My partner and I saw this awesome video of wedding invitations made from a paper record that was even playable! Both my man and I thought that was amazing… but how come the invitations couldn't just be an actual record?
So we found out how to have your own 45 vinyl record pressed. We had our friends record two of our most sentimental songs. We bought the legal rights to the songs. We designed the record labels. Since not everybody has a record player, we also decided to add the option of a digital download. This way people can download the record and put it on their iPods or whatever.
I used a professional record pressing company which is often used by lots of indie musicians: United Record Press. In order to get a record pressed you must do the following:
- Pick out two songs which are short enough to fit on the record (less than 4 min…i think).
- Buy the rights to the song…we used a company online and it cost about $150 to buy the rights to the songs.
- Have your friends, a local band, or yourselves record a high quality recording of the music.
- send it in with the license.
- Design your label.
When you get your test pressing, it's the best moment! I would like to add that this is not a cheap endeavor. It ends up costing around $6/record, and we ordered 200 records.
I wanted the invite to have some formality, so I created an insert that was the “official” invite. Then we decided that the RSVPs couldn't just be a traditional one, so we made a ticket/postcard. The guests kept the ticket stub end of the card, and they mailed us the postcard end. We also made a ticket to the rehearsal dinner, for those who were invited to that as well.
We also included VIP passes for those who are in the wedding party and are, well, very important people. I designed the passes, printed them out on nice paper and laminated them. I bought cool orange lanyards online and they are awesome!
After more than a year of thinking and planning the invitations, they are finally finished, mailed out and waiting replies. I am super proud of them.
