Printing Your Own Wedding Invites: Is It Possible?

Wedding invitations are a costly affair, with prices ranging from $2 to $15 per invitation. However, printing wedding invitations at home is a great way to save money and add a personal touch. The process involves selecting the type of invitation, choosing a word processing or design software, designing the invitation, printing it, and finally assembling the printed invitations. Couples can also opt for DIY invitations, which can be created using online templates or by designing them from scratch. The materials required include cardstock, envelopes, printer ink, and embellishments such as ribbons or wax seals. It is recommended to do a test print before printing the final invitations to ensure the desired outcome.

Invitation design software

There are many invitation design software tools available to help you create eye-catching invitations. These tools can be especially useful when designing wedding invitations, which can be costly if outsourced to a professional designer.

Adobe Creative Cloud Express

Formerly known as Adobe Spark, Adobe Creative Cloud Express provides users with thousands of easy-to-use templates for various designs, including invitations. It offers a 30-day free trial and is highly rated for its comprehensive tools, seamless device integration, and collaboration features. However, some users wish it were easier to add fonts.

Canva

Canva is a web-based design tool that offers a drag-and-drop interface, an extensive library of templates, and stock photography. It is highly rated for its ease of use and the variety of templates available. Canva offers a free version for up to a year and is a good option for those who want to design invitations without prior knowledge of editing tools. However, some users have noted that it can be difficult to hide non-premium media and fonts on free accounts.

CorelDRAW

CorelDRAW is a vector graphics software that offers an exclusive range of templates and invites for both personal and commercial use. It is highly customizable and provides features for photo editing, team collaboration, and illustration. CorelDRAW offers a 15-day free trial. While it is well-rated for its versatility and user-friendly interface, some users have noted that the user interface could be more modern.

Evite

Evite is an online invitation maker that offers thousands of free, fully customizable invitation templates. It also provides additional features such as RSVP tracking, which can be useful for event hosts. Evite is well-liked for its variety of templates and the ability to see when invitees have opened the invitation. However, some users have noted that they would like more customization options.

Visme

Visme is another web-based design tool that offers a wide range of features, including presentation software, invitation design, and visual reporting. It provides free graphic assets and cute wedding invitation templates. While Visme offers a free version, it also has a paid version with additional features available for a free trial. Visme is rated well for its ease of use, especially for beginners.

Wondershare EdrawMax

Wondershare EdrawMax is a diagramming software that offers various options for creating invitations, floor plans, flow charts, infographics, and even fashion design. It provides real-time previews and Photoshop wedding invitation templates to help users create professional-looking invitations. Wondershare EdrawMax offers a 15-day free trial and is well-liked for its ease of use and ability to import and export different file formats. However, some users have noted that the user interface could be more modern.

Microsoft Word

For those seeking a beginner-friendly option, Microsoft Word can also be used to design wedding invitations. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of dedicated invitation design software, it is a widely accessible tool that can get the job done.

Invitation paper and envelopes

The first step in printing your own wedding invitations is to select the type of invitation you prefer. Traditional invitations include several enclosures, such as a wedding invitation, reception invitation, and response card, and are printed on high-quality paper. Casual invitations may include fewer enclosures and may direct guests to a website for additional information. They often feature distinct paper designs and embellishments.

Once you've determined the style of your invitation, it's time to order the necessary paper and envelopes. You can either purchase an invitation suite, which typically includes blank invitations, enclosures, and envelopes, or opt for separate cardstock and matching envelopes if you don't mind cutting the invitations to size. It is recommended to order 20-25% more invitation suites than you plan to send to account for any mistakes during printing. Similarly, if you're cutting your own invitations, order 25-50 additional pieces of cardstock.

When selecting cardstock and envelopes, consider the colour, weight, and texture of the paper. Standard wedding invitations are usually printed on white or cream cardstock, but there are various shades available. You can also add visual interest by layering the printed card on top of cardstock in a different colour. Additionally, evaluate your paper preferences based on environmental or luxury considerations. Request paper samples before placing your final order to ensure the paper meets your expectations.

If you plan to use inner and outer envelopes, be sure to order the correct quantities and sizes. You will also need separate envelopes for any response cards. For a unique touch, you can create your own envelopes using envelope templates.

Printing options

Printing your own wedding invitations is a great way to save money and add a personal touch. There are a few ways to go about this, and the method you choose will depend on your budget, the time you have available, and how particular you are about the paper and printing quality.

If you have a printer at home, you can easily print your wedding invitations yourself. Before you begin, run a test print to make sure the invitation prints correctly. Feed the cardstock into your printer, and be patient—printing many invitations can take a while. Stay by the printer in case there are any problems, and make sure you have extra ink.

If you don't have a home printer, you can use a basic inkjet or laser printer from a local print shop, or office supply store. You could also consider going to a professional printing company, which may be cheaper than buying printer ink. Most printing companies will require a .pdf of the invitation image, but be sure to check the file requirements.

If you're happy to cut your invitations down to size, you can save money by purchasing cardstock and matching envelopes. Otherwise, you can buy an invitation suite, which includes blank invitations, enclosures, and envelopes.

If you're cutting your own invitations, invest in a paper cutter. Your invitations will look more professional, and you'll save a lot of time. You can buy one at your local craft store or use one at a copy shop.

Assembly

Once you have designed and printed your wedding invitations, the next step is to assemble them. This is a simple process but can be time-consuming, so it may be helpful to enlist the help of family and friends. Provide them with a completed invitation as an example to ensure they know what the final product should look like.

If you have purchased an invitation suite, the assembly process may simply involve putting the printed invitations in their corresponding envelopes. If you have designed and printed your invitations from scratch, you will need to mount the printed invitations onto cardstock, add any enclosures and embellishments, and then place the invitation suites in their envelopes.

One way to assemble your invitations is to use double-sided tape across the top of the page with text, which will hold it to the coloured cardstock. Alternatively, you can punch two holes through both layers of the invitation, thread a piece of ribbon through, and tie it in a bow at the front.

If you have included RSVP cards, don't forget to add the corresponding envelopes. You can either pre-stamp these or include an RSVP email address or phone number.

Finally, stuff, stamp, and address your envelopes, and your invitations are ready to go!

Postage

When it comes to wedding invitation postage, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, the cost of postage will depend on the weight and dimensions of your fully stuffed envelope. If your invitations are standard size and weigh under one ounce, one Forever Stamp, which costs around $0.73, will be enough to cover the mailing cost. Forever Stamps are valid for first-class postage and have no expiration or denomination. They are also available in various designs, including wedding-themed options.

However, if your invitations include embellishments or are a non-standard size or shape, you may need additional postage. For example, if your envelope weighs over one ounce, you will need to add a 20-cent stamp to your Forever Stamp. The cost of postage increases with the weight of the invitation suite, with each additional ounce costing $0.28 up to three and a half ounces. If your invitation includes a wax seal or is particularly thick, it may be considered "Non-machinable" and require hand-cancelling, which incurs an extra fee of $0.44 per envelope.

To ensure you have the correct postage, it is recommended to take a fully assembled invitation suite to your local post office to have it weighed and to get advice on the required postage. This is especially important if your invitations are not the standard size or shape. You can also request hand-cancelling at the post office, which will help protect your invitations from potential damage during processing.

When addressing your envelopes, it is also important to consider the return postage for RSVP cards. It is customary to include a stamped and addressed RSVP envelope with your invitations to make it more convenient for your guests to respond. If you are mailing your invitations internationally, you do not need to include postage on the RSVP envelope, as most countries will not accept foreign postage.

Frequently asked questions