Behind every piece of wedding stationery is a creative story shaped by passion, experimentation, and years of hands-on experience. For Storytold Studio, that story begins with branding – and continues through a long-standing love for event stationery.
Based in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Storytold Studio is led by Jessica Geppert. The studio is primarily a brand and website studio, focused on crafting strategic, story-driven brand identities that help businesses step into their full potential. But alongside this work, event stationery has remained an important creative outlet for more than a decade.
“Storytold Studio is primarily a Brand and Website Studio. I craft strategic, story-driven brand identities that help your business step into its full potential.”
At a Glance
A studio profile on Storytold Studio — Wagga Wagga-based brand and stationery designer Jessica Geppert.
Jessica blends 10+ years of brand strategy with bespoke wedding stationery design, working primarily in handcrafted print rather than templates. This profile covers her process, the challenges of a regional design practice, and what makes custom wedding stationery worth the investment.
- Practice focus: brand identity and websites, with wedding stationery as a long-running creative outlet
- Process: story-led briefing, custom illustration, hand-finishing, then production printing through partners like Paperlust
- Lead time: 10–12 weeks for custom invitations, 6–8 months for save-the-dates
- Best for couples who want: stationery that functions as a keepsake, not just an invitation
Event Stationery as a Creative Constant
While branding work forms the core of Storytold Studio, event stationery plays a different – but equally meaningful – role. It’s a space where ideas can be explored more freely, without the same strategic constraints that come with branding projects.
For Jessica, stationery design allows room to test concepts, experiment with layouts, and push creative boundaries in a tactile way. It offers a contrast to screen-based work and has remained a creative constant throughout her career.
“Event stationery is what fills my creative cup. I’m able to test ideas, push boundaries and design in a way that is different from strategic branding.”
Working with a custom designer like Storytold Studio?
We print bespoke invitations for designers and studios across Australia — letterpress, foil, digital, and full-colour options on premium stocks.
Balancing Work and Stepping into Full-Time Business
Like many small business owners, Jessica spent years juggling part-time work alongside freelancing. Managing both came with challenges, but it also helped clarify what she wanted from her business long-term.
In 2025, she made the decision to go full time with Storytold Studio – a turning point that allowed her to focus fully on her creative practice and business growth.
“Juggling part time work and freelancing was challenging. In 2025 I quit my job and went full time, something I do not regret for a second.”
That year became a period of learning and adjustment – finding what worked, refining processes, and building confidence in her direction.
“2025 was all about finding my feet and learning what works for me.”
How to Choose Between a Custom Designer and Template Stationery
The choice between a custom designer like Storytold Studio and template-based stationery comes down to four factors: budget, lead time, level of personalisation needed, and how much the stationery matters as part of the wedding experience.
Choose custom design if: you have a specific aesthetic that doesn’t exist in template libraries, you want bespoke illustrations (venue, motifs, monograms), the stationery suite is part of the styling concept across the day, or you want the invitation to function as a keepsake.
Choose template stationery if: budget is the primary constraint, lead time is short (under 6 weeks), or you simply want clean, well-designed invitations that do the job without bespoke creative input.
Hybrid option: some designers, including Storytold Studio, offer semi-custom packages — a designer-led aesthetic with a faster turnaround and lower price than full bespoke. This is often the right middle ground for couples who want personality without a months-long design process.
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
One proud moment in Jessica’s journey came when she was named a finalist in her local Business Chamber’s Business Awards, in the Outstanding Young Business Leader category.
Recognition like this carried personal significance, acknowledging not only the business itself but the effort behind building it.
“Something that feels so nice to be recognised for, not only for my business, but personally as well.”
Like Storytold Studio, Paperlust specialises in premium wedding stationery. Browse the wedding invitations collection.
Related reading:
Want premium print quality for your own projects? Browse our business cards and custom stickers at Paperlust Print Shop.
| Stationery path | Typical cost (full suite) | Lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full custom (Storytold-style) | $1,500–$5,000+ | 10–14 weeks | Couples who want bespoke illustration and a styled keepsake |
| Semi-custom designer | $600–$1,800 | 6–10 weeks | Couples who want designer aesthetic without full bespoke pricing |
| Template (online editor) | $150–$600 | 1–4 weeks | Couples prioritising budget and speed |
| DIY (Canva + home print) | $50–$200 | Self-paced | Couples comfortable with DIY trade-offs in finish quality |
Printing Wedding Stationery with Paperlust Print Shop
When it comes to producing wedding stationery for her couples, having a reliable printing services is essential. For Storytold Studio, Paperlust Print Shop has become that go-to partner.
Jessica describes the experience as seamless and supportive, particularly when navigating design and printing decisions.
“Paperlust is my go to when I need wedding stationery printed for my couples.”
Beyond print quality, the relationship stands out for its collaborative nature and responsiveness.
“They are also so helpful, nothing is ever an issue and they help solve design and printing decisions with me.”
That collaboration has made Paperlust Print Shop feel less like an external supplier and more like a trusted extension of the studio – the kind of printing business that supports creative confidence.
“It literally just feels like an extension of my own business – I love working with them!”
Looking for high-quality printing for your stationery design?
Paperlust prints designer-led wedding stationery suites Australia-wide with letterpress, foil, and premium digital — flat-rate shipping and 5–7 business day production.
Working With a Custom Stationer: What to Expect
Engaging a custom stationer is a different experience to ordering off-the-shelf invitations, and knowing the rhythm helps couples plan around it.
Discovery and briefing — the first 1 to 2 weeks. Expect a detailed brief covering wedding date, venue, style direction, must-have wording, and any visual references. Good stationers will ask about the wider event aesthetic so the suite ties into florals, signage, and table styling.
Concept development — weeks 2 to 4. The designer presents 1 to 3 directions, often with mood boards, type samples, and rough layout sketches. Choose one direction and refine.
Design refinement — weeks 4 to 6. Detailed proofs, illustration work, and copy approvals. Most studios include 2 to 3 rounds of revisions in their fee.
Production printing — 5 to 7 business days after final approval. Stationer briefs the print partner (Paperlust or similar), proofs colour and stock, then signs off the run.
Delivery and finishing — additional 1 to 2 weeks for envelope addressing, assembly with belly bands or wax seals, and shipping to the couple or directly to guests.
Working with a Custom Stationer: Briefing Checklist
The smoother the brief, the smoother the design process. Bring this checklist to your first call with any custom stationer.
- Wedding date and venue — including ceremony and reception locations if different
- Guest count — for accurate quantity quoting and potential bulk discount
- Style direction — 3 to 5 visual references you want the suite to feel like
- Wedding aesthetic — florals, dress, suit, table styling so the suite ties in
- Must-have wording — exact names, dates, dress code, RSVP details
- Budget range — for the full suite (invitations + on-the-day stationery)
- Timeline — when you need invitations in hand, working back from the send-by date
- Additional pieces — save-the-dates, menus, place cards, signage, thank-you cards
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the right wedding stationery designer?
Start by looking at portfolios on Instagram and wedding platforms to find a style that matches your vision. Ask about their printing process – whether they work with a professional print partner matters for quality and consistency. Request samples before committing, and check reviews from past couples. A good designer will ask about your wedding theme, palette, and guest count before quoting. Clear communication early on saves revisions later. Paperlust Print Shop works with independent designers to deliver premium custom stationery.
What should I look for in print quality when ordering wedding stationery?
Paper weight is the first indicator – quality wedding stationery typically uses 350gsm or above for invitations. Look at color accuracy, clean edge cuts, and consistent ink coverage across the full run. Ask whether your designer uses offset or digital printing, as offset produces sharper results for large quantities. Specialty finishes like foil or letterpress add texture but require precise registration. Always request a physical proof before the full print run to catch color shifts or layout issues that screens can hide.
How does custom stationery printing work from start to finish?
The process starts with a design brief – your color palette, wording, and any special finishes. Your designer creates artwork files, which are then sent to a print partner like Paperlust Print Shop. A digital or physical proof is produced for your approval. Once approved, the job is printed, cut, and packaged. Standard turnaround is typically 5-7 business days after proof approval, depending on quantity and finish. Custom envelopes, addressing, and inserts can be added but will extend the timeline.
What makes handcrafted stationery different from template-based stationery?
Handcrafted stationery is designed from scratch to reflect your specific wedding – the fonts, layout, illustration style, and finish are chosen for you rather than selected from a preset catalog. This means no two sets look alike. Template stationery is faster and cheaper but limits customization. With handcrafted designs, a designer can incorporate custom motifs, hand-lettered text, or venue illustrations. The result is stationery that functions as a keepsake, not just an invitation. The printing quality is the same – what differs is the design investment.
How far in advance should I order custom wedding stationery?
Order save-the-dates 6-8 months before your wedding date. Formal invitations should be sent 6-8 weeks before the event, which means placing your print order 10-12 weeks out to allow for design revisions, proofing, printing, and postage. For destination weddings or peak-season dates, add extra lead time. If you need specialty finishes like foil or letterpress, budget an additional 1-2 weeks. Rushing a print job increases the risk of errors slipping through – a comfortable timeline protects your investment.
