DIY Printable Wedding Invitations

Are you planning to print your own wedding invitations and save-the-date cards? Why not! Do-it-yourself printable wedding invitations are readily available online. Check out Etsy and you’ll find a number of sellers that offer cool designs – from rustic to modern and with a wide variety of themes to choose from. Below are a few tips to keep in mind: 

Read the tutorial directions. When you purchase a DIY printable template online, it comes with an easy-to-follow guide. Carefully read the instructions, making sure that you will not miss a step. 

Customize the design. DIY printable wedding invitation templates are readily available from online shops so all you have to do is download the template, load the paper, double check the printer settings and print. Sometimes,you can make your invitation more unique by making a few changes in the font size, style and color, depending on the template.

Be sure to edit all the important details.  Don't forget to make the necessary changes particularly the names, date, location, and other information.

Prepare the materials.  You will need a home color printer, card stock or specialty paper, a cutting knife, and envelopes.  See to it that your printer's ink cartridge is full.

Test print. Before using the specialty paper, do a test printing first to make sure that the alignment, font size and lay out is properly set, and that you will surely get the desired output. 

Finally, choose a seller that is ready to help and give you assistance even after you purchased the printable template. 

AmyAdamsPrintables 

beetle and quill

elsiej

herebyskye

fineanddandypaperie 

youngwanderlust 

sooncreative 

swooncreative 

stationeree

HerebySkye 

idoityourself

konadesigns

SweetPotatoShop

DontPanicDesign 

empapers

Wedding Print: MaeMae Paperie at Rue

Today is the Premier of Rue and if you haven't heard of it yet, it's a gorgeous online design magazine that's creating a wonderful buzz on the web.  (You can read my personal favorite segments on my blog, The Shopbug.)

For couples who are preparing for a wedding, Rue features MaeMae Paperie, as Megan Gonzalez shares her design style and philosophy, a tour of her studio, plus a set of free printables.

Etsy Love: Ello There

Isn't this the cutest wedding invitation?

Jonathan and Maddy is the cute couple behind Ello There. Here's some more of favorite designs for wedding invites and save-the-date cards from their Etsy shop. They also have a blog too, if you wish to drop by.

A Black and White Wedding

If you are planning a black & white wedding, searching for black & white items can bring out a very long list of results and sometimes taking a look at selected picks can be easier.  This page is filled with B&W inspirations I've chosen while browsing around Etsy. 

I am very much liking the black & white theme with just a hint of hue (probably the bride's favorite color?) here and there. I'm sharing with you items that really caught my eyes!  Which one is your favorite?  Please, if you see an item that you love, your comment is very much appreciated.  Thanks:)

Joyful Joyful
Photo by: E Leigh Photography

sibodesigns * theposhevent

pertyfultings * showcase bridal

 

Kumquat Designs  *  prairie garden

L Richards Design * iszle

trendy tikes * olivia kate couture

new fashioned whispers  *  nature season

the posh event  *   davie and chiyo

shine invitations * the love shop

west willow * white thistle bridal

your fairy tale wedding

Photography: Made U Look

print your party

the joy of color * red light studio

 our hobby to your home * canton box company 

invites by jen * sue bee hb 

 anna panik
 

tux and tulle
Photography: Jeri HouseWorth

DIY Wedding Projects for the Couple on a Budget

DIY Projects are a great way to cut back on wedding costs and stretch your budget to the fullest.  Possible DIY Wedding Projects include decorative flowers, wedding favors, invitation, save-the-date cards, hair ornaments, wedding purses and other accessories.

However, the biggest challenge about do-it-yourself projects is managing time.  If you have less than 6 months to go before the big day, then perhaps your best option is to find a wedding supplier that offers that most affordable deal.

On the other hand, if you still have 6 months or more time to go before the wedding date, then you may consider DIY.  Below are some DIY wedding tips to help you get started:

Focus on the Theme.  You will be confronted with a lot of different choices.  Use your theme as a guide in choosing and making decisions. 

Be inspired.  Browse through bridal magazines and wedding sites for inspiration.

Get in touch with your own style.  Gather ideas but don’t be afraid to add your personal touch because after all, it is your wedding.

Ask for help!  Sure, it’s a DIY project but don’t attempt to take on the project without back-up.  You can assign tasks to your maid-of-honor, best man, bridesmaids, family members and friends.  Surely, all of them would be willing to lend a hand to make the wedding special.

Embellish.  Instead of creating from scratch, you can purchase plain ready-made items at a cheap price and add embellishments to recreate a unique design to match your theme.  For example, you can buy organza pouches or plain gift boxes, tie them up with ribbons and fill them up with your choice of goodies.

Be realistic.  Before getting involved in a big project, try creating just a small batch to see if you can get the desired results.  It will also give you a better idea as to the actual cost and time you can consume. 

Enjoy it.  Aside from saving money, this is the perfect time for you to spend bonding moments with your friends and family so enjoy the process. 

Customizable Wedding Invitation Postage Stamps

I thought this idea was pretty cool:)
Wedding postage stamps to go with your wedding invitations!

Found this over at UniqueWeddingStamps.com and thought adding a custom wedding stamp to a wedding invitation is the perfect way to seal the envelope. Choose from a wide range of templates or create your own stamp for that unique, unforgettable design.

The monogram stamp is my favorite!

Here are more designs from UniqueWeddingStamps.com

All About Your Wedding Invitation

Here are important points to think about when planning and preparing your wedding invitations:

How Much?

Set a reasonable budget for your wedding invitations. Depending on your budget, you can either scrimp or splurge.

If you have the money to spend, you can choose a more luxurious wedding invitation. But remember, even if you want to spend, be sure to compare prices first before placing your order.

On the other hand, it's okay if you decide to be thrifty. That doesn't mean you should settle for poorly-designed wedding invitations. You can still find printers that offer a variety of styles in prices that fit your budget. Also, If you're ordering your invitations, make sure that they are delivered at least 4 to 8 weeks ahead of your wedding day.

Should I Make My Own Wedding Invitations?

Do-It-Yourself wedding invitations can be a big budget-saver. But before you decide to make your own, carefully consider three things.

• Do you really know how to make them?
• Do you have the time to make them? (especially if you're planning a large wedding and you have a long guest list)
• Can you finish them on time?

If someone volunteers to help in making your invitations, that's great! But "Can they guarantee that they can help you with this task until it's completed?" Their intentions may be good, but sometimes, work or unexpected things get in the way and disappointments can happen. If you don't have that much time, it may be best to just order customized wedding invitations from a reliable printer.

From experience, I wish I had more time to come up with a more beautiful design. I thought it was going to be very easy, but when we start with the designing and printing, it took us many hours and weeks before we finished. Because we were in a rush, we did not have time to buy the materials we need in bulk so we actually spent more than we should have.

At that time, I was worried, irritated, and anxious about the whole thing. There was too much going on that making invitations ourselves seemed so out-of-hand. At that moment, I was wishing that we'd just ordered our invitations so there would be less hassle. But we're through with it and it turned out fine, thankfully.

How many?

Whether you choose to order or print your own invitations, create a list of people that you want to invite. It's best to order/print at least 10-15 extra pieces just in case you forgot someone. Don't forget to reserve your own personal copy as well as souvenir copies for yours and your fiance's family.

What about the style?

Formal wedding invitations are traditionally placed inside 2 envelopes (one mailing envelop and a special envelope for the actual wedding invitation). Today, you can find modern or contemporary styles that do not use envelopes at all.

For example, postcard style or greeting card style wedding invitations are becoming more in demand these days. They also come in a variety of sizes so you're not just limited to the standard 5"x7" size. On a limited budget? These options are definitely worth considering. You can save a lot with contemporary style wedding invitations.

Addressed to who?

If you want the whole family to attend your wedding, you can address the envelope as _____ (surname) Family. However, if you want to limit your guests, you can simply address it to Mr. and Mrs. _______, and include an RSVP note that specifies the number of seats you've reserved for them.

For example,

"We have reserved 2 seats for you."
RSVP: (you and your fiance's contact numbers)

Addressing the envelopes with your own handwriting is the traditional and preferred way because it adds a more personal touch. It's also a good way to make sure that no one is missed or forgotten. Don't forget to check the correct spellings of the names of the guests that you're inviting. Imagine how you'd feel if your name was misspelled.

What should they wear?

Don't forget to note the ATTIRE in your wedding invitation's RSVP card. This way, your guests would have the right idea of what to wear to your wedding. You don't want your guest to feel embarassed if he/she shows up in a casual wear when everyone else is in their suits, gowns and formal attire.

Knowing what the theme is (ex. ballroom wedding, beach wedding or garden wedding) gives your guests the freedom to dress in their own styles yet still appropriate for the occasion.

Typos anyone?


Again whether you're ordering or making your own wedding invitations, make sure that it has the proper wordings and that there is not a single typo in it. Remember, it will be preserved for a lifetime so you want to make everything right.

When to send?

Ideally, you should have already sent out your invitations about 6 weeks before your wedding day. This will give your invited guests enough time to make plans, prepare, arrange their schedules and confirm their attendance.

What is the meaning of RSVP?

Invitations, particulary wedding invitations often include RSVP cards with them. In our own wedding invitations, we also included RSVP cards with both our contact numbers listed on them.

But what do the letters RSVP really mean? What should you do if you received an invitation with an RSVP on it?

RSVP stands for the French phrase "respondez s'il vous plait". In English, these four words simply mean "respond if you please" or "please respond".

Why are these letters often used in invitations? Some people think it means that the recipient should respond if he would be able to attend, while others think that the recipient should only respond if he WILL NOT be able to make it. Both notions are wrong.

RSVP means, the recipient should contact the host of the event and confirm whether he or she will be able to attend the said occasion. Therefore, the next time you received an invitation to a gala or a party or a wedding with RSVP on it, you should always respond properly at least a few weeks or days before the event takes place.

Why is this very important? Formal events like weddings can be a large gathering or small. In any case, the host needs to know the exact headcount or the exact number of guests to expect on that day so that he/she can make the appropriate preparations (for ex. for the tables & chairs, dinnerware, the food, the tokens to be given away, etc).

With this in mind, it is but proper for a guest to RSVP or "respond" to the invitation sent as soon as possible.