How would your family feel if both Indian and western traditions were combined? Chinese (both in Hong Kong and in western countries) have been doing this for decades.

We're discussing invitations now. Does anybody have any idea for lowering the cost?

I'm trying to explain to her how there are a lot of people, such as faraway relatives, who must be invited (even though you know they won't attend) so their feelings won't be hurt.

I actually do have an idea for lowering the cost. Keep in mind that EVERYTHING is negotiable!! Well, maybe not everything, but anyhow....

I found the invitations I wanted. My mom was bored one day, found the company that made the invitations and then found all the local stores that carried them. She called all the stores and asked how much they'd charge and asked if they would offer a discount. It's amazing how many people will offer a discount when you just ASK!!

You can also have response "postcards" instead of cards. Saves on invitations and postage.

You can print them yourself or make homemade cards. If they're done on decent paper I think sometimes it's VERY difficult to tell the difference. Try some of the craft type websites to get ideas (like Martha Stewart, HGTV, etc).

If you are not having a seated dinner, you may consider not doing a response card at all. We did that with my wedding. This not only cut down on the cost of the invitations, but also the postage.

I made my own invitations and used a reply postcard instead of envloped card. I had a lot of nice comments on them. A friend of ours is getting married in October and his fiancee asked if I would design theirs.

For my wedding invitations, I found some very nice stationery at a local art supply store, and we printed the invitations and reply cards ourselves using a laser printer. They came out very nicely, and we were able to have the layout, graphics, and wording we wanted (we used a slightly non-traditional wording).

-- Edit: I did the same thing for my wedding programs - I found some nice paper, designed what we wanted, printed them up on the laser printer, folded and stapled them. Making programs and stuffing envelopes is labor-intensive, but sometimes it's good to sit down and do something mindless for a while to take your mind off the wedding stress :) --

If you use reply cards, assign a number to each guest or couple, and write that number in the corner of the reply card. You would be amazed how many cards we got back where the people RSVP'ing forgot to fill in their names! When we got reply cards without names, we just matched up the numbers, so we knew who was coming.

Carnation, this thread talks a lot about the Cookie Table, especially near the end.

This and this are articles about it (the second link is better, IMHO). I don't think either mention that the Cookie Table is laid out prior to the guests arriving at the reception hall, though.

And I would be honored to make cookies for your daughter, if you decide to have one!

honeychile - Thanks for posting those articles! I always love reading about cookies :) Some of the recipes look great! I'm copying them right now!

Likewise! I'm copying the articles and my daughter (who's home on break) is standing here openmouthed at the recipes! We think maybe we ought to start the tradition of the cookie table here in GA--what a cool thing to do!

Honeychile, what a sweet offer!

I think y'all should start the tradition! Different ethnic groups have claimed it, but it's expected around here now. The better your Cookie Table, the more loved and respected you are!

If you do decide to go through with it, consider keeping a list of who's making what - you could announce your idea at the showers, and have a sign up sheet for those interested. As I've said, I discouraged the idea, and I'll always regret it!

Just let me know if y'all do go through with it, and the (well-packed) cookies will be in the mail!

Ooh Invites!

Here's how to save money on printing:

Color copies if you need color for your programs. If it's a high end color copier, they will look nice. Or just photo copy on colored stock. I went to a wedding one summer and no one really kept the program so why have something really elaborate?

Invites: Definitely see if you can make your own.
Around here, thermography (raised lettering) is actually cheaper than flat printing. Great option if you want something super simple but don't want to print on your own printer.

If you have any illustrators, graphic designers, etc in the family/friends circle, see if they will cut you a deal on the design or make that her wedding gift if they HAVE to charge something. Also ask if you have anyone in the copy or print industry.

See if there is a Paper Zone in your area. I think they are nationwide. GREAT ideas and knick knacks.

I cant believe I am about to get involved in this...

But for color printing, if its a short run, (under 500) go to your nearest copymax (inside of office max) and negotiate with the manager. Street pricing for 8 1/2 x 11 is usually around .89 to $1.09 each, but lie and tell them you have started your own business and that you want 'special pricing'. they will give you at least .69 cents a print on the color docucolor firey printer. (due to volume, I pay .12 each) Nowadays, the technology is such that there is little difference to the untrained eye between the firey and a 4 color press.

When the colony had their chartering celebration, they did 100 programs and they were full color on the outside and B&w inside. With the same pricing you'd get (.69 and often they run specials at .39) they paid $82.00 and that included the folding.

Definately agree on the find a graphic artist in the family that will hook ya up with the design and professional pricing as a gift. its what I always provide.

Co-sign to what lifesaver has said.

Also, if you go the copies route, Kinkos gives a 20% discount to educators. On any service. Seriously.


I had some friends whose son also did their invitations themselves. Folks RSVP'd to the couple's website which also allowed them to see pics, etc of the couple and their engagement announcement, etc.

They cut down on a LOT of postage that way.

I've had friends do email response instead of response cards. A lot of people thought it was tacky, but it saved a lot of $ both on printing and return postage. You'd have to decide yourself if your guests are all computer-savvy enough to do email responses, though. Even if it's a buffet dinner, you need to know how many people are going to be there for the caterer.

Don't do response cards at all. In addition to being an extra expense (card, envelope, and postage), they are a concession to the rude people of the world who don't respond to a RSVP. In my perfect world ;) I would like to think that anyone who is honored enough to be invited to my wedding will be able to pick up the phone and call me to let me know if they are coming or not. (Great in theory, but for my own wedding I had a few people who didn't respond, and when I called them, some of them actually said that they didn't know they had to RSVP because there wasn't a response card. Duh - that's what those little letters "RSVP" on the invitation stand for.)

I like the e-mail suggestion, and those who aren't computer-savvy are more likely to RSVP the old-fashioned way anyway.