We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelsey Cheyne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelsey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

My co-founder and friend Rachele and I first came up with the idea to create our own wedding invitation / stationery business, when her sister, being a long time owner of a wedding makeup and hair business in the GTA was thinking about doing invitations on the side.

With Rachele and I both having a B.Comm degree with a major in Marketing, and experience in Graphic Design – she approached us with the idea, and we both thought we were better positioned to take this on. We were intrigued and eager to use our creativity to explore creating wedding invitations ourselves. As marketing graduates – we had a good grasp on creative content and business strategy. I can still remember the “starter kit” that had a number of different coloured paper, envelopes, and embellishments and being excited about what we could create. At the time there were online wedding invitation businesses, but only a few that you could have done custom for you, and local to the GTA. Wedding invitations are the first communication you have with your guests, and really set the stage for what style of wedding you will have, and should speak to the couples personalities. We wanted to take the online cookie cutter process of invitations to a completely custom experience, where the couple can make the invitations completely their own.

A combination of our skill sets and our go-getter attitudes – we put our all into becoming the co-founders of Pretty in Print Invitations (which since has been changed to Pretty in Print Design Co. to encompass everything we do outside of just wedding invitations).

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Pretty in Print Design Co. specializes in bespoke wedding invitations, signage, and day-of stationery, personalized to every special event in your life (Weddings, baby showers, bachelorettes, birthdays and more!)

For weddings, we understand that your big day is as unique as you are. Our passion lies in creating custom designs that reflect your individual style, personality, and love story. From elegant invitations that set the tone for your celebration to modern signage that guides your guests with grace, every detail is meticulously curated to exceed your expectations.

My name is Kelsey, and I am one of the co-founders of Pretty in Print Design Co. I spent five years studying the ins and outs of business and Marketing at the University of Guelph, and when I think about what drew me into marketing, it was always the creative angle.

My design philosophy is to create with purpose. Once I start designing, it doesn’t take long before I’m completely obsessed with perfecting all the finer points that make a piece one of a kind (I’m the type to spend hours picking the perfect typeface). I truly believe It’s the small details that really help each couple’s unique personality shine!

At Pretty in Print Design Co, we believe that the beauty is in the details, and we’re dedicated to ensuring that every aspect of your wedding stationery reflects the magic of your love story. Beyond this, we also have rental items that can be used for your events. We are local to the GTA, and Kelowna, BC!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When we first started out, our niche in the market was designing unique and creative invitations for weddings. However, as we grew and evolved, we recognized the importance of diversifying our offerings to meet the changing needs of our clients and the market.

The first major shift came when we expanded our product line to include signage and day-of stationery. We noticed that many couples were looking for cohesive designs that extended beyond just invitations, so we began offering matching signage for their wedding day and other stationery items such as place cards and menus.

Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and traditional weddings were disrupted, we quickly pivoted to offering online virtual invitations. Recognizing the need for contactless solutions and the rise of virtual celebrations, we adapted our services to meet those needs. Some couples had to postpone their wedding 2,3 times – and we made sure we were there to create “change the date” invitations for them when they needed it. We also created an online store on Etsy where we created personalized wine labels that were a huge success for gift giving season!

Most recently, as weddings have returned to in-person, we have once again adapted our offerings to provide rentals for day-of stationery. We understand that couples may not want to invest in purchasing signage and other stationery items outright, especially for one-time use, so we now offer rental options to provide a cost-effective solution while still maintaining the quality and customization our clients expect.

Through each of these transitions, we have demonstrated resilience by staying attuned to market trends, listening to our clients’ feedback, and being willing to innovate and evolve our business model. While the journey has definitely not always been easy, it has also been incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come and to know that we can continue to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing industry.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

In the wedding industry, particularly in businesses like invitation/stationery design, networking and word of mouth were crucial for our growth. Rachele and I participated in yearly wedding shows to showcase our work to a large audience in the GTA. It was a great way for us to make connections, collect leads, and network with others in the industry. The wedding industry is so great! We have established relationships with other vendors such as wedding planners, photographers, florists, and venues. These vendors have recommended us with their couples, and in turn have boosted our clientele significantly.

Finally, word of mouth in the GTA have been the main growth driver of our business for the past few years. By providing fast service (getting back to our couples via email in a timely manner!) and high-quality, personalized invitation designs, we have been able to leave lasting impressions on our clients, who then will tell their family and friends about us. Having these individuals write reviews and spread the word about Pretty in Print has significantly expanded our clientele base!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prettyinprintdesignco.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyinprint.designco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prettyinprintdesignco/

Image Credits
Photographers: Nautical Studios Nova Markina Rooted Photo 515 Photo Co