I'm happy I did. Of course, there are plenty of color combinations to choose from if a more minimalist palette isnt your thing. 87 years of expert advice and inspiration, for every couple. If you want to add contrast, go for a bold belly band on a quiet suite or something more understated on an already busy set. Its so pretty that guests wont want to slip it off to see the actual invites. Do belly bands need to come with my invitation suite, or can I buy them separately? But Fernandez recommends working closely with your stationer so that they can recommend the best type of belly band and assist you in what to look for. I did them. The function of the band it to package all the pieces together as the guest pulls it out of the envelopeit definitely adds to the overall experience of opening the invitation as well as adds to the wow factor. Are the "worth it?" The wording of your invitation card conveys the where and when, who is hosting, and appropriate attire if that needs to be communicated. On another note, I did get a wedding invitation once where all the pieces were wrapped in tissue paper (the paper was the same size as the invitation, and was wrapped once and a half around the cards. The white font pops against any of the eight jewel tones available to choose from as a background color. What did you ladies do? You know where all mine are now? If you see tiny lines in the corners, these are the trim guides that show you where to cut. Choose from five different basic background colors and eight different foil accent colors to give it a little jazz. I have gotten SOOO many compliments on it. It is created by using plates to create an imprint on each individual piece of paper. May add to postage cost, especially if they make the envelope thicker. Enlist some helping hands and enjoy the preparation for your fabulous day! You've now assembled a gorgeous wedding invitation ready to be mailed off to your nearest and dearest!If you have a large guest list and are concerned about the extra effort it takes to assemble these, don't forget, this is a perfect bonding opportunity to share with your mom, sister, or best friend! I just tied a piece of twine with a little saying hanging from it as mine, but idk if something like that would fit with your theme. A details card can also include your wedding website as well as the RSVP information if you are choosing to have guests RSVP online. For those looking for the luxury experience for their guests, these add ons create show stopping invitations that will leave your guests in awe and in anticipation for what is to come on your wedding day! Prepare several card stocks in the color you want for the wedding invitation belly band; keep the wedding color scheme in mind to decide on the color, Card stocks or cover stocks are ideal as belly bands because they are thick for keeping the card together but are still flexible that you can fold them into bands, Prepare a pair of sharp scissors to get clean edges on your strips, Cut each card into strips, usually an inch wide, but you can cut them larger, depending on the look your want for the belly band against your wedding invitation, Use a ruler to get straight strips, and if you need to make a lot of belly bands, opt for, for precise cuts rather than manually cutting each card stock with scissors, Depending on the paper guillotine, you can even cut through multiple cards, and you can use the measurement markings on the guillotine as a guide, Now that you have several card stock strips, work on them one by one to make the belly bands, Have someone help you in folding to save time, especially when making multiple bands for the wedding invites, Grab the end of the card strip and fold it for about three inches, Use the folds crease as a guide on where the wedding invitations right side should touch against when you slip on the belly band, Turn the wedding invitation over and ensure that the card strip is flat without any folds, Fold the other end of the strip so that its crease will also touch the other side of the wedding invitation securely, Make sure that the band is not loose on the invitation but also not too small that the guest cant take it off, Slip off the wedding invitation carefully without deconstructing the folded card strip, Construct the belly band by applying glue on one end of the strip, Press the ends of the strip together to form the band, Let the belly band dry completely, then slip it on your wedding invitation, Do the same for the rest of the card strips and slip the bands on your invitations to finish, You can also slide in your information card inside the belly band along with the wedding invitation, At this point, feel free to decorate the belly band to make it more aesthetically pleasing; just remember that youll put the invitations on an envelope, and you dont want it to get thick from embellishments, You can also make the card strips more appealing by using scissors with curved or zigzag edges when cutting them, Another decorative option is to glue in paper details on the bands, write or print the couples name on it with some dainty details, or slip in some dried flowers within the band. It sounds like I'll be spending my night looking up belly bands. Fold each strip to create the invitation belly band. As implied, double thick cardstock is twice the thickness of already thick cardstock so you. Belly bands are typically reserved for invitation sets with multiple cards. Keep in mind that you run the risk of extra postage. I'm worried that if I just put the two cards in an envelope that people will miss the smaller one (FMIL just did this with an invitation she received). Card stocks are usually 0.010 inches thick, suitable for holding the printed material securely but still thin enough to fold the strip. Its best to have belly bands for your wedding invitations because they will secure all your printed items neatly. Our invites sound very similar and we did use a Belly band. Find support, ask questions, swap stories, and follow brides planning real weddings here on Weddingbee. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our team of authors are constantly writing articles full of facts, techniques, and advise to take your project to the next level. It's weird I know. What Size Is A Belly Band For Wedding Invitations? If neither of those feels right, there are plenty of other colors to choose from. Please try again. Vintage postage must be a collage because vintage stamps only come in lower denominations and will not meet the current USPS postage rate unless you add multiple stamps on the envelope. To keep costs down you could do a grey ribbon and fasten it in the back. The term "suite" seems to be intimidating to mostit's really just a dressed up word for "set", and each suite / set is unique to each love story depending on needs, desires, and amount of information that needs to be delivered to your guests; it can very well be viewed as the most important piece of your wedding, no pressure! You want a snug fit so that it holds all the cards neatly together, but not so tight that it bends the edge of your invitation. Think about the overall look of your wedding suite. I am very sold on this Minted design. Your envelope liner is a fun place to add a little surprise within your invitation suite. However, please cut the strips neatly and measure your belly bands accordingly. Are you also curious about how many invites to order? I am almost certain I want to go with Minted. But if they dont, or if you prefer a mix and match effect, there are plenty of places where you can find complimentary belly bands independently. Do I actually NEED an envelope liner? Alternatively, you can make them yourself with decorative paper from your local craft store. You can also have a keepsake wax seal press made that you can use for your future mail, a fun keepsake! I vote no simply because 1) They drive up the cost of postage, 3) if they have any kind of embellishment, the envelope is not flat, 4) No one will notice or care. When I pulled on the invitation, since it was wrapped in tissue paper, the rsvp card and envelope all came out in one set. Our invitations are nice but certainly not super formal (our names are in blue watercolor), so maybe we could do some sort of belly band alternative? Calling all New York City couples: If you want to bring a dash of city glam to your invitation suite, look no further than this laser-cut belly band. Note that this is a digital file, which you can print out at home or the local printer, but the designer will provide instructions on what paper to use. The detail makes it look more expensive and luxuriousand we all love a good look for less, dont we? The characters written do not match the verification word. Center the belly band on top. Share with your guests to collect your wedding photos. Customize it with your names and your wedding datethe calligraphy dresses up the band and elevates the overall look. For this tutorial, you only need cards measuring 12 by 12 inches in color that would complement your wedding invitation design. Saves quite a bit of money I can use towards something else! If your details card is full and you just need to add your wedding website, registry information, or another small bit of information, this is a great way to do that, or it is a great place to include rehearsal dinner information or an invitation to a welcome party. Vellum is a semi translucent paper that can be wrapped around your invitation suite, attached as an overlay, and can be printed on. Fiance and I are considering getting our wedding bands engraved and were, Wedding: September 2019 - Saint Louis, MO. Belly bands can be printed or solid card stock, vellum, or ribbon. Check out this years best local pros, chosen by couples like you. Autumnal brides, this belly band might make your heart sing. You can usually find this online or at your local office supply store. With soft and airy vibes, these vellum belly bands emit a romantic and dreamy feel. This project is quick and affordable, so its ideal for small weddings and those on a budget. My invites will only have the actual invitation then an additional detail card with information on how to RSVP via our wedding website. They're a total waste. They will make a great alternative to an inner envelope while also adding visual appeal. Watercolor eucalyptus illustrations peek out of the corners, making this design a great fit for an outdoor wedding, or even an indoor wedding with a botanical feel. And thats it! You should consider the overall aesthetic to ensure the belly band continues a cohesive look to the rest of the suite, says stationery expert Cristy Fernandez. ReCaptcha Verification failed. Typically, wedding bands feature your names and a detail or two about the wedding, like the location or the date. Think of it as an organizational finishing touch. All was well!! Thanks so much ladies I am definitely not getting the belly bands! I can order a simple grey belly band off of weddingpaperdivas that has our wedding date and initials and it will be here next week. :). It wasn't something I wanted to spend money on and I'm sure my guests didn't care either way. Our entire wedding is fairly casual so I think sometimes I need to take a step back and realize that this is my WEDDING and some things just deserve to be a little dressed up! Pocket enclosures essentially act as the inner envelope as well as the belly band. How do I decide whether to use belly bands or not? If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. These belly bands revel in watercolor fun, from the "honeysuckle" theme featuring mango and strawberry hues to "lemongrass" (lime and sunshine shades). Below are other pieces to consider to up the wow factor of your invites, as well as if you have more information you need to convey. This seems self explanatory, but of course there are optionsyou can choose to do an inner and outer envelope, or just the outer. That could make mailing the suite more costly. Including custom postage is another level of personalization that is available in invitation suites. ETA they did not add to my postage costs. Invites are where you can really dig into the overall vision for your big day. This process does add some cost onto your wedding invitations, but worth it for the added wow factor! I still used a belly band (shiny rose gold to match the foil details on our invites/rsvp cards) and fastened it closed with a wax seal. You'll often find matching templates like this available for purchase alongside your invitation set. The raw simplicity of the material evokes wooden barn doors, earth tones, and a more laid back vibe. You only need to fold and glue the strips together for a quick and basic belly band. Whether you are looking for a glamorous statement with gold or silver, or something funky like blue or green, metallic foils are a great option for a little glitz and glamouras an added benefit, foils show up on dark as well as light paper stocks. A helpful place to plan your wedding with other Wedditors! Whether youre in a wedding or going to one, theres something here for everyone. Let's translate your vision into elegant stationery with custom artwork and thoughtful details that capture your wedding aesthetic. The band should hold the invitation and RSVP set together without their edges cutting through the belly band. Stationers and designers often include belly bands as an option to buy with the invitation suite, which can help you stay in line with your aesthetic. The beginning of the suite is typically your save the date, however you do not have to have the same designer create your save the date and your invitations. PLUS, I ordered mine from Zazzle (great company, great invites) and the only problem I had was the glue on the belly bands were in the wrong place so I had to be very careful to only tear off half the backing paper. Her work has also appeared on Bridal Guide and WeddingWire. Read on for the best belly bands for every invitation style. You cant use thin papers for making belly bands because remember that you will have two to three printed materials for the wedding. This project is quick and affordable, so its ideal for small weddings and those on a budget. An oversized ampersand symbolizes the union of two loves, while bright colors promise a fun celebration. So if you like the look, go for it. Thats why she most appreciates belly bands that feature delicate illustrations. Read, how many extra wedding invitations you need, Can Air Movement Help In Preventing Mildew? By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. In this post, I'll walk you through the practical steps for finding, printing and assembling your own! You also have the option to create a tri-fold invitation, which even includes a perforated RSVP card and reduces the amount of paper in the suite. Find wedding inspiration that fits your style with photos from real couples, Sit back and relax with travel info + exclusive deals for the hottest honeymoon destinations. I am in the process of deciding on my wedding invitations. This means if you approach a different designer for your actual invitations, there may be a design discrepancy from your save the datesseriously this is not a big deal, save the dates are a quick glimpse for your guests to mark their calendars and have all the happy feelings for you. LETTERSANDDUSTPDX@GMAIL.COM | 5038517110. is 5 by 7 inches, and if this is the size of your wedding invitation, your belly band can measure 11 by 2 inches. Read how many extra wedding invitations you need. We cant get enough of the juxtaposition of glam and rusticitll be the spotlight of any invitation suite. An important point to note is that each color that is letterpressed = 1 plate, so the more colors you use the higher the cost will be. But it's also not a necessity. We also got a little embellishment with our first names to stick on the belly bands. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.cardsandpockets.com/bellybandssolidcolors50pack.aspx. Before you seek out belly bands, check first with your stationer to see if they have suggestions or offer coordinating bands to the suite you're sending out. Minimalism is at its finest in the form of two names scrawled effortlessly across a belly band. Let our experts guide you in the right direction. Your reply or RSVP card is how you will collect the names and headcount of guests coming to your wedding. The back of the band brings some unexpected flair with a leaf print climbing up the band. essentially must pay for double the paper as they are layered to create this effect. To get the accurate size, make sure your printer settings are at No Scaling / 100% and that you have the accurate paper size selected. We love the neutral tones of the champagne and bronze, but the other color themes and foil options are just as dazzling. I didn't do them. Modern, minimalist, and playful, theres a lot to love about this belly band. How Do You Keep Wedding Invitations Together? You can buy belly bands separate from your invitation suite. I thought it was neat and something I hadn't actually seen before. You've found the perfect venue and made some of the basic decisions such as the time you would like to get married and what kind of reception you would like to havenow how do you go about inviting your loved ones to this party? My vote is go for it. (Ordered both from cardsandpockets.com). Most floral designs we see on belly bands are in the form of fun patterns and prints or soft watercolor illustrations. How To Make Wedding Invitation Belly Bands At Home, Step 2. I did them and I felt like it brought my whole invitation together. For a more rustic touch, opt for a belly band on kraft paper. Even the fanciest invitiations Ive received, complete with las-cut details, did not have belly bands. vellum envelopes are also available, which are stunning for a modern wedding and give guests a peek at whats inside. A bold rose pattern does all the talking in this one. You're on the hunt for gorgeous wedding invitations with an extra special something. Flip the stack over so that the set is face down with the belly band on the bottom. The beginning of the suite is typically your save the date, however you do not have to have the same designer create your save the date and your invitations. I didn't do them, and I don't regret it. Hillary Hoffower is a writer with more than six years of experience covering the wedding industry. You can also read how to save money on wedding invitations to save more on your wedding invites costs. 8 Ways to Save Money on your Rehearsal Dinner. But this one takes it to the next level with a glittering laser-cut sunflower. I think they're nice to have, but they are absolutely not necessary. Fret not, we are here to hold your hand and make this process much easierand more practical. Its the perfect background to make gold foiled lettering shine, but you can opt for a range of different colors for the text, including everything from burgundy to turquoise. Press J to jump to the feed. Brides contributor Hillary Hoffower has over seven years of experience writing for the wedding industry, covering everything from bridal fashion trends to wedding decor. You only need to get the cards width and multiply it by two, then allocate an extra inch for the overlap of the belly band. We are having a single invitation card with an additional, smaller details card listing the reception address (different than ceremony) along with our wedding website since all RSVP, accommodation, etc. We also used a belly band to make it feel a little more special and tie it all together. You want them to feel less like a card and more like a little present for your guests to unwrap in anticipation. The topic Do I need belly bands for my invitations? is closed to new replies. You just have to decide how important the look is to you. Once your belly bands are printed and trimmed out, you are ready to assemble your invitations! Your guests will be impressed that everything youve sent them goes perfectly together! Guests can also include their recommendations for music choices (if you want to give them that power)you've been warned! Bear in mind ribbon tied in a bow can add to higher postage costs. Plan your wedding wherever and whenever you want on the WeddingWire App. Cut out the individual bands using a paper cutter or an x-acto knife. If it's a cost you want to take on and if the stationary is a high priority to you, I say go for it. We take pride in providing the most comprehensive knowledge in the industry. The presentation of the invites is personally important to me, so we're doing them. Deckel edge paper limits designs as it can not be digitally printed to the edge, so think more simple designs if you are wanting to use this luxury paper. Belly bands are best printed on a thinner paper that can easily wrap around your wedding invitations. Wrap your invites and RSVP cards inside the magical skyline, which comes in dozens of colors across matte, metallic, and glitter styles. Inside the envelope there are really only three pieces of paper - the invite itself, the RSVP postcard (no envelope needed), and a reception card that lists the directions on the backside. Wondering if any what are everyones thoughts on these types, Hi Bees! But then I'm wondering if a belly band is a bit much for only two cards? Your belly bands dont have to say anything at alllet the design itself make the statement. Does your design have a full color background like the one above? For more money-saving tips, check out The Complete Guide to DIY Stationery. You can learn how to make belly bands for wedding invitations in three easy steps.