Tuesday, July 22, 2008

There's a Reason That There are Pros.

I wasn't planning on showing my invites until after they've been mailed, but I really need an opinion. I just received them back from the printer today and the cover appears to have shifted to the left during printing. I am trying to find the mock-up that I approved, but it's missing in our messy house. (The wedding projects are running us out of house and home!) Anyway, here's our invite:

At the top of the page, the "we do!" is not centered. I think that you have to really be looking to notice that. But the dots also seem to have shifted to the left. Look at the spaces between the two coral dots at the edge. Does all of the space at the edge look stupid? The image on the right shows the rectangle that I used to make the crop marks. Those two dots bled off the page in the files that I handed off.
On the bottom, the "do you?" is aligned too far to the left. Also, the bottom crop mark is too low. The original design had all of the circles bleeding off of the page, as shown by the rectangle on the bottom page.
What do you think? Should I complain? Four coworkers, my boss, Andy, my friend VP, and her graphic designer husband all think that I'm nuts. My boss accused me of being a bridezilla and my coworker told me "It's not like you're entering them in a graphic design competition." But, I busted my ass on them, spent a lot of money on them, and everyone knows that I made them. And I know how I'd be if I got these. On another note, I SUCK at sticking up for myself, so I don't think that I'd have the nerve to go to the printer and fight for a reprint. For having such a smart mouth, I'm a total pussy cat. All bark, no bite.
Please comment. Thanks!

28 comments:

Lethie said...

Bridezilla is harsh. I think the dots look fine. Only You will notice it, b/c you designed them. But if this i something that will bother you then you should say something to the printing company. After all it is your money.

Kate said...

Okay Tina my dear, I totally feel you on wanting printers to work like we think they should - sadly, the reality is that they just don't. They are far more inaccurate than you'd think!

With that said, I think that these small discrepancies (I agree, they are discrepancies) are simply that - small. Like lethie, I think that only the designer will notice these small - scratch that - teensy, tiny issues with the design.

THEY LOOK AMAZING! It does not sacrifice the cohesive look or feel - I say be excited they are printed and done and go with it. But it's totally your call. :)

A Windy City Wedding said...

i think they look great too but i would be the exact same way. perhaps gauge how much time it would be to have them reprinted? and it is not bridezilla to get what you asked for, geez people! in any other circumstance, for business, or even just regular party invites you would be totally justified but because it is a wedding you are a "bridezilla." if they want to fight you on it you would you have to dig through your house and find the original you submitted? no fun!

style-for-style said...

they look great!!

I just did a mock one here at home and there was a giant ink streak across the invite. yikes.

I say send them off, no one will notice.
I'm still having a hard time finding whats wrong, and you've pointed it out!

Erica said...

Your invites are so unique and gorgeous. People will see your hard work and creativity...not the printer's error.


I think that dealing with the printer and the time crunch of reprinting will make you more frustrated than if you send them as is. Your guests will not notice if you don't tell them...


Besides, isn't asymetrical "in" right now? :-)

Jenna said...

Oh, I had something say, but Erica said it better, definitely take her advice!

Elizabeth said...

As an avid wedding blog reader and fan of all things wedding-related I thought I would chime in and let you know that I would never notice any discrepancies if I were to receive one of these beautiful and festive invites (I've looked at your post multiple times and STILL can't really see what's wrong...)! I think if it will bother you even if you try to keep it from bothering you, you should speak to the printers (firmly) but if you think it's just going to bother you for the moment and that you're far more excited to send them and start getting RSVP's and compliments on your design, I would let it go. They are unique and so so pretty!

TiffanyM522 said...

Hi Tina, I am just someone who reads your blog every day. I love all your design. I think you should get what you want, some people may call it bridezilla...but you paid a lot of money. You should get quality.

I think they look awesome, but it would also drive me nuts that they are slightly off. I am the kinda girl that would lose sleep over something like that. Being that I have never planned a wedding (finger crossed that I will soon) I am guessing after all the work there are just something's you have to let go....but grrrr it would piss me off. I think you should totally go bridezilla on the printer, maybe not reprint but let him know how off he was!

Either way they are super fun and unique. I read a ton of wedding sites and have seen NOTHING like them. Your design ROCKS!

Kelly said...

They aren't stupid. I wouldn't have noticed at all had you not pointed it out. I know how you feel though, you see them a certain way and you've been slaving over them that you can't imagine them any less than perfect in your mind.

When I went to the printer to get a quote on printing, they actually told me that in printing, the image will shift a little bit the more copies they make. Are some of ones in the beginning of the pile just how you wanted them? If so, send the crappy ones to people who you know won't care/notice.

If you are losing sleep over it, then definitely bring them back. The bottom line is they are not what you wanted.

They look awesome though!

cara said...

I HATE bleed marks and printers. How, in this age of technology, is it impossible to print/cut paper where you are supposed to??? I just don't get it.

I would contact the printers to tell them that you are disappointed and that the result is not what you expected.

That said, I think that they look fantastic and I would never notice the errors unless they were pointed out. I really don't think that people will notice, it's just whether you can stand to leave them as they are.

Our invitations were FULL of deign errors. I deliberated over it for ages but in the end I just couldn't face doing them again and I did't care if anyone noticed the mistakes, deciding that my mental health is worth more than perfect invitations!

Unknown said...

You should just go complain a lot and ask for a partial refund or some sort of credit towards something else (thank you cards or something), but not have them reprinted. Even though you're upset over them, it's got to be a relief to have them done, and you'll feel so awesome to get them out in the mail. THEN, all you will get in compliments rolling in. IF someone says something negative, poke them in the eye with the corner of the invitation and tell them to go grab a burger on your wedding day because they aren't invited anymore. hehe.

Anonymous said...

I'm so over people throwing out the Bridezilla card when a bride says anything. If these were for a work-related event, no one would call you a Eventzilla or whatever. Grrr. That word gets me all riled up.

That said, although I noticed it the "do you" was kind of close to the edge, I didn't notice the other things until you pointed them out. I wouldn't want to deal with the mess of having them reprinted. I'm all bark and no bite also.

I'll tell you a little secret...my save the dates had a grammatical error on them that I did not notice until I was done printing every single layer by hand on my Gocco. It's not super noticeable, but its out there! So just send them along! You'll be happier not having to worry!

Sarah said...

I feel your pain... I designed my own invitations, and spent weeks on every single detail. When they came back from the printer, there were some small "mistakes" in my mind, but all of my friends told me I was nuts. The fact of the matter is that this was YOUR design, and while nobody else will notice (because they really do look amazing), you will know that it isn't what you wanted. I'd defintiely get at least a partial refund, and if they have time to reprint them, they should. As someone who works in advertising, the amount they were off is actually fairly substantial, so you definitely have a case. Good luck!

Darci said...

First of all, I hate the word bridezilla, but that's beside the point. I think that they look great, I honestly do. But what matters is that YOU are happy. These are your wedding invitations and you should love them! You put so much work into them! If this were any other situation besides a wedding no one would think twice about you having them reprinted. When I got ours back from the printer something had also shifted and the loops in two of the letters were overlapping. I made them fix it and reprint all of those bad boys.

So if this is something that will plague you, have them reprinted. I swear that I will go with you to the printer and pretend to be your crazy perfectionist wedding planner and then you can blame the whole thing on me and come out smelling like a rose. Bottom line - you paid for them to be printed one way and they are not. I am not kidding that I'll go with you and/or call the printer, just say the word...

Chitown Wife said...

I think they are gorgeous, but I understand when you want something to be perfect and then they come back and they are not so perfect. But to be honest, I did not even notice it until you pointed them out.

The sad news is I work with printers every day and unfortunately, I constantly have to complain because something has shifted. I swear your guests will not even notice...

jennifer said...

I'm sure I would freak if they were my invitations and they weren't perfect. But HONESTLY- they look wonderful!

Linda said...

I think they look great. Put them away for a day or two and look at them again. Then see if they still look wrong to you.
I would say something if it bothered you enough, but understand that there might be nothing they can do.

jessica lynn said...

1. they look AMAZING! you did such a great job!!
2. i didn't even notice the things that you mentioned...especially that the "We Do" wasn't centered or that the dots are a little off the page. i think that is something that very few people will notice becuase they didn't put all the effort into it that you did!
3. will the 3 pieces be connected (we do, the invite, do you) like you have them layed out? If not then NO one will notice that the "do you" is a little to the left.
4. don't forget that they look amazing! you could always say something to the printing company to get a little $$$ back....
5. you are not a bridezilla....i would have obsessed about this too!!

Lindsay said...

They really do look great! However, I would totally have them reprinted if you aren't satisfied. I design wedding invitations and if this was something for one of my clients, I would definitely reprint. This is something that you are going to have to look at for the rest of your life, and you don't want to look at it every time and regret not making it perfect!!!

PrettyKitty said...

The invites look fantastic! Honestly, I looked at them without reading your text first and I thought, I wish I could deisgn invites that great! I'm not kidding! Then I read your actual blog and I understand your pain, but also think that no one would even notice. But if its a good chance for you to stick up for yourself, you can certainly go to the printer. Maybe not ask for a full reprint but you could ask for other freebies or discounts on further printing, like the escort cards, thank yous, menu cards or programs. That would be a good way to get something in return for not getting a completely perfect product. :o) Good luck, and I really do love them!

Rachel said...

First of all: Bridezilla. Unfair! If you protest - then you look even MORE like one... so you have to just laugh and take it when really, inside, you want to smack 'em!

Your invitations are BEAUTIFUL! You are so creative, Tina! I think I would at least call and talk to the printer and honestly explain that you are disappointed that the design seems to have shifted. Who knows what they'll offer you? If you go in with a problem and present it in a way that they can fix it - they may come up with a good solution.
Unfortunately, anything that is touched/made by human hands (even if it is minimal)is going to be a little imperfect.

But I think they look awesome!! And, really, there is something to be said about being able to send them out and get that checked off your list!

Cait said...

i agree with everyone else. although i have a super type "A" personality thing going on, i would say just ignore your feelings on this and move on. they are so beautiful and the only thing anyone will notice when they receive them is how hard you worked on them, not the flaws.

trust me, i just got married in March and there are going to be other things to worry about! hahaha

marta said...

ooh, i am so sorry that something you worked on for so long did not turn out how you had imagined them too. (isn't that the nature of the beast!?) but honestly, i think they are gorgeous. you've done a beautiful job and they look unique and fun and interesting. and the dots are perfect and still seem to bleed off. no worries. i think they effect you're going for completely worked! just relax and let it go!

Kate said...

The "Do You" is too far over, but nobody will notice. They are fantastic though. I love them! I love dots!

WideEyedBride said...

Tina, love the invites! How did you design them? What type of placed did you go to to print them?

we love saturday said...

You have paid for something that they messed up. I would make them reprint it. I always tell printers to redo something if it isn't right.

Great design though!

ami @ elizabeth anne designs said...

i'm so sorry i'm late to the party on this one! i haven't been able to check my google reader in a week. these look SO BEAUTIFUL!

Jamie said...

hi tina! your invites look gorgeous. i'm sorry the printers did such a crappy job but i hope you've found your answer by now {sorry for the late comment}. don't sweat too much about the little hiccups on it, if you're still debating. your guests will not notice it, and this is from experience =)