| Making wedding invitations doesn't require an | | | | invites can be a daunting task for even the most |
| apprenticeship in printing, or a degree in graphic | | | | enthusiastic bride-to-be. Ask friends and family to |
| design. Using your own computer and a little | | | | help make your homemade wedding invitations. |
| creativity, you can plan a wedding invite that will | | | | Remember to enlist your bridesmaids, too, after |
| set the scene for your special ceremony. Here | | | | all, that's what they're there for. You might need |
| are some do's and don'ts for making your | | | | to bribe them into making wedding invites by |
| wedding invitations. | | | | providing snacks or drinks. |
| Do consider DIY kits. | | | | Don't forget to set a budget. |
| DIY kits are homemade wedding invitations made | | | | If you're going the homemade route to save on |
| easy. Kits contain unprinted pre-cut stationery. | | | | professional printing fees, make sure you set a |
| You might print the invitations on your home | | | | budget for a do-it-yourself job. You can get |
| computer, or, to save the time it takes for a DIY | | | | caught up in designing a beautiful invitation that's |
| printing project, take your paper and template to | | | | just as expensive as anything you'd order from a |
| the local copy shop. | | | | boutique print shop. That simple text invitation |
| As you shop for kits, be sure you understand the | | | | you'd planned on can quickly turn into an elaborate |
| contents of what you're purchasing. For example, | | | | budget-busting invite complete with a vellum |
| some kits contain only invitations and envelopes | | | | overlay, ribbons, charms and a pocket-type |
| and require you to purchase enclosure cards | | | | envelope. Set a spending limit before you start |
| separately. However, other kits contain invites, | | | | designing a homemade wedding invitations--your |
| enclosure cards and envelopes--so be sure to | | | | bank balance will thank you! |
| confirm exactly what you're getting. | | | | Do shop online for the best deals. |
| Online printing specialists are making wedding | | | | For many years, brides were forced to order |
| invites easy to do yourself by posting | | | | invitations through local print shops or through |
| downloadable templates on their websites. | | | | middlemen, like flower shops or bridal boutiques. |
| Templates are available to fit nearly any size and | | | | While this process created one-stop shops for |
| style of DIY kit and are typically available in | | | | wedding day needs, it also added to the cost. |
| common word processing programs. | | | | Online wedding invite specialists, however, have |
| Don't forget to order stationery samples. | | | | made ordering stationery and embellishments for |
| Before you print a single invite, find out if you can | | | | invites super easy and super cheap. |
| order samples of the paper you'll be using. You | | | | Do have fun! |
| can judge the quality of the paper, and you might | | | | Teeny-tiny budgets can force the most |
| be able to run a copy through your printer to | | | | craft-phobic bride to rely on homemade wedding |
| determine what the finished product will look like. | | | | invitations. Approach the project with a |
| With a stationery sample, you can also | | | | get-it-done attitude. Who knows? Maybe you'll find |
| experiment with embellishments, such as charms, | | | | an inner-craft maven you never knew you had. |
| ribbons, and ties. | | | | While you will invest your time, you'll also get the |
| Do call in the troops. | | | | satisfaction of making wedding invitations yourself. |
| Printing, assembling and addressing all of those | | | | |