Personalizing a DIY Wedding Invitation

My sister’s wedding weekend is officially over. We managed to pull it together in less than three months and for less than $5,000. Although, the savings were huge, we did not skimp on the chic details.

Let’s start with the invitations. We went back and forth. We thought about designing our own, we searched etsy and found some beautiful designs, and we even thought about using a local printer. In the end, we went with a classic diy kit from Joann’s. Not only was it classic, and elegant, but we also had a coupon for 40% off. Luckily for us, this wedding was small. (But print out a few coupons, make a few trips, and you could save big!)



Note: The invitations we used were slightly different. It’s always important to go to the stores. They always have more options than you will see online.

Now for my brides that scoff the idea of having such a generic invitation for such a grand event as your wedding, let me give you my best tip on dressing up a basic invitation. Nothing says personal like your a wedding monogram. It sets the tone for the event, and it’s a simple way to add consistency. We went with a digital monogram from Etsy. She created the digital logo for only 6.00! We used this logo on the programs for the Engagement dinner, the wedding programs, menu cards and other touches that helped create a cohesive link to this wedding. You could also purchase a Monogram Stamp from your local print shop or Expressionary.com

Ten tips to make your invitations set the town, for a fabulous wedding.

1. Take your time. If your rush it will show.
2. Make sure your hands are clean. Sounds simple enough, right.
3. Use glue dots. I know its tempting to bust out your kid’s Elmer’s School Glue, but trust me…You will see the difference.
4. If you don’t have beautiful penmanship, save yourself and your guests by using mailing labels.
5. Make sure you include postage on your RSVPs.
6. Make sure your postage is pretty. The post office has pretty postage. Also check out perfectpostage.com
7. Make sure you include your return address!
8. Make sure you have enough postage on your invitations.
9. If you are having a small wedding, don’t feel bad about emphasizing the importance of RSVPs and adhering to the number of guests invited.
10. Check out this post about wedding invitation etiquette and basics.


Next wedding post, I'll talk about the details...and when to splurge.

The Tia Necklace

I heart Etsy. I am not sure if you have heard of Etsy but it is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. I love Etsy for many reasons. It is an entrepreneur’s dream. If you have a gift of making anything from jewelry to knitting then Etsy is the place for you. Within a matter of minutes and cents on the dollar, you can open your own online store.

Etsy has a blog called Quit Your Day Job where people blog about how their Etsy businesses have taken off and they have quit their full-time jobs. I plan to open shop with my some digital designs really soon. Until them I must live vicariously through this blog and share all the cool things that I find.

I suggested Etsy to a friend who makes beautiful jewelry. Within days of opening her store, she had her first sale. She called me the other day and told me that she had added new items to the shop. I was very surprised and excited to see the “Tia” necklace.

Check out the Description:

Simply chic. Dark and elegant. The Tia necklace features Jet black and clear swarovski crystals, Hematite colored Czech glass beads, and a beautiful sterling silver clasp. Perfect for dressing up a casual outfit or understated elegance at a formal affair.

Checkout her shop http://carolinecouture.etsy.com/

Chick Pick:Designs by Jehan

As many of you know, I am the WebMistress for SistersSpace. We have an online business directory. For $25 dollars, Sisterpreneurs can advertise their sites. Being an advocate for entrepreneurs and all things chic, I checked out Designs by Jehan (jehan.etsy.com).

Designs by Jehan is an Etsy shop that sells many home-made items but her signature item are her Soy candles. I ordered some a few months ago and let me tell you they smell so yummy. She has over 60 fragrances and they are great for your home, hostess, or gifts to have on hand.

Her fragrances include:
Fruity: Lemon, Peach, Northern Star(spicey citrus), Cucumber Melon, Strawberries & Champagne, Coconut Lime Verbena, Blackberry, Forbidden fruit (berry spice), Island Sunset ( Mango & other tropical fruits), Raspberry Sorbet, Butt Naked, Cherry Vanilla Sundae, Black Cherry, Cranberry

Baked Goods: Buttercream, Strawberry Cheesecake, Vanilla, Caramel, Blueberry Muffins, Grandma's Kitchen, Pumpkin Spice, Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Keylime Pie, Hazelnut, Cinnamon Bun, Hot Apple Pie, Pecan Pie, Oatmeal Milk & Honey, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, Banana Nut Bread, Chocolate Covered Cherries, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Vanilla Spice, Ginger Spice, Almond

Floral & Fresh: Lavender, Mountain Lake, Midnight Masquerage (smells like Drakkar), Fireplace, Jasmine, Rose, Patchouli, Ginger Patchouli, Baby Powder, Bayberry, Fresh Linen, Aqua Spa, White Tea & Ginger, Clove, Lemongrass, Sandalwood, Lilac, Ambiance (amber), Sage & Citrus, Freesia, Plumeria, Woods & Spices, Peppermint

Bellies,Bears, & Blocks

Last fall, I helped throw my sorority sister’s baby shower. I went to PosePrints.com to create the cute avatar above of my line sister for the advice box.The theme was teddy bears. The colors were blues and browns.

For the Invitation, I found a photo album template from Microsoft Office, teddy bear images from a google search, and a digital scrapbook page for the background to create this look.

My decoration idea was to have teddy bears everywhere. I rounded up all my bears, borrowed a few, and checked out the local Goodwill and scooped up a few more. I purchased a variety of 12 x 12 scrapbook papers to add a little more color to the tables. On the snack table, I took a page from Amy … and purchased different size glass containers and filled them with various candies in our party colors.

I knew I wanted to find a favor that was adorable, unique and affordable. I purchased plain white favor boxes and used ribbon, scrapbook paper, and tissue paper to create an individual treat for all the guests. The box contained the teddy bear soap, and a lotion sample from Mary Kay. The total costs to make my favors were about 1.30 per person.




I created large blocks with diaper boxes, packing paper, scrapbook paper, and crepe paper.

To view pictures from my pre-shower planning click here