Trying to produce an unforgettable wedding on a shoestring budget calls upon the DIY (do-it-yourself) ability of even the most craft-challenged bride. In my universe, I CAN make those dazzling flower arrangements I saw at Joan Rivers’ daughters wedding all those years ago on tv & dreamed about ever since. I CAN tie lovely ribbons & wield a glue gun with the best of them. I CAN invest in a pretty DIY wedding invitation kit, because the clock is ticking & we don’t have the 682 weeks it takes to wait for custom invitations to arrive without a 900% rush fee. We CAN do it… and it will be faaabulous, or so I thought.

Actually, I was QUITE pleased with the original result!

I had been inspired by a “love letters” giveaway I saw on a wedding blog. I didn’t win the giveaway (and $1400 for 100 invitations wasn’t in the budget!) However I came away inspired to write a heart felt & unique love letter invitation, DIY style.

I quickly learned that writing a letter vs. more traditional invitation wording presented its own challenges, not only in light of the short time frame we had, but also in terms of the STYLES of invites available, as we needed a large open canvas void of flowers & the usual frillies to fit in all the wording!

Finally, we found a DIY style I not only liked, but kinda’ sorta loved! It seemed original, had a bow (for whatever reason I had my heart set on a bow), accommodated all of our text from the letter, incorporated at least ONE of our wedding colors, and only took about 15 hours (literally- did I mention we’re no DIY experts?) to align, print, re-align, tie, glue, fashion and mail:

Wedding Invitation freshly tied, before being adhered to the envelope/pocket

Invitation inside pocket/envelope w/reception card & response card in tow.

Argh mail-that evil word...that’s where the trouble started. After an entire week of preparing, wording, re-wording, gluing & primping these little suckers, Josh took them to the post office to finally weigh & send, only to be told by the post office that the folded flaps would be RIPPED open by their machines if they weren’t securely TAPED down.

Now mind you, amidst this process, I’ve been BURIED in planning all things wedding, AND ailing in the past few days so consequently, I’ve been not fully in charge of my faculties. For whatever reason, when Josh returned from the p.o. disappointed by the news, but showed me the invitation with the sides taped down, I was relieved as you could barely see any evidence of the tape.:

Towards the top left of the photo you can see one of the areas the p.o. said might get caught in the machine unless taped down. What you're seeing s is taped & APPEARED to be harmless...(There is a clear address sticker which you are supposed to see. Wasn't our fave either but acceptable, as the whole pocket couldn't make it through the printer). (Courtesy of my not well set cameraphone)

Wedding planning must have dropped both our i.q.’s down to -6, because IT NEVER OCCURRED TO US to open any of the invites to SEE how the crazy mandated scotch tape looked once the pocket was opened BEFORE they were sent. Behold the DEVASTATION:

Invitation Tape Disaster (Caught on my seriously lacking cameraphone). Death to Smoochy!

Is there a DIY 101 common sense wedding planning keep your sanity class at any community college close by or something because they should enroll me for free. Tears I tell you, tears were shed over this one. Jeepers! C

Super cute programs, no? Courtesy of Kim & Jacob's wedding

Does your heart not melt?

LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Have to have it! Courtesy of Danny Weiss Photo

Utensils please?

THIS, filled w/vegan candy (like the double entendre? - who doesn't like candy & a bow? Courtesy of squidoo.com

I can't decide if this tablescape knocks me out, but there's something extra special about the texture of that placemat huh?...

Here come the bridesmaids…

I'm thinking that's FAKE fur, or really, I can nix this pic...

Oh how I love a good dress w/a sash.

This could double as a sexy reception dress for the blue-themed wedding. Hmmm, I think I'm feeling the spark of an idea...

But just for the bride…

This is actually THE type of dress I originally wanted, but then I saw a picture of the ONE. Anyway, I think a big obnoxious sash is so captivating on a wedding dress

Even a fantastic brown & blue look for the groom…

Is this look clean & sexy or what? Courtesy of Brides.com

More decor…

Ah, sea breezes...

Is it me, or do you WANT this scene? (Ok, who needs blue!?

And of course the finale:

Alice in Wonderland never had it so good. Courtesy of Butterflysweets.com (cute mom who started the CUTEST bake shop)

Soooooo darn elegant.

Have you died yet and gone to chocolate & blue ribbon heaven yet? Courtesy of Charlotte Geary photography.

The only question that remains: how oh how to coordinate FLOWERS with a blue & brown wedding theme?

UP NEXT: Perhaps an answer?? Hugs to all, C.