Invitations

[_sunshinegirl]

Does anyone have any do-it- yourself invitation tips?

 

[PurpleBunny]

Yup, buy a kit. Don't just buy paper supplies and make them. It'll cost you a FORTUNE unless they're REALLY simple.

With a kit from a place like Michael's, Staples, or Office Depot, you can make 50 invites (good for 75-100 people, depending on how many families, etc. you invite) for about $35 dollars.

Also, when budgeting for invites you should remember to budget for postage. I've spent about $200 on postage so far.

 

[_sunshinegirl]

^ thanks!

 

[Lizzi4Christ]

But on the other hand...

I almost went with an invitation kit, but decided to make my own instead. With supplies, not including postage, it's running me $120 for 100. That's still cheaper then a lot of invitations. I looked online at several sites and most ran at least $110 for 100 for just the invitations, not including the envelopes and RSVP cards and envelopes. My $120 includes invites and RSVPs. This way I can make the invites more "us." It can show off our personalities, our wedding, and we can do whatever we want with them.

 

[PurpleBunny]

But on the other hand...

I almost went with an invitation kit, but decided to make my own instead. With supplies, not including postage, it's running me $120 for 100. That's still cheaper then a lot of invitations. I looked online at several sites and most ran at least $110 for 100 for just the invitations, not including the envelopes and RSVP cards and envelopes. My $120 includes invites and RSVPs. This way I can make the invites more "us." It can show off our personalities, our wedding, and we can do whatever we want with them.

Like I said... making them really simple can definitely be worth it. But some of the office places do carry lines that include everything, including save-the-dates, for 50 invites for $35. I ended up spending almost $500 on invites, and I made them myself. But while mine LOOK simple, there was a lot of prep work involved... and they're heavy, too, so postage cost more.

 

[Lizzi4Christ]

My point was you said not to just buy paper and make them because it would cost a fortune. And that's not necessarily true. I bought things seperate and it's not costing a fortune at all. It just depends on what you buy, if you buy them on sale, where you buy it (example, Micheals tends to be more expensive then A.C. Moore's). I think it also depends on what you consider simple.

I actually picked up the paper I'm using as the background of invites and save-the-dates today. I thought it was going to be 20 cents a sheet and I was getting 100 of them. But it turns out that they were only 7 cents a sheet!

 

[PurpleBunny]

My point was you said not to just buy paper and make them because it would cost a fortune. And that's not necessarily true. I bought things seperate and it's not costing a fortune at all. It just depends on what you buy, if you buy them on sale, where you buy it (example, Micheals tends to be more expensive then A.C. Moore's). I think it also depends on what you consider simple.

I actually picked up the paper I'm using as the background of invites and save-the-dates today. I thought it was going to be 20 cents a sheet and I was getting 100 of them. But it turns out that they were only 7 cents a sheet!

LOL ... you're right, we probably have different definitions of simple

For me, it was the prefolded cards that I used as a base that cost so much money. If I were to do it over again, I'd just buy heavy cardstock and cut it to size myself. I'd also go with normal envelopes instead of square ones. Those were pricey.

And of course, stamping and embossing cost a lot as well.

 

[Lizzi4Christ]

I saw a picture of your invites and I don't consider them simple at all. I think they're much nicer then some that I've seen! And mine are going to be much more simple then yours and not nearly as nice.

Here's a basic idea of what mine are going to look like. If you have any suggestion to improve them, please, let me know! (In a PM.. I don't want to take over this thread )

 

[_sunshinegirl]

Take it over, fine by me.
I think those are lovvely, all I would add it maybe a jewl or something in the center of the flower.

I think that would make it extra special, plus it isn't expensive.

 

[PurpleBunny]

I saw a picture of your invites and I don't consider them simple at all. I think they're much nicer then some that I've seen! And mine are going to be much more simple then yours and not nearly as nice.

Here's a basic idea of what mine are going to look like. If you have any suggestion to improve them, please, let me know! (In a PM.. I don't want to take over this thread )

Those are lovely!

You could try heat embossing the flower image--the embossing tool is sort of expensive but not too bad with a Michael's 40% off coupon and embossing powder is about $5 for a tin (enough for all 126 of my invites). You can get colored (which I don't like as much) or transparent with sparkles. You can either stamp the flower image and then sprinkle the embossing powder on them OR you can get an embossing pen and just add highlights.

You can also dry emboss, but I don't have any experience with that and I think the initial tools might cost a fair bit more.