Hey friends! This week I am talking with a huge behind the scenes celebrity!! Today we are chatting with Kristina the graphic designer behind the billboards we’ve all seen advertising the Wedding Fair, if you’ve started the search for Minneapolis wedding vendors, then you’ve probably seen her work. Just in case, click here.
For three years now Kristina has been doing the graphic designing for the Twin Cities Wedding Association Wedding Fair, all of the promo pieces, the billboards, the invites, programs, and the Perfect Wedding Guide, sales sheets, and the new website design… phew! I’m almost out of breath listing all of that… er that doesn’t make sense, does it? My fingers are almost cramping from typing all of that! Ha! Let’s hear from Kristina about her business and about what she does for brides and grooms.
Honestly, I have been creative my whole life, always doing fun projects. It wasn’t until 2009, however, that my freelance journey began while I was still working full-time at my graphic design job. I started out working on various company projects from designing logos to book covers to branding and marketing materials. Designing my own wedding stationary was a natural choice for me in 2013 and I was surprised at how much I loved it. After that, I knew I wanted to turn my focus in my freelance work to wedding stationary. It was in designing my own wedding stationary that I became passionate about helping others create a unique and fun design, something entirely custom to them, for their big day.
Kristina is the epitome of a midwestern entrepreneur, she gains quite a lot of support from her mom and her sister.
At wedding fairs my mom and sister will usually accompany me. My mom was actually the person pushing me to start my business and to do the fair in the first place. She is creative, but doesn’t ever admit that she is, she really is a great help at fairs she brings an interior design touch that really helps to fill a booth. My sister went to school for graphic design so she tends to give me a great editing eye and we collaborate with her business Lock and Key.
I couldn’t do it without them, my mom and my sister help me a lot
Kristina continues to tell me all about her sister’s business endeavors. Which is really indicative of her temperament, kind and giving — well tis the season! So I ask Kristina, what is your best advice for brides and grooms?
Spring is crunch time for a lot of brides realizing that they need to get the ball rolling, so best advice for brides and grooms, start earlier! It will make the design process less stressful.
A BIG point of concern is self-printing. You might assume that printing invites or save the dates etc. on your own can save some money, but it’s not just the money you should be thinking about.
Wedding printing costs can really vary based on what the client wants and prefers and how soon they need their product, waiting till the last minute will really hurt your budget. On average print costs start at 1.50/person but this is based on 100 quantity, items like a menu etc. will cost a little more if you aren’t printing them in bulk. I don’t up charge printing costs so the cost is the same as if you brought it to the printer independently. One big exception, I have experience working with the best printers to get the quality you want and the color you’re expecting.
Not only do you get someone who understands bleed lines and paper types, but she is able to customize something truly unique for your wedding — Kristina keeps an eye on the timeline so that items are sent to the printer with enough time to proof, print, cut, assemble, address and send!
Her favorite invitation set combo?
I like a simple 5×7 invite with a postcard rsvp. But I also really like the booklet that I offer for invites or for programs. I can do assembly, but a lot of DIY brides opt to have an invitation assembly party.
I started liking mint before it was a cool thing
The color palette that she think’s is swoon-worthy?
I did really love the blush palette but now I’ve moved on. If I was to get married again I probably wouldn’t be able to pick! I would for sure do it totally different, it would be more watercolors and hand drawn; more customized and look less cookie cutter. I like incorporating sketches of things, like drawings that the couples do themselves or have someone do, that can really illuminate their relationship
My ideal client is mid 20’s to early 30’s. She’s confident about her style and knows the look she’s after for her wedding. She adores all of the details that make stationary so fun – everything from beautiful paper and envelope liners all the way to foil printing and letterpress. My ideal client is fun and sophisticated and likes the classic feel of having a custom-designed wedding logo to incorporate throughout the entire day. She wants a wedding that’s full of special details and one that’s a true celebration of the love she shares with her partner.
My clients will say that I have a natural artistic vision and I’m detail oriented (I really am! Those details are so important to me). My closest friends say I’m always a good listener and a girl that loves to go on a great adventure and have fun. My husband might say that I plan too much, but I really do enjoy being spontaneous. In return my business is authentic, unique, and customized.
I truly want my clients to be a part of the entire design process and to know that they can trust the work I’m doing for them. To that end, I ensure I listen well to their vision, dreams and hopes for their wedding to be able to create and incorporate custom design stationery as part of their day. I want to partner with each of my clients to give them a look that no one else has, something entirely unique to them and their relationship.
If you’d like more information about Kristina Designz at your wedding you can find her on her Website, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest.
Next time on Getting Married in Minnesota, Meet JenMar Creations.
Tell me, do you have any other questions? Leave them below! If you know of someone looking for a wedding invites, or save the dates, actually anything paper for their event… tell them about Kristina Designz![clickToTweet tweet=” I just met a great wedding vendor on Head Over Heels… you’ll want to meet them too!” quote=”Introduce your friends to Kristina Designz” theme=”style6″]
Prosperity, Love & Happiness,
