I met Guila at a café in Villeray, where she was shopping for fabric for her stand at a wedding show. I’d never really paid attention to what goes into weddings, but seeing as I’m getting married next year, I figured it’d be interesting to chat with her about her cards and invitations.
What’s her project all about?
L’avant Goût Invitations specializes in quality invitations for weddings, bar-mitzvahs and other celebrations. It also offers other services, like place cards and decorations.
Where did the inspiration come from?
“When I was looking at wedding invitations for my own wedding, I was surprised at how expensive they could be. I remember getting a quote of $18/invitation, and thinking about how it adds up when ordering 100 or 200. I did some research, finding suppliers abroad, designing the cards and placing the order directly. And I *LOVED* it. I love wedding planning, and this hit all the right buttons. I put my company name on the invitations, got some calls, and took it from there!”
What’s been difficult?
“I’ve discovered that the whole process is very time-sensitive. When I’m dealing with a bride who’s being pulled in a hundred directions and who’s emotionally involved in the process, I need to make sure that I have enough time. Time to design, get feedback, make corrections and actually get the cards printed, cut and shipped from Asia!
The other thing is dealing with suppliers overseas. I’ve built a great relationship with mine, but, in the past, I’ve had people trying to pass lower-quality products, not wanting to do modifications, etc. There’s a cultural aspect to it, and it’s such a competitive industry over there, that they’re trying to do everything quickly, sometimes to the detriment of quality. And that can often backfire. Also, dealing with a 14-hour time difference has definitely affected my sleep pattern! [laughs]
What are some lessons you’ve learned?
“Be flexible! A lot of companies and people that work in the marriage industry tend to charge extra for flexibility, and that’s rarely aligned with the customers’ needs. So when I see someone say ‘Two changes max, then I start charging extra’, I don’t think that’s a fair way to deal with your brides.
And while we’re at it, be affordable! So many things in this industry are crazy expensive (like $18 invitations!), and there’s a lot you can do with a price that’s more reasonable for the clients, and where you can still make it interesting on your end.
Finally, I’d say building relationships is essential. Build it with your bride, with your suppliers, abroad, with local printers, etc. It helps save you the stress of always ‘fighting’ for the best price, or of trying something new on your own. And with good relations, you can get things that others can’t! And exclusivity is a very valuable asset in the marriage industry!”
Cool, thanks for the tips, and for the inspiration! I’ll hit you up when I’m working on my invitations!
“That’d be great, looking forward to it! :)”
To get in touch with Guila, send L’avant Goût a message on its Facebook page.