Fancy Wedding Invitations on the (relatively) Cheap.

My fiancee and I were shopping for invitations and were shocked at the prices we were quoted. Especially for the elaborate invite we wanted for our wedding. So, we decided to go the DIY route, I mean if Hallmark can do this why can't we. In the end we made these at about a fifth the cost of the professional route and with a unique design that no one else has. 

Here's what you'll need:

Minimum
- Scissors
- 3 different paper colors (2 card stocks for the backing & components and a 3rd that matches your wedding colors for the trim)
- Printer (or Kinko's)
- Glue (strong and dries clear)
- Ruler
- String (we used hemp for that natural look) 
- Hole puncher (that matches the diameter of your string)
- Self adhesive rhinestones for accents

Additional tools that will make your life easier
- Paper cutter
- Thin double sided tape and/or thin roll-on glue (not a glue stick)
- Razor blade (for cleaning up the edges)
- Photo corners (typically used in scrap books or photo albums)
- Friends for the assembly line.

We decided to make the invite using common sized paper goods like an A6 envelope (6.5 x 4.75 in) and 8.5 x 11 inch card stock. We also decided to use a postcard for the rsvp to save on expenses. With this in mind:

Theme
Pick something relevant to your wedding whether it's the place you got married or something you enjoy together. We're getting married at the zoo and love animals so we went with animal silhouettes. Get inspiration off the internet we pulled together a lot of different invite ideas to make something just right for us.

Colors 
We went with a natural color palette of cream on brown with hemp string to tie it together we used plum paper for our accents to tie the invite in with our wedding colors.

Creating the components
We used GIMP a free photoshop alternative but use whatever your comfortable with.

Dimensions
Make each part to the specified sizes and arrange them on an 8.5 x 11 inch image.
Remember to take the margins of your printer into account. Leave a light grey line around each piece to guide your scissors.

The Invitation
5.5 x 4.25 (sheet of paper split 4 ways)
4 per sheet

The RSVP
3.5 x 5 (smallest allowed by the USPS)
4 per sheet

The Reception Card
2 x 3.5 (standard business card sized.
12 per sheet arranged 3 x 4

The Backing
6.25 x 8.25 (you lose a quarter inch of length to the margin.
1 per sheet

You can totally print these at home but we chose Kinko's out of convenience (read: broken printer). They will also cut your prints to your desired dimensions which saves a lot of time and hassle. Remember to ask for the scraps. Also, it will be cheaper if you buy your own paper and bring it in to get printed on.

Dimensions and Yield:

The Invitation
5.5 x 4.25 (sheet of paper split 4 ways)
4 per sheet

The RSVP
3.5 x 5 (smallest allowed by the USPS)
4 per sheet

The Reception Card
2 x 3.5 (standard business card sized.
12 per sheet arranged 3 x 4

The Backing
6.25 x 8.25 (you lose a quarter inch of length to the margin.
1 per sheet
Save the scraps they'll be needed later.

Trim
Use your colored paper for the trim. You'll need to cut out a 6.25 x .75 inch strip and two 4.25 x.5 inch strips for each invite.

Corners
Use the scrap from the backing to make your corners.

Cut squares approximately 1 x 1 in. and cut them diagonally.

Fold position
Using a ruler mark out 4 inches from the blank side and 2.2 inches from the striped side.

Folding
The ruler makes a great straight edge for the fold.

Gluing
Apply the glue in a strip no wider than the accent otherwise you'll glue the invite shut. Also leave a 3 inch gap in the center so that you can fit the reception card into place. 

Secure the Accent
By pressing down firmly. Use a razor blade to clean up the edges.

Gluing the invite
Apply glue to the top and bottom of the invite using the glue roller. 

Secure the Accents
Once again press down firmly and clean the borders with a razor blade.

Punching the Holes
Center the invite top to bottom and between the folds. Then take a piece of paper the same size as the invite and mark where you will be punching holes. Using this guide punch your holes. The guide does two things it makes your invites consistent and also keeps the hole puncher from making a ring like imprint around the hole.

Cutting the Hemp
Measure out 10 inches of string and cut. Keep the edges from fraying or else threading will be difficult.

Threading the Invite
Pull the thread through both holes in the invite so that you can tie it on the inside. Tie it any old way you like but we chose to twist them together and pull them tight.

Glue the Hemp
Use a dab of glue to keep the hemp tied. It might be cheating but the envelope won't be handled delicately so better safe than sorry.

Photo Corners
We used photo corners which were very easy to apply. Just put them on the top 2 corners and voila your ready to roll.

Affixing the RSVP
Center the RSVP on the left flap.

Corner Covers
Using those paper triangles you made in step 3 apply some glue or double sided tape and place them over the photo corners. (Optional)

Insert Reception Card
The reception card will slide right under the accent you glued on in step 4.

Apply Rhinestones
Peel the rhinestones and stick them onto the front of your invite.

AND DONE!