Am I completely nuts...??

[Deleted User]

So I've been looking on weddingpaperdivas.com for STDs and invite ideas... I have the STDs narrowed down to a couple, and my FH just needs to look over them to see which ones he likes. 

But I can't decide what I want for the invites!! I've been thinking about buying sets at a local craft store and printing them myself... but then I just thought, why can't I make them myself? Like, print them out on plain paper and do the whole "layered" look. Because I really want to pull the teal into the invitations, since I think I managed to use it in all of the STD ideas. 

Our guest list is pretty finalized (with one or two "maybes") and with those one or two we're sitting at 152 guests. Based on my guesstimate, we're going to need to send out between 75-80 invitations.

Am I completely nuts for thinking about making them myself so I get what I want? Now, realize that I'm also DIYing a bunch of other stuff for the wedding, like... all of the "floral" stuff. (We're doing fake flowers, since I'm ripping the flowers apart to use in the bouquets.)

09McSteph03

I am dealing with this SAME issue.  Except, I am not doing all the DIY you are.  I plan to do the centerpieces and that is it.  I am a high anxiety, low tolerance type of gal.  

BUT I want control over something.  Something I can add my touch to, and create for the wedding.  So I have gone back and forth, back and forth with the same questions you are.

If I choose to go the route of the boxed kit, I don't really get control over the customization other than the template of the invite.  Too many choices are already decided and I couldn't find one at Target, Office Max, Walmart, AC Moore, Michaels or Hobby Lobby that I liked enough to consider.  

Vistaprint and I are no longer associated with eachother and I refuse to send them business and the other invite companies are just too darn expensive.  There are free templates or dirty cheap ones if you want to put the effort into DIY. 

Check out www.cardsandpockets.com and check out their FB photos because they have TONS of DIY.  I used that as a gauge to determine that YES, I can do my invites if I allow the time and patience for it.  I am also DIYing my STDs and *gasp* they aren't going to match.  The STDs are cute and simple and the invite will be formal.

Believe it or not...in all of my swaying and pricing and figuring how much scrap I need to practice on I overlooked the fact that not every guest gets their own invite.  I am planning for 125 guests and was pricing 125 invites.  My advice...don't get to this point lol.  I'd really like to know what you decide.  If you DIY, we can share some resources and ideas. Good luck.

modernage01

We're going the DIY route but I definitely understand your stress! We love it because it's really a chance to do something custom and personal for the wedding but it definitely takes more time to put together. We haven't started yet so I may regret this later (knock on wood) but my only advice now would just to be to recruit as many people as possible to help take some of the stress away.  We have one friend helping with the designs and I already have some girls on standby to help with actually putting them all together once everything is printed. 

But let me know if you both end up doing DIY and have any recommendations! 

09McSteph03 - Should I be worried about Vistaprint? I was going to use them for printing my STDs (magnets.) 

Stina51286

OP, I am also doing a lot of DIY stuff and my invites. I ordered my pockets, mats, and envelopes from Cards&Pockets and I am designing the wording portion on my own. Once I get that designed I will send it to Cards&Pockets, they will print them and ship them to me (200 for $98) I will then put them all together myself.

All together I will be spending $400 total on my invites and that is for 200 pocket folds with all enclosures. I know people that spent a lot more for less invites.

09McSteph03

Modernage - my problem with them is not the quality.  It's good quality and most people I know highly recommend them.  My issue was with a groupon I purchased and a very frustrating experience.  Personally, I'll be working with other printing companies.

Stina - you are dead on girll - $2 an invite is a steal!  Glad to hear their printing is a good investment.  That part I was nervous about so I was going to print them all here which was stressing me out.  Maybe I ought to just pay for it and put it in their hands.  

Stina51286

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2013-weddings_am-i-completely-nuts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:1925524f-fa8b-432f-a7b5-be486ce756efDiscussion:50de93d9-7b2f-4da9-887f-b5a7085e62a0Post:83bc2733-a014-49bf-ae1b-f3967b716f3d">Re: Am I completely nuts...??</a>:
[QUOTE]Modernage - my problem with them is not the quality.  It's good quality and most people I know highly recommend them.  My issue was with a groupon I purchased and a very frustrating experience.  Personally, I'll be working with other printing companies.<strong> Stina - you are dead on girll - $2 an invite is a steal!  Glad to hear their printing is a good investment.  That part I was nervous about so I was going to print them all here which was stressing me out.  Maybe I ought to just pay for it and put it in their hands.  </strong>
Posted by 09McSteph03[/QUOTE]

The paper I want is metallic and they suggest not using your own printer as it most likely would smudge. I didn't want to waste paper or ink so I looked into their system. Oh and they have templates, I didn't know that! I just started all my enclosure templates because of that.

[Deleted User]

I foudn another website (I had strictly been looking at weddingpaperdivas and magnetstreet) that's called Basic Invite - and every single one of their invites is SUPER customizable as far as colors and wording goes. And, although I'm not sure how commone this is, they give free white envelopes with every invitation order. (I know there's rules and stuff, I just saw a little tag on their site) 

I'm running (well, if you can run on the internet, haha!) to check out Card&Pockets now!!!

I don't know if I'm as gung-ho about the intense DIY invites I was thinking of... my problem is that I live on my own - completely. My MOH lives in Colorado, my bridesmaid is in Rhode Island, mom is in Cali, FI is in Indiana + all of his family is there too... So, it would be pretty much just me doing it.

Also, ladies. What do you think about giving your FI input on the STDs, invites, etc? My mom said I shouldn't be sending everything to him before I make a final decision. (I have explained to her a few times already that he wants to be involved in the planning process. So I'll pick a few options I like, and then pass them on to him to look over, he picks a couple from those, and then we decide.) She's convinced it's going to take twice as long to decide everything, but then says she wants to be more involved with the planning process....

09McSteph03

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2013-weddings_am-i-completely-nuts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1925524f-fa8b-432f-a7b5-be486ce756efDiscussion:50de93d9-7b2f-4da9-887f-b5a7085e62a0Post:d6482c9e-8d06-4f39-b2cb-417da6fdb0d6">Re: Am I completely nuts...??</a>:
[QUOTE]Also, ladies. What do you think about giving your FI input on the STDs, invites, etc? My mom said I shouldn't be sending everything to him before I make a final decision.
Posted by lplions[/QUOTE]

<div>Since your parents are paying it's tough.  Your options include discussing with her thing your FI really wants input on and you want to decide with him before having her help make the final decision.  OR, if you can swing it, decline the offer for them to pay and explain that you really want to work it out with him.  </div><div>
</div><div>Edited to revise - I saw on another post that your parents are paying.</div>

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2013-weddings_am-i-completely-nuts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1925524f-fa8b-432f-a7b5-be486ce756efDiscussion:50de93d9-7b2f-4da9-887f-b5a7085e62a0Post:8b3ff433-926c-4f35-9f35-2116f8d12de9">Re: Am I completely nuts...??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Am I completely nuts...?? : Since your parents are paying it's tough.  Your options include discussing with her thing your FI really wants input on and you want to decide with him before having her help make the final decision.  OR, if you can swing it, decline the offer for them to pay and explain that you really want to work it out with him.   Edited to revise - I saw on another post that your parents are paying.
Posted by 09McSteph03[/QUOTE]

<div>Unfortunately at this point, we can't afford the wedding we have planned on our own. Plus, my parents would be super offended if I said I didn't want them to pay for it anymore (especially since we've already put deposits on a number of things and bought my dress...)</div><div>
</div><div>I guess I'll just have to keep on what I'm doing: sending things to FI first, and then talking to Mom after FI & I have picked our choices. I am very excited and happy that she is happy and excited for me/us, but it gets a little frustrating after a while. Gotta focus on the positives. We're getting married this year!!! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /></div>

[Deleted User]

Oh my gosh. I LOVE Card & Pockets. I sent them to my FI and he agrees - so I'm going to order samples soon and then get a printing quote too. I'm going to have to sit down with my designing hat on and mock up some invite designs now! I definitely think this is the best option for us.... it gives me the DIY "feel" without being too DIY that I'm so overwhelmed!

Ah! Yay! I'm all excited. THANK YOU for the recommendation!!!

aimes8609

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_october-2013-weddings_am-i-completely-nuts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:1925524f-fa8b-432f-a7b5-be486ce756efDiscussion:50de93d9-7b2f-4da9-887f-b5a7085e62a0Post:d6482c9e-8d06-4f39-b2cb-417da6fdb0d6">Re: Am I completely nuts...??</a>:
[QUOTE]Also, ladies. What do you think about giving your FI input on the STDs, invites, etc? My mom said I shouldn't be sending everything to him before I make a final decision. (I have explained to her a few times already that he wants to be involved in the planning process. So I'll pick a few options I like, and then pass them on to him to look over, he picks a couple from those, and then we decide.) She's convinced it's going to take twice as long to decide everything, but then says she wants to be more involved with the planning process....
Posted by lplions[/QUOTE]
I run EVERYTHING past my Fiance, except for my dress/bridesmaids dresses.  It's his wedding too so he should have a say.  But I will admit it has been hard!