DIY Invitation Advice Needed!

[Kirby]

Today I put together some rough draft sample invitations to get some ideas and see what looked good together. This is what I came up with. There are some things that I am definitely going to change, but it gives you an idea. I ordered some more paper samples of the papers I liked so that I can perfect the invite before I order all of the paper.

The cardstock is slightly shimmery, which I love! And this vellum that is "brushed" meaning it has some texture and isn't glossy. I love it!

#1
http://aycu22.webshots.com/image/48381/2000151606089115686_rs.jpg

http://aycu12.webshots.com/image/48051/2000171487741766365_rs.jpg

http://aycu13.webshots.com/image/45892/2000137760509913832_rs.jpg


Things I would change:
-Center wording instead of flush left. Like the one below.
-Change the wording a bit
-Use satin ribbon instead of ribbed or whatever
-Use a different picture (this is the same one we used on our std magnets so I want something different)

But... Jon just told me that he doesn't like the bow on top- that it looks too girly. :bbrolleyes: Without it, it looks really plain though. What else could I do??? That doesn't look as girly? I liked that little splash of color because it's not a lot.

[Kirby]

#2 (I don't really like this one, but of course Jon does- probably because it has no bow.)

http://aycu02.webshots.com/image/44001/2000669526747549285_rs.jpg

http://aycu23.webshots.com/image/47582/2000687004123564834_rs.jpg

I don't like this one as much. Reasons:

-I don't like how everything is straight across the top. It might look better with the layers centered?
-I want the layered look, but this is just too many layers!
-There is nothing but cardstock under the vellum- therefore the vellum is kind of useless?


That being said, I would love some constructive criticism and advice. I want them to look perfect, so what do you think I should do? Are there things from each sample that I should incorporate together into one?

As I said, these are VERY rough drafts- samples that I will change a lot- including fonts, wordings, and construction. I will be getting the paper pre-cut to the sizes that I need so the edges will look much better than they do here!

[BrideInCuffs21]

I really like the first invite... I would rather it be centered too... a sating ribbon would suit much better with the shimmery paper and in red. I really like the layering of the black and red shimmer together and use that on the first invite.... I think the first invite needs more color so adding a red layer and ribbon will make it 'pop'. And also the intro to the invite needs some 'oompf' ya know? Other than those couple of things I really like it including the picture you used, but you want to change it so its your invite...

[Custom Wedding Stamps]

Maybe you could compromise on the bow idea by having one printed or perhaps a nice foil sticker. That way you could still have the look of the bow, but he wouldn't feel that it was overwhelming the invitation.

[LoLo62808]

I'm rooting for the second one. It has a lot of clean lines going and feels really good :D

[firespirit]

I like #1.

I do like the centered wording more.

Maybe diagonal ribbon across the corners to get the color?

[Krimangel]

IS there a way to stagger the top of #2 like you did with #1 and keep the thing that holds it all together with #2?

I do like #2 better but not the top of it, I think it should be staggered like the bottom of the invite.

And I just LOVE this pic you chose for the back ground.

[Kirby]

Thanks for the advice! I have since completely changed my mind about my invites though. I'm not doing a picture of us, or vellum, and I want to use square petal cards. See page 37 of my journal (http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=10377&page=37) to see what I'm working on now. :smile: