Make creative wedding invitations (all you need is love and a couple of toner cartridges)
You’re getting married. You picked out a date, you found the perfect dress, you have ideas on how to wear flowers in your hair. You are happy and you want people to come to share your happiness, witness your vows, eat some cake and leave a gift. But how will you let them know? Because you’re also a little broke.
Weddings are expensive! Professionally printed invitations would cut your budget so low that there would be no cake to serve.
Mass texting is very on-trend, but a little less romantic than the vibe you’re after. The avoidance–it’s convenient, right. But still, same problem.
The truth is, you want something that your friends will hang on the fridge next to all your other friends’ baby pictures. That fridge space is prime real estate in your daily life. He wants these people to celebrate their pending union every time they come to Rocky Road.
You’d like to try doing it yourself, but all you have is a regular printer and a stack of new cartridges.
Ready for the good news? That’s all you need.
You don’t really need a fancy new machine (that would end up costing you a lot more). Here’s how you can make really sweet wedding invitations with the tools you already have.
Ok, and paper. Secret: buying paper is super fun. Let’s do it.
1. BUY A STUNNING INVITATION PAPER
Paper is tactile and luxurious to navigate. Take your time, open up to a rainbow of possibilities. You’ll know which one is correct when you find it (sound familiar?).
Where to go? You can find great matching paper, cardstock, and envelopes in bulk at office supply stores like Staples or OfficeMax, already sized for invitations. If your guest list is smaller, I like the loose paper sold at craft stores like Michael’s and JoAnn’s, for a more interesting selection. Kate’s Paperie is like dying and going to heaven, but it costs a lot more.
2. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY
I vote to keep it simple. This is simply not something to sweat. Votes, okay, but the invitation has a simple job: to be attractive. Be clear.
The girlfriend and the boyfriend
Invite you to join them for their wedding (yeah!)
Date and Time
Square
Reception Immediately Following
Location (if different)
RSVP*
*I recommend using an email address for RSVP. Create one just for this purpose: “[email protected]”, let’s say. It makes it quicker to keep track of who’s coming, plus you save paper, stamps, confusion, and bulk.
3.DESIGN
Now is the time to think about the software. There are some fantastic graphic design programs out there (Adobe Creative Suite is excellent), and while they can be expensive, many of them have free 30-day trials.
But if the prospect of learning new software is just as daunting as the prospect of paying a professional, then a desktop publishing software program works well for more text-based invitations. You have one of these. It has a wide selection of fonts. Enter your text, center it on the page, and scroll through the fonts. You’ll know which one is right when you find it (wink).
4. HANDWORK OF LOVE
Put the paper in your printer. Check the cartridge. Full? Do you have another handy, just in case? Now print.
Some additional notes: Write your envelopes by hand! Do it while you watch TV. It’s a personal touch that deliciously sweetens the moment of opening the royal mail. On the other hand, moisten a sponge to “lick” the envelopes. Save your tongue for the kisses and the cake.