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View Full Version : Invitations, Announcements, Place cards, etc. Do-It-Yourself! Save $$


valeriieee
02-04-2005, 07:51 PM
Hi. I'm just getting started in planning my wedding. I've read a lot of posts here from people either looking for ideas or offering suggestions.

For engagement announcements, I picked up some very cheap, plain Christmas photo cards (cream colored with gold embossed stars and a place to put your own photo) at Target for literally under $4 for 30. I designed and printed them myself including a photo of the ring on my hand as a semi-transparent background with the announcement text over the top. I received LOTs of compliments on them, and they were so cheap and easy to make!

For invitations, I haven't decided yet if I'm going to buy pre-printed ones or print my own, but what I plan to do is get the simplest/cheapest of either kind as possible and them embellish them myself. I recently purchased the embossing tool called Empunchlar and will be embossing my invitations, place cards, etc. by hand. I'll be saving lots of money by doing the detailing myself! Depending on how I decide they'll be laid out, I may also add ribbons or charms myself, too, for a fraction of the cost that the companies charge for those specialties!

Let me tell you, I'm not crafty, but it's so easy to cut corners by doing the details yourself! And the end result is worth it, too: knowing you put your time into something so important to you, and hearing the compliments people will give you once you've finished! The best part is, when I'm all done, I can turn around and resell my embellisher on eBay and make a little money back! You won't be making any money back using detailed invitations a company sells you.

valeriieee
02-05-2005, 03:46 PM
You can also save money on Save-The-Date cards and placecards by buying print-your-own products by companies like Avery and Uprint. These are available in lots of places - from craft stores, party stores, office supply stores to Walgreens, Walmart, etc. Use the business cards (which come in different styles and quantities) to design your own Save-The Date cards. Use the tent cards for making your own place cards or table numbers. The best part is that they take the guess work out of designing your own personalized paper products by offering free online templates and easy to use fill-in-the-blank forms online and even tell you how to set up your printer! All you do is buy the supplies (ranging from about $5-$20 for 100-200, depending on what you buy and from where), visit the website, make your choices, add your information, and print! It's that easy!

waack
02-06-2005, 08:58 AM
Brides- If you plan to do it yourself, PLEASE, PLEASE ask someone for guidance in setting up your invitations. There are proper rules of etiquette that need to be followed. If they aren't, glaring inconsistancies and errors will stick out like a sore thumb. Trust me...people will notice! Especially great aunt Martha,and guests versed in proper etiquette. I received a "crafted" invitation last spring that although lovely, failed to have the date of the ceremony and had a shower invitation tucked inside!

Another concern in "print your own" is to be sure you use a good quality printer....many ink jet printers will cause your inks to run if they are near moisture (mailmen deliver in inclement weather and single envelopes can result in a damp bleeding invitation). Be sure to use a laser printer (invest in a fresh cartridge to avoid fading).

After all is said and done, determine if you will really save that much money, and are you compromising? If you're making your own because you "really" enjoy crafting, and you have the time and expertise...then go for it!

But if you are simply doing it to "save" money, check out my website first at http://www.quaintweddingstationery.com
You can purchase a complete traditional package for $99. (100 invitations, with double envelopes, 100 reception enclosure cards, 100 Informal cards (Thank you) with envelopes. That comes out to 99 cents a set....you can't buy a single Hallmark greeting card for 99 cents!

I also have the new "Sep'n'Sends"....Invitations...double envelopes, Respond cards with printed return envelopes and Reception cards...starting at $97.50 per 100 sets! These are on a "scored" sheet that cleanly snap apart. If you want to be creative, you can always add wraps, ribbons, charms or bows. SHIPPING IS ALWAYS FREE..and no sales tax outside of OHIO!

So before you invest in card stock and buy double envelopes, printer supplies, etc....check the FULL COST. Your wedding invitation is how your guests perceive the tone of your Wedding Day. It's possible to save money without corner cutting and stressing about printing your own. For questions or more info on quantities over 100, send me an email
waack@fulton-net.com

Whatever you decide, enjoy this special time!

Penny\r\nQuaint Weddings