I just wanted to warn those of you thinking of making your own invitations to think twice before getting into it. I had a TERRIBLE experience! First of all, it was 10 times harder to decide what to make, then secondly I had to go out and individually buy all of the pieces (and find a place in our small apartment to store them). Then I had to figure out wording on my own (both my parents are remarried) and put it together in Word, which is tricky. Finally I had to organize a day to print and assemble everything, and none of my bridesmaids would help! Only my relatives, including my FML and FSIL, my 2 sisters and my mom. And warning-- they will all call you bridezilla by the end of it, because, of course, you want everything to be perfect and most of them just want to get them done! The other things I didn't think about were figuring in drying time for the paper and having extra ink cartridges on hand (I had NO idea how much ink it would take to make those things!)

So just a warning to you DIY brides.... do some shopping around before you take the plunge. What I wouldn't give to have received my invites in a neat little box, all printed and ready to go! Because don't forget, you also have to address the inner and outer envelopes and get RSVP cards and reception cards!

I did order our attendants' gifts from a website called www.myjeanm.com. They came personalized and were shipped right to us...PERFECT!

I just went on that website www.myjeanm.com and they have some really neat things. I was thinking about doing my invitations myself since I have plenty of time (not getting married until 2009) but after reading your story, I think I should look at other alternatives and what I really liked about that site (jeanm) is that the invitations look like something that I would make for myself. I was also able to chat with an online rep and what I liked the best was that they will assemble them also and it is no extra charge. They even said that they could mail them if I wanted them to.

Thanks for the advice. I still have some time, but I think that I will be looking at Jean M to help me with a lot of my items.

Try ordering a "color kit" from that site too. I think they're about $5 and they show you the actual color of the paper and ribbons. I was super picky about my colors being claret (not red!) and gold, and that was on of the reasons I made my own...because I knew for sure the color would match my bridesmaids dresses. I know, it sounds kind of corny, but color-coordination is so much fun!
Anyways, I didn't know they had these kit things (I just ordered one with my attendants' gifts, for fun...) and now I'm majorly regretting not checking it out earlier! Live and learn!

I was going to do my own invites too, until I added all the costs. Another factor to consider if you print your own invitations is that you lose out on raised ink, which adds elegance to an invitation. The heavier cardstock also does not go through many home computers.

You could also try a www.annsbridalbargains.com. They have very nice, professionally printed invitations that are very affordable!

Do not waste your time and effort with printing your own invites, I tried and wasted money on blank invitations that turned out just as they are, unprofessional looking like someone ran them through a printer yuck! Unless you are a CAD or a ad designer.

I was actually thinking of doing it yourself and then I priced them and I fround invites that would cost just as much from invitations by dawn. Then I read this post and know now I made the right desicion. At first they seem cheaper but you also have to remember you will probably have to buy ink which is costly all in itself. And then if by some chance you screw up on one you just wasted one. I decided on all in one which turn out to be the same as doing it myself and I know they will look perfect because I didn't have to do them.

Yes! DIY wedding invitations aren't as easy or as cheap as you might think. I just got another DIY invite in the mail last month for a wedding we went to yesterday, and it was BAD. The copy wasn't centered and they used a fish emblem to hold the paper layers together! (apparently he's really into fishing...but come on!). I had to laugh. Isn't hind-sight 20-20 when it come to wedding planning!