Wedding Invitations: Eco-Friendly Tips & Tricks

Photo: Anastassios Mentis

"Save a tree" isn't just a cute slogan -- between global warming and habitat destruction, it's imperative. Minimizing the amount of virgin paper used in your wedding stationery can have a huge impact. While there unfortunately aren't extensive options for eco-friendly printing -- between the inks, toners, and solvents, a lot of chemicals are involved -- there are fabulous (yet responsible) choices when it comes to paper.

 Opt for Recycled Paper

You can't completely dismiss the wedding invitation. So instead, use paper that has a high-recycled content or is made from an alternative fiber, such as hemp or bamboo. "There are beautiful recycled papers," Seo says. And buying recycled does make a difference. According to Ariel Dekovic, coauthor of 365 Ways to Save the Earth, "Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, the energy equivalent of 380 gallons of oil, and keeps almost 60 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere." Go to WomanCraft.net: These 100 percent recycled invitations are handmade by women working to overcome homelessness and other hardships. Or try JamPaper.com for a wedding-worthy array of recycled papers.

Consolidate Inserts

Typically, there's a lot of information to convey to your guests. Instead of enclosing multiple cards in your invite, combine the essential info into one card. Or, even better, print up a website card that directs guests to your personal, paper-free domain.

Minimize the Mailings

Use online invites for the surrounding events: the bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, and the postwedding brunch. If you need to update your guests about the wedding happenings, toss the paper newsletter for an email version.

Skip the Extras

Instead of placing a menu at every setting, have one or two for the table. If you're having wedding programs, eliminate unnecessary pages (like that monogrammed layer of vellum). Or print up one per couple -- you definitely don't need extra programs.

Seat Guests with (Paperless) Style

Two escort card ideas we love: Paint or stamp guests' names on stones, or tie a ribbon to the stem of a flower (using ribbon left over from the programs, of course) with the guest's name and table number on it. Or, forgo individual escort cards for a poster that lists table information. Take it up a notch with white-glove service: have guests ask the waiters (armed with printouts of the table assignments) for the info.

Splurge on Calligraphy

Have as many items hand-calligraphed as your budget allows. Not only is calligraphy gorgeous and elegant, it's totally eco-friendly. Envelopes and escort cards are pretty standard, but you can calligraph menus, table names and numbers, and even the invitation itself.

Investigate Printing Alternatives

Most large printers still use traditional printing methods, but there's no harm in asking if yours would be willing to try soy- or vegetable-based inks. Make sure to find out about custom projects that are eco-friendly (think program covers) at GreenerPrinter.com.
 
Article found at http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-invitations/articles/eco-friendly-wedding-invitation-tips-tricks.aspx

Top 10 Ways to Save Money and Have a Cheap Wedding

Do you have champagne taste and caviar dreams, on a white bread and soda pop budget? Don't worry, you can still have a beautiful but cheap wedding. Check out these great ways to cut costs and save money.

1. Trim Your Wedding Guest List
Each time you add a name to your invitation list, you're increasing your budget significantly. It's not just the catering costs, but also the extra centerpieces, favors, rentals, etc. Don't invite anyone you haven't talked to in five years. Don't feel obligated to let single people bring a date. Avoid feeling pressured to invite all your work colleagues. And don't let your friends bring their children. You can also decide to eliminate categories like "relatives more distant than first cousins" or "friends from volunteer work." By not inviting anyone from that group, you'll help avoid hurt feelings.

2. Save Postage on Your Wedding Invitations
Forgo the inner envelope and blotter paper, which are leftover relics from times when ink needed time to dry, and people wanted a pristine envelope. Rather than having a reply card, ask guests to reply online or by the telephone. Not only will you save money from the printer bill, it should also reduce your postage expense.

3. Shop Sample Sales and the Internet for Cheap Wedding Dresses
If you wear a 6, 8, or 10, check out sample sales, which generally happen once a year. It's a great opportunity to get a designer dress at rock-bottom prices. You can also look on eBay, Craigslist and other websites for deals on used wedding dresses. Remember that cleaning the delicate fabric of a wedding dress may cost up to $250, so avoid the cheap dress with the filthy hem. And many towns have a shop where you can rent a wedding dress, saving you hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

4. Change the Day of the Week
Have your wedding on a weeknight or a Sunday. There is less demand for these dates, so vendors will often be willing to give you a better rate.

5. Save Money on Church Decorations
For religious weddings, consider having your wedding near a major holiday. The church will already be decorated, saving you lots of money on flowers. On other days, look for simplicity. A candlelit ceremony can be romantic, gorgeous, and inexpensive.

6. Learn to Ask for Help to Save Money
If you want to have a cheap wedding, pool your friends' and family's resources. Think of musicians you know, well-spoken friends who could be your officiant, and crafty people who can help you assemble things. They will generally be honored to be a special part of your big day. Also look for money-saving tips everywhere. Check websites such as www.wedfrugal.com and www.frugalbride.com, and ask friends and family members for what they did to save money on their big day.

7. Get Crafty - Do It Yourself
Throw a "pitch-in party," where you ask your friends to be a special part of your wedding by helping you assemble favors and make invitations, centerpieces, and other homemade inexpensive touches. Be sure to put out delicious snacks and have inspiring tunes on the stereo, so that your friends feel like they're at a party, not just part of an assembly line.

8. Look for Cheap Wedding Food and Drink
Be honest with your caterer about your need to save money. Ask them which are the least expensive entrees and whether a buffet is cheaper than a seated dinner. See if they'll let you provide your own liquor, or if serving only wine and beer will be cheaper than a full bar. Also consider only having the bar open during your cocktail hour, then serving an inexpensive wine with dinner. Especially if you and your fiance don't drink, consider having a dry wedding.

9. Make the Most of eBay
eBay, eBay, eBay. It's a great source for everything from second-hand dresses to wedding favors, cake toppers, ring pillows and more. Be sure to allow ample time for the auction to end, and for shipping. Look for trusted sellers whose feedback indicates they have accurately represented what they have sold.

10. Consider Cheap Wedding Invitations
Don't go for engraving - regular printed invites work just as well. There are a variety of cheap wedding invitations available on the internet. For a casual wedding, consider printing your own invites from your home computer. Stationery stores now sell printed paper meant to use in a home printer as cheap wedding invitations.

Article found on http://weddings.about.com/od/weddingplanningtools/tp/Costcutters.htm

Invitations Will Destroy Your Budget-Part 1: Save-the-Date Announcements

Let me tell you a hard, mean truth. Most people DO NOT read wedding invitations more than once. Here's another truth. Most people DO NOT RSVP on your adorable, perfectly matching, pre-addressed and already stamped RSVP cards. I know what you're thinking. "Not my friends and family!" Well, think again.

Save-the-Date cards are expensive. Invitations are expensive. RSVP cards are expensive. Envelopes are even more expensive. Postage will destroy your bank account!

I went to war with these necessary evils a few times during my wedding and here is what I've learned from my battle scars:

Problem: Save-the-Date Announcements
Yes, those Save-the-Date magnets are cute, but they aren't for brides with a budget. Ideally, you only have to send those to guests that would be coming in from out of town. However, if you don't want to hear guest's whining that they didn't know about your event soon enough, then you want to send everyone on your list one of those magnets. Just remember, you won't know if everyone received their announcement. Plus, the announcement doesn't give much information.
So, let's recap:
~ They are really expensive
~ You have to pay for shipping to get them sent to you
~ You have to address every one of those envelopes
~ You have to pay for postage to send them
~ You will have to call everyone and make sure they received them
~ They provide minimal information to your guests

Solution: Send a Save-the-Date announcement using www.evite.com
Here's why it works:
~ It's FREE!
~ Evite already has pre-loaded Save-the-Date announcements ready to use
~ You can track who received the announcement and get preliminary numbers on who is going to attend your event
~ You can provide as much or as little about your event; Once you add more information to your announcement, all the addresses on your list get automatic e-mails alerting them to the changes
~ ABSOLUTELY NO POSTAGE COSTS!

Congratulations! You just cut $300 from your wedding budget.

Copy and paste the link to visit a sample Save-the-Date announcement through Evite: www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=FNXBOFPCCWFDQKKYXJCI&showArchive=true