DIY invitations vs. Printed

I don't think your wedding needs to suffer just because you DIY. I designed mine myself and had them printed through VistaPrint. It was very cost effective. If you're short on inspiration, there are TONS of tutorials and pictures out there.

I made 75 for $50!! I created mine in Microsoft word. Printed it on a dark red card stock paper I bought at Hobby Lobby. Used Black envelopes. Wax sealed with a red heart.

Ba Da Bing....Ba Da Boom!

I'm on a tight budget too. Alot of people were amazed I made these. And its so simple! Very cost effective.

p.s. This is including stamps.

I got all of my invites and lots more for less than $40 from Vistaprint, here's a link to my post about everything I got and how to do it:

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/ode-to-hayley-fawn-and-cyndi-aka-my-vistaprint-haul/65ea210239feeede.html

If you want something fancier than what VP offers, you can find print at home kits at Michaels (they always have coupons floating around) or even Wal-Mart. Both are good ways to save a little cash.

It all depends on what you want. You can definitely do it cheaply through free printing and templates if that is what you want. But DIY isnt always cheaper- example you want fancier paper, an intricate design you cant do yourself, things add up. Try searching some sites like Vistaprint, Minted.com, americanwedding.com, magnetstreet.com, and cardsandpockets.com to cost things out and see what you like best! The most expensive part is the stupid stamp cost!

I designed mine myself with the help of Hayley. I ordered them off of vistaprint and spent close to nothing on them. Everyone is telling me how gorgeous they are and I even heard someone say she must've spent alot on those! Yay

I went to JoAnns, bought some nice scrapbook paper (the multipacks with different designs/colors and a pack of just ivory) and used my own scrapbooking punchs, tape, etc. to put mine together. Granted, each invitation was different from the next (different colors, patterns, and combos) and so I tried to send them out based on that person's favorite color (or random if I didn't know). It cost me about $20 for 30 invites, thought it would probably cost about the same for 60 because of the pack size. I spent a lot of time on them punching, cutting, and aligning the various layers. I also hand drew a peacock on each invite. It took me about 1 to 1.5 months to put together 30 invites. But, I LOVED the end product and they looked really professional.

(My MOH actually made me get her approval before sending it out because so many DIY invites she's seen were sloppy. I apparantly met her high standards )

I had help from the famous Haley C. with my arrangements.

Michaels has a lot of really pretty invitation kits and once you print them you honestly can't tell if it was something you ordered online or made yourself. Invitation kits have come a long way. I tried to design my own invites, but I was never satisfied with my designs so I ended up buying some from Michaels. I haven't printed them yet but they were having a sale and I got 100 invites for $30, then I bought this stuff that you put in a hot glue gun and it ends up looking like a wax seal once you press it with the stamper.

I went the groupon/vistaprint route. Reenski had the process DOWN to a science.

I spent $98.00 on ALL my invites (60), thank you cards (100), reception cards (60), website info card (60), escort cards (100) and MORE then enough envelopes.

$98.00 was a bargain compared to most other internet printers and VERY nice quality invites too!

I'm very happy!

Invitesite.com.....

You can obtain the invite stock and print them yourselves (cheapest way but not the easiest way as the stock is not your normal 'paper'), or have them print them. There is still some DIY to them..but they're very cool. Our invitation is eco-friendly...if you plant it, it will grow flowers too!

I have a nice photo printer and photoshop so I decided to make and design my own. It wouldn't have been a bad idea except for the fact that I did 150 invitations, reception cards (with a map), and RSVP cards printed on both sides as a postcard. I also printed on every single envelope. I used cardstock and cut it myself for all cards, then had to glue a sheet of cardstock and photopaper together in order to get the thickness for the postcards. They are turning out VERY pretty but it is a major PITA. If you are just doing 50-100 simple cards with pre-cut paper then go for it, but don't take on something like I did becase I am almost at the 6 week mark and not done yet! However it is insanely cheap.

Kristen, you have one less day than us...better kick it up a bit girl!!!

I am doing my best I think I can finish them today and them take them to the post office! Lord I didn't realize how long they take to print...3 hours straight just for the invites.

I did my own pocket fold invites, with a belly band, and a couple of little confetti leaves tied in. Printed on card stock on my printer at home. Bought all the paper for making the pocket and the accent color at Hobby Lobby when they were half off! =)

I bought the "Bride's" brand invites from Michael's and am planning on sending them to a copy company to bang the job out faster. Instead of printing out 200 invites on my printer.

Once I get them back I'll be able to assemble them myself.

I picked mine up from JoAnn's....used a 1/2 off coupon for each pack...ended up paying $25 for 100 invites! Printed them myself, didn't like the creamy yellow ribbon/bow they came with so I made mt own out of burgundy...total cost for invites/RSVP cards and ribbon was about $30.00.

If you dont like in of the kind you can make im willing to help you out and design some for you, I'm a student graphic designer and did my save the dates I had them printed at a local printer called PIP they might be in your area. I had 50 of them and it cost me $23.00 dollars. I did my invitations to but I have not had them printed yet.

I hear you Kristen. It took us 1.5days to assemble the wedding program..plus the time to print the text sheet to insert. Glad they're all done. That and the bubbles with ribbon to hang from the chairs.

Wow @ Jen H.- that was an awesome job- invites look spectacular.

Well I just got printable invitation kits in my color (by Wilton), programs too. I want it to look nice, but i'm not paying alot, cuz i find the majority of persons throw ur invites & programs away after a while; and those who would save them are the ones who don't need invitations sent to them anyway.

Vista Print or print your own from Michaels are the least expensive way to go, especially if you use the Vista Print specials and/or a coupon to buy a Michaels kit.

What is your budget? I can recommend a great printer who is a vendor that posts on WW?