Today we have a great post by the lovely Melanie Helen of Cranberry Blue Weddings & Events who offers some brilliant advice over the DIY Stationery v Professional Stationery debate....
DIY stationery versus professionally designed?
The cost of a DIY invitation will generally be much cheaper than one printed by a stationery company. This is therefore a good option if you have a limited budget or are having a small scale wedding.
DIY invitations are easier to customise and can be unique and personal to each guest if required. For example, some may need information about a rehearsal dinner or be printed in a different language, which would be more expensive to do with a professional stationery company.
You may have a particular design in mind but be struggling to find it through a stationery company, and not have the budget for a bespoke design service. Therefore, by choosing the DIY option you can effectively create what you like within reason.
There is a huge selection of types of paper in various colours and finishings, in addition to a multitude of embellishments that can be added to give a different end result. It is advisable to choose a paper weight of at least 400gsm and then a backing card of up to a 700gsm to make the invite feel luxurious and good quality.
DIY kits can be ordered quickly, without the need to wait for proofs and then the printing process.
If you find you need to order more invitations then by making them yourself and printing at home, it can be done easily and cheaply, whereas re-ordering a short print run from a stationery company can be expensive.
If you do decide to choose the DIY route then make sure you select a kit that has good quality paper in standard sizes, that will fit into the printer comfortably and then can be cut afterwards. Layered invites are ideal as they will have a sheet that will go through a standard home printer, and then you can apply this to a heavier card as the backing, which will make it feel more substantial. Embellishments can be added for a personal finishing touch.
Always choose good quality envelopes and you can add a tissue lining in a matching colour for am extra touch.
The company ‘Bride Made’ (www.bridemade.co.uk) are a really good source for DIY invitations and they have a huge selection of different kits that are available in an array of colours and designs with lovely ribbon details. The kits include everything you need to make your invites, with the mount card and paper all pre-cut and creased, therefore making it much easier for you to put together. They also have matching stationery items that can be bought in the form of other kits
What are the disadvantages of DIY stationery?
Although DIY invitations are a budget-friendly option, they will be very time-consuming so this isn’t ideal for couples who have limited spare time or for those who are not very arty.
There is such a diverse selection of stationery companies available, all of which offer different designs, styles, types of invites etc. Unless you have a natural talent for art and design then you won’t be able to achieve such a professional end result.
There are certain designs, looks and finishes that are not possible with DIY kits such as gilt edges, engraving, embossing, foil blocking etc.
Your invitations will undeniably set the tone for your day, as it is the first thing that people see. I believe that professional invitations always look superior to home-made ones so would advise to choose this option and find a supplier that fits your budget and taste.
In addition to making the invitations you will also have to consider all the other matching items that go with them, such as menus, RSVP cards, order of service etc. which will be incredibly time consuming to make as well. By choosing a professional they can do all of this for you and also ensure everything is consistent and matches.
By choosing a professional stationer you will alleviate a lot of stress and hassle. You can either choose from an existing design and select the font type and wording, or have an invitation designed on a bespoke basis. Either option means that you will have the expertise of a talented designer and therefore beautiful stationery with an attention to detail and of a high quality.
The prices are also surprisingly reasonable, depending on what style and design you choose of course and they can actually work out to be the same price or cheaper than DIY ones.
