Wedding Blog

Why is it that the invitations are the single most important and irritating decision we brides have to make? It seems like it should be a simple task, right? It’s paper, for goodness sakes.

Shortly after our engagement, a bridesmaid said to me, “Keep the invitations simple, forget ribbons and layers. They are pretty, but expensive.”

I listened, but only for about 35 seconds. I tortured myself (and Mr. Crab Cake) for months with pictures of invitations. I brought home books from the printer to flip through. I can only blame one source for my irrational need to make my own invitations, and that would be my fellow Bees. I was smitten with the invitations suites of Mrs. Shortcake and Mrs. Cupcake. Actually, the minute I saw Mrs. Cupcake’s invitations, I knew I was going to make my own.

Anyway, back to the torture. I looked at so many wedding invitations that I honestly can’t remember them all. What I did know was that I wanted something graphic, elegant, and full of texture. Mr. Crab Cake wanted classic elegance, with no graphics, and no texture. Everything I liked was too loud, too colorful, and too graphic for him. Everything he liked bored me to tears. We were getting to that place where arguments happen. Well, really, we made it there one night. It was ridiculous to be arguing about invitations. They’re such a small part of the big picture.

One night, I was browsing wedding goodness on Etsy, which someone else (can’t remember who) referred to as their “dealer”. I completely agree… Etsy is so my dealer. I don’t buy very often, but I browse daily. Can you window-shop for crack? Anyway, I was browsing Etsy and saw these booklet style programs and thought, ’Hey, here’s an idea. Why not put the invitation into a booklet style layout, keeping everything nice and tidy, without having to create a pocket fold? What a genius plan!’ I hit Google and the first things that came up were these beauties.

(They are Cambridge, from Libra Designs)

Aren’t they gorgeous? I loved them so much, that I was pretty much done. Mr. Crab Cake even likes them. Not just likes, but I think he’s honestly happy with these. He says they remind him of old time-y flight booklets, with the tickets and everything tucked in them. I tried to order a sample, just to have something to touch and feel, and discovered something a bit depressing. They only ship to Europe. For about 4.5 seconds I considered ordering a sample and having it shipped to my uncle outside of London and then he could ship it to me, but I decided that was too much trouble, and I would figure it out on my own.

And of course I had to run over and see what the hive had to say on the subject. And the hive has yet to let me down.

These are Mrs. Lime’s. They are a little more modern than what Mr. Crab Cake and I are going for. But they are still gorgeous and a definite inspiration.

(source)

Pretty, aren’t they? I like her vellum overlay. But my favorite part was her RSVP postcard.

It’s perforated and pre-stamped, so all the guest has to do is fill it out, tear it out, and drop it in the mail. Genius.

We were finally in agreement on a style of invitation. So, I went back to the drawing board (or my trusty paint.net program) and came up with our invitations, which I’ll share next time.

Did you and your FI have disagreements when it came to paper products? How did you come to a compromise?