Bell’Invito
147 Pittsburg St., Design District
In Italian, Bell’Invito means “beautiful invitation.” The novelty of this company is that you can send out custom paper invites, but go through the entire process online (unless you opt for the couture line, which needs to be ordered in-person). Former fashion art director Heather Wiese spent a lot of time in Italy and fell in love with the artisanal quality of the stationery there. With Bell’Invito, she marries traditional craftsmanship with the demands of modern life. After customers fill out a detailed digital form that dictates the design, the stationery is made on a printing press dating back to the 1800s; the result is shipped within ten days of proof approval. Given that a three-month window is normally required for stationery of this caliber, the speedy turnaround is a lifesaver for time-starved planners.