Wedding Invitation Kits: A Beginner’s Guide

Sunday Apr 24, 2011

Everything about your wedding, starting with your wedding invitations whether you choose from an array of wedding invitation kits or you opt to do it yourself  should reflect your own personal style.This is your day and you want it to be uniquely yours. Since your wedding invitations are an introduction to your wedding, they should reflect your personalities and styles.

First, you want to begin early. When you have chosen the colors and look for your wedding party, get to work on your wedding invitations.  It’s usually best if you can send the cards out two or three months before wedding.

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Decide on a “reply by” date:  When you are down to the final stages of planning it is very important to find out how many people are coming. First of all, decide whether you’re going to utilize reply cards or just provide an RSVP phone number. After that, decide upon a “reply by” date that is three or four weeks ahead of the wedding. You might not need quite this amount of leeway, but keep in mind people are busy and may forget to reply in time.

Plan all aspects at one time: When you’re designing the envelopes, invitations, and respond cards, get it done all together. This way, all elements will complement each other, and you won’t have to worry about not being able to find the right-sized envelopes. This is where buying wedding invitation kits comes in handy. Everything matches but still leaves room for your own creativity. If you go the route of buying a wedding invitation kit, be sure to purchase a little more paper than you need in the event there are mistakes. This will avoid any last minute fixes and will help relieve stress.

The wording on your invitations is an important consideration. Try to make your textual content classy and conventional. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure of the exact information to include. There are plenty of helpful cheat sheets online. Just make sure that all the practical details are clear.  When you’re done, be sure you proofread every detail. In addition, get some one else to proof the text for punctuation and spelling. It’s very disheartening to see dozens of invitations printed up with a typo!

Choose the perfect font: It is crucial to use typeography which matches the design of the wedding invitations for both DIY and wedding invitation kits.  It is every bit as important for the invitees to be able to read the text without effort. Keep in mind that older guests don’t have the eyesight that you do! Find the perfect balance between the two. The font you choose can also reflect the type of wedding. For a formal wedding you may choose

Photo Credit: www.Veer.com

And for a beach wedding you may choose:

Photo Credit: www.Veer.com

Above all enjoy the process. Wedding invitation kits can reduce the stress of creating invitations completely on your own without sacrificing creativity.

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Photo Wedding Invitations

Sunday Apr 3, 2011

Everyone loves weddings.  Why not add a little something extra to your wedding invitations? Why not create photo wedding invitations? Many of the invitations printed these days come with photos of the happy couple taken with the aid of a digital camera.
Pictures taken from digital cameras are easy to process and convert into picture wedding invitations.

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Here are some ideas to consider in designing your photo wedding invitations:

  • Choose a traditional pose in an unusual surrounding. For example formal attire at the beach.
  • Tell a story. Take your picture where you met or got engaged.
  • A silhouette shot can look amazing. Take your shot at sunset on the beach or any skyline or in a field of flowers.
  • Tinting your photos is another option. Just like traditional black and white or sepia you can tint with pink or blue or green; whatever colour to match your wedding colours. A lightly tinted photo can transform a plain wedding invitation. Adding a splash of colour to a black and white photo in one or two places is fast gaining in popularity.

    Photo Wedding Invitations - Ideas - Add a Splash of Color

Make the sky blue, color the flowers yellow, or paint your shoes a bright red. Far from distracting, it can really make your photo wedding invitation pop!

These tips will make the photos for your wedding invitations absolutely spectacular. It’s amazing how much impact a single effect can have, but you can’t miss the results when you see your finished wedding invitations pictures!

What you’ll need to create Wedding Photo Invitations:

  • Digital Photograph(s) of the two of you:You likely already have some great photos of the two of you in digital format on your computer. If not you can scan a printed picture.
  • A Color Printer (or access to one): All you really need is an inkjet or deskjet printer. You really dont need a laserjet printer. Alternatively you can create your wedding photo invitations at home and pay to have them printed professionally. The price of printing colour photo cards has dropped dramatically.
  • Greeting Card or Graphics Software With the right software, you’ll create beautiful photo invitations, in just a few hours, that your friends and family will rave over.There are tons of greeting card and graphics software programs available.  Photo Explosion Deluxe and Greeting Card Factory Deluxe are a couple of examples.
  • Good photo-quality card paper. Be sure to use a good photo quality card stock. There is a big difference in brands and varieties. This is the biggest mistake people make. Using a low quality card stock will make your photo wedding invitations look amateur. Go so far as to purchasing a small quantity of various brands and thicknesses and try printing out your invitation.

Now that you have all of the necessary items…

Follow your software instructions and remember that with wedding invitations, the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep It Simple…) applies and a simple design is just about always best.

Printing in Color or Black and White?

Whether you should create black and white or color photo wedding invitations depends on what style you’re going for.  Black and white photos can lend an elegance and timelessness to cards and invitations. But, of course, color photo invitations can feel more modern and grab your attention.

Keep in mind that, if you choose a black and white photo, you’ll STILL most likely want to print them in color. Otherwise, you’ll end up without the lovely yellows that warm a typical black and white photo. Try printing once each way, in color and in black-white, and look at the difference. If there IS none, then you can save money by printing in black and white.

Incorporating photographs into your wedding invitations whether you are choosing from an array of wedding invitation kits or are a DIY wedding invitations gal they will add a personal touch that your friends and family will appreciate. Most importantly, make sure the invitation design is uniquely the two of you and you’ll be sure to be proud of it. Whatever you decide, enjoy creating your photo wedding invitations!

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DIY Wedding Invitation Kits: How to DIY With Save the Date Cards

Tuesday Mar 8, 2011

DIY Wedding Invitation Kits Flickr Photo by Jonathan Vo

DIY Wedding Invitation Kits are a great way to save money yet still have the feel and ambiance of a traditional wedding invitation.  Doing it yourself is an avenue many couples are choosing today, especially with the economy, but sometimes the time involved is a little daunting let alone the simple task of doing everything from scratch.  A great way to give yourself a little wiggle room and still allow yourself to create that one of a kind special invitation is to send out save the date cards.  DIY save the date cards are quick and easy to make and you can get them out well in advance of the wedding so the pressure of getting your invites out a little earlier is eased. There are 3 different diy save the date options you choose from.

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  1. A Save the Date Card
  2. A Save the Date Magnet
  3. A Save the Date DVD

A Save the Date Card is the most common and is relatively easy to get out of the door.   First you need to look for “save the date” kits at local stationery supply stores or on-line.  They sell them at Wal-Mart, Target and Michael’s and they have them for every occasion, not just weddings.  The kits typically come in a variety of colors and designs with coordinating envelopes so you can match the theme of your wedding or go with a contrasting color.  They contain good quality paper that allows printing with the relevant wedding information.  It doesn’t require all of the wording and “fancy” designs that a wedding invitation does so they can be made rather quickly and easily yet still give the presence of a professionally crafted card.

A Save the Date Magnet is a very popular choice as it allows the guests to simply place the magnet on the fridge so they have a constant reminder of the date. Magnet kits can also be purchased at craft stores such as Michael’s and on-line or you can make your own  without much trouble. First decide what shape you are going to use for your magnet.  Once you have decided on the magnet shape and size, then select the paper color and stock that you will use to print your message and adhere to the magnet. You can choose paper from the scrapbooking aisles of your local stores such as Wal-Mart and Target or buy stationery paper.  Use a word processing template and draft up your “save the date” message.  Print it out on the paper (testing a few pieces first to get the right alignment and size) and then print the cards.  Cut and adhere to the magnet, laminating it first for a special effect.  Laminating kits can be found in scrapbooking aisles and local department stores also.  Then stuff into the coordinating envelopes and mail out.

If you are a little more computer savvy, create a personal dvd of you and your husband to be.  There are several websites that walk you creating your own video with photos and captions if you wish. .  Once complete, burn it onto a dvd and mail it out in envelopes which you can purchase at supply stores or local department stores.  Be aware of the fact that not everyone is computer savvy so some people may not even know what to do with the dvd.  So if you are going this route, it might be a good idea to check your guest list to be sure that everyone on it will be able to watch your special message.

DIY Wedding Invitation Kits are a great way to really put yourself into the heart of your wedding day and personalize every aspect of the creative process.  By doing it yourself you not only save a ton of money, but you will be undoubtedly pleased with the end result because you have been a part of the process from beginning through to the end.  Don’t fret about time.

Make it fun and easy by sending out your own diy save the date cards well ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy the process of creating your own wedding invitations.

FLICKR PHOTO BY JONATHAN VO

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How to Make a Wedding Ceremony Program

Thursday Oct 21, 2010
Wedding Invitation Kits are a great time saver and money saver.

But how about making your own Wedding Ceremony Programs?  Here is a great post with excellent detailed step by step instructions on making your own wedding programs.
And  ”These instructions are also applicable to programs for other functions besides weddings like baptisms, graduations, bar and bat mitzvahs, etc.”  Great tips.

Posted via email from Wedding Invitation Kit’s Posterous

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Affordable Wedding Invitations? Make Your Own

Tuesday Sep 21, 2010

Affordable Wedding Invitations Flickr Photo by Salicia

Affordable wedding invitations are a lot easier to come by than you might first expect.  You don’t have to break the bank to find a great invitation that represents your wedding and your personality.   Sure, there are lot of places to find less expensive invitations or cheaper versions of the classier, more elegant type, but with the advances in printers and technology, making your own has never been easier. First thing to understand is that making your own does not mean, cheap looking, dime store invites.  It means elegant, classic, and unique invitations with a touch of your personality shining through in each one.  Creating your own is a great way to save money and express yourself at the same time. Here are a few tips to get you started:

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  • Choose a good, quality card stock in the colors of your theme or buy ready made printable wedding invitation kits which you can purchase at Wal-Mart, Target or most local supply stores.  These can also be found on-line.  Pick a beautiful contrasting vellum to add to the top of the invitation if you want it to be a little fancier and add a touch of class.
  • Next, be sure to use a good word processing software.  Microsoft Word is the most popular but any good one will do.  Open Office has a great free word processing package which also includes a very nice array of wedding invitation templates.
  • Now choose a font.  Depending on the type of affair, the font can be formal or less formal.  You can combine a formal font with a less formal card stock to add a touch of flair or vice versa.  Georgia is a great font for invitations and works with almost any type.  Also, when picking font size it is a good idea to stay within 22 to 26 font size range.
  • Now type your invitation.  You can use sample wording which can be found on the internet or a ready made template that comes with some of the printable kits and also with word processing packages.  Most invitations should start with something similar to “Please join us in the union at (you then fill in the place, date, time, RSVP number and where the couple is registered.)
  • Now printing the invitation – be sure to proofread first and make sure your card is centered in the printer (use sample sheets first to make sure the alignment and wording are perfect before starting with good stock).  Pick the way you want the cards to print – i.e., portrait or landscape which you can do in the printer options.  You do not need to change the way the paper is fed through to change the options from portrait to landscape.  Simply change the options on the printer menu before printing.
  • Now back to the first step.  If you want to add vellum, this is where you do it.  Add a piece of vellum to each vellum by punching two holes at the top of each invitation, with the vellum on top so holes are punched through it as well, then tie a piece of ribbon through the holes and make a bow.

So that is all you need to create a beautiful, personally inspired wedding invitation for a fraction of the cost of professional ones.  If you are looking for affordable wedding invitations why waste time shopping and settling for something less than you wanted.  Creating your own has never been easier and is a great way to express yourself and save at the same time.

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Guidelines for Creative Wedding Invitations

Friday Jul 9, 2010
One of the most vital elements of a wedding is the invitation. The wedding invitation is your guests first impression of your wedding. So of course you want it to be perfect. You want it to be unique. Creative wedding invitations can best be achieved when you take the do-it-yourself route. Creative wedding invitations will not only mirror the theme of your wedding but will also provide a personal glimpse of you as a couple.

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There are many websites which have kits that you can easily assemble with step by step instructions.  The main goal of wedding invitation kits is to give you the do-it-yourself option without looking homemade. They come with a list of inclusions that go with the invitation: RSVP card, hotel info, directions and reception info. It’s also a good idea to include a list of local attractions and activities for out of town guests.

You can let your creative juices flow once you have the main structure in place. When you are doing it yourself you become the proof reader.  Sloppy content is a big faux pas. Proof read your invitation copy several times both on your computer screen as well as the printed version. Your copy can look different from screen to paper so be sure to check before you print off a bunch of copies!

Another important tip is to buy or create your envelopes before you make the invitation to be sure that the invite will fit.  You also want to  get the complete invitation weighed to ensure you affix the proper postage. Creative wedding invitations can get quite heavy quickly depending on how decorative you are. You really want to avoid having your invitations returned due to insufficient postage! The post office can have special wedding stamps with the postage amount for the average wedding. There are also websites that offer vintage stamps.

Follow these simple guidelines to achieve your unique and creative wedding invitations.

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Wedding Invitation Kits: Making your Own Pocketfold Wedding Invitation

Sunday Jun 13, 2010

This is a great video for wedding invitation kits using a pocketfold wedding invitation. There is no speaking it is just set to music which is a refreshing change of pace. The instructions are pretty much step by step as they appear on the screen in unison with what you are watching. This video is not as detailed as some of the videos on making your own wedding invitations but it is enough information to get you going in the right direction and creating a beautiful pocketfold wedding invitation if that is the invitation of choice. The video demonstrates how to create your own seal for your envelope and how to place it on the envelope so guests don’t “tear” it open. Watch the video and enjoy.

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DIY Wedding Invitations

Wednesday Jun 2, 2010

Every bride wants the perfect wedding. Making it affordable during the current economic crisis makes it a challenge. Rest assured there are ways to make your wedding look beautiful without breaking the bank. Today I want to talk to you about DIY wedding invitations.

After setting the date for the wedding day it is time to make the wedding invitations. It is advisable to send out the wedding invitation for at least two months prior to the wedding day.

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Creating your own wedding invitations is a great way to give style and personality to your wedding. As an added bonus it is an innovative technique to keep your wedding costs down. Do-it-yourself wedding invitations range from handwritten cards to those you print at home with the help of wedding invitation kits or templates.

Now you may be concerned that they’ll look ‘homemade’ rather than ‘handmade’. This will require buying your card stock, creating the design template, cutting the paper and printing the invitations – the whole works! To get that professional look you need to use the highest quality paper your budget will allow. There is nothing worse than flimsy cards and paper. They are a big no-no. This will give a premium look and feel. Before buying the blank DIY invitations, confirm whether your printer can printout in the particular paper type.

Embellishments such as little charms or jewels add a touch of luxury. Rich satin or beaded ribbons will enhance your design. Remember ‘less is more’ and you will achieve that stylish, professional finish. Images need to be of the high resolution. Most screen images are only 72dpi and will look grainy when printed. You want to go for at least 300dpi.

Creating your own wedding invitations is not always a cost saving measure. If you get carried away with adding more details and accessories they can end up costing more than if you bought them from a dealer. Not to mention the time and added stress. There are plenty of exciting, innovative DIY wedding invites which can be created by brides of varying levels of crafting without the need to spend more money or time. This is a great solution for the brides who are cost-conscious, but not very eager to design the entire wedding invitation. Just bear in mind the cost and availability of materials and time before embarking on the project.

A DIY wedding invitation is also more flexible. You can easily make changes without worrying that you’ve already sent the file to a 3rd party. Add things as you please since you are the one doing everything anyway. You can always go back to what you have done, look at its progress and change things as you see fit any time.

You want your invitation to be totally unique. When you choose this option you should be able to create truly distinctive and beautiful invitations that live up to your expectations in style, theme and personality.

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Wedding Invitation Designs – DIY Wedding Invitations

Monday Sep 7, 2009

Choosing a wedding invitation kit is just the first step when deciding to do it yourself.  The next step in the process, and possibly the most fun and creative part, is choosing the wedding invitation design. So much emphasis is placed on the lists of other things such as dresses, accessories, flowers, photographs, food and drink, favors, room – everything else seems to take precedence yet your wedding invitation is the first announcement to your guests that you have decided to get married. 

So a lot of thought and consideration should be placed into designing just the perfect invitation for your magical day. Firstly, you want to have your wedding invitation stand out.  For purposes of this post, let’s assume you have already decided to go the do it yourself route and you are either looking at kits or have already purchased your wedding invitation kit and are looking for ways to make it special. 

The first thing you want to do is decide on a coordinating color scheme to go with the overall theme of your wedding. Start with the colors you have chosen for the bridesmaids or flowers and build your invitations around that theme.  For instance, if you have chosen yellow as your primary color, perhaps choosing an off-white or ivory vellum color stationary, you may choose to accent it with gold writing and accent the envelopes in gold or yellow to match. 

There are so many options and designs you can come up with just simply by browsing a scrapbooking aisle at your local Wal-Mart or Target.  Ribbons, tissues, papers, accents, bows.  There are a plethara of accessories and ideas you can find simply by taking some time and looking around.  Me, Myself and I is a great little website I found just by looking around (see post directly below). 

Wal-Mart has several wedding invitation kits right off the shelf, ready made with cards, envelopes and reply cards included.  They even include a template for setting up your printer and some include extra sheets of paper.  Browse through, get some ideas, and think how you can spruce up even the simplest and inexpensive kits.  For $19.00 you can get a kit of 40 Invites by Wilson with 3 test sheets right off of the shelf at Wal-Mart.  Then, you could purchase some accessories and add your own touches to make it an elegant and beautiful design that looks professionally done. Here is a great step by step video for diy invitations.

 

The only problem with buying off the shelf is the selection is much more limited, but you get the idea.  You can browse, see what you like, go back and look it up on the internet.  That way, you have an idea of what you like and what you do not like.  You can see and feel the paper if you like to get a better idea if it is something that would fit into the overall theme of your wedding.  Browse the internet for ideas. Just be sure to find the right mix of colors so your wedding invitations have that special “pop”.  Choosing wisely can be the difference between ordinary and extraordinary.

Next, decide on the style.  Is this a beach wedding?  A more formal affair?   For some great free templates, microsoft office has an entire line of wedding templates for the invitation, the envelope, the card – tons of different designs and format.   Browse through them, check out what you like and presto, you have everything at your fingertips. There are so many stunning and amazing styles available,  you could definitely let your imagination run wild.  Bright colors, muted shades, beautiful images, creative accents – depending on your budget and your time, you could create such a magical one of a kind unique wedding invitation design that you will remember forever.

If your wedding is simply a romantic setting, then opt for warmer colors, flowing fonts and perhaps a romantic bow and decorative accents.  Remember that this theme will carry all the way through to your thank you cards so be sure to keep that in mind.

Beach wedding?  Beach wedding themes are fun and breezy.  Consider warm, nature inspired colors.  Add accents such as seashells to create a warm, romantic and relaxed mood.  Remember, your theme inspires your wedding invitation designs so choose wisely. 

One of the best reasons for getting married on the beach is that nature is all around you.  You could be barefoot, casually dressed in a beautiful sundress with flowers in your hair or even barefoot.  The theme should inspire your invitation. Be creative and get inspired!

Wedding invitation designs are not that difficult and if you have decided to go the do it yourself route, then designing the invitation is your most crucial step. For some more great ideas and money saving tips, see Amazing Wedding Planning.

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Me, Myself and My Creations : Oh No!!!

Monday Sep 7, 2009

Found this site with some creative ideas to design your wedding invitation plus more. Thought you would enjoy. Some great ideas.

Blog: Me, Myself and My Creations
Post: Oh No!!!
Link: http://katherineperry.blogspot.com/2009/09/oh-no.html

Posted via email from Wedding Invitation Kit’s Posterous

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