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Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic Engagement Date: November 17, 2006 Wedding Date: August 23, 2008 Blogging Since: June 10, 2008 Venue: Vineyard on the Delta About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
About Mrs. Green Tea

Pick Your Battle

June 17th, 2008 @ 12:32 pm by Mrs. Green Tea

I was going to make our wedding invitations because I wanted to save money, and not be lured or pressured into getting the whole outer envelope + inner envelope + insert + tissue + mo’ tissue shebang. While I love to design, paper is my least favorite medium. So despite having the paper purchased and a template all worked out, I changed my mind and went to a shop recommended by friends. This is what I got:

The colors are a bit off in the pic, and I think it looks better in person. The red sleeve is used in place of the inner envelope.

Even though it is not the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen, this is certainly one of the best decisions I’ve made. It saved me a world of headache and heartache by paying a few extra bucks. Now of course, shopping around for a good deal is pretty much a given. Here was mine:

  • 100 invites printed on both sides, with sleeves and envelopes (I needed less but it was the minimum order) - $128
  • 100 matching rsvp cards with printed envelopes - $30 (actually, if you ordered 500 invites, it would still be $30 to get 500 rsvp sets)
  • I printed a small insert on plain vellum that included map, directions, and wedding website addy - $10 or so
  • this comes to a pretty good price of $168 for the whole thing

The lesson here is to know your limits. Is this worth doing myself? If you don’t love it, it isn’t too easy, and the item isn’t priced ridiculously, you’re better off finding a reasonable vendor. Having a good gauge on when to work and when to pay can be critical to a pleasant wedding planning experience indeed!

Have you decided to go the professional route on any projects you originally intended to DIY?

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20 Responses to “Pick Your Battle”

1.
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Guest
sally

I will never cease to be amazed by people who make their own invitations! I would probably have a nervous breakdown!! I think these are great and you did save yourself a lot of time. However, all the Bees who make their own invites always do an amazing job.

 
2.
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Guest
Melissa

The color and design match wonderfully. And just who is this recommended vendor?

 
3.
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Natasha

OMG which shop did you go to and do they take orders from the internet? I love the metallic red printing and the little crystals on the sleeves.

 
4.
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jen

I thought I’d DIY all my paper goods (menus, table numbers, invites) but then realized that a vendor would be just as cheap with a lot less headaches and errors. I did DIY the map though!

 
5.
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Member
callalillies (message)  106 posts, Blushing bee

ohh they’re pretty! can you please let me know who the vendor is? i’m trying to cut costs on invitations and everywhere i look, it’s about an arm and a leg :(

 
6.
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Miwa

Those are beautiful! invitations!! Can you please tell me who the vendor is?? Is there a website?? Thank you!!

 
7.
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Linda

Invitations. FI talked me out of making my own when he say how much it was stressing me out. I thank him everyday for that.

 
8.
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Mrs.MadBrave

wow that printing company is my new idol! how did they provide such design and keep the cost low. i would’ve totally gone for that. my diy invites cost $250.00

 
9.
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Heather

Where did you get these?

 
10.
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Bee
Miss Green Tea (message)  705 posts, Busy bee

@sally: If I had the talent of most of the Bees here I’d DIY. I bow down to them for their ill skillz and patience!
@jen: I printed my own insert (with map) too!
@ ALL: much further details on what I got and where I got them from will be on the next invite post. I don’t want to just name drop here without the proper warning! :)

 
11.
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Guest
brendalynn

Yeah, I’d like to hear who the vendor is! Why do you have to warn them… ?

 
12.
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Guest
Asia

You definitely aren’t crazy! There are ongoing studies concerning a possible danger in water bottles. Bottled water is transported in unrefrigerated trucks for long distances. The bottles heat up, and a dangerous chemical, Bisphenol A can leak out. Regardless of this chemical, the water definitely does pick up some of the oily chemicals leaking from it’s plastic. ^_^
I just carry around nalgene bottles filled with filtered tap from home. ^_^ Less waste, better tasting water, less MONEY, and it’s got me drinking more than ever. ^_^

 
13.
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Bee
Miss Pomegranate (message)  956 posts, Busy bee

Ooh - so pretty! I can’t wait to see where you got them from!

You know, in case I have one of those “I’m Going to Keel Over Finishing These DIY Invites” days? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure the Mister might appreciate me actually being alive for the wedding. I need a plan B sista’ - do tell!

 
14.
V
Member
V (message)  488 posts, Helper bee

LOVE them!

 
15.
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Guest
just sayin'

from where???? where??? very nice and neat!

 
16.
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Guest
Big Trouble in Little China » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] addition to positive reader feedback, I also received a couple notes on our RSVPs complimenting the [...]

 
17.
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Guest
eveline

They are beautiful. Is it possible to see a closeup of the insert you made? I’d like to get an idea how I’m going to include my website address on my invitation. Thanks. meowej-wedding@yahoo.com

 
18.
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Guest
Do Yourself a Favor » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] half tubes that hold the baggies behind the tea tins are the sleeves of leftover invitations after slight [...]

 
19.
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Guest
MOH-Ho’s Invites Preview » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] My own invites were so much more boring than these, and I didn’t even make them myself (I know, gasp!). I feel like my creative juice flow for MOH-Ho’s wedding has been much stronger than when I was planning my own. I wonder if the planning stress limited my right brain, or if that I’m just now more experienced and less self-conscious with all this wedding stuff having ’been there, done that’. [...]

 
20.
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Vu

Where was this shop that was such a lifesaver?!

 


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Mrs. Green Tea Mrs. Green Tea, Sacramento Age and Occupation: 30, Tea Analyst Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Coffee Critic Engagement Date: November 17, 2006 Wedding Date: August 23, 2008 Blogging Since: June 10, 2008 Venue: Vineyard on the Delta About Me: I'm just your average obsessive compulsive, arts & crafts loving, funky-on-the-inside/boring-on-the-outside girl, who dares to say 'Hey! I can make that!' Nerdy professional by day, goofy won-ton by night. The won-ton sometimes comes out during the day when I'm fed the dollar breakfast at Ikea. Since our engagement, wedding planning has put me on high alert for bargains and I've been pushing my nimble fingers through callous building experiments!
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