DIY belly band - what did you use to attach?

Belly band??

The thing that wraps around the invitation to hold it all together.

Oh ok. lol. It will depend on the ribbon you use, but Id use the stickies. Hot glue has the potential to leave stringies on the invites and burns on your fingers while you try to attach the ends enough to make it tight.

Thanks!

If you decide to use hot glue, use a pop sickle stick to press down on the belly band, it will save your fingers

Tie the front into a bow?

Idk if double sided tape would work (depending on materials you're using). That would be my first choice with maybe a low temperature hot glue gun as my second choice.

For sure thought this had something to do with pregnancy. I was way wrong.

I used glue dots:

Hot glue will definitely work. Just don't put the glue too close to the edge so you don't get any seeping out. And I would suggest gluing the belly band together while the are not holding the invite so if you do get hot glue strings, it's easy to clean off just the band. And a little hotglue goes a long ways. You don't need much to hold it closed

I used a wax sealer and attached them in the front.

I bought champagne card stock and a paper cutter when they had their 40% off regular price coupon. To secure them I used permanent double sided tape. It's thin and won't come undone. Easier to work with than glue, for sure.

In the center of the band we put a gold monogram

the materials cost me under $20

I would not suggest hot glue. Depending on the paper it could burn right through. Also it's super messy and you'll most likely have strands of glue sticking to your invitations. Glue dots or PERMANENT double sided tape would be a better adhesive. Unless you do the wax seal, but if you do the wax, practice practice practice before trying on your invites.

Is a belly band necessary? Is it okay to just put everything in the envelope?

Following!

@SCD I wasn't going to use one myself, until I put one into the envelopes as a tester. It just seemed like something was missing. So I'm going to get some now. Cards and pockets has them at a great price. ETA: love the wax seal idea

Yup, gluedots for me!

Following

Glue dots are great if you don't want to run the possibility of adding extra weight (and postage) with a wax seal.

ETA I would be careful using hot glue, because depending on the type of paper you use, the heat could warp the paper and make it look funky.

Thanks @2BmrsJT!