Wedding Invitations|Cheap Wedding Invitations|Wedding Invitation

Baby showers are not compulsory. In fact, there are those who prefer to forego celebrating the event in order to save money. There is no denying that in order to successfully host a great party, money is needed. If you are planning a lavish event then expect the expenses to skyrocket. However, the party itself do not have to be elaborate and expensive. In fact, a simple get together will do. Then again, if you are unable to budget your finances then you might find yourself overspending. To keep that from happening one or two money saving baby shower ideas may prove to be helpful.

1. Recycling old but intact baby shower decorations is one of the many money saving ideas you could do. These decorations can be those you saved from a previous baby shower or it can be holiday decorations like Christmas lights. In addition to that, you can also use items like baby bottles, baby blankets, cribs, and mobiles as decorations. In this way, you will not have to spend more in buying new decors for the shower.

2. Instead of buying disposable plates, spoons and forks and plastic cups, make use real plates, glasses and utensils. It might be a lot of work after the party, but it could definitely help save you a lot of money. However, if you do not want to wash a mountain of dirty dishes, then never buy the themed plates as this is more expensive. Try using the ordinary disposable plates that come in various colors.

3. Another budget friendly idea that you should definitely use is by purchasing your food items in bulk. We all know that this can cost a little cheaper compared when bought by piece. Some of the common things that can be bought in bulks are candies, chips and some vegetable dips.

4. We might find cakes a little expensive; however this is something that will always be served in a shower. The best way to save money and make your guests happy is by baking your own cake. This does not have to come in several layers; a simple chocolate cake can always do the trick. Another option is by baking several cupcakes and topping them off with icing and some nuts or sprinkles. Just present it beautifully and your guest will surely enjoy them.

5. Making your own invitations is one perfect example for budget saving ideas for a shower. Baby shower invitations do not have to be as elaborate and intricate as wedding invitations. A simple card will do.

We hope these budget friendly shower ideas would help you host a successful baby shower without spending much money. These practical tips would surely let you save more money.

Wedding invitations have gone high tech. This should not surprise you, if you have been tuned in to these things. Gone is the era when everyone's idea of a wedding invitation would be an elaborately done card. In some circles, today, sending people such cards would see you branded a 'dinosaur' with regard to tech-compliance. The way to show that you are 'in' and that you have got 'it' is by sending high tech wedding invitations. These could be anything from email based wedding invitations, to text-message based wedding invitations. We have also seen the rise of e-cards, which can also be used as wedding invitations for good measure.

So, are these high tech invitations better than the traditional paper card based invitations?

Well, one would say that the high tech invitations are better than the traditional paper card based wedding-invitations in some ways, yet also inferior to those traditional paper card based wedding invitations in some other ways.

Starting with the upside, we know for sure that the high tech wedding-invitations are more convenient to send out. In the days when all we had were the traditional paper card based wedding invitations, trying to get the card properly designed and printed, and then sending them out to the desired guests would have been a major logistical nightmare. With high tech wedding-invitations, though, the whole thing becomes easier: you just sit down with your phone or laptop, using some graphics software program come up with a suitable wedding invitation, and then send it to as many people as you want as an e-mail attachment. You don't even have to send different emails. Just a single email, with the e-mail address of the various invitees separated by comas is all you really need. With phone text based wedding invitations, even the designing bit is done away with, so that all you need to do is to make a careful choice of wording, and send it to the numbers of the intended recipients. It can't get any more convenient.

The high tech invitations will also tend to be much cheaper to prepare and send out than the traditional wedding-invitations. Indeed, in the olden way of doing things, the preparation of wedding cards and sending them out used to be a major cost item in the wedding arrangement.

Still on the upside, we tend to see a situation where the chances of the high tech invitations reaching the intended recipients - and doing so in good time - are greater than the chances of traditional paper card based wedding-invitations. These often failed to reach the intended in good time (or at all), thus defeating their very purpose.

But there is also a downside to these high-tech invites, which gives us insight into the main advantage which traditional wedding-invitations still retain. As it turns out, the high tech invitations tend to be 'dry' and lacking in the sentimentality of the traditional paper card based wedding-invitations. In the traditional paper card based invites, the beauty of the cards send, and the amount of effort spent in making them and sending them would often be huge enough encouragement for the recipients to attend the wedding ceremonies in question.

High tech wedding-invitations on the other hand tend to be treated like just other 'appointment' e-mails or text messages. Once the message is received, they are promptly deleted so as not to clutter the inbox. They are, indeed' dry, and lacking in sentimentality. Yet, weddings are all about sentimentality.

The days when wedding invitations had to be engraved on white card with silver or black writing are long gone. Nowadays the bridal couple have a huge choice of designs and almost anything goes. So much choice in fact that you can even do away with the printed invitation altogether and go electronic if you want to, carrying on all your wedding correspondence via e-mail. Let's have a look at some of the pros and cons of electronic compared to printed wedding invitations.

Pros of electronic

Electronic invitations are much cheaper than printed invitations. You will only have to pay for the design: no paper costs, printing costs or postage costs to budget for.

Electronic invitations are quick to create and instant to send out, so are a great time-saver if your wedding preparations are of the last-minute variety.

Saving on paper is a positive move if you are trying to keep your wedding as green and environmentally friendly as possible.

You can link your electronic invitations to your wedding website and make it easy for guests to find all the extra wedding info, such as directions to the venue, wedding gift lists and so on.

Cons of electronic

You will need to make sure that you have current e-mail addresses for all your guests. Follow up if you don't get an RSVP, just in case the e-mail never reached the recipient.

Electronic invitations may be read once and then lost in the morass of an overfull inbox or accidentally end up in the recycle bin. You may need to send out reminders if you haven't heard back from all your invited guests.

Older family members may not be very computer-literate and may find it hard to get their heads around e-mail invitations!

There is nothing to display on the mantelpiece or save as a keepsake for those who enjoy the old traditional way of things.

Printed invitations still have the monopoly on style, tradition and quality, so electronic invitations tend to put across a more modern, quirky, casual image, which may not be what you are looking for.

Pros of printed invitations

However convenient and clever electronic invitations are, we still love printed invitations. They appeal far more to the senses than a mere image on a screen. Think about the texture of handmade paper, the feel of good quality card and embossed or engraved writing. Printed invitations certainly win on style and lasting appeal.

There are many more design possibilities for printed invitations - endless papers to use, 3D folding and embellishments such as ribbons and pressed flowers. You can get really creative and end up with mini works of art.

Beautiful printed invitations are likely to be displayed on the mantelpiece keeping your wedding day firmly in the mind of the recipient.

Cons of printed invitations

The cost - printed invitations can be expensive, though they don't have to be if you choose a simple design and affordable paper. But if you choose a whole range of wedding stationery, including save the date cards, thank you cards, RSVP cards with matching envelopes and so on, all on beautiful card stock, it will definitely make inroads on your budget. Then there's the postage to bear in mind for all of these.

You will need to find out up-to-date postal addresses for all your friends and family - something that in these days of cell phones and e-mail we often don't have at our finger-tips.

So if you've weighed up the pros and cons and still can't decide, why not go for a combination of the two? Have your actual wedding invitation printed and posted, but use e-mail for all the other communication - send out save the date e-mails, ask guests to RSVP by email and send out thank you e-mails afterwards.

You can co-ordinate the design of printed invitation and wedding emails and make sure that style and tradition are complemented by modern convenience and a green ethos. Have your invitations printed on recycled paper using vegetable inks and you can still feel eco-friendly and responsible!

Most people don't think of black when they think about weddings, but black is one of the main colors this year. Especially popular is the combination of "butter and black" better known as cream and black. For evening or formal weddings, nothing is more elegant than simple black invitations especially when they are embellished or ribboned to match your colors. From the moment they arrive, these invitations set the tone and help you create the feel you want. Here are a few design suggestions to consider when choosing your invitation.

1. Printable Black Pocket Folders: When choosing printable pocket folders you accomplish two goals in one, you can choose the style of invitation you want and save almost 50% of the cost by printing them yourselves. Most internet sites allow you to choose from a variety of ribbon colors to accent your pocket folder and here is where you can be very creative. You can go with a cream and black motif so that the pocket folder is black and the card stock, RSVP cards and ribbons are cream, or you can vary the ribbon color to burnt sienna, purple, gold, silver, or any other color that reflects your style and imagination.

2. Printable Black Layered Invitations: If you are on a limited budget or want a simpler invitation, or are using this for the many other wedding related events that require invitations, the layered style is for you. Here the background is a black card and the cream invitation card is attached to it giving a "layered" look. There are many designs to choose from here, you can have the invitation card attached by a colored ribbon of your choice or you can "sash' the invitation card around the middle with a ribbon of your choice or you can embellish the ribbon with beads or jewels. And as these are print it yourself kits, you again can save 50% or more. You can also use this style of invitations to compliment the pocket folder. So, for example, you may use the pocket folders for your wedding invitations and the layered invitations for the Bride and Groom Shower, or Rehearsal Dinner invites.

3. Printable Black Bordered Invitations: Let's say you only want a hint of black, then the bordered invitation is the one to look for. Here you can choose from a simple white or cream card with a black border, or a layered invitation where the invitation card is large enough that only a small border of the black background card is showing. These can serve equally well as the main wedding invitation or as rehearsal dinner or shower invites. And they also give you the same great savings.

Whichever style you choose, black wedding invitations are an elegant and beautiful choice.

A new baby is a memorable time for both the new parents and extended family. You can record the memories of the baby shower and all of the events surrounding the pregnancy and birth in several ways. There is video tape, photo albums, scrapbooks, and baby books, and calendars. All of these together will create a comprehensive collection of treasured memories.

NOTE: Some of these have to be planned in advance so you might have to ask for something in the invitations themselves. Put in BOLD LETTERS what they need to bring. Be sure you have your Guest Checklist filled out properly in case you have to contact every one again to fulfill a new idea you might come up with! (And don't be afraid to ask for extra help.)

Some activities can create something very special. An example here is the "Labor Necklace."

Labor Necklace: On the invitation, ask everyone to please bring a bead, trinket, charm, or item suitable for stringing for the making of a "Labor Necklace". Ask them to have a little story about whatever 'bead' they bring that will show their love and support and well wishes for the mom-to-be. You can also by a handful of beads for people to use if they have forgotten. Then, at a point in the party, ask everyone to sit around the mom-to-be. Have a leather strand or special string to make the necklace and explained to the mom-to-be that you are making a necklace to focus on in the birthing room, and that each bead or item would remind her of all of her friends here, their support and their love and their good wishes. One by one, have the guests bring up their item, give their little story about it, express their love and wishes, and hand it over to you for stringing or have the mom-to-be do the stringing.

Here are a few examples: One guy (Yes a guy) brought his daughters hair beads, saying that every time he saw them, he was filled with joy, and to remember you are on a joyous path. Another brought a stagecoach charm, to symbolize the travels and journeys ahead. A niece brought a money charm, to symbolize how much money she would make babysitting! Her mother brought a heart, as she has hers, and has created another.

Don't be surprised if the mom-to-be is moved to tears with each and every blessing and really loves the necklace.

Photographs and Video

Prior to the baby shower, a specific person needs to be assigned to take still photographs and video. The best way to do it is to take as many and much as possible. The video can always be edited and digital photos allow you to print only the best shots. This way you will have more than enough to make all of the albums and scrapbooks you want. Choose someone who is a friend, but not the closest friends or family members to do the picture taking. By using a friend to take pictures, closer relatives will be in the pictures and able to focus on enjoying the party.

A common practice at most wedding receptions now is also a fun idea for a baby shower. Put a disposable camera on each table and let the guests take pictures of each other then drop their camera in a basket on their way out. You can also involve guests in gathering photos throughout the pregnancy and from the parent's childhood to use in creating a photographic family tree for scrapbooks and albums.

Scrapbooks

Scrapbook making has become an extremely popular hobby across the United States in recent years. This is one way to organize keepsakes from the baby shower in a way that will get looked at over and over again throughout the years.

Beginners can purchase complete scrapbook kits just with a baby theme from any scrapbook store. These kits make it easy to simply add your photos to the pre-printed backgrounds and add your handwritten journal entries.

More experienced croppers (the name for scrapbook fanatics) will know just how to place each napkin, matchbook, ribbon, or gift wrap scrap to make a beautiful background for the photographs. Just be sure to collect and keep a copy of everything from the invitations and game rules to the flowers so they can become a part of the book.

If you are not at all into expending the amount of time and creative energy a scrapbook takes then photo albums are also lovely keepsakes. You can choose a fabric covered album that matches the gender of the baby or nursery theme then fill it with photos of everything from the pregnant mom to baby's first bath. Of course, you can always delegate this creative task to someone else with the time and talent to create a great memory book.

Keepsake Keepers

You don't have to limit yourself to albums or books for storing keepsakes. A sterling silver box can hold a lock of baby's hair. Shadow box frames can display Christening gowns and baby bracelets or safely hold that first precious stuffed teddy bear. There are also available for purchase silver plated tubes that hold the rolled up birth certificate securely. This also makes a thoughtful shower gift.

A journal can hold a wealth of keepsake words of wisdom and advice from shower guests. Passing a fabric covered or leather book around as guest eat and mingle, you can ask that they offer their best advice to the new parents in writing. One wise grandmother might write that you should always sing to your baby, while an experienced young mother may tell you to be sure to take time for doing your nails each week, as it will make you feel like your old self even when there's spit up on your shoulder! Be sincere, creative and have fun!

What You Should Know.
Before you purchase your wedding invitations or correspondence stationery, you need to become familiar with paper quality. The quality of paper you select is very important. Not only because premium paper makes for a more lovely presentation for your recipient, but excellent quality paper is critical if you are using professional, handwritten calligraphy for your envelopes.

The Heirloom.

Your wedding invitation is your heirloom keepsake. Choose stationery that won't fall apart over time. For example, 100 percent cotton or linen is best. If you are hiring a professional calligrapher to address your wedding envelopes, then avoid the following: thin papers like those of inexpensive greeting card quality, papers made with wood pulp, and handmade or recycled papers. Calligraphy ink may bleed on handmade and recycled stocks.

What to Avoid.
Try to stay away from dark papers or the use of liners in your envelopes. The most formal wedding invitations, at one time, were not accompanied by lined envelopes. Liners have become more popular recently, this is true. However, I often wonder if liners were introduced to create the illusion of "substance" to mask otherwise "thin" paper. If you choose heavy weight premium paper, then a liner is not necessary. If you are "sold" on liners, because you wish to incorporate your wedding color into your invitations, then consider instead: a silk ribbon tied around the invitation with a parchment overlay. Or print an envelope seal in your wedding color on the back flap of our outer envelope. Monograms make wonderful envelope seals. Lastly, because dark colors and liners make envelopes opaque and can also affect writing results, calligraphers may charge more to address these flavors of envelopes.

The Toughie.

How do you choose premium paper? Stationery is usually measured in bond weight. A good piece of paper is thirty-two or forty-pound bond. And hundred-pound offset is roughly equal to forty-pound bond. Heavy cards should be made of three-ply stock. Ask your vendor about their paper quality if you are unsure. Also, here are two great tests for paper quality for envelopes. Hold the envelope up to the light. Is the envelope feathery, very thin and extremely easy to see through? Can you write on it with a good fountain pen, or does the ink bleed? Professional calligraphers use fountain and dip inks. I always tell my clients, "Exquisite calligraphy can only be achieved on the finest paper."

In Sum.

Choose a reputable wedding vendor for your wedding invitations and correspondence. And remember, if the quoted prices are "too-good-to-be-true", then the paper and calligraphy most likely are not.

Weddings in the winter are romantic and magical all rolled up into one special and memorable occasion. The majority of weddings at this time of year are held indoors because of the cold; however, you can bring the winter indoors with these easy winter vintage wedding ideas.

Vintage Wedding Gown

Vintage weddings are very romantic and the perfect opportunity to wear your grandmother's wedding gown in an event similar in style to the first time it was worn. If you are purchasing a gown, save money on a classic wedding dress by searching in consignment shops or online for a dress that is vintage in design. If you find a pre-owned dress that suits you, keep in mind that it may need to be cleaned or need minor repairs, so purchase in sufficient time to make the tailoring needed.

Winter Colors

The perfect option for a winter wedding is white, however, with small additions of silver or blue you can add a bit of color and sparkle to the overall color scheme. The bridesmaids' dresses would be stunning in a silvery blue, and bouquets made from white roses with silver ribbon look elegant and romantic, providing a wintery effect.

Vintage Invitations

Whether you order the invitations or make them yourself, they should have a classic vintage look. Paper that is cream-colored with ragged edges and antique printing looks gorgeous and will give your guests a hint about the theme of the wedding. Images such as a horse-drawn sleigh in the snow look great on a vintage wedding invitation.

Winter Decorations

Small items such as glitter, snowflakes and silver-painted twigs go a long way when decorating for a winter vintage theme. Decorate the reception tables with white table linens, blue napkins and glittery snowflakes scattered on top of the table covers. Centerpieces made from white candles, silver-painted branches and white flowers provide an elegant, romantic and vintage effect. Provide mood lighting with small white lights throughout the venue, or have several white candles in various sizes on all of the tables, in candelabras or in decorative votive cups. Arrange to have ice sculptures on the food table and/or the cake table to add a romantic ambiance to the decorations.

Arrival and Departure

For a fantastic addition to the theme, arrive at the wedding in a horse-drawn carriage and leave as a couple in the same way. Should you prefer to be transported in a covered vehicle, ask to borrow a vintage car from family or friends. If you do not know anyone with a classic car, search online for local car rental companies that specialize in vintage vehicles. When renting the vehicle, many companies will also provide a driver for the day.

Mood Music

The music will provide a great deal of the effect during the reception, so choose a band that is known for playing music from the era you love most. When hiring a DJ to provide the music at your reception, make it clear to them what the theme of the wedding is and what type of music you want played throughout the day.

Vintage Wedding Favors

The wedding favors are a great way to enhance your theme in the table decorations. There are several winter vintage wedding ideas that can be used as a perfect favor for the guests. For example, small silver picture frames, decorative gift boxes with a cupcake or cookies inside, or miniature silver birdcages that double as place seating cards all look fantastic on a winter wedding table.

You can find more ideas for this season in the Winter Wedding shop at Just Weddings. For favors and decorations reminiscent of times gone by, browse through the Victorian & Vintage Wedding Theme section. All products are hand-picked with love from the best names in weddings.

The perfect wedding invitation with Thai silk wedding invitation boxes or folios?

It is no secret, Silk invitation boxes and silk folios from Thailand are the new trend for a perfect and round wedding.

The times of sending a simple wedding invitation postcard to the whole family are over. More and more brides choose the exclusive way and order one of various invitation products including silk invitation boxes, silk pouches, folios and even silk envelopes.

Thai silk is one of the signature products from Thailand.
No question it suits just perfect to make exclusive wedding invitation boxes with pure Thai silk. There are no limits in creativity and extravaganza. For example embellished invitations with silk flowers or brooches with rhinestone crystals carefully ensembles on a padded silk envelope or silk pouches. My favorite is the rhinestone crystal rings with ribbon bands combined with a gatefold silk invitation box.

To plan a wedding invitation is truly a time-consuming process. Maybe because there are so many formats and possibilities the invitation box can be made in. Padded, not padded, embellished, simple, with or without flower arrangement and so on. It's all up to your time and budget.

Select the right material to meet your budget
Generally silk invitations are made with pure 100% silk or if your budget does not allow with Faux silk (artificial silk). Thai silk looks just so much more exclusive if you hold it against the light, but more and more brides choose the cheaper version of Faux silk invitations. No question, nobody wants to pay the debts of an expensive marriage until the silver wedding. Don't miss to contact me if you need support finding the right wedding favor, silk invitation box or wedding gifts.

Contact your invitation designer early to avoid delays
Thai silk invitations are hand made, so each item needs time to finish. If you place the order late, the manufacturer may not be able to manufacture high quality products. To get the best result, inquire 2 month before you actually need the invitation or wedding favor to arrive your home. This way you have around 4 weeks to discuss the design and look of your dream invitation box or silk invitation holder and the manufacturer has another 4 weeks to produce the order.

One of the most special parts of an Indian wedding is the invitation cards that are sent out to wedding guests. Everything in the card must be absolutely perfect, from the traditional motifs, to the colors, the symbols, the style, and the message in the card. Hence the time and trouble that usually goes into selecting a great card design. But the task is not over even after the selection. Choosing the material for printing, seeing that that printer delivers according to the specifications. And, finally getting all the Indian wedding invitations in hand at the right time, so that they can be sent out. All of this trouble that goes into this critical aspect of a wedding can be done away with today. You can not only save time, but also valuable resources in rushing back and forth from your local wedding card shop. Simply by opting for a quality wedding card company online.

A good wedding card company blends the best of tradition and modern convenience. It packages afresh the motifs that you would find at the local shop and delivers them in a smart, timely manner. You get a card in a traditional design, printed using the finest materials, and delivered right at your doorstep, thus saving you precious hours at the printer's. This is why many people are opting for the convenience of a good online card company.

When it comes to a card company, you need to get a card that is designed according to the religious customs in which the wedding is to be held. In a quality card company, you can find card designs that represent all the major Indian religions-from Hindu, to Islamic, to Sikh, to Christian. The company makes sure that each of the traditional motifs of these religions is represented in their respective cards.

The convenience of browsing an online catalogue is immense. You get a variety of card designs and color choices, and all you need to do is make your selection and make the online payment. You can customize the message you want according to your language choice. For the South Indian wedding, you can get the message written in any of the South Indian languages.

The pomp and glamour associated with an Indian wedding is showcased by a quality wedding invitation. Save yourself the bother of chasing your local card maker and opt for the convenience of an online service that provides beautifully designed Indian wedding invitations.

With the economy still down in the dumps, many people are finding it hard to find room in their budgets for "extra" items like wedding gifts. If that describes you than you're in luck! Here are some cheap gifts that look expensive and are very useful for newly married couples.

A large part of a wedding budget is the photographer and for good reason. Every couple wants to have tangible memories of their special day. This is why frames make a perfect gift for new couples. I know what you're thinking, "Frames? But they are expensive!" It all depends on where you get them. Oftentimes department stores such as Kohls, Sears, or JC Penny will put their frames on sale or even clearance. If you combine a sale with a store coupon, such as a ten dollars off fifty dollar purchase or similar, frames can be very inexpensive. Another avenue to look for frames is garage and yard sales. Of course, if you go this route you need to closely inspect the frames to make sure they are nice enough to give as a gift, but you can often find unused or new frames very cheaply. Craigslist.com is another excellent resource for finding inexpensive frames.

My mom's favorite gift for weddings is a holiday decoration basket. Now this gift requires a bit of forethought, but it is a meaningful and wonderful gift for a new couple. After each major holiday during the year, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc. check out the clearance and sale holiday decoration items. Oftentimes you can find beautiful dishes, tablecloths, wall hangings, pillows, and centerpieces for seventy-five percent off or more. My mother fills a large basket or plastic storage container with some kind of decoration for each holiday and usually spends, maybe $20-25 on a gift that is easily worth over $100. Part of the appeal is that this gift can easily be personalized depending on the couple. For example, if you know they are Irish, perhaps you could simply focus on St. Patrick's Day and get them a whole basket of decorations and dishes for that holiday. Or if they are getting married around Christmas, plan ahead and put together a basket of Christmas decorations. Last year, Oriental Trading Company offered all of their personalized ornaments for around two dollars each. Since they weren't dated, I purchased some and personalized them for a few couples that I know are getting married this year. This idea doesn't just apply to holidays either, if you know of a hobby or sport the couple likes you can search thrift shops, Craigslist, and clearance sections for items that would fit into practically any category. With a little foresight, wedding gifts don't have to be a huge item in your budget and can be wonderful expressions of celebration for the bride and groom.

Can a wedding invitation really manage to be tacky? Sadly, it can! There are many well-meaning couples out there who in trying to be romantic or clever end up designing an invitation that turns the stomach of the guests who receive it. These are the things that make wedding invitations tacky, and how to avoid making the same mistakes.

First of all, it is important to understand that whether or not an invitation is tacky or not has nothing to do with what it cost. An inexpensive invitation can be elegant, and a pricey one can be done in exceedingly poor taste. It is what is written on the invitation and how it is made that counts. Original wording and "clever" images tend to be among the top offenders. Compare these two types of wedding invitation wording: "Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hall request the pleasure of your company at the wedding of their daughter Sarah Ann, etc., etc." is as classic and timeless as a pair of pearl earrings; in other words, it is tasteful, and like pearl earrings, fits any style of occasion.

Then there is this: "On this day we will marry the one we laugh with, live for, dream with, love. Come and witness Sarah and John as they start their journey together with one heart, etc." Blech! Too much information, and too personal. It is also redundant; if you are getting married, people assume that you are in love, it is not necessary to spell it out in syrupy prose. You may think it is romantic, but most of the guests will find the wording too saccharine. All that really should be written on a wedding invitation is the basics of who, what, where, and when. The "why" part is self-explanatory.

Being too cutesy is another common thing that makes a wedding invitation tacky. Just because they offer "Precious Moments" wedding stationery does not mean that you should choose it, even if you really love large eyed child figures dressed as a bride and groom. Another common trap is getting carried away with overly cute photos of the bride and groom. While personalizing your wedding stationery with your photo can be a nice detail, they should not be captioned like they were part of a scrapbook. Especially not if the captions are puns playing on the themes of love. Save that for your actual wedding scrapbook, and include a single elegant photo on the invitation.

Tackiness can also come in the form of poor manners. A perfectly lovely engraved wedding invitation can become tacky with the inclusion of bridal registry information on it. Using your wedding invitation to snub a family member for not giving you enough money is also always in poor taste. When in doubt, the best thing that a couple can do is to stick with a classic invitation and simple wording. You can never go wrong with that, and no one will find you tacky!

The wedding date is set. You have everything scheduled, now you want to make your wedding invitations. Should you get one of those DIY wedding invitation kits.

I have found that you don't need those kits. You can easily make your wedding announcements with basic card packages. Making your own DIY wedding announcement kits is easy.

First, determine if you want invitations that are folded, flat, seal and send or from a kit. Then decide what wording you will use. This will depend on who is hosting the wedding. By learning some of the proper invitation etiquette you can save hurt feelings.

There are so many situations that is impossible to give wording for your invitations. Try to learn some of the proper etiquette and you will know what wording to use. Now that you have the wording taken care of what next.

If you have a local print shop that is a good place to start for paper stock. Ask if they have any envelopes that can be used for invitations. Many times they have odd amounts of envelopes. I worked in a print shop for years. We even owned two. At any given time they usually have some boxes of opened envelopes. These come with 250 envelopes in a box and cases of 1000. If they have a box with only 150 they will usually sell them. You may have to count them as they don't like to waste time with that many.

Once you have the envelopes you can get card stock cut to match the size envelopes you have. Get two sizes if you are doing an invitation and an RSVP. If possible get stock cut for you reception cards at the same time. Usually your reception cards match the RSVP with no envelopes for them.

If you are wanting to make your wedding announcements more economically try the seal and send invitations. With these you can check with your local print shop. If they have cardstock they can cut to 6 x 14 inches this will work. You can easily get your information on these.

If you do the seal and send you will have return post cards for RSVPs. Adding a perforation and score points will be easy. There are several ways to do this.

As you can see you can make your own DIY wedding invitation kits. You can make your wedding invitations and still have nice announcements. Get the stock you want and then learn how you can make your wedding announcements.

Thanks to its incredible coastline, California yacht weddings are a great way to express your love of the Pacific and your spouse-to-be. If you're planning a nautical wedding, continue reading for a rundown of recommended yacht wedding charters in California, along with a few hints and tips that will keep you clean and dry on your wedding day.

Admiral Yacht Charters in Newport Beach, CA

Located in Newport Beach, Admiral Yacht Charters specializes in California yacht weddings. Their packages include a private yacht, wedding decorations, a bridal room, ceremony and reception. The company has two yachts in their fleet and prices range from $7000 to $17,000 depending on the time of year and number of guests.

Because the company specializes in weddings, they tend to book up fast, so brides should be prepared to lock in early for their desired date.

Hornblower Weddings

With locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Diego, Marina Del Rey and Newport Beach, Hornblower Weddings are able to offer a wide variety of yacht wedding packages to brides across California.

The prices at Hornblower aren't the cheapest in California, but they're still reasonable. Brides can expect to pay about $150 to $160 per guest for a standard package that includes a sit-down dinner, drinks, a DJ, ceremony and decorations. The Hornblower fleet is made up of 25 vessels, ranging from small and intimate (20 guests) to massive (up to 600 stand-up guests).

Electra Cruises in Southern California

Electra Cruises are a combination wedding consultation firm and yacht charter services. They can use both their own fleets or a network of vessels in Southern California to find the right ship for you and your guests. The company also helps to plan, decorate and consult with you to make the day perfect. The biggest appeal? Their packages include extra staff, like a photographer and DJ.

Electra Cruises is popular for a reason - they offer stellar yacht weddings at incredibly low prices. Brides can expect to pay $6000 and $16,000, depending on the vessel, day and number of guests, but their average price is about $80 per person for a Saturday wedding. However, while the company provides a photographer and DJ, the cost doesn't include a host bar. Expect to pay an additional $12 to $14 per person for bar services.

Hints for a Great Yacht Wedding

California yacht weddings bring both the beauty and the dirt of a ceremony at sea. Rather than drag your dress through the dredges of a local port, look for a yacht company that offers on-board change rooms and choose a dress with a reasonable hemline and no train.

Making your own wedding invitations is a great idea - that is if you have the time to spend poring over every detail for 200 invitations. But if you have only 50 guests, the idea is feasible. But there are lovely ready-made invitations of all designs, sizes, and colors that can change your mind about making your own invitations. So what should you do now?

The DIY Option

Bridal couples who worked on their own elegant wedding invitations deserve awards for their industriousness and perseverance. Why? Preparing the invitations or working on each card lovingly takes time and there are a hundred things to do apart from slaving over these invitations. There is the shopping for bridal dress, the groom's and his best men's tuxedos, the bridesmaid dresses, mother of the bride/groom dresses, and choosing the venue, menu and music to do.

If you are bent on making your own invitations is popular way to save money. You can save as much as $100 for 200 invitations. There are online step-by-step tutorials that can show how to do beautiful handmade wedding invitations using rubber stamps or DIY invitation kits. To solve the time issue, use desktop publishing and le the local copy shop make several copies, and cut and fold the invitations.

But before anything else, go over designs you want copied or create your own personalized wedding invitations. You can use different materials for your invitation or even take your own snapshots and convert this into a nice invitation with the elegant printing at the back of the picture. For more ideas for your invitation, check out wedding sites online BUT if you can't come up with an idea or if you have no time at all, choose from the countless designs for wedding invitations to suit your wedding theme.

The Ready-Made Option

You cannot expect to have unique invitations if you buy these from bridal shops YET you can personalize the invitation to make it truly your own. Bridal shops have a stock of ideas for personalized wedding invitations for the discerning taste and offer a complete range of exquisite cards and envelopes. This gives you the flexibility to mix and match or get a coordinated look for your invitations.

With an assortment of invitations available, it is convenient to select one that conveys your thoughts, and tastes as well as the wedding style. All information - wedding couple, wedding host, wedding date and time and location of the ceremony and a brief note about the wedding reception are indicated in the invitation. You work it out with the bridal shop to get the right information down to pat and you can ask for a sample copy before finalizing the printing of the set.

The envelope is another detail. The invitations have two envelopes. The inner envelope is a sort of protective cover. This is enhanced with colored lines to reinforce your wedding color. The outer envelope is the mailing envelope. This contains the return address just in case there are undeliverable addresses. When you order these invitations, these are delivered after a week and after you have approved of everything and checked that spelling of names and other information are correct.

Your Choice

DIY or shop-bought wedding invitations? That's your choice. Both have its pros and cons but if you want more time to do other wedding preparations, the smart choice is ordering your invitations.

So you are now engaged and have the ring on your finger. The date is set and all that is left is the enormous task of planning the wedding. If you are on a tight budget and need to save money for your married life ahead then you have an extra difficult task ahead of you. At least you can have some hope knowing that many others have gotten married and had beautiful weddings very inexpensively. However, instead of being able to pay the professionals to do everything for you and merely directing the whole process you will need to get your hands dirty if you want to save the big bucks.

There is a whole area on the internet dedicated to helping you it is called the Do It Yourself wedding also referred to as DIY Wedding. So if you get stuck you can always use your online computer skills and hop over to Google or some other popular search engine and type in DIY wedding and then what you are stuck on. For example DIY wedding invitations would help you find great sources of information on making your own wedding invitations.

This article looks at some of the areas that you can try to save money by doing the tasks yourself instead of paying a professional. However there are some things that are better to just pay for so read carefully some of the ideas that you could do on your own and be mindful of your time. The less time you have the more money you will have to spend. So you will want to start working early and get as much done ahead of time as possible.

Do It Yourself Wedding Invitations

Do it yourself wedding invitations are becoming very popular. Wedding invitations can typically run a good deal of money if you have them professionally printed. You can easily do the work yourself ahead of time and there are even a lot of resources that you can buy pre-made parts of the invitations to save some time. So start with a good idea and find the paper and materials you need and get started making your own wedding invitations.

Do It Yourself Centerpieces

Centerpieces for the wedding reception can easily be done on your own without professional help and save a good deal of money. This really depends on how elaborate your plans are. Having simple but elegant centerpieces will save you a lot of heartache, time and money. Something like beautiful glass bowls filled with water and floating candles can look wonderful and take very little time.

Do It Yourself Guestbook

Want to save money on your guestbook? Why not try putting out a photo album that you have decorated along with a Polaroid camera. Guest can take pictures of themselves and then write on the back of the picture and add the picture and message to your photo album. This will create a lasting memory and can be a lot of fun for guests also.

Do It Yourself Seating Charts, Name Tags and Organization

Why not use the computer or if you can even try your hand at some calligraphy and write out things like name tags, seating charts and even wedding programs. These can all be done pretty easily on your own or even with friends before the wedding. All of those little things can really add up and cost a lot so by making the tings yourself ahead of time you can save a great deal of money.

Hare are a few last suggestions to help speed you along the way to a complete Do It Yourself Wedding. Things are always easier and a lot more fun when done in groups of friends. So if you can have friends come over to your house a few times and help assemble wedding favors, a guestbook or decorate a seating chart. This can be a fun time to bond together and share great stories. Time is the most crucial component in a do it yourself wedding. Make sure you really plan your tasks ahead of time so you are not stuck last minute trying to put everything together.

Q. Is it necessary to include a street address for the reception site on the reception card?

A. An exact address is necessary only if the location is not well known. It can also be omitted if you have included a map or other printed directions.

Q. Is it acceptable to include a blank card where guests can write a personal response? I'm afraid that not having a separate card will cut down on the number of responses, but I'd really like to receive handwritten notes to keep as mementos.

A. Yes, you can include a blank card, or perhaps one with the words "The favour of a reply is requested" at the top.

Q. Is it ever acceptable to include an e-mail address on the response card?

A. Although the medium is not as traditional and its use is not preferred, today's fast-paced world finds many of us relying on e-mail to keep in touch. Your e-mail address may be included if you feel it fits with the style of your celebration and if it will assure you of more timely responses.

Q. I have two female cousins who are roommates. How should I address their wedding invitation?

A. Each cousin should receive a separate invitation. Children over the age of 18 who do not live at home should always receive their own personal invitations.

Q. If the deadline for replies has passed, is it acceptable to telephone guests to obtain a response?

A. Yes, it is perfectly proper for the bride and groom (or their mothers) to place a very polite call to guests who have been delinquent in responding.

Q. I plan to have four honorary bridesmaids at my wedding. How should I arrange for their special seating at the ceremony?

A. Send pew cards along with their invitations. These simply designed cards will signify which specific pew they should sit in. Remind your honorary bridesmaids to present the pew cards to their ushers as they are about to be seated at the ceremony and make sure your wedding director has alerted the groomsmen and ushers to any special seating arrangements.

Advice At A Glance

Q. Is there a particular type of postage stamp that I should use for my wedding invitations?

A. No, but you will find that the post office offers a variety of images, so choosing a romantic stamp or a scene that fits the season should be a simple task.

Q. What information should be included on a reception card?

A. Typically four lines long, the reception card lists the type of event on the first line, using the word "reception" unless you are planning a breakfast or brunch. The second line lists a specific time or the phrase "immediately following the ceremony" and the third line indicates the reception site. The last line lists the city and state where the reception will take place.

Q. Is it acceptable to respond to a wedding invitation via telephone or fax?

A. Telephone and fax responses should be saved for business replies and are not considered formal options for wedding responses.

Q. We are planning a seated dinner for our wedding reception. Do I need to include that on the reception cards?

A. You may simply use the phrase "dinner reception" on the first line of the reception card if you want your guests to know they can expect a meal at the reception. It is not necessary to distinguish between a seated dinner and a buffet on the reception card.

Q. If we plan to include dancing at our evening reception, is it necessary to note that on the reception cards?

A. Adding the phrase "dinner and dancing" to the first line of the reception card is a festive way to let your guests know what to expect. That way they can dress appropriately and wear their most comfortable shoes in order to dance the night away.

Q. My fiancé and I have both been married before, and we would like to indicate on our reception cards that we would prefer cash instead of traditional wedding gifts. Is that proper?

A. No, you should never make a specific request for money in lieu of a wedding gift. If you would like to receive cash to be used for a special honeymoon trip or to purchase a special item for your new home, word of mouth is the best way to let your friends and family know. Ask your parents or other family members to help spread the word, too.

If you are planning a wedding shower brunch for a special bride-to-be, there are many little details you need to take care of - we know!

If you're holding a wedding shower brunch, here are some invitation ideas, which can also be incorporated into your wedding shower decorations. We offer these because we have seen it is a very common search term, so you must not be the only one looking for ideas. Enjoy!

• Use the actual wedding theme or color scheme to inspire the brunch invitations. For instance, perhaps the wedding itself will be held on a beach, and you can send out fun invitations wit ha beach on them and use beach umbrellas and flip-flops for your decorations.


• Of course a 'shower' means a rainshower of wonderful things, and many shower planners use the motif of an umbrella to represent the shower day. You can also incorporate showers of things - confetti, rice, bubbles, etc..


• Consider involving the season or other surroundings in your invitation. For a Fall shower, you could send out invitations with beautiful fall leaves and colors, or tiny snowflakes for a winter occasion.

If you're looking for a good source for wedding shower brunch invitations, get creative! There are more sources than just a wedding store or invitation company. Consider the following:

• Stationery store: These stores can be goldmines! You'll find a variety of colors and styles of paper and envelopes, and there will be plenty of possibilities for unique combinations that work perfectly for you. They are also usually more affordable than wedding store stationery.


• Printing company: Try a local printing or copying store. They often carry invitation books that you can look through and custom order the amount and style you need, and you may be able to negotiate a good price as well. You may need them even if you buy your invitations at a stationery store, as they can do your printing for you.


• Online: Isn't the internet wonderful? By performing a simple search, you will find many invitation templates and ideas. You can even try sites such as eBay, Craigslist and other other auction and sale sites, where people will be selling blank invitations or services.

TIP: One last consideration, if we may. Give the happy couple a great start on their financial future by helping them save money on their wedding! Get or let them know about the exclusive deals and money-saving guides found at Wedding-Planning-Makes-Perfect.com. We have helped countless brides save money on all aspects of their wedding planning, and can help your favorite bride-to-be too!

Wedding Invitations are the first formal part of any wedding and quite often the type of invitation you send will give your guests an idea of the theme and style you are going to incorporate for your wedding.

Although the invitations should form part of the wedding budget, there are many ways in which you can reduce the costs and find alternative cheap wedding invitations that still look fantastic and are of good quality where your guests will never know they were inexpensive.

An obvious way to have cheap wedding invitations and ensure that the cost of your invitations will not break your budget is to make your own. This does not have to be difficult or only achievable by someone with a flare for arts and crafts. You can create cheap wedding invitations simply and effectively with little or no experience for crafting.

One way of doing this would be to use a picture of the couple that are getting married. You can either print this yourself or have a company print it for you. Obviously printing them yourself will save on the cost of a professional company doing it and be far friendlier to your pockets. Another benefit from making your own is you can individually personalize them for each guest which will be appreciated by the recipient.

If you are getting married abroad check if the company organising your wedding will include as part the wedding costs some cheap wedding invitations.

One way to send cheap wedding invitations is to do so electronically. You may even find that there is no charge to do this through a specialist site or alternatively create the invitations yourself and email them to your friends and family.

Although sending electronic invitations will reduce the costs dramatically some people do like to keep the wedding invitation as a memento of the wedding. If you do decide that having them made is the best idea be aware that if you ask for cheap wedding invitations you may well get just that!

Always check the quality of cheap wedding invitations before you buy. Just because they are cheap to buy does not necessarily mean that the quality is poor. If you are ordering online ask for a sample of the invitations to be sent to you so you can check the quality and decide if the invitations are what you want.

Finding cheap wedding invitations maybe a compromise however you can put the money you have saved towards something more beneficial to you, such as your honeymoon or wedding dress.

When you are wedding planning there are many areas where cut backs can be made without essentially compromising the overall quality and experience of your special day.

For those brides and grooms who may be marrying in Scotland this year. If you wish a Scottish Theme to your wedding you can try and make your own wedding invitations.

The main flower of Scotland is called the Thistle. This would be a good choice to start with as an idea for your invites. As most people associate this flower with the Scottish Heritage.

A wonderful purple coloured head with a beautiful green stem. This can be an elegant flower for the front of your wedding invitation. Brides can choose to have the flower all by itself. By adding a little tartan you can give your invite a truly Scottish Theme.

If you wish to save some extra money, you can use a single sheet of card. The kits are relatively inexpensive to purchase.

You can practise drawing the flower first of all until you are happy with the results. Another option would be to take some photographs of the flower out in the countryside. This is a good idea if you change your mind and decide you don't want to draw. Both options would be great ideas for your invites. Try and keep the invite simple and let the flower do the talking.

A suggestion would be to begin by writing the words Wedding Invitation across the top of the invitation.
In the centre draw a Thistle.

Another option would be to intertwine the couples' first initials around the flower.

Brides can change the colour of the flower to suit the wedding theme or bridesmaids' dresses. The color choice is up to both of you.

Try painting some flowers in a line underneath the main thistle. You invitations will not only be unique. They will also be within budget and hand made by the bride and groom.

You can also collect and press Thistles onto the front of the wedding invitation to create a unique invitation.

Brides can choose a lilac background as their wedding invitation. A white thistle can be drawn over the top of the lilac background. This will show off the simple and elegant flower at its best.

Once you have decided on your Thistle flower. This can be used as your template and saved on your computer. Once you are happy with the results, you can purchase kits on line. You can print off as many or few invites as required.

Baptism is a religious ritual or sacrament whereby a person becomes a member of a Christian religion. There are differences among denominations about whether a person should be baptized as an infant or an adult. Some baptize by immersion and others by pouring water over the head.

Whatever the age or method, it is an occasion of great joy and is often celebrated with a party afterward and of course where there is a party there will be invitations.

You may be worried that you don't have the talent, never mind the time to do something like this. It is easy, inexpensive and shouldn't take more than an hour or so to complete.

Let me take you briefly through the process and you will see how fulfilling and easy it can be.

- Surf the web for free information templates preferably blank ones. If you can't find one you can create your own in MS word by setting all four margins to get a template the size of the paper or cardstock you plan to use.

- Once you have a template, decide on the graphic design you want to use. For infants or young child baptisms a picture (photo or clip art) of a Christening dress or suit is often used. A sea shell, cross, baptismal font or tank are all symbols of baptism that can be used on invitations. Many people use pictures of their babies on the invitations.

- Next you need to choose the text. It can be as simple as the who, what, when, where and why information. you can also use biblical quotes or even create your own unique wording.

- You will want to choose a font that fit's the design elements and the solemnity of the event. If there is going to be a party after the ceremony, mention that on the invitation.

- When you purchase your blank cards, get a few extra in case of a paper jam, ink smear or other mishap.

- Have extra ink cartridges on hand, you wouldn't want to run out in the middle of printing your invites.

- Before you print your project, run one copy on a plain piece of paper the size of your cards to be sure that there are no typographical errors and that everything is lined up properly.

You can make your invitations a bit whimsical but avoid outright humor sine this is a joyous but solemn occasion, an event that many people believe is vital to their eternal salvation.

I know of one family that priced high end baptism invitations and then made their own and gave the difference in cost to a church run children's home in South America.

If you don't want gifts you can request that in lieu of gifts, donations be made to the church or a children's charity. Such an invitation might read:

Please join us
as witnesses to the baptism
of our son
Bernard Joseph
on
Sunday, date
immediately following
the 11:00am mass
at St. Stephen's Church
address
and a celebration at
our home
address
In lieu o gifts - feel free
to make a donation to
St. Jude's Children's Hospital
or
Catholic Charities

If you are making invitations or an adult baptism, your designs could be a bible, sea shell, candle, cross and/or a dove.

Your friends and family will soon be asking you how to make cheap homemade baptism invitations.