Who says you have to use paper for your wedding invitations at all?

You can bring into play all sorts of exciting materials such as tin, steel, aluminium, wood, glass, fabric or even chocolate. Or why not send DVD invitations to your guests? Your imagination is the limit!

Typeface

You might find the Brush Script or Gigi typeface totally exquisite, but you must admit that they are not the easiest fonts to decipher. It’s important to balance the aesthetic and the practical side when choosing your typeface – ‘readable’ should always win over ‘decorative’, or your guests ay show up at the wrong address!

You can also use a combination of different typefaces. Why not print your names in a scripted font and use a plainer typeface for the rest? That way you can have that delicate feel without compromising on legibility.

Print technique

photo credit: pjohnkeane

The printing is usually the biggest expense in the invitation-making budget – it’s important that you understand exactly what you’re paying for. Here is a brief review of the main printing techniques:

• Engraving is the oldest printing method (it was first introduced in the 1600’s) as well as the most expensive. It suits the most traditional wedding invitations. This printing process can take a few weeks, so plan well ahead. The result is smart 3D lettering that is raised on the front of the page and indented on the back.
• Thermography is to engraving what faux fur is to the real thing – it’s not as fine but it is much more affordable. It’s a great compromise if you would like the look of engraved printing but don’t have the funds for it, or if you can’t wait a few weeks to get your invitations back.
• Lithography or offset printing is a cheap and easy option. The ext is transferred to a thin metal plate, which is then wrapped around a cylinder and transferred to the paper. The letters on the page are totally flat. Offset printing is a great option but it’s not ‘guest names’ friendly at all – you can’t change anything from one invitation to the other.
• Digital printing is a fairly recent development of the offset method. Basically, a digital file containing your text is sent directly to the digital printer – no metal plate involved – sot that the image being printed is as high quality as the original. Digital printing also allows you to personalise your invitations with your guests’ names.

DIY paradise

If you can’t find a typeface you like on your computer, don’t despair!

Have a look at www.321clipart.com where you can download loads of free fonts. This website is definitely heaven for all the DIY junkies!

Rock, scissors, paper

Choosing the right paper for your wedding invitations is a bit like choosing the right base for your Sunday night pizza. If it is too thin or too thick, the end product won’t be so inviting. The key word here is quality – cutting corners with paper will only make your invitations look a bit ordinary.

But amongst the cream of the crop there are sill myriad paper options available to you – white, coloured, glossy, matt, thick, thin, textured, smooth, handmade, recycled… To narrow your choices down, decide on the style of invitations you’re looking for and your budget. Here are a few options you might like to consider:

• Recycled paper has a natural and textured look that can be rather classy in an earthy, casual kind of way.
• Handmade paper is a hip alternative. But we’re not talking about the greyish scrap of paper you made in kindergarten with newspaper. We’re talking about amazing handcrafted paper that incorporates decorative elements such as dried flowers, dried seeds or tiny shells.

photo credit: 2bsquared designs
• Simplicity is back in fashion. If this is the way you want to go, you might like to have a look at cotton or linen paper. These papers are the superheroes of the paper family – super strong and super ink-friendly. They have a rich texture to them that will make your invitations look and feel very classy. If you can’t afford 100% cotton or linen paper, you should be able to find cheaper versions blended with other recycled fibres.
• Printed translucent is a translucent high quality paper – a bit like tracing paper – that comes in many weights, colour and prints. When backed with a thicker card, it give a nice romantic touch to wedding invitations.
• Metallic paper is the newest kid on the block. It’s easy to print and comes in all the colour of the rainbow. Plus it gives wedding invitations this modern foiled look.

What’s your type?

Finding the right paper is important but it’s only the beginning – what’s a pizza without the topping? You need to think about the typeface and printing technique that will best suit the style of your wedding invitations.

But you can save money with DIY wedding invitations and also have an invitation that is unique to you. If you are a “crafty” person you probably already know what to do. But if you aren’t, there is no need to stress out and worry that if you try to make your own invitations that it will be a disaster. Either online or at local retailers like Hobby Lobby, you can purchase diy wedding invitation kits or wedding invitation templates.

As you think about doing this, think about the time commitment required. It will take some time, and as you know you have a thousand things to do to get ready for your wedding. Don’t wait until there are few weeks until your wedding day. Think instead in terms of several months in advance. Also, think about who you could get to help you get it all done. If you are not good at crafts then maybe a friend or family member is and would be thrilled to help you in this way.

If you go to a local store, you will find various sizes and styles of invitation and envelops. You will also see what are called pocket fold wedding invitations. These have slits that help hold the different parts of the invitation like directions to the wedding location and the RSVP.

One good thing about the ready to go wedding invitation packages, is that they come with suggested wordings for the invitation. You just add and edit the information for your wedding. When you print it out it may not look exactly the way it looked on your computer monitor. In that case, you may need to go back and make some adjustments to get just the look you want. Make you have someone or more than one person read your invitation to check for mistakes or omissions. It is easy to overlook those and could be embarrassing.

DIY wedding invitations do not have to be hard as it may look at first thought. With the templates available today, the process is pretty simple and you can use the money saved to spend on your honeymoon.

Everyone likes getting postcards, even if it’s just another promotional one, and they are going to like getting your postcard even more. Most people will put it up on their fridge and keep it there for a while, so it’s a great way to connect with people you care about and to share your exciting news with them in a lasting way.

But if you are trying to cut costs and save up for your wedding, then you need to know a few things about postcard size before you order. You can find lots of cheap postcard printing companies online that will print a large quantity of cards for very low prices, but you also need to think about what it will cost to mail those cards after they arrive at your house.

Lots of people like to go with a 5×7 card, since it’s a bit larger than usual and is more noticeable. Many of the printing companies that you’ll find online will even have big discounts on this size, and on some sites it may appear to be your cheapest option.

But the only size that meeds the US Postal Service size standards is the 4×6. While this size is definitely on the small side, you’ll be able to ship it at the regular postcard rates, which will save you a lot of money. If you go with any larger size you will have to pay at the regular letter rate, so this is something to consider before ordering.

If you do decide to go with colorful wedding invitations, there are even more questions that can follow that decision. Many bridal shops might offer you a special discount on a certain kind of wedding invitations, but generally, these are going to be the more traditional black and white wedding invitations that seem so run of the mill these days. If you choose to go with colorful wedding invitations it might be a better bet to head to your local art supply or paper supply store in order to get the products you need.

Since contemporary colorful wedding invitations are less well known, there is usually less of a variety ready-made, and you might need to design the invitations yourself. When looking to design these yourself, you need to think about what sort of things you are going to include on the invitation itself. Should you go with a picture of yourself and your fiancé that most copy centers can find a way to superimpose on a classy background? Do you want to have the invitation have some sort of a foldout component to it or just a simple colorful border with the plain printing in the actual inside of the invitation? The other thing that must be determined once you have decided to go with the colorful wedding invitations is whether the envelopes themselves will also be colorful and bright, or more traditionally pale yellow or white.

Since invitations play a major role in giving a preview of your wedding is going to be like, getting unique wedding invitations is extremely important. Read on to know four easy and affordable ways to get the best invitations for wedding:

• DIY wedding invitations: though a lot of amazing invitations are available in the market, handmade one’s have a different charm all together. Plus, a hand made invitation also shows the amount of time and patience you have put in to it, making it all the more special for all your guests. You can try being innovative by using ideas like writing on a scroll or perhaps keeping the invitation inside a corked bottle!

• Keeping it simple: while everyone is searching for ways to make their invitations unique and extravagant, no one seems to remember the white traditional invitations! Though they are simple, they still work like a charm. Opt for simple invitations in white cards which have silver outline margin designs. It is guaranteed to get everyone smiling at the first sight!

• Handcrafted invitations: if you are fond of a unique, hand made finish on the invitations, but you do not have the time or creativity to make it on your own, opt for handcrafted invitations. They are simply stunning to say the least, and they’re sure to get everyone talking about your upcoming wedding in no time!

• Season’s special: if you are searching for an invitation that will be simple and elegant, and yet not the boring white design, you can consider season based invitations. If you are having a winter wedding, you can opt for a snowflakes design or some other design like pine trees.

When it comes to choosing a photographer to take photos for your photograph wedding invitations, you don’t need to go all out and get a professional wedding photographer. This could cost a lot of money and ultimately, for your wedding invitations with photo, you really only require one good photo.

So you could perhaps do one of the following:
- ask a friend with a good SLR camera to take some shots of you at home against a clear plain background
- or perhaps choose another location like the park, or the beach if you are intending on a beach wedding
- ask a local school photography student to do a photo shoot for you. That would save you money and get them some experience.
- or ask your chosen wedding photographer to do up a package which would also include the pre wedding shoot, so that a photograph of this day can be used on the invitation

When it comes to choosing a wedding photographer, other than price, the personality of the photographer is the biggest component that you need to look at. You don’t want to be feeling intimidated  during the shoot by someone who you don’t get on with. You want them to be the type of person who can direct you to pose, without making you feel like a rag doll and make sure that your smiles are natural and reflect your personalities.

But not everyone has the money to make their wedding as lavish as they’d like. Despite what you see on TV and in magazines, most people have limited wedding budgets. So, if money can be saved on any aspect of the big event, it can make a difference. If your parents are paying for the wedding; they’ll definitely appreciate it if you save them some money. And if you’re paying for it yourself, then any savings will really hit home. After all, no one wants to begin their marriage by being seriously in debt!

Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice the integrity of your wedding day just to save money. With the help of some judicious shopping and following the suggestions below, you can have a terrific wedding or commitment ceremony at  a price that won’t make you wish you had eloped:

Make your own wedding invitations
In years gone by, you would have been laughed at (or pitied) if you wanted to make your own wedding invitations. But nowadays handmade wedding invitations are actually quite chic. Not really a crafty person? Don’t worry. There are an array of free printable wedding invitations that you can download and produce on your home printer. If you want to keep them simple, you can just print and mail them. But if you’re feeling more creative, you can decorate them with purchased three-dimensional embellishments, ribbons, vellum and other extras. As long as you keep them looking clean and classy, just about any style is fair game.

Make your own wedding favors
Try giving your guests something handmade, instead of pricey store-bought wedding favors. Free wedding scrapbook paper can be used to make elegant origami paper sculptures, which will be guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind. If you’ve never made origami sculptures before, don’t worry. There are many wonderful origami templates available for no charge on the web. Make sure you begin well before the wedding, though, since it will probably take a while to generate enough sculptures. To accelerate the process, get your bridesmaids and family in on the act.

If origami wedding favors don’t suit your style, you can use the wedding scrapbook paper and a gratis envelope template available on the Internet to make custom packages for Jordan almonds or even bird seed for your guests to toss as you depart the church or wherever you’re holding the wedding.

If you’re creative, I’m sure you can find many other techniques to cut corners that won’t diminish the ambiance of your special day. In fact, if you decide to “go handmade,” chances are you’ll only add to the charm of your wedding. The Internet is full of money-saving ideas and projects for wedding ceremonies and receptions, so some online research done beforehand can save you quite a bit. that way, when your family is established decades from now, you’ll be able to tell your kids that your wedding was both cost-effective and fashionable.

To find scrapbooking wedding invitation ideas, the best place to search is online. There are many craft and scrapbooking sites which have posted images of actual wedding invites that people have made themselves. Another place to look is in photo galleries where people post their own DIY items.

Here are a few practical ideas that you can use right now:

Matting

Assuming you have some accent colors to work with (take a look at the wedding party’s attire for some color inspiration), you will want to add these colors in to your design to make it attractive. One of the quickest ways to do this is to matte the top page. To matte, cut out the same shape as the top page, but in the accent color and in a slightly larger size. Depending on how subtle or how strong a statement you are going for will depend on how much larger you make it. If your top page is white and has all the wording on it, you may like to have the accent paper piece behind it be about a 1/4″ larger all around. Glue to top to the center of the background piece and your invitation is matted!

Fonts

There is no need to go with standard Arial or Times New Roman fonts. There are so many new and interesting ones out there that you can use that will help make your design stand out in the crowd. Also, don’t forget to use italics and / or bold whenever you feel it is necessary. You can also go with a few different fonts to help create an original looking wedding invitation.

Embellishments

Embellishments can make or break a design. The reason we are saying this is because you can go overboard and make a design look too busy if you use too many. Scrapbooking embellishments are plentiful in their selection and it is tempting to use all your favorites, but it is best to restrain yourself a little. Practicing restraint in scrapbooking wedding invitation ideas is probably one of the best tips you should adhere to. This will go a long ways in making your design a classy one. One way to spice up your wedding invitations are to add a bit of bling. There are many varieties of jewel type stickers and rub-ons too that can be used to help create a lovely design. Another idea is to use a simple flower and attach it to your wedding invitation.

Digital Designs

Don’t forget about digital designs when looking for scrapbooking wedding invitation ideas. You can easily use digital embellishments to help jazz up a wedding invitation as well. Take a look for flowers, scrolls, borders and other things that may be appropriate for your design.

Whatever you decide on in the long run, you will find that there are plenty of scrapbooking wedding invitation ideas available online to help you in your creative journey!

Just because you choose to have DIY wedding invitations doesn’t mean they have to look second rate. There are literally thousands of couples who have made their own wedding invites that look professionally made, so don’t despair if you haven’t got the budget to pay for custom designed invites!

Here is a great example of a couple who hand made their invitations, yet they still looked professionally made!

If you’re wondering how to make that fabulous pocket fold to store your invitation bits and pieces have a look below for some detailed DIY instructions.

Pocketfold invitations are very popular at the moment, but purchasing them in any great number can get very costly. Making them yourself is a great alternative if you have a strict budget and plenty of time up your sleaves before it’s time to send out the invites. This pocket-fold is constructed from a single sheet of 30cm x 30cm scrapbook card and cost me less than 40¢ to make. You’ll need to visit your local wedding supplies shop, or stationery outlet to get the supplies you need. It definitely makes a difference using good quality card or paper and accessories. The best way to make your DIY wedding invitations look good is to use the best wedding stationery that you can afford.

1. Start with your sheet of 30cm x 30cm card or paper and use a paper cutter to cut it down to 17.5cm x30cm. Keep the remaining piece for making the pocket.
2. Using a Scor-Pal, or a scoring blade and a straight edge, score the paper at 6cm and19cm.
3. Fold along the score lines and use a bone folder to create a crisp crease. Voila! You have the outer folder!
4. To make the pocket, take the remaining 12.5cm x30cm piece of card stock and cut a 9cmx19cm rectangle.
5. Score the rectangle at 1cm on both 9cm sides, and at one of the 19cm sides.
6. To get a nice, clean fold without overlapping, you have to miter the corner. To do this, take your scissors and cut the two bottom corners (where the score lines intersect) at an angle.
7. Fold in the three sides. The edges of your mitered corners should meet, but not overlap.
8. Apply double-sided tape to the 1cm sides.
9. Adhere the pocket to the inside of the folder.
10. Decorate the pocketfold with a strip of paper to create a bellyband to hold it all closed.

And there you have it! One pocketfold ready to house your wedding invitation and accompanying inserts.

Photo Wedding Invitations

What better way to personalize your invitations than by making photo wedding invitations? A picture of you and your other half would be a nice change for your guests to receive, rather than a ‘stock standard’ printed invitation.

If you are having engagement photos taken professionally you won’t even have to go to the expense of another professional photo shoot, as the engagement pictures are perfect for your invitations.

If you can get the photos in digital format then it makes it easy to send to your invitation designer to integrate into the whole invitation theme. If you only have a hard copy, don’t worry as designers can still work with this by scanning it into a digital format.

If you’re on a budget (as most brides are) then you might like to make your photo invitations yourself. Ask a friend or family member with a good quality digital (SLR is best) camera to take some photos for you. If you’ve already got a picture of the two of you that you love, then great! You’re one step ahead.

Once you have your photo in digital format on your computer, simply insert it into whatever software you’re using and continue with the design just like you would any other wedding invitation.

If you’ve decided to make your own wedding invites you might be stuck on deciding the perfect wording for wedding invitations. There are many good websites on the internet that are full of love poems, traditional wedding etiquette invitation wording and tons of funky ideas to make your invites special and unique.