Make creative wedding invitations (all you need is love and a couple of toner cartridges)

You’re getting married. You chose a date, you found the perfect dress, you have ideas on how to wear flowers in your hair. You are happy and you want people to come share your happiness, witness your vows, eat some cake and leave a gift. But how will you let them know? Because you’re also a bit broke.

Weddings are expensive! Professionally printed invitations would cut your budget so low that there would be no cake to serve.

Mass texting is very on-trend, but a little less romantic than the vibe you’re going for. The avoidance–it’s convenient, right. But still, same problem.

The truth is, you want something that your friends will hang on the fridge alongside all your other friends’ baby pictures. That space in the fridge is prime real estate in your daily life. He wants these people to celebrate their pending union every time they hit Rocky Road.

You’d like to try making it yourself, but all you have is a regular printer and a stack of new cartridges.

Ready for the good news? That’s all you need.

You don’t really need a fancy new machine (that would end up costing you a lot more). Here’s how you can make really sweet wedding invitations with the tools you already have.

Ok, and paper. Secret: buying paper is super fun. Let’s do it.

1. BUY A STUNNING INVITATION PAPER

The paper is tactile and luxurious to navigate. Take your time, open yourself to a rainbow of possibilities. You’ll know which one is right when you find it (sound familiar?).

Where to go? You can find great matching papers, card stock, and envelopes in bulk at office supply stores like Staples or OfficeMax, already sized for invitations. If your guest list is smaller, I like loose paper sold at craft stores like Michael’s and JoAnn’s for a more interesting selection. Kate’s Paperie is like dying and going to heaven, but it costs a lot more.

2. CHOOSE YOUR WORDS WISELY

I vote to keep it simple. This is just not something to sweat. Votes, that’s fine, but the invitation has a simple job: to be attractive. Be clear.

The girlfriend and the boyfriend

Invite you to join them for their wedding (yes!)

Date and Time

Square

Receive Immediately Next

Place (if different)

RSVP*

*I recommend using an email address for RSVP. Create one just for this purpose: “[email protected]”, let’s say. It speeds up the follow-up of who is coming, in addition to saving paper, stamps, confusion and volume.

3.DESIGN

Now it’s time to think about the software. There are some fantastic graphic design programs out there (Adobe Creative Suite is great), and while they can be expensive, many of them have 30-day free trials.

But if the prospect of learning new software is as daunting as the prospect of paying a professional, then a desktop publishing software program works well for more text-based invitations. You have one of these. It has a wide selection of fonts. Enter your text, center it on the page and scroll through the fonts. You’ll know which one is right when you find it (wink).

4. HAND LABOR OF LOVE

Put the paper in your printer. Check the cartridge. Complete? Do you have another handy, just in case? Now print.

Some additional notes: Write your envelopes by hand! Do it while you watch TV. It’s a personal touch that deliciously sweetens the moment of opening the Royal Mail. On the other hand, moisten a sponge to “lick” the envelopes. Save your tongue for the kisses and the cake.