Designing Your Own Wedding Invitations: A Creative Guide

Planning a wedding can be an expensive and stressful experience. One way to save money and add a personal touch is to design your own wedding invitations. This can be a simple or complicated process, depending on your preferences and skills. You can create your own invitations from scratch or use a template, and there are many online tools and paper options to help you achieve your desired result.

Design: Choose a template, customise it, and add a personal touch with your own images, fonts and colours

When creating your own wedding invitations, the design is a crucial aspect that can showcase your personal style and creativity. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you choose a template, customise it, and add your unique touch:

• Choose a Template: Start by selecting a template that speaks to your wedding theme and aesthetic. Whether you prefer a minimalist, elegant, or whimsical style, there are various templates available online. Some websites, like Creative Things Studio, offer templates with tropical themes, while others may have options tailored to your specific taste.
• Customise the Template: Customisation is where your creative freedom truly comes into play. Here are some elements you can customise:

• Wording: You can tailor the text to align with your wedding's tone and formality.
• Fonts: Experiment with different font styles to create a cohesive look that complements your wedding's theme.
• Text Colours: Modify the text colours to match your wedding palette or create a visually appealing contrast.

Add a Personal Touch: This is where your wedding invitation comes to life and reflects your unique love story. Here are some ideas to infuse your personality into the design:

• Incorporate Your Own Images: Include meaningful photos of you and your partner to make the invitation more intimate and special.
• Play with Colours: If you have a specific wedding colour palette, integrate those colours into the design to create a seamless visual experience for your guests.
• Experiment with Fonts: If you have a favourite font or a style that holds significance for you as a couple, consider using it in the design.
• Add Symbolic Elements: Incorporate illustrations, graphics, or motifs that hold personal meaning for you both. This could be anything from a floral pattern that symbolises your relationship to a monogram of your initials.

Proofread and Finalise: Once you're happy with the design, carefully proofread the invitation for any errors or typos. Ensure that all the necessary information is included and that the layout is visually balanced. Then, finalise the design and save it in your preferred format, such as JPG, PNG, or PDF.

By following these steps, you'll be able to create wedding invitations that not only look stunning but also authentically represent your journey as a couple. This DIY approach allows you to save money, exercise your creativity, and share a piece of yourself with your loved ones.

Cost: DIY invites can be more affordable, but factor in the cost of ink, paper, envelopes, and postage

DIY wedding invitations can be a budget-friendly option, but it's important to consider all the costs involved. While you may save on the invitation suite itself, there are other expenses to keep in mind, such as ink, paper, envelopes, and postage. Here's a breakdown to help you plan and decide if DIY invites are the right choice for your wedding:

Cost of Materials

The cost of ink and paper can add up, especially if you opt for high-quality paper stock and saturated inks. The type of paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your invitations. Regular printer paper is usually not suitable for wedding invitations, as you'll want something thicker and more luxurious. Consider cardstock options with different textures, such as linen or felt, to give your invites a sophisticated touch. The weight of the paper also matters; thicker stocks often feel more elegant, while lighter stocks can be more delicate. Don't forget to factor in the size of your invitations, whether they will be flat or folded, and any additional inserts or embellishments like belly bands or envelope liners.

Envelopes and Postage

Envelopes are another essential component of your wedding invitation suite. Choose envelopes that fit your invitations with some room to spare, and don't forget to include RSVP envelopes if you're expecting mailed responses. The colour and style of the envelopes can also add to the overall aesthetic of your invitation suite. Keep in mind that uniquely shaped or heavier envelopes may cost more to post, so it's a good idea to have your complete invitation weighed at the post office to calculate accurate postage.

Printing Costs

If you plan to print your invitations at home, consider the cost of ink and the capacity of your printer. Some home printers may not be suited for large volumes or heavy ink coverage. Alternatively, you could use an online printing service or a local print shop, which can also help you select the best paper for your design.

Design and Customisation

Customising your wedding invitations can be done independently or with the help of a designer. If you have specific design elements in mind, such as intricate fonts or complex layouts, it may be worth enlisting the help of a professional designer, which will incur additional costs. You can also find downloadable templates online for a fraction of the cost of a custom suite, allowing you to personalise the details while saving money.

In conclusion, DIY wedding invitations can be more affordable, but it's important to carefully consider and calculate the costs of all the components involved. By creating a detailed plan and budget, you can decide if DIY invites are the right choice for your special day.

Paper: Opt for cardstock with texture, such as linen or felt, for a luxurious feel

When it comes to wedding invitations, the paper you choose can make a huge difference to the final product. Opting for cardstock with texture, such as linen or felt, will give your invitations a luxurious feel.

Linen cardstock is designed to mimic linen fabric, with a delicate woven texture and a matte finish. This subtle basket weave texture is perfect for hiding any imperfections that may occur during the printing process, and it adds visual interest to an otherwise simple invitation. Linen cardstock is also great for inkjet printing as its texture can help disguise any fuzziness.

Felt cardstock, on the other hand, has a texture that falls somewhere between cotton and canvas—smooth yet coarse. It is a thick cardstock with a weight starting at 110#, so it may not be suitable for all home printers. However, if you can find a printer that can handle it, felt cardstock will give your invitations a sophisticated air.

When choosing the right paper for your wedding invitations, it's important to consider the type of printer you'll be using. Desktop printers often have limited paper thickness capabilities, so it's a good idea to review your printer's instructions and do a test print before committing to a particular cardstock.

If you're printing at home, starting with 80# cardstock and gradually increasing the weight is recommended. This will allow you to find the perfect balance between achieving a professional look and avoiding issues like smudging or jamming.

For a luxurious feel, consider opting for cardstock with a weight of 110# or higher. This will give your invitations a substantial and elegant feel, and it will also enhance the colours and details of your design.

In addition to choosing the right paper, there are a few other things to keep in mind when creating your own wedding invitations. Here are some bonus tips to help you achieve the best results:

• Schedule and plan ahead: Give yourself plenty of time to print your invitations, as it can be a complicated process.
• Plan your customization: Downloadable templates usually offer the option to customize the design yourself or have the designer do it for you. If you want to change design elements like fonts or colours, it's best to have the designer do it.
• Figure out your ink usage: Keep in mind that designs with colourful backgrounds will use a lot of ink, which can be expensive.
• Check your computer and printer: Make sure your equipment is working properly and print tests to adjust the settings to get the colours you want.
• Select your envelopes: Choose envelopes that fit the theme and aesthetic of your invitations, and consider adding envelope liners for a dressy touch.
• Set up for easy assembly: Use a paper cutter with a sharp blade for clean cuts, and opt for glue dots or double-stick tape instead of glue for assembling layers or adding envelope liners.

By following these tips and choosing a luxurious textured cardstock, you can create elegant and professional-looking wedding invitations that will impress your guests.

Printing: Consider using a professional printer to achieve the desired colour balance and quality

Wedding invitations are a great opportunity to showcase your personality and style as a couple. However, printing them yourself can be a challenging task. To achieve the desired colour balance and quality, consider using a professional printer.

Professional printers can offer a seamless and easy process to bring your personalised creations to life. They have state-of-the-art printing technology that ensures every invitation card reflects the quality you expect. You can choose from a variety of paper options, including premium cards that add a luxurious touch to your invitations.

Additionally, professional printers can provide various finishes, such as gloss and matte coatings, and even offer extras like drilling holes for ribbons. They can also handle mailing, sending out invitations to personalised mailing lists directly from their online print shops. This saves you time and ensures your invitations reach your guests on time.

Another benefit of using a professional printer is their expertise in colour management. They can help you select the best paper and finish to enhance the colours and details of your design. This ensures your invitations look their best and make a great impression on your guests.

By using a professional printer, you can also avoid the common issues associated with DIY printing, such as printer limitations and ink costs. Home printers may not be able to handle certain paper types or produce the desired colour accuracy. Professional printers, on the other hand, offer a range of paper stocks and finishes, ensuring your invitations look exactly as you envisioned.

Overall, using a professional printer for your wedding invitations can save you time, hassle, and even money. It ensures your invitations look polished and professional, creating a lasting impression on your guests.

Envelopes: Choose envelopes that fit your invitations, allowing a little room, and don't forget RSVP envelopes

When it comes to choosing envelopes for your wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to select envelopes that are the right size for your invitations. You'll want to make sure that your invitations fit comfortably inside the envelopes, with a little bit of room to spare. Standard invitation sizes include C5, C6, C7, DL, 5x7, and square, so choose envelopes that are slightly larger than your invitations.

Another thing to consider is the colour and style of your envelopes. You can choose from a variety of colours, such as white, ivory, cream, or even something more bold like red, blue, or gold. You can also opt for textured envelopes or envelopes with a patterned liner to add a touch of elegance to your invitations. If you want to add a pop of colour, choose an envelope colour that is light enough so that the address can still be clearly seen.

Don't forget to select envelopes for your RSVP cards as well. These are typically smaller in size, such as C7 or 62 x 94mm. You can also choose to have your envelopes personalised with your guests' names and addresses, which can save you time and make your invitations feel extra special.

Finally, consider the type of flap and seal that you prefer. Envelopes come with various flap styles, such as square flaps, contour flaps, or pointed flaps, and different sealing options, including gummed, peel-and-seal, or button-and-string. Choose the style that best fits your preferences and the overall look you are going for.

Frequently asked questions