The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/103825
D-2 Happily Ever After 2013 Pike Publishing Ways to SAVE on your big day Hand-make your invites Calligraphy, embossing, fonts, watermarks -- these and other terms are finely engrained in the wedding stationery lexicon. While traditionalists may pore over carefully crafted invitations and other stationery products from commercial printers, couples looking to rein in wedding spending may choose to take a more hands-on approach to wedding invitations ... by printing the invites themselves. Before the advent of sophisticated home computer systems and affordable desktop printers, bridesand grooms-to-be had to rely on professional printers and engravers. The process of producing wedding invitations likely involved printing plates or some form of thermography and took place in a building replete with bulky equipment and the pungent aroma of ink. Though formal and often exquisitely executed, these wedding invitations can still prove quite expensive. The Bridal Association of America says that the average cost of professional wedding invitations is $659. This refers to invitations that have printed envelopes, reply cards, and reply card envelopes. Changes in design or even the color of the text can impact prices further. It is not unheard of to spend as much as $2,000 for high-quality engraved wedding invitations. Considering the invitation is held for a short period of time and then tossed away, some couples cannot imagine spending so much on invitations. In such instances, making your own invitations may be the most affordable option. As the evolution of home-based printing has broadened the possibilities of do-it-yourself printing, couples who hope to design and produce their own wedding invitations have many options at their disposal. ing and printing but would rather leave the creative design to someone else can benefit from these invitation kits. They also tend to be affordably priced in comparison to a professional printing service. Crafty Card-Making: Interest in scrapbooking and card-making has spurred craft centers to stock many different materials that can be used to design wedding invitations. Layering different types of paper to create a three-dimensional effect and using embellishments such as rhinestones or ribbon can help dress up the wedding invitation. Couples hosting a casual wedding for a small number of guests may enjoy the process of handcrafting wedding invitations and possibly customizing them for each guest. Handmade invitations can set the cozy tone of an intimate celebration. Graphic Design Work: Couples who have a creative spark may want to draw up their own invitation design or look for the assistance of an artist or graphic designer. There are different programs that employ the use of clip art and stock imagery that can be put to use with regard to invitations. Those who have a cursory knowledge of some design applications can import text and images and manipulate the size of their templates accordingly for the type of invitation they desire. The finished file then can be printed at home or brought to an office supply center for more professional results. Digital Services: Discount invitation printing vendors abound and couples can customize everything they want on Pre-Made Kits: their invitations. Due to low overhead costs and an A visit to a stationery store or even the local craft abundance of customers, these online retailers are retailer should present shoppers with several differoften priced lower. Depending on how much conent wedding invitation kits. These packages often in- trol the couple desires, there may be ready-made clude blank invitations, response cards, envelopes templates or the ability to pick items " a la carte." and other embellishments pertaining to the invitaThe opportunities to create wedding invitations tion design. Some can be quite elaborate, with the at home enables some budget-conscious couples to inclusion of vellum or card inserts, as well as die-cut keep costs for stationery at a minimum and also designs. Couples who want control over the wordenables couples to have more creative control. Beautiful Homes begin at... How to help guests save on travel Weddings are typically expensive affairs. Couples may be willing to go the extra mile and stretch their finances for their big day, but what about their guests? Because traveling to a wedding can be such a costly expenditure, many couples look for ways to alleviate some of the financial pressure from their guests. The following are a few ways couples can do just that. Find an airport-friendly destination. Couples who can get married within a short distance of a major airport can save their guests a significant amount of money. A major airport has more flights, and that can translate to more options and more affordable flights for your guests. In addition, a wedding destination that is close to an airport reduces the chance that guests will have to pay for rental cars. A cab ride to the hotel might be less expensive than a rental car, which guests may not need aside from getting to and from the airport. Inquire about group airline rates. Couples know to negotiate group hotel rates for their wedding guests, but few may know it's possible to negotiate group airline rates as well. If a large number of your wedding guests will be traveling from the same city, contact the major airlines to see if they offer group travel discounts. Many airlines do, so comparison shop to find your guests the best deal. Consider a longer engagement. A longer engagement can save your guests money on travel. Couples who choose to have a longer engagement and send save-the-date cards out early are giving their guests more time to book flights and find deals. Flights tend to be less expensive when booked well in advance, so a longer engagement gives guests more time to find a flight that's affordable. In addition, travelers who can book early often get the first crack at the best flight times, saving themselves the nuisance of taking a red-eye flight or traveling early in the morning. Now Available Sundays for Parties! Brides – FREE Bridal Registry Beautiful, Unique Home Decor & Gifts Let us help you "Feather your nest" at ELEMENTS. CUSTOM FRAMING Our Gift – Receive 20% off custom framing of your wedding picture. 623 Main Street, Jasper 812-634-6017 Like OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY 10 am - 5:30 pm us on Facebook at 'Elements of Design' SATURDAY 10 am - 4 pm elements-gallery.blogspot.com | www.elementsireland.com With just a few of our Menus you can order for your wedding; BBQ Pork or Fried Chicken, Baked Beans and Cole Slaw for only $6.00 per person. Does not include beverages or service. Hogg Heaven BBQ 411 West 9th St. Mt. Carmel, IL (618) 262-7779 If you'd like an Italian Style Menu, try out Lasagna or Spaghetti with Garden Salad & Breadsticks for only $5.50 per person. Call Hogg Heaven for all your catering needs: Rick Cell: 618-263-2067 Limited time offer. Some restrictions may apply. Parties of 50 to 350 people! • Banquet Facilities Available for up to 350 People • Extensive Choice of Menu Selections • Meals Served Hot and Fresh by the VFW Kitchen • Table Linens/ Napkins • Stage for Band/DJ • Large Dance Floor • Private Entrance • Private Restrooms • Ample Parking • Courteous Waitstaff Taking Reservations for 2013-2014 Bring in this ad for 50% off the price of room rate. Call today for your special date!