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Does anyone make handmade wedding invitations to sell? Both my children are "of marriageable age" (! LOL) and a lot of their friends are getting engaged and planning weddings. Many of these kids we have known since they were tots and are close friends. I was thinking of starting a small business at home making wedding invitations, and was wondering if anyone else had advice for me as to the pitfalls and pleasures of such a venture!? I was considering asking 2 of them if they would like me to do their wedding invitations (for next year) as their gift from our family, and also as an experiment to see if I feel it's worthwhile and the time/costs/etc. involved. I've looked online at some websites selling handmade invitations and am blown away by what they charge ...! However, it's always difficult to put a $$ price on one's own cards - too high and people think you're on an ego trip, and too low and they think they're "cheap"! I thought I might invite these 2 girls for coffee and show them some of my cards and offer to put some sample ideas together for them if they have a theme in mind or any ideas on what they want. (Of course they might just say "no thanks"!!!)
Would appreciate some feedback on this - thanks in anticipation ......
Tilly http://groups.msn.com/Tillyshandmadecardscollages
I've done 5 weddings as a side business as well. Began when did my daughter's and others began oohing and aahing over them. Will say, for me not lots of money in it vs the time; however, it has been enjoyable for me to pursue this. I did it free for one friend as a wedding gift. Others were for a fee. Again, time vs income probably didn't come out as worth a full fledged business. If you enjoy doing it, go for it. I just find the individuality of it is special but no one wants to pay for the hours that go into it. Best of luck to you. Do what you enjoy! Smiles.
I hope it works for you. Making over 10 of the same thing starts to be a drag for me. I would have a hard time making 150 of the same thing. The time and detail for these type of fancy cards - I would say $3-$5 EACH. I know that is high, but you don't want to make 150 of the same thing, spending HOURS doing it and not even making minimum wage in the end. So be sure you charge what your talent is worth.
Are you going to do the 2 wedding invites free as a gift in hopes of getting a return on the 'free' investment?
__________________ Vicki Nelson
That's my little 4 month old cutie, Ryne.
Remember no time is ever wasted that makes people better friends...so we aren't all wasting our time here on SCS. :-)
A great idea to offer these girls as a gift. As you say, it will give you some experience of doing it and decide whether you want to do any more. I have done all the stationery for 3 weddings and am about to start another. My tip is to keep your designs fairly simple and make sure you can source the materials in bulk before you take their order. Often you make samples up with what you have in your craft supplies and find it difficult to match these in bulk. The only downside I have doing these is boredom. Churning out 300 of something does get monotonous. I like to work at them for an hour, an hour off etc. good luck with them.
I think this is a great idea and you would probably do very well. Key here though is probably having the time. You will run into those situations where you will need lots of invites, some weddings maybe 300 plus. I have a wedding card in my gallery that I made over 300 of. It was very difficult to get them done, but I work full time too. Good luck, its a great opportunity.
Good luck on your venture. I agree with those above who posted about keeping the invite simple. And don't forget there are response cards, reception cards, multiple envelopes and/or tissue among other things people do nowadays. I created a worksheet for myself to go through with people which listed everything I could think of and after going over that, I sit down and figure out a price for them.
Here's a thought....nowadays couples are doing "Save the Date" postcards/cards as a prelude to the actual invitations. Perhaps offer to do those and see how that feels. They go much quicker because you don't have all the response/reception, etc. cards. Maybe a slow way to introduce yourself to the idea. Good luck.
I believe that you can have a profitable business from this. I sell supplies on occasion to several ladies who obviously do a fair business with this. They work with the brides to design a wedding suite that work solely for them. Each of these gals have websites and have been at it for several years. I assume they sell their products/services at the equivalent or more than some of the wedding shops/boutiques.
Thanks for all the input ladies. I really appreciate it. I agree that the best way to try it out is by offering to do these 2 weddings as our gift to the couple. If it all works out OK then I can take the idea further. Keeping them simple is the best option too. I'll keep you updated! Hallmark beware .......! LOL
I'm not usually a half-full kind of gal, but two words for you.......
BRIDE ---- ZILLA!!!!!
LOL! This was my immediate thought when I read what you were considering doing, Tilly. I have a good friend who manages a high-end fabric store, and deals with Bride-zilla's every day. Pretty scary. Best of luck to you. Keep us posted.
Linda
__________________ Linda Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. -Twyla Tharp
If the brides are interested, and you want help, they would probably recruit friends and family to come for a workshop/assembly line day... I'm going to be doing this for a friend getting married... i'll plan the invite with her ahead of time and then we'll recruit close friends for a day (including a fun lunch or something) to make her invites & all the little things that go along with them... fun time to hang out with them and I don't get stuck doing all the work (could be a few hundred!)... it still is a gift for them to have homemade, unique invitations... just a thought...
Opinions please on ? business opportunity
Just a thought...
