But who are we kidding? It’s some of the most important paper we’ll ever purchase in our lives.

When I first started planning my wedding, one detail I did not anticipate being difficult was wedding stationery. However, when my (now) husband and I started looking at samples of wedding stationery, we realized that the vast majority of styles and designs did not suit us at all. In fact, we were pretty appalled by just about everything we saw.

I eventually stumbled upon a website called Wedding Paper Divas. Finally, designs that weren’t all ugly! I didn’t find purple invitations to fit the color scheme, but I found some nice green Save the Dates and invitations that seemed to match the overall tone of our wedding and lakeside venue. I also designed some custom bachelorette party invitations, as well as invitations for a thank you mani-pedi party I was planning. They also had some really cute thank-you notes. Unlike some of the other stationery vendors mentioned on this site, which have not always been reliable, Wedding Paper Divas was simply fantastic. You can personalize any card with whatever wording or information you wish to include, and the website generates a preview for you. Then, once you order your cards, the designers email you complimentary proofs. The quality is great, and the shipping prompt. I got so many compliments on my stationery, and I couldn’t have been happier with this company.

Later on, I started thinking about programs. I did not want the complication (or expense) of having them printed professionally, but I also couldn’t stand the thought of anything less than stunning guiding my guests through our ceremony. InviteSite sells DIY kits that help you create foolproof, but totally gorgeous, wedding programs. I went with an ivory program kit that came with lovely shimmery paper and glue-on Texas bluebells. I used my own laser printer to make the inner pages, and glued a bluebell to the front cover of each. Then, I threaded the pages together with some lavender ribbon. I was beyond pleased with the end result.

{Peter Doyle Photography}