Always Asks Ananya Cards (Part 2)

Welcome back to part 2 of our Q&A with Vaishali from Ananya Cards

What’s your design process?

There are five main steps to the design process:

•  ESTABLISH CRITERIA of the project

This stage involves understanding the design requirements and determining timelines and fees involved

• EXPLORATION of the design possibilities

At this step, we explore the design possibilities for the wedding stationery, and present the first round.

• REFINE the design

Once a couple confirms which design direction they would like to go with from stage 2, we will continue to edit the invitation and stationery with the design and text edits.

• PRODUCTION of the invitation stationery

As stage 3 is completed, our designs become tangible! Print co-ordination with printers begins after sending the couple a production estimate and getting it approved by them. Proofs can be made for their approval before the final quantity is printed.

• DELIVERY of the deliverables

The entire package is delivered to the couple, and they are now ready to enjoy their wedding invitations and stationery!

We work very closely with our clients both through face to face meetings and emails. Clients know that we are available to them and respond quickly to their questions or comments. We like to meet a client ideally 3-4 months before the wedding invitations need to be sent out, to allow enough time for the design process, proof, print quotes etc. However, we try to accommodate clients who have shorter timelines.

What do you think couples should be looking for when buying their wedding stationery?

Couples should remember that their wedding stationery is a reflection of who they are as a couple, so it should be like a personal statement about them. I feel that couples should have a theme in mind for the wedding. This will be the basis for the design process and will give a sense of continuity and conformity throughout. They should also have a fixed budget in mind, but allow for at least 10% more which will give them more flexibility in making choices. Quality is key and should never be compromised; couples should go for as high a quality as their budget allows.

What advice would you give to couples wanting to incorporate a fusion of cultures in their wedding?

If you are having a multicultural wedding, you are naturally sensitive about respecting the values and traditions of both cultures. Are there themes or aspects that are common to both cultures? For example, ananya recently designed stationery for an Indian Scottish wedding, where we used paisley as a motif because our research showed that the paisley had symbolic significance to both cultures. To harmonise the two cultures further, we also used a green background to match the tartan and the paisley in deep pink to give it a rich and exotic Indian look.

What do you wish couples knew already when working with you?

Before talking to us, it would be very helpful if couples had their budget worked out. This would save a lot of time during our initial discussions and it would allow us to quickly proceed to suggesting what is possible within that budget.

Where do you see the future of Ananya Cards?

My goal is to expand the business geographically and in particular, broaden my client base in the US as well explore the UAE. In addition to wedding stationery, we are also focused on personal stationery and correspondence cards.

Thanks for answering all my questions.

Ananya cards offer a truly bespoke service and create the most beautiful stationery which would really set the tone for any wedding. For further information, please visit their website or contact Vaishali by email info@ananyacards.com

All images courtesy of Tino & Pip and styled by Always Andri Wedding Design