Eco-Friendly, DIY Wedding Invitation Ideas

Are you looking for ways to save money on wedding invitations, or simply to save the environment by using materials you know are "green"? Or, are you just a do-it-yourself type of person? Although it seems easier to just order invitations and have someone else do most of the work, you can save money by making them yourself. Plus, you can customize them to fit your personal style--I have had a hard time finding wedding invitations that I like. Finally, you can even use eco-friendly materials to make your own cards, which is more than many card printers can say.

Eco Friendly Paper Materials

There are many different recycled materials that can be used for making wedding invitations. You can buy recycled fiber, bamboo, hemp, sugar cane...and so on. Ask at your local craft store for recommendations. You can buy your invitations as pre-made blank cards, or you can start completely from scratch with eco-friendly paper. You have the option to make a flat card or a folding card. You can even print them yourself (with a good quality printer) and decorate them with eco-friendly materials.

"Green" Card Decorating Materials

Hemp is a popular material in green crafting supplies. You can get it in twine, cord and even yarn form. It comes in various colors to suit your decorating needs. Wrap it around your card and tie into a bow, or simply punch two holes and thread it through, tying with a bow in the front. Use environmentally friendly glues or adhesives, as well as recycled paper envelopes. Follow this link for a list of green crafting supplies to use for making your wedding invites.

Response Card Alternatives

You could make matching response cards to send with your wedding invitations. Or, you could skip them altogether and ask your guests to RSVP another way. This is a great way to save money on stamps, as well as avoid wasting resources. Include your e-mail address and ask them to send a response via e-mail. Guests without Internet access can give you a phone call, or even send a text message. These may not be traditional methods, but they are eco-friendly alternatives. If you do not need to know an exact head count, you might be able to skip it altogether.

If you choose to make your own eco-friendly wedding invitations, have fun with it. Don't stress; there are plenty of ways to save money and save the environment while personalizing your invite cards.

References:
Eco-Friendly Art & Craft Supplies
Handmade Paper Invitations