Wedding Order Of Service Layout

Wedding Order Of Service Layout

So You Want to Make Your Own Wedding Invitation

When you are planning a wedding, the budget gets strained, and it feels like everybody is just waiting to bill you for more services. Wedding invitations are not to be overlooked; you’d be shocked how much specialized card printers will charge you for them.

Because invitations are for every couple’s own events and must be printed in bulk, sometimes they are a huge cost. Designing them at home could save you lots, especially if you go about it smartly. And even if money is not an issue, the do-it-yourself creation will provide you countless options for your own theme.

Choose Your Material
This is usually the initial and most critical step, because it will help decide your design and how you will envision the end product. You have options for the color, the pattern, the grain, the  various types of cardstock… choices are unlimited. The easiest is to inquire with the printing company you will use. If you are looking forward to put the cards together yourself, stop at an art store to select your paper.

Software – It’s All Available
Before you consider paying for specialized software, you probably want to look at what already on your computer; the typical computer is offered ready with enough tools to design pretty much anything. Microsoft Office offers useful tools to combine images and text, which is precisely the thing. Considering layout options and pictures, those are unlimited online. There are options to even download really beautiful fonts individualized for your own style.

Use Pictures
A typical way of creating an individual invitation is to include pictures of the happy couple into it. Websites like Mpix.com allow you to order prints of any photo in various sizes and forms, which you can either create the complete invitation or make a small part in it. If the pictures need a little re-touching, try using Photoshop. You can also find several free alternatives like Picasa or Gimp for instance. With the available programs, it’s easy to make your photo black and white, crop backgrounds, or remove red-eye for example. A well prepared picture all but ensures that most guests will keep the wedding invite as a rememberance of your big day.

Original Packages
Designing your own is a wonderful chance to think up memorable ways to deliver your message; the only thing required of your invitation is that you have to make it fit into some sort of envelope. Examples of of real creativity include scrolls, invitations in a bottle (both of which can be challenging to ship), fold-up invites in one piece, so there are no pieces to lose, ransom notes, etc… Really creative invites are scary because you have no way of knowing how the person receiving your invite will respond to it, but they are often a hit.

Designing your own invitations is a pretty elaborate project. It is of course not for all couples, given the time, talent and effort you will need. But if you choose to give it a shot, it will be a labor of love, and it is a great way to get in wedding mood early on.

About the Author

A professional author on matters baby shower, bridal shower, and family, Criss White has authored an abundance of articles.  For more useful articles and wedding invitation ideas, visit Wedding Ideas Etc. Note: Providing the credits and resource box remain in place and the hyperlinks active, feel free to share this article in your newsletter, on your website, or blog.

Order of Service template?

Hey,

These directions work if you want all four pages to be on one 8.5 X 11 inch sheet of paper. If you want another size, then you need to adjust the measurements. (sorry, these measurements are not metric)

One of the easiest ways to make this work is to set up a sheet in landscape view. Page layout>Orientation>Landscape

(1) You can use two text boxes, one of the left side of the page and one of the right side of the page. These text boxes will actually become one of the pages of your booklet. Type and add photos to the text box to set up the page like you want it to look. Remember to keep enough space between the text boxes to allow for a decent margin. You don’t want the print to be near the fold when you go to print these.

Here is the “tricky” part. On the first page, the left side will be the outside BACK of your program. The right side will be the COVER of your program. So just think “reverse” on the first page.

On the second page, you will again put two text boxes. This page is different. Remember that when it’s opened it will look just like it does on your computer. No need to reverse it. The left text box has what you want on the first inside page. The right text box has what you want on the second inside page.

Also, be sure to figure out your printer when you go to print these front and back. You don’t want your programs second pages to be upside down. Always test a copy before printing all of them.

(2) You can use simple columns instead of text boxes if you prefer. That keeps you from having to “fight” with text boxes that can be difficult if you aren’t used to them. If you use columns, you still want the same format. Make two columns and start the program on the right side of the first page. The left side will be the back of the program.

If this doesn’t make sense, and you don’t find a template you can use, please email me and I’ll make one and send it back to you. It’s not a hard as it sounds. It just takes some time to get set up when you’re not used to it. Have fun!

Authors@Google: Kelly O’Connor McNees