.
Effingham, IL 62401
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Brides and grooms get in free!
Admission is $5.00 per person.
Runway fashion show is at 12:00 p.m.
Finale show is at 2:00 p.m.
There will be a prize drawing every 25 minutes.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015
Cross County Mall
700 Broadway Ave.
Mattoon, IL 61938
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
No admission fee!
T-Shirt Tuesday #12 October 07 2014, 0 Comments
Ghouls Just Want To Have Fun
Halloween is our favorite time of the year. We love all that Halloween brings--delicious candy, scary movies, terrifying haunted houses, and playful pumpkin patches. We're celebrating our love of Halloween with this new t-shirt design.
T-Shirt Tuesday #11 September 30 2014, 0 Comments
All About That Bass
This t-shirt design is a play on the smash hit "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor.
Wedding MBA Convention September 22 2014, 0 Comments
Tanya Pedersen, graphic designer and owner of Design Pro, along with in-house copywriter and proofreader Dawn Pedersen, attended the 11th Annual Wedding MBA (Merchants Business Academy) Convention in Las Vegas, NV Sept. 16-18. Over 2,000 wedding professionals representing each state and over 20 countries attended the three-day event.
This year’s convention featured over 60 innovative seminars presented by the top leaders in the wedding industry, such as The Knot, WeddingWire, Perfect Wedding Guide, TLC Network, Martha Stewart Weddings, and more. Speakers engaged attendees at the Las Vegas Convention Center with a variety of topics ranging from insights on wedding planning trends and preferences to the ever-changing world of technology.
Since 2008, Design Pro has provided custom wedding and event invitations and stationery from Suite 25 in the Lincolnland Building in Effingham. Additional information can be found at www.designpro1.com or by contacting Pedersen at tanya@designpro1.com or 217-342-3946.
Creative Advertising September 08 2014, 0 Comments
Have you seen the new IKEA commercial? This clever ad pokes fun at new technology commercials, such as Apple's product ads. It's very funny and worth watching!
T-Shirt Tuesday #10 August 19 2014, 0 Comments
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Let's strike out ALS by spreading awareness and donating to help find a cure! Do you accept the challenge?
For more information about ALS, please visit www.alsa.org.
#IceBucketChallenge #StrikeOutALS
http://skreened.com/designpro1/als-ice-bucket-challenge-black-tee
http://skreened.com/designpro1/als-ice-bucket-challenge-light-tee
http://www.cafepress.com/designpro1/11526715
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the ALS Association. You can also donate here.
T-Shirt Tuesday #8 April 15 2014, 0 Comments
Frequent Stops
We can't forget about our furry friends for T-Shirt Tuesday! I'm sure anyone who owns or has owned a male dog can relate to the saying on this dog shirt. Caution: This dog makes frequent stops.
T-Shirt Tuesday #7 April 01 2014, 0 Comments
You're Pointless
Here's a tip: You're pointless!
www.skreened.com/designpro1/you-re-pointless
http://www.zazzle.com/designpro1/gifts?cg=196554234119985831
T-Shirt Tuesday #6 March 11 2014, 0 Comments
Our Crazy Magical Vacation
We're doing something a little different this Tuesday. Instead of featuring a new t-shirt design that will be available for purchase, we're featuring a recent design we created for a client's family vacation to Walt Disney World. The client wanted little stick figures representing each member of their family, along with the famous castle. We took her ideas and created this design.
The client was kind enough to share a family photo from their recent trip to Walt Disney World. Now that is one well dressed family!
UPDATE: We've had a lot of inquiries about this particular design. We are no longer offering this design for sale.
Carriage House 2014 Bridal Show March 10 2014, 0 Comments
Thanks to everyone who visited with me at the first Bridal Show held at the spectacular Carriage House Event Center in Altamont. I was happy to see some of the brides I am already working with as well as brides whom I met for the first time and look forward to working with in the future.
Special thanks to Janet Ramsey of the Carriage House for sponsoring this event. This was our first time at this venue, although we had already heard amazing things about it from many of our brides. Well, the Carriage House was even more amazing than we imagined!
Everything about the facility is state-of-the-art and first class. The staircase is absolutely breathtaking and don’t even get me started on the ladies’ room! Janet displayed the vast array of décor she has available. Her backdrops, centerpieces, and linens were absolutely gorgeous.
It was a great experience all around, and it was even warm and sunny when we left the show. We had another first, eating at the new Joe’s Pizza location. Loved the new building as well as the delicious pizza. Great day from start to finish!
Spring Is in the Air March 07 2014, 0 Comments
What a beautiful day! With temperatures in the almost balmy 50s (compared to what we’ve been having), I couldn’t wait to come in to my office where Mr. Bunny is standing in the window to greet our visitors. Yes, here at Design Pro spring is busting out all over. While our offices and showroom are bright and cheery all year round, we especially enjoy decorating for spring and summer. Even our foyer in the Lincolnland Building got a facelift. Freshly painted walls and brighter lights make everything pop.
We’re also excited about participating in the first Bridal Show held at the Carriage House Event Center in Altamont on Sunday, March 9th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We have heard so many great things about the Carriage House from our brides. It will be our first time visiting the venue, so we are anxious to see it. Sunday promises to be another beautiful day, so why not come out to the Carriage House to see what Design Pro and the area’s other wedding professionals have to offer.
And the Winner Is... March 03 2014, 0 Comments
Did you watch the Oscars last night? I thought Ellen did a great job. Didn’t you just love the celebrities, the gowns, the performances, the film clips, the envelopes?
That’s right, the envelopes. The actual envelope containing the names of the winners received a lot of “Oscar buzz” in the press.
Here are some facts about the hundreds of envelopes used at the Oscars:
- Each one weighs a quarter-pound
- Each envelope costs about $200
- Each one requires 110 hours to make by hand
The designer of the envelopes, Marc Friedland, says that “the amount of emotion, spirit, heart and soul contained in that envelope will last a lifetime for that winner and will bring them back to that moment when their name was announced.”
With that kind of effect, perhaps brides should think about splurging on the many options that can make your invitations really stand out. Jeweled embellishments, shimmer paper, and lined envelopes are just a few examples. At Design Pro we have all kinds of colors, styles, and designs to choose from to make your invitations real winners!
T-Shirt Tuesday #5 February 25 2014, 0 Comments
Stressed = Desserts
When you're feeling stressed, it's ok to indulge in some sweets. After all, "stressed" spelled backwards is "desserts."
Mattson Baby Shower February 18 2014, 0 Comments
I had the pleasure of working with Beth Andes and her daughter Kirsten Mattson again recently. This marks the fourth event we’ve collaborated on -- Kirsten’s bridal shower, Kirsten and Eric’s St. Louis wedding, the couple’s gender reveal party, and now their baby shower.
Beth is one of my favorite clients to work with. She knows what she wants and comes in prepared, yet she is still open to new ideas. Meeting with Beth is a high energy brainstorming session. Ideas are thrown out in rapid fire succession until the perfect party is planned.
Beth has said she cannot imagine an event without a theme. Kirsten and Eric, who are expecting a daughter, are avid St. Louis Cardinals fans and wanted to incorporate the baseball team into their theme. Beth thought to “feminize” the theme by adding pink and red polka dots and hearts.
Everything, from the invitations to the décor, came together beautifully, as you can see from the photos taken by Kate Key.
The shower was held at Tuscan Hills Winery. We designed a drink ticket which was given to each guest upon arrival to be used for a delicious glass of wine of their choice. Cards were printed identifying the scrumptious dishes catered by Joe’s. A large sign welcoming Baby Emily to Cardinals Nation, which Kirsten plans to display outside the baby’s room, was hung above the refreshments table. We also provided cards for the lovely candy buffet featuring cake pops and cookies decorated with the St. Louis Cardinals/baseball/pink/red theme.
While Kirsten opened her many beautifully decorated gifts, the guests played Baby Shower Bingo. We designed the game sheets with the letters “E-M-I-L-Y” replacing the typical BINGO. Guests shouted “EMILY” when they filled a line and were rewarded a wine ticket, which we also designed, which could be exchanged for a bottle of wine.
Also during the gift opening, a binder entitled “Coaches’ Advice for the Mom On Deck,” which we created with pages watermarked with “STL,” was passed around for the guests to fill in their advice for the mom-to-be.
Beth and Kirsten didn’t forget about the several children who were in attendance. They were occupied by a duck pond they created with a Cardinals tub filled with little ducks bearing pink and red hearts with prizes given for picking the lucky duck.
In keeping with the theme, the tables were decorated with pink-and-white-striped popcorn boxes adorned with a cute ribbon and baseball sticker which we designed. Boxes filled with an assortment of candies and a mini red or pink antibacterial hand gel and lip balm were placed at each guest’s seat.
No matter where you looked in the party room, there was something that demonstrated Beth and Kirsten’s creativity. Cardinals onesies and dresses hung from a clothesline under the fireplace mantel, while Cardinal baby board books and other gear were scattered around the cheerful room.
Two things are for certain. Number one, Baby Emily Mattson is going to be one lucky little girl. And number two, Grandma-to-be Beth Andes really knows how to throw a party! And we at Design Pro are so happy to be a part of the process and to have such wonderful clients who are also our friends.
CREDITS:
Venue: Tuscan Hills Winery
Photographer: Kate Key Photography
Invitations and Graphic Design: Design Pro
Catering: Joe’s Pizza & Pasta
Cake Pops and Cookies: Lisa’s Pastry Sensations
The Importance of Proofreading February 13 2014, 0 Comments
This is an actual email advertisement received from a well known stationery company. Their website boasts being in business since 1919 and having over 250 employees.
You would think with all that experience and the number of employees, this mistake would have been caught.
Take a look at the black wedding invitation. The image has not been altered in any way. Cocktalk? Really?
You can trust Design Pro. We may be smaller, but we know the difference between "cocktalk" and "cocktail."
T-Shirt Tuesday #4 February 11 2014, 0 Comments
Not Famous Anymore
At the "Nymphomaniac" premiere, Shia LaBeouf walked the red carpet wearing a brown paper bag over his head. The bag had two holes in it for his eyes, and he had written the phrase "I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE" on the bag.
T-Shirt Tuesday #3 February 04 2014, 0 Comments
"I'd Tap That"
Based on the popular Flappy Bird app, this design is sure to make any gamer laugh.
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