Stamp It!
Have you thought out all of the pieces to your invitations? Are you planning to splurge for custom printed return addresses? Have you looked into the additional cost for this?
Often return addresses can run .50 cents to over a dollar per envelope. If you ask me... this is crazy! I think it is beautiful, if you can afford it. But honestly, I would rather buy each guest an extra beer!
If you have beautiful handwriting, you can do them yourself. But pleeese oh pleeese don't steal labels from work and print them on your ink jet at home. You really don't want your invitations to feel like a mass mailed piece of junk mail!
Consider the cuteness and practicality of a custom rubber stamp! You can use this for save-the-dates, invitations and thank you notes. If you care to use the stamp later... simply omit your names from it. Or if you plan to keep your maiden name, you are all set for years to come!
Who says you can't be eco-friendly and cute!?
Check out the stamp options at Tiny Prints (subscribe to their e-newsletters for sales).
If you are looking to have a custom stamp made, give me a ring on the tele or shoot me an email, and I can provide you a quote!
Paper Love
Making your own invitations? Save the dates? Even if you are ordering them from a professional printer, it can sometimes be much more affordable to order your own envelopes. Check out the selection at Envelope Mall. They have a little something for everyone in every shape and size under the sun.
Speaking from experience, their shipping is quick and quality on par with anything your printer would provide.
Another great source for envelopes is Paper Presentation based in NYC. They have a terrific selection of kraft paper envelopes, boxes, and ribbons. It is a great source for the crafty bride looking for special accents. They even have assorted download-able templates for labels purchased through their site.
Looking for wood paper? Look no further! They currently have 12 varieties to choose from! It is even laser and ink jet compatible!!
Purchases that I have made from them arrived very well packaged and were shipped the day that I ordered on-line!
Invitation madness
So... I am having this personal dilemma, to design my own invitations or not to. Being a graphic designer it seems as though I would naturally want to design my own. But with that comes an enormous amount of pressure! I have spent a bunch of time perusing the inter-webs for ideas regarding invitations, hoping something would pop out at me, but despite the amazing design out there, I haven't found anything yet that seems "right". I have found some really cool stuff though, that I wanted to share with you here.
Take a look at Kenzie Kate... a really great designer with unique and fun ideas. A lot of the invitations have been featured in popular bridal magazines. Or Swayspace, a really cool letterpress company with very modern and unique designs. A really great site to visit for inspiration. Bird and Banner is never shy of unique ideas either. I especially love their unique die cut invitations and packaging ideas. Oblation Papers has some of the most gorgeous and timeless letterpress invitations I have come upon.
In the end I suppose designing my own will at least be economical. While I adore all of these companies, I certainly cannot afford them. At 15.00-25.00 per invitation (with accompanying pieces) they are a bit out of my price range. But that doesn't mean a girl cant look... right?
Make your own postcards
So in my attempt to come up with the coolest invitations ever, I found this site. At moo.com you can design your own post cards or select from a lot of predesigned sets. The postcards could be used as invitation inserts for different tid bits of information. Such as the directions on one card, rsvp on another and hotel information on another. Or you can design mimi cards to display table numbers, information about a unique favor or keepsakes for your guests. The cards are simple to make and very afforable...
Visi moo.com for more information
