A quick scan of the best bridal blogs and wedding-themed Pinterest boards will surface up no end of self-styled weddings dripping in rustic DIY touches. So it’s either very on-trend or highly unoriginal of me to declare that I’d like to infuse my wedding with as many handmade elements as possible.

If you intend to do the same, then the "Save The Dates" are a great place to start. I decided to opt for a simple postcard with a few luxurious twists, but I picked up some handy tips along the way...

1. Set the tone
Bear in mind that the Save The Date is the first taste of what your guests can expect from your wedding. I chose to sketch a pretty floral garland that perfectly evoked the idyllic English countryside feel we’re going for, then dusted off my watercolours to paint it. I started designing my own typeface but soon realised that once it had been reduced in size it was almost illegible, so I took a shortcut by downloading a suitably florid script from Photoshop.
2, Consider a professional printer
If you're handy with a silkscreen, or are happy with the efforts of your desktop printer, then by all means, go forth. But for quick and professional results, online printing service Moo.com is hard to beat. Its double-sided postcards, which allow you to upload your own images or artwork on each and every postcard, are simple to create, have a professional finish and are easy-on-the-pocket too, priced from £10.19 (excluding VAT). One nice idea is to choose some stylish pictures of yourself and your fiancé over the years and put them through an Instagram filter before you upload, for a warm, retro feel.
3. Don’t forget the basics
Make your Save The Date as creative as you like, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re sending it to communicate a message. As far as the text goes, keep it simple – your names and the wedding date is usually enough, but if you have guests coming from afar you might like to add in the town or city you’re getting married in too. With Moo.com you can opt for a standard postcard address template on the back, but I chose to add some additional text on the back, enticing guests to make a weekend of the celebrations.
4. Add a twist
Next, how to ensure your card isn’t filed away and forgotten. Magnets are popular, but I wanted to create a lovely homespun feel with a postcard that you can hang up with ribbon. Rather than just using a hole-punch, for a more polished feel I decided to use eyelets, using a kit from Robert Dyas. I looped through ribbons of various widths, sticking to a palette of pastel pink and blue, alongside creams, whites and golds, knotted them either side, then left the ends long and loose like a village maypole. An arduous task, yes, but worth it I think – no one guessed I made the cards myself, which is always the result you crave when you DIY.

Read more on ELLE's Wedding Blog