DIY Invitations

lbarr088 · January 2012

Has anyone done these? [mamameech I know you have

]

Anywho, I recently started looking at ordering some from various websites that will make everything for you and I knew they were expensive, but yikes. I just googled DIY invitations and saw a bunch on Amazon (20bucks for a pack of 25). This is a lot cheaper than ordering for a company.

For those who have gone the DIY route:

1. Did you buy the packs then have a caligrapher do it, or did you just sent them through your computer printer?

2. Is it a PITA?

3. Is the amount I would save really a benefit to the whole DIY PITA factor?

mamameech · January 2012

If you already have a good printer for the job, you'll save $$ but it does take time and effort. Just like most DIY projects, they aren't necessarily cheaper in the long run but you get something personal and unique.
I did end up saving money because I created the design and I'm just printing on cardstock to create the inviation package. The most expensive part was buying the panel pockets (and the freakin stamps! they went up to 61 cents per stamp on Monday!). Being able to do it all at home also allows me to do my own programs, menus, seating charts, etc... I save a lot of shipping costs (shipping to Canada can be a beotch! haha)

There are so many beautiful ready made kits out there that can be just as nice and possible a cheaper option. It really comes down to what you want for you invitations. Even I was tempted to buy some kits from Michaels when they were on sale because I think it may have been cheaper in the long run, but nothing was exactly what I wanted (but i'm anal like that haha).

AshnRobo · January 2012

I've seen several tutorials to DIY calligraphy. They look pretty simple. You get a calligraphy font you like. Print all the envelopes in a light ink. Then go over it with a darker ink. Check on pinterest. Just search DIY Calligraphy.

I did not DIY my invites for several reasons, but I think it is totally doable and I encourage it!

lbarr088 · January 2012

mama- My printer kind of sucks but my parents who don't live too far away have a really nice one. I'm pretty torn on what to do.

I'm very visual/hands on and want to see something tangible in front of me and not something I can only see on the internet. I think my best bet is to meet with a few people near me that do invitations and look and see what they can do vs. what I think I could pull off and compare.

Thanks for the advice ladies

SCogs18 · January 2012

I bought a calligraphy pen and a lesson book- it's fun, but really hard!

courtchace7 · January 2012

What we did for invites:

-Contacted a seller on etsy to design our invites (actually design was already made but had her change wording and colors). She sold us the pdf file for them. I think we paid $95 for invite, response cards, menu, program, and escort cards.

-Send the pdf to our local printer guy. He said he would print everything for like $50 not sure if this is high or low but we also chose a high quality cardstock

-Bought pocketfolds and envelopes from cards and pockets and will assemble the invites into them myself. That cost around $70.

Total for stationary (invites, response cards, menu, programs, escort cards) =$215 which was significantly less than the $500 we budgeted to spend if we did not go this route.

kellycatalo · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_diy-invitations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:fb939f4c-6254-4a00-969f-b00cfba695dbPost:45d35f6a-9ce9-4f5a-858d-106b48bfc17f">Re: DIY Invitations</a>:
[QUOTE]What we did for invites: -Contacted a seller on etsy to design our invites (actually design was already made but had her change wording and colors). She sold us the pdf file for them. I think we paid $95 for invite, response cards, menu, program, and escort cards. -Send the pdf to our local printer guy. He said he would print everything for like $50 not sure if this is high or low but we also chose a high quality cardstock -Bought pocketfolds and envelopes from cards and pockets and will assemble the invites into them myself. That cost around $70. Total for stationary (invites, response cards, menu, programs, escort cards) =$215 which was significantly less than the $500 we budgeted to spend if we did not go this route.
Posted by courtchace7[/QUOTE]

i think i might want to go this route. i just need to find a printer in our area that can do this! i don't know how to go about finding one though..

lbarr088 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_diy-invitations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:fb939f4c-6254-4a00-969f-b00cfba695dbPost:45d35f6a-9ce9-4f5a-858d-106b48bfc17f">Re: DIY Invitations</a>:
[QUOTE]What we did for invites: -Contacted a seller on etsy to design our invites (actually design was already made but had her change wording and colors). She sold us the pdf file for them. I think we paid $95 for invite, response cards, menu, program, and escort cards. -Send the pdf to our local printer guy. He said he would print everything for like $50 not sure if this is high or low but we also chose a high quality cardstock -Bought pocketfolds and envelopes from cards and pockets and will assemble the invites into them myself. That cost around $70. Total for stationary (invites, response cards, menu, programs, escort cards) =$215 which was significantly less than the $500 we budgeted to spend if we did not go this route.
Posted by courtchace7[/QUOTE]

<div>I have some really really really stupid questions regarding this, bare with me.</div><div>
</div><div>1. You can buy pdf files? Sweet.</div><div>2. What type of "printer" do you mean? Do people actually specialize in that... I was thinking more along the lines of Staples ;)</div><div>3. How many invites did you actually have printed?</div>

courtchace7 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_september-2012-weddings_diy-invitations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:a464c18c-2e4d-469b-8eae-3865079cb9cfDiscussion:fb939f4c-6254-4a00-969f-b00cfba695dbPost:198394c9-0afd-460d-8176-99b9504f4f15">Re: DIY Invitations</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: DIY Invitations : I have some really really really stupid questions regarding this, bare with me. 1. You can buy pdf files? Sweet. 2. What type of "printer" do you mean? Do people actually specialize in that... I was thinking more along the lines of Staples ;) 3. How many invites did you actually have printed?
Posted by lbarr088[/QUOTE]

1. Yup, you totally can which is awesome. I didnt realize it until I started browsing etsy for invites and noticed alot of people sold them as files.

2. The printer guy we are using owns an actual print shop that does alot of business stuff (business cards, mailers, flyers etc.) I dont know how many independent print shops there are left since most of the time you can now buy pretty high quality printers for home use. I think its a dying business. However, staples is definately another option and I know alot of people that have used Staples for printing. I just chose this guys shop because he does alot of my moms business stuff so I knew he'd do a decent job.

3. Were inviting 120 and I believe we did 70 invites.

bridezillatobe2009 · January 2012

Look for my post from a few days ago, I did them for about $2.50 each which is less than 1/2 of what it would cost to have them done professionally. Takes 5 mins to assemble, took about 4 hours to desgin them once I got the hang of adobe illistrator.

lbarr088 · January 2012

Thanks for the advice!

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