What Would You Pay a Friend to Design Invite Suite?

I paid $60 for design services for invitation, rsvp card, and belly band. I'd say $150ish for all design services? I assume she'd create 1 graphic for all pieces? It might depend how much tweaking and changing you do to wording and how many graphics she comes up with before you find the one you love.

The trip for hand-lettering would be extra, I'm sure. I'd offer to pay expenses plus dinner and a thank you gift...and offer cash on top of that...which she may decline as your friend??

An average rate for design services is $20-60 per hour, depending on their level of skill and experience. Wedding invitation suites can take anywhere up to 10 hours and over in design time, depending on the client's request.

I would be uncomfortable with a friendor that isn't already established somehow or who asks me to quote her a price. I am consider one friendor, but she is already an established videographer and would charge me her normal rated I decide to hire her.

That said, if it won't bother you or strain your relationship, I would research what that type of thing typically costs in your area and go from there.

Honestly, it's up to her to establish that price. Just tell her you aren't comfortable with offering since you aren't familiar with the industry.

My best friend is also doing all of our STD, invite suite, signage and escort cards but I am paying her a hefty amount. She is also hand calligraphy (not sure the proper verbiage here I'm embarrassed) the addresses for all (250 person guest list - about 165 invites). But she has her own Etsy site and does other items as well. She is also doing all the printing. I think it's something you should ask her and although she already answered I'd be more direct.

Agree with PP--as you will probably hear a lot on here, be very careful of friendors. Consider: if you don't like what she makes, will you have trouble telling her?

I'm a calligrapher and I just recently jumped into wedding stationery. How many suites are you wanting to order? It really depends on the amount, intricacy of the design, and quality of paper.

ETA grammar

People will tell you to stay away from friendors, but in this case I say go for it. If she is talented, you have seen her work and like it, and if she is a reliable person then I see no issue. A really good friend of mine works for a printing/design company and also makes wedding/birthday invitations on the side for friends and she made our invitation suite. They are SO much nicer than anything I found online and way cheaper ($200 for design and she printed/trimmed them for us). That $200 included 200 5x7 double sided invitations, 200 5x7 envelopes, 200 RSVP cards, 200 RSVP envelopes, and 40 rehearsal dinner inserts.

Thank you so much to everyone for your kind responses. Your insight and advice has helped me tremendously in making this judgement call. I really appreciate you all for taking the time to thoughtfully respond.

Agreed. With PPs. Ask her what she thinks is fair. For reference, at my agency we charge $100/hr for design services. We do packages though, based on an estimate of how long we think it'll take and cut a deal from there. If you aren't picky, I'm sure it'll all be good. If you make her do 12 different versions and edits, I'd through some extra cash her way.

I charge $50-80/hr for design services depending on what it is (web design is the high end, wedding invites would be on the lower end of that). I've been a professional designer for just about 10 years now.

Like others have said, she should be the one giving you an hourly rate or a base package price, but she's also probably trying to be a friend. If you don't want to offend her and pay her reasonably for her time, I would expect to pay $300-$500, since it's known she is inexperienced. This would be for design services only - if she plans on printing them as well, that's another cost entirely (I don't do printing).

Design is not cheap, but it's the first impression your guests get of your wedding and can also help establish and "brand" and overall feel for your special day.