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DIY or low budget ideas for a big guest list?

smile262smile262
First Comment
in South Asian Weddings
Hey everyone, I'm planning a wedding for 600+ 8 months from now. While my fiance and I are fairly simple, laid-back people, we have big families and a lot of family friends. :) I'd like to make aspects of the wedding seem as personal, home-made/DIY, or well-thought out that I can...However, every minor change for every guest makes it much more expensive. Any creative ideas? Any interesting ideas for table names/numbers? (We are planning for 70 tables.) Thanks for your help!
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Re: DIY or low budget ideas for a big guest list?

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    rv224rv224 member
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Wow! That's a lot of people! :)

    You definitely don't want to do the invitations yourself. Let the experts handle that.

    Do you have a specific theme for the wedding? That might help with ideas.

    DIY stuff you could do:
    -Print your own address labels for the invitations. (Printing on envelopes adds to cost)
    -You can get printable place cards from staples or Michaels. Menus are easy to create at on the computer as well and you can find free templates online.


    Ruffled blog has some great DIY ideas:
    http://ruffledblog.com/diy-ideas/

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    smile262smile262
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Our theme is going to be Radha Krishna themed...lots of flutes and peacocks. We are trying to do a bangle-themed sangeet and keep everything close to things I love about India (color, family, music, etc.) 

    I was planning on printing the labels for the addresses onto clear address labels (which stays pretty cheap.) We are designed our own save the dates and will use FedEx Kinkos' to print them.  I think we may use an online site for Hindu wedding cards (any suggestions?) but I'd like to do the programs ourselves and again print them at Kinko's.  

    I will check out the blog, thanks! I've also loved "delightfully engaged" (see link below) that does seem to have some DIY ideas (but mostly for small weddings).  

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    jsleikjsleik
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We made our own name cards and table numbers by going to a local paper store that specialized in wedding stuff.  It was relative cheap to buy all the paper there and they had different ways to cut the name card and table numbers. I got really fun papers in the same colors you're talking about and it really added an extra touch to the wedding, but wasn't hard.  I only had 200 people, so yours will be more time consuming, but may be a easier alternative to favors or anything like that.  Oh, and we gave out bangles too - they were a HUGE hit!!!
    imageWedding Countdown Ticker
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    smile262smile262
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks, that's helpful! As I have no idea how to come up with 70 of anything for the table names, I was planning on just using numbers...but getting them personally made should spruce things up...thanks!
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    soniasahney3soniasahney3 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Here is a South Asian Wedding website that has 'pre-loved' wedding items listed by south asian brides (full disclosure - I know the person who launched the site). It just launched yesterday, so not a lot in there yet, but seems like there are a few good deals... and who knows, maybe there will be more in a few weeks.

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    soniasahney3soniasahney3 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    One other thought -- I was similarly on a budget for a ~450 person wedding. My dad learned mail merge so we could print directly on semi-plain envelopes we bought from India -- this was a lifesaver! It saved a lot of time (because you can print 500 different names in a row w/o needing to stop & start), it saved money b/c we printed all the labels ourselves, and it came out very professional looking.
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    smile262smile262
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks!  Yup, I've helped my dad used mail merge before for his business...I'm pretty sure that's how we'll do the address labels for the save the dates and invitations. I may try doing the same onto business cards for the placecards for the reception...But keep the ideas coming! I'd be happy to spend hours doing some of this stuff if it makes things easier in the long run...(I know they love to do it but I hate costing my parents more money than we have to!) 
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    smile262smile262
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Okay I sent the divanee website onto a friend and she's now thanking me profusely...what a brilliant idea! Thanks! :)
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    rv224rv224 member
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Here's an idea - instead of doing 500 - 600 escort cards, print out seating charts instead and put them on stands. It will probably save you time, money and space at the venue! 

    Here are some samples:
    http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/84919/detailview.aspx?type=3&id=84919&STOPREDIRECTING=TRUE&wedding%20details=escort%20cards&pageindex=14

    <a href='http://www.theknot.com/contests/my-real-wedding/photo/134444/andy-amp-jeff-a-black-white-amp-green-modern-wedding' /><img src='http://ugc.theknot.com/3694-original.jpg'/><br/>My Real Wedding from The Knot and The Nest.</a />
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    soniasahney3soniasahney3 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I saved money on my sangeet by doing submerged floral centerpieces... super cheap and an easy DIY project. 

    I used fake flowers instead of real flowers, but you couldn't tell and ironically I got more compliments on these centerpieces than I did on the real floral centerpieces I spent much more money on for my reception.

    I've done a couple of DIY blog posts here (and you can see my submerged flower centerpiece from my sangeet):
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    smile262smile262
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    That's a gorgeous centerpiece and a great idea...thanks! :)
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