I just got my proof in the mail from Tessa and I'm in love!!
Since I am now over-budget, I'm trying to do as much DIY stuff as I can.
In the quote for the invitation, she charged me $65 for addressing services. Here's my plan for DIY'ing this. Tell me if this is a 'no-no or 'sure, why not!'
My parents have a return address stamp that they use - it's written in script, and it says 'Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth...' with our address underneath it.
I was thinking of using this for the return address on the main envelope AND the 'to' address on the RSVP envelope. Then I'm planning on just handwriting the guest's addree on the main envelope. I'm planning on calling my 2 MOH's over and have them do it - they have really pretty handwriting.
Can I do this? TIA!
my3girlsafh
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way but I think its a waste of money to pay for fancy writing on the front of your invitations. Out of ALL the wedding invitations I have received and believe me its been a lot I couldn't tell you which ones used computer stickers, which ones used calligraphy or which ones were just handwritten. IMO I don't think its a big deal and it would save you money. I think the invitation itself is what sets the tone for the wedding. Thats just me!! HTH
Utopia923
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I feel the same way as you. Thanks for the input!
sophisticat13
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
It's your wedding....you can do whatever you want That being said...and this is just my opinion, I know not everyone will agree... it takes away from the tone of the whole invite to not have calligraphy. $65 for addressing services is actually a great price. I paid $1 per set (inner/outer envelope) to have calligraphy done and it was worth it...to me is just completes the picture to have the address printed using calligraphy. Like I said it's just my opinion... to me it is the first impression that guests will have of your wedding, it is a small cost to pay w/respect to the cost of a wedding and you can make it up somewhere else or even do the envelopes yourself on your computer (we did that for our STD envelopes).
2009Bride2Be
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
Honestly IMO I have to agree with the last post. Its your wedding and you can do whateva your heart desires :) BUT I have to say when I've received an invitation I DO look at the addressing and how its done. Its part of the entire presentation. The last wedding I went to I received a very pretty invitation that was custom made with an expensive metallic envelope that had clear labels as the 'addressed to' and the 'return address' and I felt it looked terrible. It took away from the whole invitation. In the grand scheme of the wedding costs what's another $65? See if there is somewhere else you can cut back. Or see if there is anything else Tessa can do to help you stay within budget. (IE: no inner envelope, if you have the swarvoski crystals maybe not do them do THAT DIY, maybe less metallic paper or something like that)
CloudNine
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
i agree with the paying the money. it doesnt have to be handwritten calligraphy but at least a fancy font on the computer. i dont think handwriting them fits nicely on a formal wedding invite. we printed my MOH's invites on the computer. you can save some money doing that if you'd like, as long as you dont have to go buy an ink cartridge lol
pa56
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I printed the addresses on the envelopes using my home computer and I thought it looked great. My parents address was pre-printed on the RSVPs and outer envelope already otherwise I would've done those myself too.
My hand writing isn't great and I wouldn't hand write the addresses for that reason. The last thing you want to do is ruin the elegance of invitations by messy handwriting.
I am DIY the addresses myself but using my Home computer...You should think into that...And have the stamp on the back becuase I tried to put the back through the computer and it didnt look good...
allegracristina
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I'm using Michele Clark for hand calligraphy. She is really reasonably priced, and this is something that is very important to me. I personally feel that clear labels look terrible-sorry to those that are offended. I think computer printing is a great alternative to hand calligraphy though!Inkspun Does great computer calligraphy or you can usually use your own computer like Parul. Do what you think is right FOR YOU!!! Good luck!!!
megsher
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I'm not sure what I'm doing yet, but etiquette wise, hand written is preferred over computer labels.
Jna2010
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Posted by CloudNine
i agree with the paying the money. it doesnt have to be handwritten calligraphy but at least a fancy font on the computer. i dont think handwriting them fits nicely on a formal wedding invite. we printed my MOH's invites on the computer. you can save some money doing that if you'd like, as long as you dont have to go buy an ink cartridge lol
i agree, the invitation gives you an idea of what to expect the wedding to be like, in my opinion
lucamon
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I did my own hand calligraphy and it could be just as nice as those professionally done. However, I do suggest that you put the 'from label' on the back side of the invite, on the flap. Since it is a sticker, it might clash with the hand calligraphy. Just to give you some ideas, I used white ink on the inner red envelope and black ink on the outter envelope. I spent about $15 at Michaels for supplies.
OY
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
i also wrote my own envelopes ;) but i did it nicely
mf2009
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I personally feel that although invitations 'set the tone' for the wedding there is no need to go crazy over them and spend money on caligraphy if you don't feel comfortable doing so. At the end of the day its your wedding and money is money. If you don't want to spend the extra money on the invites then there are ways to cut back. you can use a nice font on your computer and it will work just the same. when all is said and done the invite will be thrown out, people really dont pay as close attention to these things as much as we think they do. But as I said this is my personal opinion and this is where I would defintely cut back as much as possible.
Hope everything works out.
candybride123
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I ran the backs and fronts through the printer at home. I did the 'to' address large and centered and I did the return address on the flap b/c that was the easiest to do on my printer without causing jams.
I downloaded a font calle Freebooter, which is more of a fancy script but there are also plenty of free 'calligraphy fonts' to download as well.
I thought it was going to be horrible to do but everyone complimented them and said they couldn't believe I did it myself.
I know that doesn't exactly answer your question about handwriting and stamping, but I think it's the best option and much less painful than handwriting even if you DO have a great handwriting!
BeLissa
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
Posted by 2009Bride2Be
Honestly IMO I have to agree with the last post. Its your wedding and you can do whateva your heart desires :) BUT I have to say when I've received an invitation I DO look at the addressing and how its done. Its part of the entire presentation. The last wedding I went to I received a very pretty invitation that was custom made with an expensive metallic envelope that had clear labels as the 'addressed to' and the 'return address' and I felt it looked terrible. It took away from the whole invitation. In the grand scheme of the wedding costs what's another $65? See if there is somewhere else you can cut back. Or see if there is anything else Tessa can do to help you stay within budget. (IE: no inner envelope, if you have the swarvoski crystals maybe not do them do THAT DIY, maybe less metallic paper or something like that)
i agree with this. i do pay attention to those things too, esp fonts lol. i would either have her just do them or print them yourself. I am a complete disaster with figuring out how to print things like that, or using anything that involves a template so i just had her do mine. I think the stamp part for the return address is fine, but if end up having her print the guests addresses it prob wouldnt end up saving you too much money to not have her do the return, and then everything will match
emc282rjm
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
I think you have to do what makes sense for you. If it's only going to be $65, it might be worth the effort/time to just have them done. That's not THAT much. But, if you'd prefer to handwrite it, then by all means do so.
We are DIYing our own invites, and plan on printing the clear labels and using them. I know a previous poster said that that looked horrible, but that is just what makes sense for us. In this case, I don't know that there is a 'right' answer. If you think it's going to be a budget breaker, write them yourself.
FuTuRe MrS MaZz
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
Posted by Utopia923
My parents have a return address stamp that they use - it's written in script, and it says 'Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth...' with our address underneath it.
I was thinking of using this for the return address on the main envelope AND the 'to' address on the RSVP envelope. Then I'm planning on just handwriting the guest's addree on the main envelope. I'm planning on calling my 2 MOH's over and have them do it - they have really pretty handwriting.
Can I do this? TIA!
my parents also have a return address stamp that we're using on the back flap of the main envelope.... as for the rsvp, my mom has nice handwriting, bought a calligraphy pen, and addressed them herself.... she will be addressing the main envelope too.... as long as its neat and you trust the person, why the hell not
Nina1010
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
Posted by Utopia923
Then I'm planning on just handwriting the guest's addree on the main envelope. I'm planning on calling my 2 MOH's over and have them do it - they have really pretty handwriting.
Can I do this? TIA!
I am putting our invitations through a laser printer with a great Calligraphy or Edwardian Script font, etc. I really wouldn't worry too much about it. you can take it or leave it and I don't think anyone would criticize. I personally think it'll look nicer and more uniform.
HTH
2009Bride2Be
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Re: Invitation Ettiguette Do's and Don't's
IMO your spending the money on a customized invitation so obviously the invitation DOES mean a lot to you, so why not present the whole package done perfectly and not half way? Honestly people DO take notice to that because like in my last post that gorgeous and clearly expensive invitation was kinda taken away from because I noticed how sloppy the labels were. They were crooked and on this expensive metallic envelope was this Staples brand label. I just didnt get it. And I wasnt the only one who noticed. And Im NOT usually the one to take notice to that but invitations I DEF do. Especially WEDDING invitations. And all wedding invitations I have ever gotten have been calligraphy whether computer or hand written.
I think no matter what you do, you have feel good about it. And if your handwriting is that nice then go for it. But it might be worth it to save the time and energy and just have Tessa do it so its a whole package. Cause she matches the ink and font to your invite and compared to hand calligraphy shes a total BARGAIN! =)
