We aren't going to lie to you. We at Men's Vows are of two minds on invitations. We love a gorgeous invitation on heavy card stock that could double as house-siding. We swoon over ornate calligraphy. And, we pine for turning a gorgeous invitation liner into the new wallpaper for our dining room. BUT, we also know that once we've ooh-ed and ahh-ed, we put the info into our calendars and throw out tens, if not hundreds, of dollars of your hard-earned cash. 

So, we more often than not net out on the other side of our mind and advise holding off on the over-the-top invitation. 

Now, that said, an invitation makes a first impression for your wedding and heralds what's to come. So, perhaps there's a "third mind." Here's how: 

SPLURGE ON CALLIGRAPHY: 

Go simple with your invitation design and splurge on calligraphy. There are so many amazing and affordable calligraphers on Etsy, Behance, 99 Designs and beyond. Opt for a simple design - maybe even the print options on Paperless Post - and have your calligrapher work his or her magic on the envelopes. 

SEND A POSTCARD: 

Who needs all those liners and bits of tissue paper? Think heavy stock post card - everyone is impressed with an invite that doubles as a coaster - and print your invite on one side and use the other for addressing. Let your wedding website do the heavy lifting of RSVP-ing, stating meal preference and providing all other details you don't need to put in print. 

INSERT SOME MAGIC: 

You can send the simplest of invitations and still surprise and delight. You could print on seeded paper that, when you plant in soil, sprouts flowers. Add some glitter or confetti. Or, simply write a personal note about why you want this particular guest to come to your wedding. 

GET YOUR GIF ON: 

More and more, we are down with the digital wedding invite. All of the invitation platforms, especially Paperless Post, have some really standout designs worthy of the most spectacular of weddings. But, why not go a step further and make the most of the medium and add a little animation, video or gif? You can find great and inexpensive designers on the sites listed above and make your digital invitations really stand out.