Reception or Invitation idea: Significant Dates

Ran across this idea at a link party over the weekend and thought, "How perfect for a wedding reception!"  Actually, thinking more about it, this theme would be great for invitations or Save the Date postcards.  However you use it, it's a cute and cheap way to show the significance of your day.  Got a computer and some paper?  That's about all you'll need.  If you want to add it to an invite or Save the Date notice, just copy and paste it into your design.  Check out the Freebie page for free wedding invitation designs.

Smith Craft Adventures: Significant Dates Frame: Whew! It's been a whirlwind two weeks. Last weekend I helped host a bridal shower for my soon to be sister in law and then Monday I returned...

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Wedding Invitation Party

In my book, I talk about how getting a group together and knocking down some items from the to-do list.  You get to spend time with friends and you get some stuff done.  The Funky Junkie does this perfectly!  Look at her beautiful invitations and they look like they had so much fun doing them!  Check out her pictures here.

The Funky Junkie is in our directory, is your blog?

Are you listed in our directory? It's free! List your blog and follow us and you could be featured in an upcoming post. Find the link at the top of our page.

Bridesmaids cards

Looking for a unique way to ask your friends to be bridesmaids? One of my favorite blogs, My Girlish Whims has a very cute and simple idea for your pretty pals.  Check out the tutorial here and put this activity on your to-do list.

100% Free Invitations

You can have this invitation design absolutely
free if you want it.  Just send me an email!

I threw this together today as an example of how a bride on a budget can still have cute invitations.  I did this on my computer, just Microsoft Word.  If by chance you like this invitation, you can have it absolutely free.  Just email me your names, dates, etc. and I'll send it back to you ASAP and absolutely free.  (I'm not a graphic designer so I can't charge folks money like I am one can I?  Nope, I can't.) 

Now the next step might not be free, but you can still save a bunch of bucks.  Upload your design to 123print.com or any other online printer and scale it down to 5x7 or whatever size you'd like (I'd recommend the smallest size you're comfortable with since anything around 5x7 will cost you extra in postage) and order your prints.  You can usually get a deal on matching letterhead or postcards (which I'd highly recommend you use for thank-you notes) and make sure you check out any free shipping promotions they have going on as well.  I did a quick estimate on how much it would be if I ordered 50 of these in an approximate 4.5" by 5.5" size at $35.00.

Don't want to do your own design or you're looking for something even easier?  123print.com also has wedding templates where you simply type in the necessary information, verify the info, order your quantity, and you're done. Priced out, this option is cheaper too. You can get 50 invites for less than $30.00 and that includes free shipping.  Not bad at all.

Want a unique and cute invitation design but don't want to do it yourself?  Seed to Sprout has some great ideas with invitations starting at just $9.00.

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

Seed To Sprout Design: Free Wedding Blog Template

Save big bucks on your invitations!

1. Get a free blogger website.
2. Go to Seed to Sprout and pick out a wedding invitation design, customize the information, send your version to 123print.com or any other online printer and place your order.
3. Have all guests RSVP via your website. They can also get hotel information, the menu, pictures, and more on your site too.
4. Total savings? One bride boasted that she bought a cute design for less than ten bucks, then ordered prints on 123print.com and the whole thing cost less than $30 for 100 invitations. Hard to beat that.

You have to love free! Check out this amazing blog template for those planning a wedding. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are lots of ways to save money on the details. When you send out your invites, have your guests RSVP via your website or email. Then grab a free Blogger website, use this gorgeous template (also free) and check out her website too. Lots of beautiful designs that are very affordable.

Seed To Sprout Design: Free Wedding Blog Template: "In the interest of saving money and making life beautiful, check out the 'Free Downloads' tab to download this gorgeous free wedding blog te..."

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

Invitations for CHEAP

Some great ideas have just come my way in terms of invitations.  This is one of those really fun wedding-planning-activities but can be a hidden money-stealer if you're not careful.  Don't forget, each invite needs a stamp so you're not just paying for the invite and the envelope.  If you're keeping your guest list under control, stamps shouldn't be too bad.

Word of advice concerning RSVPs.  This is an email world now.  Everyone, including grandparents and long lost great aunts and uncles have an email address.  Do not, I repeat, do not spend money on RSVP cards and the stamps that you plop on them as a courtesy.  People can email your wedding website or email account.  They can email your parents, they can drop you a message on your wedding facebook page, they can even call you if they by chance do not have access to email.  There is no reason to spend a nickle on RSVP cards so be smart and savvy and have people email or call in their replies.

So we're keeping our guest list as small as possible, we've eliminated the RSVP concern, now it's on to the fun part: picking out the invitation design.  Check out these ideas:

Click here to buy this! Only $9

1. Have a graphic design friend make you a unique invitation template.  I have at least ten friends on facebook that do graphic design work from home and if you want to reimburse them for their time, you'll still be getting a huge savings.  They may do it for free with a little plug of their website or Etsy shop on your wedding programs thanking them for their talents.  TheWeddingChicks.com also has some really cute and free invitation and save-the-date templates (see picture above) that you can customize and then take to your printer.
    
2. Make them on your computer.  Check out Microsoft's templates and Microsoft Office online for more templates of wedding invitations.  Check out this cute "perfect pair" wedding template I found.  You can adjust the colors, font, background, etc.  Free, easy, and completed by you!
    
3. You'll be printing these at a FedEx/Kinko's, small local printing shop, or online.  Vistaprint.com or 123print.com have cheap printing ideas.  I've heard of brides getting 100 prints for less than $14.  Lots of options there for printing your own designs and make sure to do a google search for coupon codes on free shipping too.  123print.com is currently offering free shipping on any purchase, no limits.
    
4. Make your own!  Careful though, this can get REALLY expensive.  By the time you purchase the card stock, fancy pens and art supplies, you'll now have to sit down and put together 60 of these.  With all of the options above, consider those first before you dive into a time-sucker like this.
    
5. Go green and go digital.  There is a case to be made for really cute online invites that are free, easy to access, easy for people to RSVP, and a nice way to share information on hotel reservations, the menu, pictures to share after the wedding, etc. Evite.com has some cute ideas.  If you'd like to skip the middle-man, do your own invite in a Word document and mail that as an attachment to your list.  It will be that much easier to RSVP too with your email address being right there.  You'll probably have every RSVP in before lunch!  Here's another great website called Greenvelope featuring a more personal approach to digital invitations, great designs too.

Just be creative and think outside the box.  Remember, you do not have to do what everyone else is doing. Go your own way!

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

If you absolutely must do a Save-the-date, do this

Another great Save The Date idea. I love fun stuff that's clever and different. I'm not a fan of save-the-dates usually because when you're on a tight budget, it's an unnecessary expense. Chances are your wedding will be small and if it's small then the people on the list are people you know very well and likely know the date already. Printing postcards and spending additional money on stamps (that you'll need to buy again when you send out invites) seems excessive. However, they do serve a purpose and if you're determined to do it, let's make it less expensive!

Below is a link for a free download for people interested in a wacky Save-the-date idea. I think it's cute and if the download is free, it will definitely cut down on your costs. Always remember to check facebook and twitter for graphic designers who are working from home and freelance their designs. It's likely cheaper, they will customize everything for you, and they do really unique and fun designs. Support your local stay home parent!

Our ST— Ack! | Weddingbee

Another great resource is Seed to Sprout, click here to see their designs.

Have an idea? Share it here by posting a comment below. Let's all help each other out.

Affordable but unique and beautiful invitations

www.seedtosproutdesign.com

Print your own invitations!  We want to keep that guest list small right?  So the invitations should really be like sending out Christmas cards, nothing too exhausting.  Start with a classic and pretty design but make it unique!

Check out this website, www.seedtosproutdesign.com, you can buy a unique template and change the information and colors to suit your needs. Then, have a copy store print out the copies you need.  You can do it at home too but you may end up spending more this way with the amount of ink your invitations may require.  By going to Office Max or the UPS store, you can have them do it with their crisp high-end printers and the invitations will turn out gorgeous.

Need more ideas?  Check out the book, The $500 Wedding: How to have a beautiful wedding and reception for $500

Have an idea? Share it here! Let's all help each other out.