Free Downloads: Invitation Suites Galore!

I have found the jackpot to free invitation suites for all you DIY brides out there! Check them out  *here* How amazing is the talented Anna Skye for allowing us all to download her gorgeous invitation suites for FREE! So many to choose from!

Speaking of Bridal Magazines..

Style Bridal Magazine has some great FREE templates for invites, placecards, table numbers etc etc. Check out the preppy invites, "have a ball invites" , garden party & modern invites.

DIY STD

At last my first DIY! what what!

We were fortunate enough to win 50 STD in a contest but since we needed about 20 more, I decided to make postcards. I bought Avery 3380 Personal Creations Textured Postcards , only $10.95 (120 postcards). The postcards come 4 in a sheet, and are easy to take apart, I was very happy with the texture of the postcard but they were not as thick as I hoped they would be, but hey at .08 per postcard I ain't complaining! I then downloaded the Avery word template, saved the first file as "STD front" and pasted the beautiful monograms that Jeff Williams created for me. For the back of the postcard, I once again began with the Avery word template saved the file as "STD back", then downloaded a Martha Stewart postcard template, but since the postcard template is a pdf, and would only print 1 to a page, I copied just the text "postcard" and "stamp" and made it into a clip art. I then added two text boxes; 1 that had the std info and 2 for the guest's address, this took more time then it should of because I am not as profeciaent in word then I am in excel. As usual, I spent too much time deciding what fonts to use, I even combined some; the florish you see at the end of the "e" on word Date is actually the letter "f" with font "Ornament Scrolls And Florishes" and the two swirls you see next to the actual date are the letters "a" and "b" with font Nymphette by the ever talented Nymphont. I would be more than happy to share the postcard template, so if you want it feel free to email me at westsidewedding@gmail.com

These pictures were taken with my iphone, so you can't really see the detail, but the first picture in this post has a close up of the texture.

I plan on mailing out the STD this week, so about 6 months in advance, did you do STD and if so how early did you mail them out?

Save the Date!

The first thing people ask when you tell them that you are engaged is have you set a date? Now that I think about it, I think it's one of the first things we asked each other after being engaged for an hour...it went something like this...
Him: Do you know when you want to get married?"
Me: No, do you?
Him: No.
Me: Do you know where you want to go on the honeymoon?
Him: Europe!
Me: ME TOO!!

But after being engaged for a week (we got engaged March 28, 2009) and getting asked the same question we decided to print out a calender (April 2009-April 2010) and go through each month crossing Saturdays off for various reasons, b-days, holidays, too early (3 months). First we decided 2-20-2010, actually I think it was my brides man who told us this date, we thought it sounded cool, but then some people said it was too close to Valentine's day, so then we came up with 4-10-2010, just a little over a year engagement & easy to remember! Now with 8 months to go, both our families are asking what is up with the planning, and since 1/2 our guest list is coming from the East Coast, we really need to be sending the STD (Save the Dates) soon so people have enough time to make their travel and vacation arrangements.

After looking at tons of STDs (still not use to saying that), and not going the DIY road, I decided the best way to go is with Save the Date Magnets , they are inexpensive, your guests put them on their fridge so they won't forget to make travel plans and they are cool looking! The ones I liked the best that looks like a photo booth with save the date cost only $1.27 each when quantity is 100. Here are ones that I've been eyeing for a while...

But alas we must wait to have an actual venue till we get to order them...

The Low Down: Right now they are having a 20% off on pocket invitations (use code WPKHB2)! and Magnet Street.com is also a great resources for finding out everything you needed to know about STDs. Here are the top 3 questions that I had and found the answers to on Magnet Street:

#1 Why have Save the Date Magnets and Save the Date Cards become so important?Save the Dates help your guests make travel plans and necessary arrangements to be at your wedding.

#2 When should I send my Save the Date Magnets or Save the Date Cards? Six to twelve months before your wedding is the norm for sending Save the Dates. However, some are sent as close as 3-4 months prior to the wedding. There is no question that life is busier and more complicated than ever before. Families are juggling multiple work schedules and activities for the kids. Is yours is a "destination wedding" or does it take place around a holiday? It's best to get the word out in a timely fashion to give your guests ample time to prepare and make arrangements.

# 3 What should I put on my Save the Date Magnets or Save the Date Cards?Most important are your names and the wedding date - strongly consider using last names for guests who may only know one of you, or only know your parents. Other details you might include are your wedding website, the location of your wedding (venue or just city and state), a special quotation or verse, or any important information that you would like to share with your guests.

FREE DAHLIA wedding invitation from Wedding Chicks

Today is a great day for free down loadable invitations! First Chic 'n Cheap blogs about the Free Eco-Stationery Templates from iDiY and now Wedding Chicks is sharing with us a FREE DAHLIA wedding invitation!
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Circus Theme is all over web

{source Forever 21}

The carnival/circus theme seems to be all over the web! I just got an email from forever 21 & BAM! there it is the Forever 12 Cirque Theme 21! I'm obsessed with that pointy finger that you also see on circus or retro themed wedding invitations and I can't find it ANYWHERE! See it's even on the forever 21 advertisement taunting me! My awesome cousin helped me search for it too & was able to find one that looks like it via the wingings font that's on mac computers, but I still have not been able to find it as a clip art, or the actual pointy finger in a font. Do you guys know where I can get my hands on that pointing hand?
Here it is on an invitation from letterpresspunchdesign I have been admiring for MONTHS!

{source}

and here it is on an address stamp that I will soon be getting from terbearco on etsy.