Finally complete and mailed!

On the backside of the invitation is a custom pocket that holds dinner reception info, map, and rsvp.

Dates and other information omitted from image.

A quick search for the latest in letterpress design can leave you overwhelmed. While there are some gorgeous designs out there I found that most of them are too pricey for my budget – even when you’re choosing among the standard or non-custom options. To be honest, I’m sick of the flower and brocade motifs even when they are in the loveliest shades of your favorite color. So, I decided to take on the design and production of our wedding invitations myself. I know. Crazy.

Rule #1: Make the design a collaborative effort.
“What do you mean you don’t like the monogram?”
Even if he says he doesn’t care about the details and trusts your taste entirely, skip this rule at your own risk. It may save you from making changes the day before you were expecting to mail the invitations. Don’t be afraid of criticism. It will prepare you for marriage!

Rule #2 : Keep the theme simple.
“We’ll have our own crest! It will symbolize our common interests!”
I loved the idea but I never got it to look right. Don’t complicate things. Stick to one theme that everyone understands using 1-2 fonts, 1-3 colors. either (1) draft a template for all pieces you want (jacket cover, invitation, rsvp, map, etc) on paper and scan them in OR (2) make templates using the software to get started.

Rule #3: Don’t obsess over colors.
“They’ll match our wedding colors, my dress, the website, etc!”
Sort of. Unless you have a professional, office size laser color printer you will not have “blush” or “peach”. You’ll have pink and orange. Get over it. Stock up on printer ink.

Rule #4: Know the basics of your software and printer.
“Why is only half of the text printing!?”
I wasted countless pieces of paper getting everything to print correctly. Some printers will not bleed the image to the edge of the paper, creating a border even if you don’t want one. Always pay close attention to the image settings (print size, print margins) and the actual page size. Then check them again. Whether you are using Illustrator or Photoshop, you don’t need to be an expert.

Rule #5: Buy the right tools and paper products.
“It will cost less!”
Yes. If you (1) make at least 1 final sample before you buy more supplies needed to produce all of the invitations; (2) stick to your design after you’ve purchased all of the paper, envelopes, ribbon, etc; (3) stay away from martha stewart “craft” products; (4) purchase the right tools the first time (scanner, paper shredder, trimmer, ruler, scissors, glue, hole punch, etc); (5) research before you buy; (6) purchase the right quantities (have extra, but not too much); (7) keep the number of pieces in your invitation to a minimum. (the more paper or heavier the paper the more stamps you’ll need).

Rule #6: Finalize the design.
Rule #7: Befriend your local post office clerk.
“We’ll be green! We’ll have Save the Date and RSVP postcards to save on paper!”
Ugh. The postal service has so many rules regarding postcards! Not only does the paper need to conform to a specific size and weight but the text and postage need exact placement. Also, don’t assume the save the date card, invitation, or RSVP card will require just one stamp. Be sure to weigh everything in their respective envelopes at the local post office to get the total price of postage necessary.

Rule #8: Make an assembly line.
“I can do this myself”
You can – but don’t underestimate the extra time you’ll need to assemble each invitation. Clock the time it takes to assemble one and you can better approximate how long it will take to make all of them.