RJR you will always be glad you did so much yourself. We did a lot too, making invitations, flowers and cake. Though the flowers were silk not hand made. We did matching ones for the cake. It was so rewarding and not just because of money saved, but we felt we had really contributed to the day.
I did my brother's wedding cake too as he was so impressed with mine.
But I like to make cards and have loads to try to sell to other ex-pats at car boot sales. They are all different though, in all sorts of styles, as I get bored doing similar things all the time. Also decorated shortbreads go down well here, but it has been a nightmare trying to find fine icing sugar as the coarse stuff they use here just doesn't work for icing, it's only good for dusting.
My OH helps to make cards, but he hasn't the patience and would rather just stick things on and add lots of coloured peeel offs. Yet he has taught himself to paint (he has always been artistic) and is doing commissions of people's pets. So far this year he has made enough to pay for next winter's wood.
This is his latest, though not a pet, he was hand reared by a friend of our's.
The card I made for our Bulgarian neighbours' 50th wedding anniversary, they also asked me to make decorated biscuits for their bash in the village hall. The card was in Bulgarian and English.
Some of the biscuits
And Dave did a painting of a golden oriole for their golden anniversary. All cards (3) we have made and picture are pride of place in the living room.
