Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Brown.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Like many other businesses in the wedding industry, it all started when I was planning my own wedding. When I was looking for invitations, I was frustrated that I couldn’t find what I really wanted, and back then there weren’t as many options as there are now: you could either pick a generic invitation or go with a completely custom design. I wanted a classic and traditional design, nothing over the top or elaborate, and nothing really felt like me.
Since I’ve always loved stationery and crafting, I decided to create my own invitations.
After my wedding, a few friends asked if I’d design their invitations, and that led to opening an Etsy shop as a hobby. I was in my early twenties and hadn’t settled on a career yet, so I decided to see if I could turn invitation design into something more. Alongside my Etsy shop, I began designing for Minted and Zazzle, and eventually other retailers, including Hallmark. Working with those larger companies gave me invaluable experience in stationery design and production, while my one-on-one clients taught me how much I enjoyed the collaborative side of the business.
Over the years, Banter & Charm has evolved into a full-service wedding stationery studio, but my philosophy hasn’t really changed. I still love creating classic, timeless invitations, but I’ve realized that what couples need most isn’t just beautiful design. They need someone who can guide them through the process, simplify the decisions, and help them feel confident from start to finish. That’s become just as much a part of my business as the invitations themselves.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! I don’t think starting a business is ever a smooth road.
I’m completely self-taught, so in the beginning I spent a lot of time teaching myself design, typography, and how to use all the design programs. Then I had to learn everything that goes into wedding stationery: different printing methods, papers, envelopes, embellishments, and all the little details that make a finished invitation suite come together.
On top of that, I was figuring out how to run a business. Designing was the fun part, but I also had to learn pricing, marketing, bookkeeping, contracts, and how to work with clients. There was a lot of trial and error in those early years.
It was a lot of work, but I’m glad it happened that way. Every project helped me improve, whether it was refining my skills, learning from mistakes, or figuring out how to make the process easier for my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I design classic, timeless wedding invitations, and I love letting beautiful printing and quality materials do the heavy lifting. I think a simple design printed in letterpress on beautiful paper can be far more memorable than something that’s overly elaborate or trendy.
And while my job is technically designing wedding invitations, honestly I spend just as much time helping couples navigate everything that comes with it. Most people have never ordered wedding invitations before, so they’re suddenly trying to learn about etiquette, mailing timelines, printing methods, paper, and all these little details they didn’t even know existed.
I love being able to take that stress off their plate. Instead of trying to figure out everything themselves, they have one person they can trust to guide them through the process and help them be confident in their decisions.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
In a world where so much is digital, I still think there’s something really special about receiving a beautifully printed invitation in the mail. It’s one of the few parts of a wedding your guests can actually hold onto, and I love being part of creating something that becomes a keepsake for years to come.
Pricing:
- Custom invitations starting at $3500
- Semi-custom invitations starting at $1400 for 100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.banterandcharm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banterandcharm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/banterandcharm
