Don't Panic Design

I got an email tonight from a recent customer.  I set up the files to fit onto her pre-printed stock.  She was so excited about how they came out, she sent me pictures of the completed invitations to share, and I wanted to share them with you. It really made my night and got me to thinking about some of the other invites I have designed since I opened my shop on etsy.  I have gotten so many nice comments back, and I wanted to share some of the designs with you tonight.  I love being able to provide someone with the design they wanted and to hear them say, these turned out even better than I imagined!  It's why I do what I do!

My sister is getting married in June, and we  started assembling the invitations last week.  Just before, we went out shopping for paper to use as a backing, she says to me, "Oh my gosh, I don't know what I'm doing.  Why am I doing this?"  I just kept looking at the paper and said, "You have to practice to be good at something.  Everyone is an amateur when planning a wedding, because you only do it once." So, when you decide to DIY your wedding, or any party, (and I applaud you if you do) make a list of what needs to be done, and then decide what you need help with.  When it comes to invitations, the hardest part is the design.  Do your research and find a template you love; if you can't, solicit the help of a designer who can help bring your ideas to life.  If possible, find someone who has experience with print as well as design.  You should be able to have a dialogue about what you want and some back and forth with tweaking details....

Printable invitations are becoming more popular, and with near constant access to the internet, your resources are extensive.  There are so many options that I think it must be impossible to not get what you want.  It may take a little research, a little work refining your searches to return to you the results you want, but somehow, there is something for everyone out there, and you can find it. If you can't find it, you can always have your design custom made.  Search for created designs that have a similar sensibility and then contact the designer about custom work.  I would be willing to bet you will get a resounding, "Of course I can do that for you!" almost every time, because designing is what designers like to do, so taking on your project will be fun for them. Here are a few of the designs available on my etsy site,  http://www.etsy.com/shop/DontPanicDesign .  They're not just for weddings; I've adapted a few of these for birthdays and even bu...

When you set out to create the perfect invitation for any event, it's always good to know what you want. It also helps to know what you don't want and to not know what you want. So, let's start with the most important thing: knowing what you want. Unless you have the invitation in your hands, try not imagine what you want too specifically. The human mind has the capacity for endless possibility. Unfortunately, technology is limited by human ability. So imagine what you want, color, theme, paper, even size.  But be flexible and keep an open mind; sometimes what doesn't quite match our imagination has a way of becoming just what we want. After that, know what you don't want. Remember, knowing what you don't want is just as important and helpful when starting the design process.  I don't want to send a postcard, I don't want it too big, I don't want a block font.  Do you want a card that folds, or something flat? Do you want to use envelopes? ...