Choosing a Style

• Visit craft and card stores for ideas. Page through invitation books, jotting down things you like. Invitations should reflect the style and formality or informality of your event. If your wedding is taking place outdoors in the fall, you may want warm colors and a "leaf" motif. If you're planning a formal church wedding with a seven-course sit-down dinner, a traditional white-on-white invitation with calligraphy and inner and outer envelopes is appropriate.
  
  Make sure the vision in your head for your invitations is attainable. If you have scrapbooking or card-making experience--or know someone who does--you may be able to take on more than someone who is not as crafty.
  
  

Materials and Assembly

• Sketch everything out. Create a mock-up with inexpensive paper. Then shop for your materials. Most craft stores sell invitation "kits" with blank cards and envelopes that can be printed and assembled at home. Some even allow you to use their professional-grade equipment if you purchase supplies and materials at the store. Ask about DIY wedding invitations and look at samples if you can.
  
  Gather everything you need--double-sided tape, scissors, paper, ribbon, envelopes, stamps and ink for the printer--before you start the assembly process. Since you'll be cutting out from 50 to 500 invitations, it may be worth investing in a paper cutter for smooth lines.
  
  For the most basic invitations, you'll need two pieces of card stock (a large piece for the invitation and a postcard-sized piece for the RSVP card), a computer word processing program, a quality printer and envelopes.
  
  For formal invitations, brides will often use a solid colored piece of card stock as backing and print on vellum (fine, see-through paper), which is then attached to the card stock using metal brads or ribbon.
  
  For an even richer look, create thin pockets out of fabric to house an invitation card, response card and any other information guests will need, such as a map to the church or a list of hotels in the area.
  
  

Timeline and Postage

• Give yourself plenty of time to create and assemble invitations. Recruit family and friends, if need be. Mail the invitations at least six to eight weeks before the big day.
  
  Check with the post office before settling on an invitation design. Square envelopes cost more, as do heavy or thick envelopes. If you're trying to save on postage, cut down on the layers of card stock and elements like bows and raised stickers.