Bridal Party

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Marriage and Lisa Marie: You’re Invited

Lisa Marie finds pretty invitations and expensive invitations, but the perfect invitations are still out there.

By Lisa Marie Ordakowski Published Friday, January 30, 2009

Thus far in wedding planning, we’ve been lucky enough to happen upon the vendors or supplies that really felt right. Our venue, our caterer, our photographer. . . all of them felt like the perfect match. However, our luck seems to have run out this week, because the search for the perfect wedding invitation has still resulted in no success.

Invitations fall pretty low on my priority list, both with my budget and with my overall views. The day after I got engaged, I was at Petsmart and started talking to a woman who was getting married in the fall. She told me she was having a small wedding of 25, but then she said that her invitations cost $1,200! That was definitely not my style; I’d rather spend my money on extra appetizers or more goodies for my bridesmaids than drop a ton of cash on pieces of paper that people will throw away in six months.

But at the same time, everyone says that the invitations “set the tone” for your wedding and that if you go cheap on the invites you’ll send the wrong message to your guests. So I’ve been on the hunt essentially since Andrew proposed, trying to find something that stayed within my budget but matched the tone of our wedding.

I realized very quickly that online shops were going to be the golden ticket; all the local places or personalized creations started at about double what I was willing to pay. There are hundreds of Web sites where you can order lovely invitations, but it’s absolutely necessary to see samples before ordering (we’ve all been tricked by online sales before).

I weeded out shops that charged for samples and started picking things off of different sites. Over the course of six months, I’ve received more than 30 samples from various invitation Web sites . . . and still there has been something wrong with all of them. Every time I sign up to receive more samples, I run expectantly to our mailbox daily to see if they’ve arrived. But when they finally come, something is always lacking—it’s not the perfect invite.

I’m sure the faults I find in these samples are things that our guests would never notice, but I don’t want to feel as if I’m settling. So I’ll continue to listen to suggestions of new places to search and keep sending away for samples until I know I’ve found the perfect invitation. Until then, I think I’ll focus on more tasty elements of the wedding planning. . . . It’s cake-tasting time!

Lisa Marie, a local bride-to-be, writes every Friday about planning her wedding, which will be in Washington in July. To follow her adventures from the beginning, click here.

If you like reading about Lisa Marie, make sure to check out our other blogging bride-to-be, Eleni, who writes every Wednesday. Follow her adventures here.

To read the latest Bridal Party blog posts, click here.

Comments

Dear Lisa Marie,

I just wanted to say that I love reading your article "Priorities keep vows on budget".

As a bride-to-be on a tight budget, I recently discovered an online bridal store called GlamForLess.com. Though their website is plain and simple, I found some great deals on wedding jewelry and accessories for me and my bridesmaids..

I think other brides on a tight budget may also find GlamForLess.com to be helpful.
You may want to check them out at http://www.glamforless.com/.

Best regards,
Lisa Bloom

Posted by: Lisa Bloom, Jan 30, 2009 07:55:17 PM

It seems random, but check out Party City - they have the major brand names, but everything (invitations, response cards, direction cards) is 30% off the standard price. I actually got my invitations for 50% off, due to a graduation sale they were having that included all invitations.

Good luck!

Posted by: Marie, Jan 30, 2009 02:13:12 PM

I found the invitation of my dreams, that obviously did not fit into my budget. After doing some invite searches on etsy, I came across Twin Ravens Press. The owner, Kristin, has a TON of wedding designs that she can email you. You can also work with her to design an ideal invite for a portion of the cost.

http://www.twinravenspress.blogspot.com/

Posted by: ck, Jan 30, 2009 12:29:46 PM

I am a true believer that the wedding invitation sets the tone for your big day. I was lucky. I’m a designer and former bride-to-be who didn’t charge myself so I could go overboard and create a super custom invitation package that included every little detail my husband and I dreamed up. I was able to truly involve our guests in our plans for the big day, showcase our personalities as a couple, and stir excitement as they planned for an incredibly inconvenient weekend wedding on the South Shore of Boston. I had so much fun doing it for myself, that I now do custom invites for over the top parties and events.

Side note: My belief is that you spend SO MUCH time on this one day -- you think about it, talk about it, complain about it, dream about it -- but your guests have nothing but your invitation to separate it from the many other weddings they probably have to go to that year. And why should we spend so much time ensuring everyone have a blast on that one day, when they could be looking forward to it the entire time we plan?

However, this kind of personalization, customized details and unique product is not cheap, and not for every bride. There are certainly options for the more frugal couples that like to stick to a realistic budget but get something they always dreamed of. Here are 3 of my go-to suggestions for people who want me, but can’t afford me.

Paper Source
There are stores in Georgetown and Old Town and they often have weekend work shops for DIY brides that want to get crafty.
http://www.paper-source.com/

Wedding Paper Divas
A designer friend who wanted something great, but didn’t have the time to do it himself, went to the Divas. The quality of the finished product was great and the people were easy to work with.
http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/

Alaun by Design
Another friend went through this group and was really happy with the results. They have a variety of patterns and papers to choose from and really affordable packages that include everything from thank you notes to reception cards. They also offer thermography, which is a nice alternative to letterpress that won’t ruin your bridal budget.
http://alaunbydesign.com/

Good luck! I enjoy following your progress.

Katie O.

Posted by: Katie O., Jan 30, 2009 10:50:18 AM

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Marriage and Lisa Marie: You’re Invited

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