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Love doesn’t cost a thing, but weddings typically do. According to Costofwedding.com, US couples spend an average of $28,000 for their wedding, and that’s not even including the honeymoon! If you’re looking for ways to stretch your wedding budget dollars, why not use some do-it-yourself ingenuity? Check out these simple and hassle-free wedding projects that will have you saying, “I do.”

Announcing the big event

About six months before the wedding date, announce the upcoming event to your guests and give them a “heads up” they’re invited by sending them a save-the-date magnet. Use an image of your engagement photo or a candid snapshot of the two of you to create your personalized magnets with Avery Magnetic Business Cards, or create your own design from scratch with Avery Design & Print Online.

Mailing made easy

When you’re ready to get your magnets in the mail, just grab your mailing list and turn it into neatly-printed, custom address labels by following our quick and easy mail merge step-by-step guide for Avery Design & Print Online. To create address and return address labels that give your mailings that elegant, “printed right on the envelope” look, use Avery Easy Peel^® Clear Address Labels.

Time-saving tip: Now’s a good time to also print the address and return address labels you’ll need for your invitations, pre-addressed response cards and thank you cards which you’ll be mailing out later.

Designing an elegant invitation

Why choose a cookie cutter wedding invitation when you can create your own instead? You’ll find plenty of ideas to get you started on Avery Design & Print Online, including free pre-designed templates designed especially for Avery Greeting Cards. You might also find the perfect image for your invite from sites such as iStockphoto to complement your design. After printing, you can embellish your invitations using satin ribbon, vellum, fabric or tissue. Using the design theme that matches your wedding invitation, you can cut costs further by creating your own response cards and reception cards on Avery Postcards to include when mailing your invitation. Mail out your invitations approximately two months before the big day.

Helpful tips: Pre-stamp and pre-address your response postcards to make it easy for your guests to reply. On the reception card, include the time and place of the wedding reception. Another helpful touch is to include a map and directions to the wedding reception site on the back of the card.

Creating the perfect seat Achieve wedding reception perfection by making a personalized place setting for each guest. To give the dining tables a polished appearance and make your guests feel welcome, you can create customized place cards with Avery Folded Two-Side Printable Clean Edge® Business Cards and Avery Design & Print Online. At each place setting, place a wedding favor for the guest to take home as a token of your appreciation. Little boxes of treats decoratively wrapped and adorned in ribbon is a favor anyone can appreciate. Create a message of thanks from the bride and groom, then print on Avery White High-Visibility Labels and attach the sticker to each favor box.

Give your wedding an air of elegance without breaking your budget. These easy do-it-yourself projects can help you create an event to remember—and also help you save a bundle!