I’m on a budget. Can I still work with Fat Cat?

It’s funny that we hear this question all the time, and our answer is always “everybody has a budget.” The better question is, “what is your budget?” We’ve worked with couples with $15,000 budgets and those with $3,000 budgets, so the word “budget” is relative. That being said, we have an $800 minimum for save the dates, and a $2,800 minimum for wedding invitations. It may be helpful to know that on average our clients generally spend somewhere around $6,000 for their save the dates, invitations and day-of stationery combined.

How far in advance of my wedding date should I come in?

We recommend 6-8 months before the wedding and 4 months at the very least — although, we’ve been known to turn invitations around in 24 hours when an emergency arises.

Do I need to make an appointment, or can I just stop by?

We do require an appointment. In order to deliver the service that we would like to give, we need to reserve time just for you.

How long is an appointment?

We reserve a one-hour time slot for your consultation. If you're coming for the first time with the intent to place an order, plan on staying an additional hour so we can fine tune all the details.

Why do you charge a $50 fee for appointments?

Not all wedding invitation boutiques are the same. When you come to Fat Cat Paperie, you will sit one-on-one with a highly trained specialist who will give you their undivided attention… no distractions. She will sit with you for a full hour to talk and brainstorm about your vision and your event.

The $50 fee will be applied to your save the date, invitation or day-of stationery order.

All of the other invitation places I’ve spoken with don’t charge a fee. Why should I pay to meet with you?

Fair question, we get it. We thought long and hard before we decided to start charging a fee. After 13 years in business on Long Island, we are grateful to say we have built quite a reputation and lots of people want to meet with us. But that said, we have limited time slots for appointments and want to be sure that those who seek us out are serious about wanting to work with us. We so dearly value the quality of service we provide, and we’re committed to offering this level of personalized attention to all of our clients. It’s not about being compensated for our time, it’s about the value we bring to you. When you sit with a Fat Cat consultant, you will be educated on different print techniques, design styles and pricing levels. She will listen and discuss with you your vision of your event and she’ll offer you ideas and insights that will hopefully leave you excited and inspired (which is always our goal).

What can I expect during my first appointment?

During your first appointment we discuss your vision for your wedding — colors, themes, ambiance, etc. We’ll show you a variety of designs to educate you on various printing methods and help you find your style.

We thrive on creativity and are happy to guide you through the world of typestyles, ink colors, paper options, and embellishments to personalize your invitation to make it look and feel like your dream event.

Some clients fall in love with an invitation and place their order during their first visit. Others want to look at many options, narrow their choices and come back for a second appointment to finalize their design. Either way is perfectly fine with us. After the first appointment we can work together remotely, via email, phone or snail mail. We’ve worked with clients as far as Europe, so working and shipping remotely is not an issue.

How long does it take for the invitations to be ready once I place my order?

Typically it takes 4-6 weeks, but some printing techniques and custom designs may take longer. We've also been know to turn invitations around in 24 hours when necessary.

Do you offer envelope addressing services? And what does it cost?

We offer digital calligraphy that starts at $2.50 per envelope, and hand calligraphy that starts at $6 per envelope.

How does payment work?

We accept all major credit cards, personal checks and cash. A 50% deposit is due when you place your order. The balance is due at the time of pick up or shipping.

Is it possible for me to place an order if I cannot physically be at your shop?

Yes, this is absolutely possible. With the help of the internet and UPS, we’ve worked with couples across the country as well as abroad. If we can meet face to face that’s great, but if that’s not possible, we can “meet” via video conference and then snail mail samples to you.