Rislee, I suggest to start deciding soon and get them printed. Best to start sending about 2 months before the wedding. Mine was rather rush, so I onli manage to send my cards a month before, till now im still sending last min invites out.
If u r intending to use the printer tat Club Chinois have suggested, I would suggest not to. I used them to print my cards, I had onli 120 cards for 20 tables of guest. I was on budget and I didn't need to send cards to close frens and family, so tat's how I saved on the cards. The person who attended to us seemed rather impatient, and the printing prices seemed to be more ex after the discussion. The hotel will give u a list of the prices, but u r suppose to negotiate with the printer directly on the printing and all. So finally I decided to go with the hot stamping coz I onli needed eng text. Paid for the deposit which was I think 50% of the cost. (They even count cents, I had to pay like $59.23 or something, they will give me back 7 cents exact).
Ok Nvm. So they will send u draft copy of the print first for u to approve, once u approve the printing will proceed. On the day of collection, they got the card design wrong (I wanted the one with 2 hearts on the front cover, instead they printed on the 'xi' design instead) despite me sending and email to them reminding them on the card design. Due to the fact I was in the rush to send my cards, my fiance accepted the cards. They refuse to give me extra envelopes, which in the end after sending my cards out, I realised there was actually a shortage of envelopes. And their office is at Ubi, which is rather inconvenient to get there. Not delivery service or wateva. U will need to go twice, once to negotiate on the design and all, 2nd time to collect.
My fiance was off so he went to collect the cards. If I have knew on the spot they have screwed up my cards, I would have demanded for a refund or a compensation for making the most obvious mistake. The first thing they ask to confirm is the card design, which is 1 out of the 4 standard designs offered. And yet they can make tat mistake despite my reminder. So my advise, dont use them unless u realli feel comfortable with wat they can offer u. And if u have the time to allow any 'mistakes' to happen.
I had a colleague tat went to Bras Basah to get her cards printed. I believe they did a better job than the printed I got. No names mentioned, but Club Chinois uses them, so I believe u would noe which one by now.
Anyway good luck with the printing, start looking and printing.
(very kiasu i noe, hee) 