Saturday 24 March 2012

DIY Wedding Invitations

Since the economy took a downward spiral in 2008, many brides opted to take the DIY route to their wedding planning. While it's understandable to have a need to save wherever possible, realizing that you can't do everything on your own is the first step in saving your sanity.

There are some common mistakes that DIY brides tend to make, and it makes me wonder - Don't people ask a question before venturing into unfamiliar territory??  Well the answer to that question is a resounding NO, since I've had the privileged to observe the results of people putting the cart before the horse.



The Envelopes
Maybe it's not common knowledge, so I'll say it here and hope the word spreads.  Envelopes are manufactured in standard sizes. This means you DO NOT design and print every single wedding invitation, then go on a hunt to find an envelope to fit. 

Papers & Printers
Not all papers and card stock were made for all printers. This is another aspect people tend to overlook. Papers with metallic coatings, or those with an extra heavy weight were made for use in professional printing machines. So if you purchase these paper types to use with your home printer, you may very well be out of pocket, since they won't work with your home printer and stationery stores do not accept returns for paper or card that's already been opened.


Another thing to consider is material costs. Since you'll be buying retail for everything - card, envelopes, ink, ribbons etc., you could end up spending more that if you had them printed professionally.


If you must print your own invitations, consider buying an invitation kit.
The cards in each kit are usually decorated around the border and are already cut to size. Some kits even include pocketfolds, ribbons and other coloured backing cards to help jazz up your invitations. Envelopes are ALWAYS included. 

Since the card stock in the kit is made for use with inkjet printers, you shouldn't have any problems with the print quality. 



A nice elegant font will do wonders for your DIY wedding invitations.  Once you've considered the pros and cons, you can proceed to create to your heart's content.  


Good luck!