Here are 8 ways (Saving Ways numbers 12 to 19) to save money on your invitations and announcements.  The first of our money saving ways is to cut down your guest list.  You probably heard this before and it is worth repeating.  The guest list not only dictates how many invitations and/or announcements should you buy or make, it also dictates how much food and drinks you will need, not to mention the size of your reception venue.  All these costs M-O-N-E-Y!  So, do keep this in mind.  On to our money saving ways for your wedding preparations:

INVITATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Do-It-Yourself Wedding Invitations

12.    Cut down your guest list.  The quickest and easiest way to save money on your wedding is to cut down your guest list.  Have a small wedding with only family, or only invite very close friends.  Cut the people you never talk to, or all of your coworkers from the list.  If anyone is offended explain that it was a very small and intimate affair.

13.    Skip engagement announcements and save the dates.  These extra touches are cute, but no longer completely necessary.  Take the time to make a personal phone call to the most important people in your life and let work of mouth do the rest.  Or, if you must get the word out, use an email instead.

14.    Design and print your invitations at home.  You can buy blank invitations at any craft store, Target, Wal Mart or online. Here is a site I found that gives great step by step instructions on how to make your own invitations: Do-it-Yourself-Invitations.  This next site sells cheap, but elegant DIY Invitation kits that starts at less than a dollar a piece: Formal Invitations.   If you or someone you know is handy with Adobe Photoshop or graphic design you can even create a very personal picture or logo for all of your wedding correspondence.

15.    Print your own announcements.  If you did this with your invitations as well, it will be especially easy to make them match.  Invitations only need to be one simple card.

16.    Eliminate the RSVP card.  Have your guests RSVP by phone or online.  This will save you the expense of printing the response card and including the extra envelope as well as on postage for the return envelope.

17.    Opt out of an inner envelope and tissue paper.  The inner envelope and tissue paper are sometimes considered an outdated inclusion.  You can easily get by without one or both.

18.    Include only the basics.  Save on your invitations by only including the very basics on the paper invitation.  Put ceremony and reception information on the same invitation.

19.    Get an inexpensive personal wedding website. Provide the web page address and include the invitation and all the details online.  To get more information on choosing the personal wedding website for you, read our blog “Creating A Wedding Website“.

Read All Previous Topic: 101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding - Part 1: Wedding Planing

Next Topic:  101 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding – Part 3: Flowers

Photo Credits:
Top row: Formal Invitations;  bottom row: Do-It-Yourself -Invitations

Writing Thank You Notes

Writing thank you notes for all the gifts you received is your next big challenge after your wedding.  This could be daunting, especially if you had hundreds of guests to thank.  Here are some tips to help you alleviate your fears of tackling the “thank you notes” writing:

Start from the Planning Stage

Assign someone with the responsibility of listing gifts that you received during your engagement, bridal showers and wedding gifts.  The list will contain the name of the giver, a short description of what was given, the occasion (engagement, bridal shower,  wedding), the date the gift was received and a space to place a check mark once the thank you cards are mailed.  You can use a simple Excel file to create this list.  This way, you have all the names of the persons you need to send thank you notes.

Avoid Procrastination

Refer to the gift list above and write the thank you note within two weeks after you receive the gift, but the sooner, the better.  This way you do not have to write all of them at the same time.  Your notes will sound more sincere because you do not have to rush writing them.  Once the thank you note has been mailed, place a check mark next to the guest’s name and watch your list fill with check marks.

Writing Tips

• Sending thank you notes through emails is not appropriate.

• Send handwritten thank you notes.  They do not need to be written in calligraphy, but do write legibly.

• Acknowledge each gift separately. For example, if you receive an engagement gift, a bridal shower gift and a wedding gift from your friend, Mary, send her 3 thank you notes – one for each of the gifts.

• Mention the gift specifically and how you plan on using it.

• For money gifts, acknowledge it by mentioning your  plan on how you will use it.  There is no need to mention exact dollar amount.

• Don’t forget to acknowledge your bridal party and ushers. It is also expected of you to give them gifts not just thank you notes.

• Thank you notes are not only for gifts.  Thank all those who helped make your wedding special, including any wedding professionals and family members.  Include their names in your gift list and write down the service or how they helped you on the column for “gifts”.

• Ask your fiancé/husband to share the responsibility of writing thank you notes to help you out.

Photo Credits: The White Aisle

Wedding Program

The wedding program is a traditional element that is often used for large or elaborate ceremonies.  You can use a program for any wedding, but should note that it’s not absolutely necessary.  If you are having a small ceremony and want to cut the costs, programs are a good place to do it.  However, programs can be very useful for many weddings.  Programs can be a helpful addition if you are having a wedding with unique cultural or religious ceremonies, or if you have a large guest list where the guests may not be familiar with the wedding party.

Three Basic Elements of Wedding Programs

1. Cover. This doesn’t need to be elaborate.  The minimum information for the cover is the date and names of the bride and groom.  You may choose to add the time and location and a small graphic or picture.
2. Order of Events. This includes the processional, readings, prayers, vows, exchange of the rings, unity candle ceremony, recessional, and any other elements that you may choose to include. Your ceremony can include anything you want and your program should list it all in the order of occurence. Include the titles of any songs that are to be played in your wedding ceremony.
3. Members of the Bridal Party. In addition to the maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids, and groomsmen, include the officiate, parents of the bride and groom, grandparents of the bride and groom, readers, and ushers as well as the ring bearer and flower girl.

Once you have included these three basic elements, you may choose to add some unique touches of your own.  Many couples will include a prayer, poem, or the lyrics to a special song in the program.  This is also the place for any special notes of thanks to your family and friends.  If your ceremony includes unique cultural traditions, this is the place to explain them.  If you added special, meaningful touches to your wedding, no matter how small, you can mention them here.  For example, Irish brides will often carry a small horseshoe pendant with them for good luck. Though no one will see the pendent, you could explain the history and meaning of this tradition in your program, as you explain the importance of your Irish heritage.

Last but not least, your program can provide a helpful note for guests regarding the reception. At the very least, you may want to mention to time and location. If it might be hard to find, you can provide additional directions here as well as a phone number for the venue. Keep in mind that this is something you will only want to add if all of your guests are invited to the reception.

Wedding Program

For more ideas, view sample wedding programs here:
http://www.antoniaroseprinting.com/sample-wedding-programs.htm

Your wedding invitation need not be gold-studded to be that special, and it need not cost you thousands of dollars just so you can impress your guests. Wedding invitations that complement your wedding theme plus a simple invitation wording should do the trick. Here are some ideas on how to come up with great wedding invitation designs with matching invitation wordings:

Beach Theme Wedding

For that breezy beach wedding theme, accentuate your wedding invitation with little pebbles, shells, glass pearls,or cutout palm leaves. Using handmade paper will add more drama. And for the wording you can put:

Begin scribbling your toast
Because Sarah and Dave
Will wed at the coast
On April 18, 2010
The Beach Resort
123 Sunset Way
Redondo Beach, California

Or

The perfect shell is a gift from the sea
as beautiful and magnificent
as our love is meant to be

Please join us as we
Johanna and Adrian
join our lives in marriage
On April 18, 2010
Savannah Beach Resort
Miami, Florida

Outdoor Wedding Theme

For that outdoorsy theme, you can use affordable vellum paper accentuated with fossilized leaves, acorns or dried twigs and raffia fiber for bows and additional accent. Add a sweet touch by writing:

His love is the sunshine
Keeping me warm
To me, she’s the rainbow
Making me calm
His love gave me wings
Setting me free
And wherever she is
that’s where I will be.

We invite you to be with us
as we begin our new life together
On April 18, 2010
Parkview Terrace
Laguna Niguel, California

Fairy Tale Wedding Theme

And for that dream-come-true fairytale wedding theme, sprinkle your invitations with fairy dust. With purple-colored fonts set against metallic gold paper, write:

Dreaming of what is yet to be
is more fun when you’re always with me

Please join us as
Nadya and Christian
follow their dreams together in marriage
On April 18, 2010
Disneyland Park
Anaheim, California

or

Just like a page out of a fairy tale
the story of romance finally comes true . . .

Rosie and Marc
invite you to share in the joy
when they exchange marriage vows
On April 18, 2010
Princess Castle
Las Vegas, Nevada

Invitation Photos Credits: Perfect Invitation Superstore, Wedding Invitations and Favors, Handcrafted Expressions 

Small note cards with matching envelopes – Choose card colors and/or design that match your wedding theme.   Stack these cards and envelopes on a table outside your reception hall and ask your guests to share their thoughts, “marriage wisdom” or simply congratulatory note on these cards.  The cards will be placed inside the matching envelopes and simply dropped into a decorated wish glass jar, like the one shown from www.kindnotes.com .  These private messages can then be opened later to be enjoyed by you and your new husband.

Guest book frame – Leave a picture frame with mat on a table or stand at the entrance of your reception and have your guests sign the mat around your engagement picture.  Pick a mat that is big enough to accommodate all the signatures of your guests.  A frame that holds up to 250 signatures is pictured below.  This Guest Book Frame is made of black wood veneer and measures 18 1/2″ by 22 1/2 inches. Provide your guests with an acid free fine point pen to preserve their signatures for years to come. The frame will make a cherished keepsake for your new family.

Wedding Invitation Printing Process

Engraved invitations are made by leaving an indentation or imprint on the paper and then filling the indentation with ink in the color of your choice. In the past, slow-drying inks are used and tissues are added to prevent the ink from smudging the rest of the paper. Although inks used presently dry in a short time, adding tissues still continue based on tradition. Engraved invitations are classic and traditional. They are the most formal, but are the most expensive. Plan on ordering your engraved wedding invitations at least eight weeks for delivery once you approved the design and content.

Thermography is the most popular alternative to engraved invitations today. This is the reverse of engraving. Thermographed invitations are prepared by sprinkling ink and very fine powder, or “dust” to words written out in a glue based solution. As heat is applied and the drying process takes place, the lettering becomes raised for an attractive and elegant look. Thermography costs less than engraving and still have that elegant look.

Letterpress uses a more complicated printing process that require metal plates and machinery to literally press the letters of your text into the paper. Most modern brides prefer the look of wedding invitations made by letterpress.

Handmade invitations can range from “do-it-yourself” process using computer software and printer to handmade paper with calligraphy writting.

What to Include in the Wedding Invitation

As you plan your wedding invitation purchase, keep in mind that a typical wedding invitation includes more that the invitation itself.  It may include:

• A reception card
• A response card
• An envelope for the response card
• Information for guests on where to stay
• maps to help then how to get to the church and reception
•  an inner envelope to contain all of the above
• an outer mailing envelope

More Tips for Ordering Your Wedding Invitations

Order your invitations at least 4 months before the wedding, except for engrave invitations, which take much longer to produce.  Once you have all assembled your invitation, go to the Post Office to get an accurate weight of the invitation so you’ll know how much postage to put on the envelope.   Currently the U.S. Postal Service considers that any envelope bigger than 11-1/2″ long and 6 -/2″ tall needs additional postage.  Also, an envelope shaped like a square needs extra postage, regardless of size.