Save the Dates (STD's)

Save the dates are to begin with, optional, but there are some ways to keep them affordable. Check out www.vistaprint.com and use their business cards which are often free if you pay for shipping (approx. $5) You have to pick the design for a selection, but overall a good deal. I used them and they turned out great. Plus you get like 250 so I used the extra to scrapbook with.

If you get these save the dates one of the great ways you can distribute them is to put them in holiday cards. This way they won't cost you extra postage. Another option would be to hand them out to people. Just put an extra column on the guest list so you know that you gave one to them.

If you joined www.theknot.com you could also email everyone a note for a save the date which could also include the link to your wedding webpage that you set up for guests to refer to for info about directions, bridal party, registry and any other info that you have.

If joining theknot.com is not something you want to do then you can create an email address on hotmail or gmail (which I recommend doing anyway) and email everyone from there.

Budget

The next step to a successful DIY wedding is to set up a budget. Take each one of the categories mentioned in the last post along with things such as: clothes, gifts, venue, food etc. For a better list and a budgeting tool try www.theknot.com and get an account. I cannot mention enough that theknot.com is one of the best resources you could use. This budgeting tool will help you keep track of everything you need to pay for.

Once you have a general budget then put all the things you need to pay for in order of your priorities. This way you will know what to spend money on. There is always a way to cut the budget and the biggest is to DIY everything you can. Always keep the budget handy you never know when you will figure out a way to cut it or to change it. You want to keep all your numbers together.

Up Next..How to DIY Save the Dates (STD's) and Invitations

First Things First

The first thing you need to do when you decide to have a DIY wedding is to analyze how much time you have to do this and who is going to help you. If you have as little as one year, one person to help you and a minimum of one meeting sleep over a month you can absolutely achieve what you need to.

The second thing you should do is decide what exactly you want to DIY. What matters to you the most? How tight is your budget? How crafty are you and your friends? If you are having a small wedding perhaps hand writing all of the invites would be a great and personal touch.

When you figure this out make a list of things you want to DIY: at the top put what you really want to do and work your way down. Talk to your helpers and see what you thing is feasible

When you have your list of DIY projects make a timeline of when everything needs to get done:

• Save the Dates
• Invites (plus any inserts-maps, directions, response cards, etc)
  
• Escort Cards
• How to display them
• Favors
• Programs

If you are struggling for inspiration I would visit www.theknot.com and sign up for an account. From this site you will be able to see different people's weddings and use their ideas and also join different forums according to where you are getting married and when you are getting married. The people who join them ask each other questions. It is one of the most helpful things you can do.

For those that are on a budget check www.vistaprint.com They usually have free offers and that might be an option if you want to use business cards for your save the dates. They come out very nice and you usually only have to pay for shipping.