Do It Yourself Wedding Invitations

According to the Bridal Association of America, the average couple spends $659 per 100 customized invitations.

TV host and author Sara Snow says you can save approximate $619 by making your own beautiful invites:

Step-by-step instructions:

• Take wrapping paper
• Glue to a 4x6 note card
• Take tissue paper or vellum cut to size and tie it with a ribbon (any old piece of ribbon or yarn will work) to the card
• Using a calligraphy (or other beautiful) pen to write the invitation details on the vellum or tissue layer
• To dress it up, use a coinciding natural element:
— Pair a floral wrapping paper with dried flowers or a pressed leaf (glue the leaf to the vellum and write the invite details directly on the leaf)
— Pair a wine-themed or deep burgundy wrapping paper with a cork or wine label. Cut the cork so it lays flat against the paper and write some details directly on the cork. (A collage of wine labels can work in place of the wrapping paper)

• To buy index cards, vellum paper and calligraphy pen, it will cost approximate $40 for 100 invites. All other materials are recycled depending on what you have in the home so don't cost anything.

• To cut down on extra paper (and extra cost), skip the RSVP enclosure and ask guests to RSVP via e-mail or through a Web site (these are easy to create on weddingchannel.com, etc.)