[Mod-LadyCoconut]

then PLEASE HELP ME!

I am about to pull my hair out! I'm so fed up trying to pick out wedding invitations. I'm getting behind ... we were going to do a semi-DIY invite, and we'll be visiting with a printer tomorrow so get quotes and ideas but now I'm overwhelmed thinking about it and worried we won't have time or they'll look crappy or just wind up being more expensive, etc. etc. etc.

PLEASE share with me what you did. Where you went, what you looked at, what you ordered & how much it cost, what you would do differently or any other form of guidance. I feel like I'm wandering and just want to put it off and I feel like we should already have them ordered by now! UGH!!!!

Please help me.


(sorry... I know I'm not a grad & this isn't baby related, I just feel like a lot of you could help me and you don't check the main board, where I posted a thread similar to this. )

ETA: Wow I just read all of those run on sentences... and it's exactly how I'm saying this... I'm frantic and freaking out... I really do need to just breathe. HELP!

[soImarriedAnerd]

I went to Michaels Craft store and bought the DIY invitation kit (had two hearts hooked on the top). Anyway they were very simple to do and I thought they came out fine. I really didn't care about my invites though-I mean people just throw them out after they right down the info anyway (ok so at least I do LOL). I didn't spend more then $50 I don't think.

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

I've looked into those kind of kits but since the invites are what gives a clue to the formality of the wedding... I want something on like heavier cardstock that read more formal, ya know?

Plus I found a site that does invites that had a couple that were just ok... and with the amount that I need it would actually be cheaper than doing a kit from Michael's/Staples, etc.

ugh! Why can't this be as simple as it should be!? lol

[*vi]

I bought mine at Michaels too. Totally cute, pink and flowery. As for how they worked....I haven't done mine yet. They are still in the box. mine only cost 14 dollars though lol that was a steal! Hooray for clearance and employee discount Good luck hun!

[A*LOT*OF*HOPE]

I made my own invites!! I got some really cute blank invitations from Walmart and printed them off my computer!! It cost me about $20!!! I really didn't care much about invitations, I would have liked to just put it on a sticky note for everyone!!! LOL

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

BAH!

Here's what we're trying to do. (that is gonna wind up being a PITA and if they dont' come out right I'll regret it, haha)

My colors are fuchsia with lime & orange.
My motif, if you can really call it that, is butterflies in honor of my late father.

The problem is, with my colors, anything that already comes like that looks like little girl birthday stuff. I need something that's formal and still my colors.

Here is an invite that we're basically aiming to copy b/c we all love it.


It's the right colors AND a pocketfold, which I love.
So since Ben can do whatever in photoshop... designing it is absolutely no problem. I found cheap pocketfolds online that are orange & .78 a pop. I can buy some good fuchsia cardstock to print them... BUT to try to print white on fuchsia with an at-home printer is gonna get hairy. It's just not going to be thick enough. SO tomorrow mom & I are visiting a print shop that does like embossing-style printing and seeing what that would cost. The response cards, reception cards, accomodations, etc. I can all do easily on my home computer. Typing it all out it sounds pretty easy. I'd still have to find envelopes though too.

*sighs*

Then there's my other easy option to just get out of dealing with this whole thing. This invitation is okay I guess (sigh) ... and I can have the ink changed to fuchsia for no charge and I could get 80 invites for only $72 and that includes response cards and all the envelopes.

I was trying to figure if they had something on that website where I could upload our own design and they'd do it on my color paper and then use all those goodies to tuck in the orange pocketfolds. haha that would rock.

This just gives me such a headache.

[soImarriedAnerd]

I made my own invites!! I got some really cute blank invitations from Walmart and printed them off my computer!! It cost me about $20!!! I really didn't care much about invitations, I would have liked to just put it on a sticky note for everyone!!! LOL


[/b]

THOSE ARE MINE ALSO! LOL

[Lash]

BAH!

Here's what we're trying to do. (that is gonna wind up being a PITA and if they dont' come out right I'll regret it, haha)

My colors are fuchsia with lime & orange.
My motif, if you can really call it that, is butterflies in honor of my late father.

The problem is, with my colors, anything that already comes like that looks like little girl birthday stuff. I need something that's formal and still my colors.

Here is an invite that we're basically aiming to copy b/c we all love it.


It's the right colors AND a pocketfold, which I love.
So since Ben can do whatever in photoshop... designing it is absolutely no problem. I found cheap pocketfolds online that are orange & .78 a pop. I can buy some good fuchsia cardstock to print them... BUT to try to print white on fuchsia with an at-home printer is gonna get hairy. It's just not going to be thick enough. SO tomorrow mom & I are visiting a print shop that does like embossing-style printing and seeing what that would cost. The response cards, reception cards, accomodations, etc. I can all do easily on my home computer. Typing it all out it sounds pretty easy. I'd still have to find envelopes though too.

*sighs*

Then there's my other easy option to just get out of dealing with this whole thing. This invitation is okay I guess (sigh) ... and I can have the ink changed to fuchsia for no charge and I could get 80 invites for only $72 and that includes response cards and all the envelopes.

I was trying to figure if they had something on that website where I could upload our own design and they'd do it on my color paper and then use all those goodies to tuck in the orange pocketfolds. haha that would rock.

This just gives me such a headache.[/b]

I still love what you have posted, and I'm hoping the print shop thing works and the other "easy" option stays your 2nd option. The first really fits you so much more I think. Do the rest at home, and see what the print shop can put together

I got ours on Ebay.... LOL Ebay addict! I like the idea that you want to add the personal touches though

[ANGWife]

We ordered ours through Hallmark, as I was a manager there at the time and got a discount. We ordered something simple, some embossing. Nothing fancy, no ribbons or anything because I didn't want to take the time to assemble all that. I think they were gold with brown lettering.


My only advice is to think very carefully about the wording, and I don't just mean spelling. My parents are divorced, then remarried. I tried my hardest to go by the wedding books so no ones feelings would get hurt. But my inlaws were the most upset because they didn't realize since they didn't pay for ANYTHING, that they "technically" weren't suppose to be on the invitation. I got mixed opinions about that from everyone, but I was only trying to be "proper"

[Mars]

I made mine but I'm at work and don't have a pic to upload. I love the invite with the pocket, that's nice. The second option looks easy enough that it can be put together quickly if you don't get through with the first. I think the only way you'll get cofort is when you visit the print shop and they do a sample for you. I hope you get through with your first option.

[Oriyan]

I had ours made on davids bridals website.. cost me 250 for everything i needed. 100 invites, 100 responce cards, 75 thank you cards. Came with everything you need to put it together.

[niknok]

My vote is the first one, the pocketfold. I love it! The colors do seem to fit you. Even places like office depot do more fancy printing, check those places for the parts you need printed professionally. Once the pieces are all done, invite your BM & girlfriends over for some wine, and get drunk putting them all together. See, I bet you're feeling less stressed already. Wine always helps

[petalfuzz]

We did the Michael's print-it-yourself also, and that cardstock isn't that thin! We had a very small wedding in the afternoon, though so I didn't want the invites to be too formal. We got the swirly border design and I used a very nice script font. They turned out very nice!!

[alicenwonderland]

I too did the Michaels thing. Cost next to nothing, and they look really fancy!

[**jessie**]

I just went on a huge hunt of my desk trying to find one of our invitations, but I came up empty handed. It's quite possible that I didn't even save one. Anyway, I did the same thing as Fiona did. I got a good deal off of ebay. It was on nice thick white stock paper and there was a pastel butterfly design around the edges, and they did the printing for us as well. We also got the matching RSVP cards to go inside. We didn't bother with save the dates. The cost ended up being a little less than $1 each for an invite/RSVP card. They were pretty and good quality, but I didn't go all out on them because I know people just throw them in the trash after about a week.

[Emma&Jack's Momma]

We made ours and probably spent about $150 total, but we went out probably 350 invitations. I don't know how many you will need but if you plan to make them (like this) it'll take some time. I don't have any pictures of the final one but here's what mine looked like...

the Front:


the inside:


inside:


The middle piece on the inside is where it said "We're getting married, dan and Sarah, blah blah"
The two pull out pieces were directions and the RSVP card. But, if you do it this way, make sure your RSVP card is the right size for the post office post card stamp! any other questions, feel free to PM me

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

My only advice is to think very carefully about the wording, and I don't just mean spelling. My parents are divorced, then remarried. I tried my hardest to go by the wedding books so no ones feelings would get hurt. But my inlaws were the most upset because they didn't realize since they didn't pay for ANYTHING, that they "technically" weren't suppose to be on the invitation. I got mixed opinions about that from everyone, but I was only trying to be "proper"[/b]

Yeah, I'm proving to be a bit of an ettiqute snob so I've gone through several books that talk about wording on invitations. The only thing I'm not wild about ... I'm having a hard time giving up my last name. My mom is remarried to my step-dad (sicne I was 9) who ROCKS and my dad is dead. So obviously since my parents are hosting (ie: paying) for this, they will get their credit as Mr & Mrs Step dad request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter -- Shannon Rose to Benjamin blah blah... it just kind of bums me out that my dad and I's last name won't be on there anywhere. But there's no place it would/should/could go, so whatever. That is my only 'eh' about wording. the FIL's names will absolutely be no where on the invite, esp. since they aren't paying for squat. I'm having a hard enough time trying to organize the rehearsal dinner & at this point my step-dad is like, forget it... I'll just pay for that too! Anyway, the point of all that, Morgan... is that I am on your side! You did the right thing! Too bad if the IL's feelings were hurt... why should they get the credit for hosting something that they didn't?

My vote is the first one, the pocketfold. I love it! The colors do seem to fit you. Even places like office depot do more fancy printing, check those places for the parts you need printed professionally. Once the pieces are all done, invite your BM & girlfriends over for some wine, and get drunk putting them all together. See, I bet you're feeling less stressed already. Wine always helps [/b]

HAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeahhh. I have like the least helpful bridal party in the history of bridal parties. My MOH & bff since I was 15 lives in NYC and is in a different place in her life and cares absolutely nothing for this, so I come to find out. Getting her to show up at the time she picked to be measured for the BM dress was apparently too difficult for her. I don't think she's asked me ever what I'm working on, planning, stressing about etc. or anything at all about the wedding. She's my bff and I want her up there with me, but clearly the people who just 'assumed' their roles in the bridal party didn't realize I was serious when I told them it takes time, money, etc. and is more than just standing there that day in a dress I picked out. My other BM is Ben's sister who is a freshmen in college, and I love her to death but I can't relax & trust that she'll get something done if I need her to, kwim? and then my other BM is my 40 year olf sister with 3 kids, and even though she just got laid off, she's still 'too busy' to care about anything related to my wedding... esp. since she was supposed to get married last october and then post-poned it. So yeah, thank God for my mom, aunt & FMIL who are all willing to do all the leg work my bridal party isn't willing to do. ugh.

We made ours and probably spent about $150 total, but we went out probably 350 invitations. I don't know how many you will need but if you plan to make them (like this) it'll take some time. I don't have any pictures of the final one but here's what mine looked like...

the Front:


the inside:


inside:


The middle piece on the inside is where it said "We're getting married, dan and Sarah, blah blah"
The two pull out pieces were directions and the RSVP card. But, if you do it this way, make sure your RSVP card is the right size for the post office post card stamp! any other questions, feel free to PM me [/b]

Those are so cute Sarah! I remember when you were making them how much time they were taking! I'm hoping since mine are mostly done it's just stuffing that it won't take toooooo long. But I figure I'll be able to stuff while my mom & FMIL work their caligraphy skills and we can have an okay time of it. I might be PMing you next time I'm about to pull my hair out over these!











Wish me luck ladies... I'm off to get my passport & then meet my mom @ the printing place!

[lauren in hi]

I ordered mine online: Leighswishingwell.com, I think. Mine had fans (we had an Oriental theme) and I had them change the color to what was normally offered. They came out really nice.

[**Jenn**]

I made my own. I did the Michael's kit thing but also did a little wrap cover tied in front with a ribbon in my colors. Not what I wanted but I was also 8 months pregnant with Liam and time/energy wasn't on my side so I did what I could.


I also made invites for my cousin, my brother, and a friend of my brother's. I'll also be doing my sister's invites for her wedding next year. I did the pocketfold for all the others and it really isn't as hard as it looks. I got all the paper from paper-source.com along with the other supplies I needed. I did need to get a larger paper cutter because the paper is so big but you could also order the paper already cut (although that is a bit more expensive than cutting it yourself). Or you could take it somewhere to get it cut down--you could always call up a high school art department and see if you could use their cutter. Or if you can work with 12x12 paper you can get a regular cutter at Michael's or something.

This is what I did for everyone else:
my brother's friend--the ribbon I ended up doing was thicker than what is shown and the stencil I did myself


my brother's


my cousin's
this is what the outside looked like

and the inside was like this but in the black with pink accent and going horizontally


It's really pretty easy, just takes a little time. If you want help/instructions just let me know and I'd be glad to help you!