Invites. bad. grr.

I have been so freaking disappointed by the quality of invites that I've received as samples.



I really don't think I'm being picky. But I can't find invites that I like!!!!!

Is anyone else having this problem?!

Am I insane?

My other option is to get invites from one company (the only contender right now) and pay about $1,100 for 100 invites, inserts, placecards, table numbers, and menus.

Is that a ridiculous amount to spend? Originally I planned on spending like $300 on invites and calling it a day, but now I'm getting caught up in being 'matchy matchy.'

Its a tough one...I'm all about matchy matchy too...luckily for me my MOH is a graphic designer.

Invitations are WAY more than I thought they would be too. Don't worry...you'll find them.

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Posted by katleigh3

Its a tough one...I'm all about matchy matchy too...luckily for me my MOH is a graphic designer.

Invitations are WAY more than I thought they would be too. Don't worry...you'll find them.

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You lucky duck!

Man, I seriously am ready to send smoke signals in lieu of invites.

Try not to get caught up in the matching. Just remember that most people are going to throw them away. Do you really want over $1,000 thrown away. Save it and spend on something fun like the honeymoon!

I think its more about total customization for me.

I want to totally design my own stuff in my own colors etc. and have all of the matching stuff (placecards, etc.)

I'd totally buy an out-of-the-book invite if I could find one I like in the colors that I like, but I just haven't found one....

I was originally going to do pocketfolds and match my colors, but even DIY was getting expensive.

I think the bottom line is that its an invitation and most ppl wont keep them. If you really want to spend the $ on them and have it- then go for it. If you dont have the $, IMO, its not really important.

I would personally rather put the # into the reception..or a new coach bag.. haha

I've heard the same thing from many of my friends who are already married and who got samples mailed to them from online companies. When it comes down to it, not ONE of my friends ended up ordering from an online company - all ended up going with a store, or at least a woman who works out of her home or at a flea market and has books to choose from. And I've been to 5 weddings this year alone! Apparently, the invitations that you can see and feel before you order are generally of a higher quality. And they can be pretty customizable too. Have you gone to a store yet, or only looked at stuff online?

ETA: just reread your post and noticed the part about wanting everything to match (sorry, it's 6 in the morning!). That would probably get ridiculously expensive if you went with something other than an online store, and I think I missed the point of your post. Sorry! I don't know how 'matchy' you need to be, but my friend Sharon did all that stuff as DIY and everyone definitely noticed and loved it - the invites matched the menus, placecards, etc. But she did it all herself, which made it possible. I can ask her how, if you'd like.

Here's what she did. She's an LIW bride (longmarriage).

Invites:



She made buckets for flowers and votive holders that matched:



Sachets for lavender (instead of rice to be thrown at the church):


Programs matched too:



As I recall, menus, placecards, etc. also followed this pink lacy theme, and it all looked coordinated and pretty. But she did all the work! She had just finished grad school and had the time. Plus, she's awesome.

Hope this gave you an idea.

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Posted by beachbum05

I think its more about total customization for me.

I want to totally design my own stuff in my own colors etc. and have all of the matching stuff (placecards, etc.)

I'd totally buy an out-of-the-book invite if I could find one I like in the colors that I like, but I just haven't found one....

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try diana @ Pippy's sweet's! She customizes everything step by step with you!

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Posted by beachbum05

I have been so freaking disappointed by the quality of invites that I've received as samples.



I really don't think I'm being picky. But I can't find invites that I like!!!!!

Is anyone else having this problem?!

Am I insane?

My other option is to get invites from one company (the only contender right now) and pay about $1,100 for 100 invites, inserts, placecards, table numbers, and menus.

Is that a ridiculous amount to spend? Originally I planned on spending like $300 on invites and calling it a day, but now I'm getting caught up in being 'matchy matchy.'

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The free samples I received I was happy with but the ones I paid for I'm ticked off they even sent them. I got CARD STOCK with nothing written on them! How am I supposed to see the fonts and colors they have? I was livid when I got them!

I kept finding all of these pretty invites online and then when the sample would come, it was ugly and cheap cardstock. I wound up going to a bridal show and met Tammy from Sincerely Yours invites in Sayville. What a difference! Her invites are the quality that I had been trying to find online. I could have ordered any of her invites and would have been happy w/ them. Her website doesn't show how nice her invites are, but you should set up an appt w/ her. Here's an idea on the kind of invites I picked out:

http://www.envelopments.com/sample7.php

Mine came to about $700 which is a bit more than I wanted to spend but I added extra things to them, like a Swarovski crystal. I know some people think it's nuts to pay that much for invites, but I just wanted something that I was happy with.

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Posted by beachbum05

My other option is to get invites from one company (the only contender right now) and pay about $1,100 for 100 invites, inserts, placecards, table numbers, and menus.

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Bon, $1100 for EVERYTHING? Just do it.

I thought it was JUST invites....

Did you try Smashingcards.com....they'll customize everything for you....also the placecards, table #s and Menus are not that hard to DIY....I've seen you whip out some fancy designs before...I bet you could definately make something snazzy! I swear by Tasha Rae too....although there a new site opening in December I'm pretty eager to see....I'll post when it comes up

I don't think $1100 is a bad quote either. have you tried Lion in the Sun in huntington? They have a location in park slope in brooklyn, too. Also, I might look into http://abbyjeanpress.com/. Otherwise, you could go to Print Icon in Manhattan and work with one of their designers and have them do everything for you. I'm not sure about their prices, but they have all kinds of printing so I'm sure they can work with a budget!

Good luck!

ok honestly i ordered SO MANY samples from online and i didnt like the quality of all of them

so i went into a store - looked through every single book and found ONE invitation that i liked

125 invitations and place cards and addressing for. . . $2000

stupid waste of money? absolutely

BUT i had so many people calling me telling me that they were the most amazing invitations they ever received and I am in LOVE with them so for me, it was worth it ( kind of )

i say go for it.

oh ladiessssssssssss

Thank you so much for your help.

I've decided to NOT go through the aggrivation of DIY - although I would if I wasn't working, going to school full time, planning to move to NY right before the wedding, and taking a boatload of certification tests.

Shoot me.

In any case, thanks for the FMs and posts. I'm going to check out not from a box and smashing cards.

And Jess - let me know when the new site starts, and I'll check there.