- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee Blog
I decided to get a move on early with regard to save the dates since the wedding is a holiday weekend and a decent chunk of guests are from out of town. Even the in-town ones tend to go to beach houses/lake houses on the three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. Therefore, I felt it imperative to get our date out there.
I looked around the interwebs for some inspiration and found these adorable STDs with pencil and all:
Image via Melangerie NYC on Etsy
Being extremely impatient and a bit impulsive, I opened my favorite program for my beginner skills with graphic design—PowerPoint. I laid it out to make two per paper, ran out to buy card stock, and started printing. Once printed I cut them to size, rounded corners (a slight obsession of mine), and ordered personalized pencils. I left everything with Mama Elk, as her handwriting is a million times better than mine and she very graciously offered to address the envelopes.
Personal Photo
Now, while we waited for the pencils and envelopes we had ordered to arrive, I couldn’t help but dwell on the fact that I HATED these save the dates. I hated the fact that I made them on gray paper. I hated the font I used. I hated the wording I used. I HATED how unprofessional they looked. ARGHHHH, I just hated them. They in no way felt representative of the event I want to have. They were so dreary! Even though the cost of making them was only the card stock (20 dollars for like 150 sheets), I felt really bad ditching them because we had ordered pencils and envelopes, which brought the total cost of the project closer to 80 dollars. So I sucked it up and waited it out, but every few days I had a twinge of dread when my thoughts wandered back to the ugliness that would soon be greeting my friends and relatives.
When the pencils and envelopes finally did arrive, Mama Elk brought up a concern we had never really considered—would the postal system even allow for a pencil to be sent? She very wisely decided to send a test run to me before mailing them to everyone. Want to see what arrived at my doorstep?
Personal Photo
The envelope was ripped, the card was wrinkled, and the pencil never even made it! I guess a normal person would have been upset, but I was relieved. Back to the drawing board I went, and boy am I glad it worked out this way! My save the dates version 2.0 are SO much more what I was going for! I’ll leave you with a sneak peek of the newer, better versions.
Personal Photo
Did you rush into a project only to be disappointed with the results?
And do you have any idea what I should do with 80 personalized wedding pencils?
Sorry it didn’t work out the way you want. You can always use the pencils for the activity books if you’re having kids at the wedding/ reception or use them for fun guest book pages 
I rushed into making our programs early. I wanted to do petal fans. I cut out each petal individual, 6 petals to a program, 150 programs! In my excitement to make them, I realized I had some misspellings, and a change in bridal party made me have to change them again. So after cutting out all of them, I had to redo 2 petals. 300 petals later and they are finished. I love them, but would slow down for next time! As for personalized wedding pencils, add them to your favors somehow. Don’t know what you are doing, but you may be able to tie them in!
I love your version 2 teaser pic, can’t wait to see more! Maybe you can put games or mad libs in your wedding program and hand out the pencils with them- guests can kill time before the ceremony starts? Could backfire…
Where the heck did the pencil go?? Is that considered sending a weapon via postal service or something? haha. Even though you hated them- I think they look pretty cute!
I did the EXACT same thing with my save the dates! I designed three different ones, ran out and bought card stock, printed, cut and then realized I HATED them! I’m glad I’m not the only one. Now I think I might just go with magnetstreet or libby james. My invitations are going to be so time-consuming and stressful, I think I might just save the stress and order my save the dates rather than make my own!
I love Thimble’s idea of using the pencils for mad libs on programs or something…or use them as part of a favor! I can’t wait to see your revised STDs, the sneak peek looks so good!
You can provide small care packages in the hotel rooms for your guests. Inside the care package can be a personalized mad lib game about you and your fiance. They can use the pencil to fill out the game. This is what a friend of mine did for all the guest that travelled to attend the wedding. She also had us mail the mad lib game back to them so that they can read what everyone wrote.
Sorry they didn’t work out in the mail! Could you use the pencils in welcome bags for the out of town guests?
I agree that using them in the welcome bags would be a great idea! My first thought was guest book, but you probably want something a little more permanent that pencil for that
I can’t wait to see version 2.0, it looks amazing from the sneak peak!
You could still use the pencils on your STD’s…did you plan on hand-delivering them to any family/friends who are nearby to save $$$?
In addition to putting them in the OOT bags, why not tie them to your shower favors?
How odd that the pencil was removed, but I think they are super cute! I kind of jumped the gun on my save the dates too, but eh, what can you do…
I think the pencil broke through the envelope and then got lost somehow! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only person who jumped the gun a bit with the STDs!!!
and thanks everyone for the great ideas for the pencils!
It’s so weird that the pencil did not make it! Are you going to have a shower any time soon? Maybe the pencils can be used for some of the games (answering questions about your relationship, filling out bridal bingo, etc)?
If you’re having a shower- use the pencils there somehow.
@Miss Mole & @Crown: I have requested to not have a shower, so thats not really an option
I love the madlibs idea! now I just need to decide OOT bags vs Programs
Ok your sneak peak looks amazing! Your original idea was so fun but who would have guessed the pencil wouldn’t make it through the mail? Glad your mama thought to test it out. Moms are so smart like that!
so smart to mail it to yourself! Too bad they didn’t work though, but it’s a cute idea!
Keep one as a keepsake, and give the rest out as favors. Maybe use them on the Bride’s Table and have cute little scraps of paper for everyone to draw/write well wishes and put them in a jar? This could double as your guest book, or add to a traditional guestbook/photo album.
Lucky you did a trial run - can’t wait to see the real ones!
I’ve actually tried to mail pencils before! It’s an awful process but you can find out why they won’t send them in regular envelopes on their website:
“Pens, pencils, key rings, bottle caps, and other similar odd-shaped items are not permitted in letter-size or flat-size paper envelopes unless they are wrapped within the other contents of the envelope to streamline the shape of the mailpiece and prevent damage during postal processing. If an odd-shaped item is not properly wrapped, it could burst through the envelope and cause injury to employees and damage to USPS processing equipment.”
You could try to streamline the size by wrapping the pencil or send it in larger, thicker packaging. Don’t give up on your dream STD’s!
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Miss Elk, City: Syracuse/Long Island Age and Occupation: 25, Medical Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Computer Engineer Engagement Date: November 22, 2010 Wedding Date: May 2012 Venue: The Old Field Club About Me: I’m a Long Island girl finishing my last year of medical school in western NY, on the road to becoming a pediatrician. When I’m not studying or sleeping at the hospital, I spend my free time watching bad TV (Vampire Diaries anyone?), playing with my pooch, singing incredibly off-key (to the annoyance of Mr. Elk ), and reading Harry Potter for the zillionth time. Mr. Elk and I are planning a secular wedding infused with both Irish and cultural Jewish traditions. Only a week after I become an M.D., I will get my Mrs. degree, too!
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Latest Gallery Pics