When to DIY: Wedding Invitations

Image courtesy of InviteSite.com

Do-It-Yourself wedding projects are more popular than ever. Couples are super-pumped to save money by not out-sourcing all their nuptial needs while having a truly personalized ceremony & reception from start to finish! Think you’d like to jump on the DIY bandwagon? Before committing to take on making your own wedding invitations, RSVP cards, thank-yous, programs, etc. you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. “Do I have the time?” Unless you’re well-versed in card making, graphic design, and crafting, chances are you have no idea how laborious this process can be. If your schedule is already packed, consider buying professionally printed wedding stationery – or have an independent design one-of-a-kind wedding collateral for you.

2. “Do I have the ability?” Be honest. If you’re great with shapes, colors, glue & scissors, then go for it! If you’re a little less left-brained, don’t be afraid to try a ready-made kit that is simple to assemble or seek the help of one of your more artistically gifted friends.

3. “Do I have the resources?” A lot of brides opt for DIY wedding invitations as a money-saving measure. If that’s your primary motivation, you should know that the extra time and effort may not be worth it in the end. If you’re not excited by the idea of making everything by hand, first shop the clearance sections at online boutiques or visit a locally owned print shop to see what they would charge to design and print the invitations for you. I found my dream invites in the clearance section of an online stationer, marked down just enough to fit my budget. When my father & stepmother got married, they took one of her original paintings to a small-town printer and had it replicated as their wedding invitation…for 20% of the cost of my clearance invitations. Being creative is half the fun – especially when it saves you money.

4. “Do I have the desire?” If you have no earthly clue how to make your own wedding invitations & even less inclination to actually do it, then, by all means – skip it! If you’re hoping to save money, there are many other DIY wedding ideas to help stretch your dollars. Likewise, if you know EXACTLY what you want and can’t find it (or are a perfectionist who doesn’t trust anyone but yourself!), then creating your own wedding invitations and other stationery is probably a necessary means of preserving your sanity.

If you (or a trusted friend!) can answer these questions in the affirmative, then you are certainly ready to start creating your own wedding invitations. If you don’t feel like taking on the entire wedding collateral, mix and match doing some pieces yourself while leaving some for the professionals. Whatever you decide, just be sure it’s what you really want – and don’t let anyone (even me!) talk you out of it. It’s your big day!