When deciding on a calligrapher make sure you have checked out their training and ask for examples of their work and make sure you like their calligraphy style. You will need to decide on size and style of paper and envelopes, what type of ink to use, what type of font to go with, the amount of invitations that will be needed, by what date the invitations will be needed by and finally the total costs.
The following are 10 cost saving tips for wedding invitations.
Tip 1 - Use a Great Calligrapher Just for the Design
You want to create your beautiful wedding invitation and possibly other items such as thank-you notes, directional maps, place cards, and wedding programs. A great way to save on costs is have a professional calligrapher create a master copy of all the printing needs you want for your wedding. Then take the master copies and have all your wedding printing needs handled by a print shop at less cost. Make sure you talk to both parties before proceeding. For example, gain ideas for designer artwork and that the printer can match the work to your wedding theme or color scheme. The only part that will have to be handled by the wedding couple is the recipients address which will need to be written out on each of the envelopes one by one. Make sure you use ink appropriate for wedding invitations.
Tip 2 - Pick Up a Major Retailer Wedding Invitation Box Kit
Today some major retailers sell wedding invitation box kits that allow you to print your own wedding invitations at home. There are many styles to choose from to suit your tastes. You can find kits in a number of places, at gift shops, at office supply stores, at Kinkos, at Staples, at Costco, and other discount and warehouse stores. Invitation kits can also be ordered online, here are some reputable websites www.exclusivelyweddings.com , www.invitationpaper.com , www.paper-source.com , www.invitationbox.com , and www.carciofidesign.com . Many of these kits include ribbon and other extras. You also might consider purchasing a custom embosser to add initials, names, or custom designs embeeded into the invitations.
Tip 3 - Have Your RSVPs Responded to using Social Media
Over the last few years there are many more ways to respond to your wedding invite. RSVPs can be done many different ways then snail mail. RSVPs can be done over your IPhone (some wedding apps can directly put your guests into a wedding list) (check out www.iweddingdeluxe.com or www.weddingselections.net). RSVPs can be gathered on a couple's wedding website, on a couple's Facebook page, a blog, a twitter tweet, or with a response using text message. Use the Social Media device that you are into and leave instructions to your guests how to respond with what you are using.
Tip 4 - Learn the Art of Calligraphy and Create Invitations Yourself
If you've really got good handwriting and steady hands and plenty of time, you might consider learning calligraphy and create your own wedding invitations. Make sure you take a calligraphy class or learn how to stroke Calligraphy characters from Videos or Youtube. It is very helpful to watch somebody, how they stroke characters visually. Make sure you find good paper to use and a good ink set. Also order about 20% of extra papers for oops mistakes, and for late additions. Some websites you might check out include www.calligraphyalphabet.com , www.dafont.com , www.fontspace.com , www.1001freefonts.com , and www.ourtuts.com .
Tip 5 - Send a Wedding CD Invitation
With today's technology, impress your guests with a wedding invitation CD. Not only are CDs easy to make and very affordable these days, they also provide an interactive multimedia experience that goes well beyond a paper invitation. Start off with you and your honey inviting important people in your lives to your wedding. Next inform them of all the details of the wedding ceremony and how to get there and to the wedding reception location, next include a slideshow of the each of you growing up and a little about how each of you came together, include some favorite music, and lastly how to RSVP.
Tip 6 - Go Vintage Wedding Invitations
Wedding Invitations can be made of non-traditional materials that can give your wedding a vintage appeal. You might consider printing wedding details on vintage scarfs, handkerchiefs, scraps of silk, or on Chinese fans. Pick up an inkset fabric printer which will allow you to print details on many of these products using your computer at home and providing significant savings. Use lace dollies, old photographs, vintage pictures and stamps to complete the vintage look.
Tip 7 - Create a Video Wedding Invitation
You can create a video wedding invitation using a webcam or camcorder. You can create of video of both of you inviting guests to your wedding. You again want to state that you would be privileged to have invited guests to come to your wedding. Provide specifics of the date, time and important venue locations of your wedding day, make sure in your video you dress up or dress down similar to what people should be wearing for your wedding day whether formal or beach wear. You could send a video to each invite using email or create a CD to send in the mail. Make sure you have all guests email addresses and home addresses. Make sure you include how guests should respond RSVP.
Tip 8 - Use a Post Card for RSVP and Save the Date Magnet
When you ask to respond using RSVP use a post card instead of a return stamped envelope and you will save on postage especially if you have hundreds of respondents, a post card stamp is a little cheaper. Also a Save the Date Magnet is great to send for wedding guests could keep the magnet on their refrigerator, give your guests plenty of advance notice so they don't forget the weekend of your wedding and act as reminders. A business card sized magnet will do.
Tip 9 - Destination Based Wedding Invitation
Maps are a perfect choice if you are planning a destination wedding. Look for vintage maps for your wedding locale online or buy modern folding maps with attractive printing. You also might consider using maps or landmark sites as a border to frame your written invitation details. Cut and paste appropriate map sections to accent a standard invitation. Create a map highlighting the bride's preparation location, the ceremony site, a photo shoot spot, the wedding reception location and directions to hotels and the airport. Create pictures of landmarks on appropriate locations on the maps. Find someone with strong drawing skills to create your map.
Tip 10 - Create Wedding Invitations Using a Home Computer
Creating wedding invitations is so much easier these days. You do need to shop around for good deals on paper. Look for inexpensive off white paper such as ecru. Check out translucent, metallic paper, and linen paper. You might check out thermography and laser printing. Avoid expensive extras such as bows, embellishments, jackets, and multiple layers of paper. Make sure you proof read all your printing for proper english and spelling mistakes. Some websites to check out to create wedding invitations using your home computer include www.calligraphybycomputer.net , www.bridestreasures.com , and www.weddingbellinvitations.com .
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Lastly when working with a calligrapher add in some extra time. Don't rush a calligrapher, their work is meticulous. Also, a calligrapher might not tell you about other clients that they have, and they don't want to lose extra business that comes their way. You also don't want to rush them for oops or alignment or spelling mistakes. Add an extra week in your head from a quoted date. Many calligraphers will tell you for every 100 invitations they work on might take a week. If the calligrapher is not too far away, arrange for pickup in person and double check all invitations for spelling. It is also wise to bring along a second pair of eyes to check spelling and all recipients names are spelled correctly and with the proper Mr., Mrs., Ms and other titles such as Doctor or Judge.
See you on the other side!
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