Creating Personlized Wedding Invitations

Today I’d like to show you what wedding invitations we ended up choosing, and how I personalized them on a budget before mailing them out.

But before we begin – a quick note about that “personalization on a budget” idea.  This process turned out to be quite time-intensive, full and trial and error(s), and there were times when I accepted that it may have been easier and just as nice to order the custom package.  In the end we may have saved $50 . . . but I lost a ton of time.

In case you hadn’t already guessed, we chose the Watercolor Ombré Invitations from the list of three we were considering.  Sometime after I posted them as an option on the blog I became obsessed – and I do mean obsessed – with watercolor and ombré styles.

Ryan and I didn’t love the coordinating RSVP card that Minted offered, though.  It was bland in comparison to the beautiful invitation.  Additionally, we were asking people to RSVP online via a survey so that we could gather specific info.  The standard included reply card wouldn’t accommodate that.

RSVP Survey Sidenote:  We chose the survey route because we wanted to know what dates people were staying, where they were staying, if they had kids, if they were vegan or gluten-free, and their kids’ ages.  This is because we wanted to have “welcome bags” waiting at their hotels, wanted to invite them to the rehearsal BBQ or the morning-after-breakfast if they’d be in town, and wanted to provide enough kids’ activity buckets at the reception.

I got card stock when it was on sale, then printed our RSVP information onto it.  After cutting the squares out, I edged them with orange watercolor paints to attempt a coordination with the actual invite – basically in reverse.  They turned out pretty well.

Just for fun – and maybe a little because I’m obsessed with stamping – I added a surprise stamp on the backs of the RSVP cards and the invitations.  Yes, I put a bird on it. 😉

I’ve always loved the look of “wrapped” invitations; the style where you have a band or ribbon tied around them.  It helps ensure that people pull both the larger and the smaller cards out of the envelope, so there is a bit of logic tied into the aesthetics of it. 🙂

I used strips of burlap ribbon that I found on spools at JoAnns, and I cut out the tiny hang tags using a special paper punch I got at the craft store. I tried to find a “you’re invited” stamp to use on that hang tag, but couldn’t find one that fit the space well.

Because I didn’t really measure and plan ahead of time, I didn’t realize how much ribbon I’d need or how much it would end up costing. Unfortunately, it took about 14 inches of ribbon per invite to create this wrapped style, and those rolls don’t go as far as you’d think.  I ran out and had to go to several stores. I still couldn’t find enough to finish, so I ended up switching over to lace ribbon – which also looked awesome.  Sadly I don’t have a photo of that.

Finally, I stuck the invites in envelopes that my friends and I had lined with white lace doilies ( a nod to the lace theme of the bridesmaid dresses and some of the decor).   These, too, were difficult – because they didn’t want to stay stuck where they were glued.

Sadly, when I was done assembling the invites – I was relieved.  I wished that I’d just purchased the RSVP cards as well as the coordinating envelope liners. It would have so much faster, and easier.  Live and learn, right?

We still love how the whole package turned out, though.  And even though the wedding is over, I’m still obsessed with the look of that watercolor ombré invite.

If you’ve been married, did you DIY the invites? Was it as full of trial and error as mine was? I wish I’d blogged about the process I planned to take before doing it. I have a feeling I could have learned from some of you! 🙂

Psst: If you missed it earlier, here’s our Big ‘Ole Wedding Recap. 🙂