Invitations are d-o-n-e done!

Used on the inner RSVP SASE.

PHEW!! Happy that is over...everything has been addressed, stamped, mailed off! The whole invitation process was a real pain in the butt! We have a total of 138 guests invited (more if kids are counted)...somehow more than we anticipated.

A side not for DIY couples that are on a tight budget...

If you are trying to save on the cost of stamps, do not add ANYTHING to your invitation that alters the "shape" of the envelope. Let me give you a for instance...if you purchase a invitation "kit" where everything is included and all that is needed is to print the invitations and RSVP cards on your home printer...do not add any rhinestones to the invites to make it more festive or even a simple ribbon around the invitation. Unless of course you are ready to pay more for your stamps.

We were very careful not to add anything "unnecessary" to the invitations - maps, accommodations, etc - that could be easily sent out via email at a later date. This was to keep the weight of the invites down. We had no idea that the hours of hand gluing rhinestones on to the invites would render them "unmachinable" thus jacking the stamp from 44 cents to 64 cents. OH WELL! I won't lie...Michelle and I stood in the line at the post office and contemplated pulling off all the rhinestones...but we instantly got over it.

Here is a peak at the stamp we selected...

Used on the outer envelope

Invitation Update

Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?!

We turned yet again to Ebay to try and find wedding invitations. We found a set that is more in line with the fall color scheme. The listing was for 2 boxes giving us a total of 80 invites and response cards. We are thinking that should just about be the right amount...

Total price including shipping $18.50

(photo from ebay)

Hopefully we do not have the same problems again. This seller seems much more reputable. God willing, the next update should be full of pictures with Michelle and Sue licking envelopes and sticking stamps!

Enter Speed Bump #2

I would actually like to reclassify this as Pot Hole #1....

The other day I posted that Michelle had gotten on awesome deal on our wedding invitations (if you missed it you can catch up here.) Well, we have been having problems contacting the seller - and by problems I mean we email her and she does not reply. Here are some of the messages....

Dear coopersmom1102,

Will you combine shipping with the other listing of this kit?

- dtree754

Dear dtree754,

Absolutely! I only charge actual shipping costs!

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Great we are off to a good start....

Dear coopersmom1102,
Awesome! I just won both of your auctions. Please invoice me the total with the combined shipping cost and I will pay ASAP. Thanks again!- dtree754

Dear coopersmom1102,
Have not heard back from you...can you please send me an invoice so I can pay you? Thanks!
- dtree754

Hmmm what's going on? 

Dear coopersmom1102,
Not sure what happened? Been trying to get a hold of you. Hope all is will. Still waiting for updated invoice for the 2 invitation auctions. - dtree754

We gave in and paid the lady....

Dear coopersmom1102,
Just sent you payment for the 2 auctions. Not worried about the combined shipping. - dtree754

Dear coopersmom1102,Hello! When should I expect you to ship the invitations. They are for my wedding and I need to get them out in the mail to my guests like yesterday...lol

- dtree754 

FINALLY A RESPONSE LAST NIGHT......

Dear dtree754,
We lost everything in our back room due to the rain and a roof leak. I am sorry. I just have my pc back today and u can imagine, my ebay acct was last on my list. I no longer have the invites. Sorry

Oh wow...and what about the money we sent her....

Dear coopersmom1102,

Sorry to hear that could you please send my refund asap. Thank you

- dtree754

Dear dtree754,

I'm sorry I wasn't aware that u paid already. Absolutely. I will do first thing in am. 

Dear coopersmom1102,
Need you to refund. You said first thing in the morning and we are now in the afternoon. Please refund by the end of the day or I will needed to open a problem ticket. 
Thanks!
- dtree754 

Dear dtree754,
No problem! Paypal website was down this am. Should have emailed you. Sorry. 

We are still waiting to get that refund. Seems like her 94% feedback record is for a reason. She has quite a few upset customers that she seems to have excuse after excuse for.

Well back to the drawing board...

I have no hard feelings with ebay. After all its not ebay, but the buyers and sellers that are the problem. Just seems like this is becoming a very common thing lately. Ebay should have stiffer penalties for people who cancel auctions after they have been won...oh well...

Semi-DIY Wedding Invitations

All I can say is WOW!!

Michelle was on Ebay looking for wedding invitation kits when she came across 2 listings for Laura Ashley Wedding Invitation Kits. There are 50 invitations and response cards in each kit. Originally retailing between $150-$200 (from what we could tell from the current Laura Ashley line); Michelle won both listings! Our cost? $0.99 and $5.24 plus shipping for a grand total of $16.00.

Great job Michelle!!!

Stock photo

With the help of fellow DIY Wedding couple, Tara and Philip, we also have the perfect template to print on the invitations. Please check out Tara's blog. She has a lot of great ideas and instructions!

Get your own template here for FREE! (GREAT FIND TARA!!)