Let your creative juices flow with DIY invitations

DIY wedding invitations are one of our favourite money-saving activities.  While your wedding may be one of the most important days of your life – and also one of the most expensive – there's no doubt that most of us still have to stick to a budget and reign in the spending a bit.

After all, we're haven't all got millions of pounds in the bank to spend on fancy wedding venues, exotic honeymoons and designer dresses.

But you'd be surprised at how the small things can make a big difference when it comes to saving for your big day and when you're sitting down to work out costs, we think you'll find that a few savings here and there can really add up.

If you don't want to sacrifice some of the grander aspects of your ceremony, such as a delicious wedding cake or limo ride to the church, we suggest invitations as a potential cost-reducing opportunity.

This is the perfect chance to let your creative juices flow and have some fun creating your own handmade and totally unique wedding invitations and save-the-date cards to send out to guests.

You could even make an afternoon of it and invite some of your friends round for a party while you get crafty with glue and scissors.

Not only will this reduce the cost of having to buy professional cards, but will also add a personal touch to the occasion and an invitation is something that your friends and family can treasure forever as a reminder of the event.

If this sounds like something you'd like to try, Abby Larson from Style Me Pretty spoke to Geeksugar and offered some top tips to bride on what they should be aiming for.

She noted that one thing it is important to get right is the weight of the paper used for the project. According to the expert, sheets of 80 lb paper are ideal as they will easily fit through household inkjet printers.

Another thing to bear in mind is that your wedding invitations should stick to one theme and tie in with the rest of the celebrations. It is no good having a couple saying their vows on a beach on the front if you're getting married in a church in December.

"Do you see your self having a casual, intimate affair? Do you think that your wedding day will be traditional? A bit modern? Or perhaps more eclectic? Your wedding invitations set the tone for your entire wedding," Ms Larson advises.

If you're really stuck for ideas, try visiting your local stationery shop and having a look at some of the cards they have on offer, as this could give you some great inspiration.

Another tip is to use card and paper for the base of your invitations and then add unusual or natural elements into the mix. Carla David creates custom invitations and as BizBash reports, likes to play with original textures and materials.

Everything from silk-screened fabric, twigs and sand find their way into her creations and this is something that could look stunning on your wedding invitations, especially if you are holding your ceremony outside or hosting a garden party reception.

Whatever you decide, remember that this is your day so you can't go too far wrong and just let your creativity take over. More importantly – have fun!