Crafting Your Own Wedding Invitation: A Personalized Guide

Making your own wedding invitations is a fun and creative way to save money. You can design and print your own invitations, or make them by hand. Either way, the process is straightforward and can be done in just a few steps. First, gather your materials. This includes paper, envelopes, stickers, and any other decorations you want to include. Then, write out the invitation wording, making sure to include all the necessary information such as the date, time, and location of the wedding. Next, design the invitation, adding any personal touches or themes that reflect your style. Finally, put everything together and send out your invitations!

Choose a wedding invitation template

There are many online services that offer free and premium wedding invitation templates. These services often provide a range of customisation options, including the ability to change fonts, colours, stickers, and photos. Here is a list of some of the services you can use:

• Canva: Canva offers free, printable wedding invitation templates that are easy to personalise. You can choose from various designs, including rustic, minimalist, and floral themes.
• Greetings Island: Greetings Island provides elegant, customisable wedding invitation templates with editable fonts, colours, images, and stickers. They also offer printing services and downloadable templates.
• Template.net: Template.net offers free, customisable wedding invitation templates with various designs, including rustic, floral, and unique themes. You can download the templates in PNG or PDF format.
• VistaPrint: VistaPrint allows you to explore wedding invitation templates, customise them with your details, and preview them before ordering. They offer various paper types and finishing options to create a complete wedding invitation suite.
• Basic Invite: Basic Invite provides unique seal and send wedding invitation templates that come pre-addressed and include a built-in RSVP section. You can customise the designs with colour options and foil elements.
• Shutterfly: Shutterfly offers a platform to create custom wedding invitations with your desired level of detail. They guarantee 100% happiness with their best-in-class printing services.

When choosing a wedding invitation template, consider the theme of your wedding, your personal style, and the customisation options available. Select a template that reflects your vision and allows you to include all the necessary information for your guests.

Customise your invitation

Customising your wedding invitation is a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. Here are some tips to help you create a unique and memorable invitation:

Choose a Design That Reflects Your Style

Select a design that aligns with your wedding theme and your personality as a couple. Whether you prefer a rustic, whimsical, modern, or elegant style, there are numerous templates available to choose from. Basic Invite, for example, offers over 1,200 design templates to suit different themes and styles.

Customise Colours, Fonts, and Images

Most online design platforms, such as Canva, VistaPrint, and Basic Invite, allow you to customise the colour scheme, fonts, and images used in your invitation. Play around with different combinations to create a design that truly reflects your taste. You can also upload your own photos to add a personal touch.

Include All the Necessary Information

While customising the design, don't forget to include essential details such as the names of the couple, the date, time, and location of the wedding, and any additional information like the wedding website address and gift list details.

Consider the Paper Type and Finish

The type of paper and finish you choose can enhance the overall look and feel of your invitation. Thicker paper stocks tend to feel more luxurious, while lighter stocks may have a more delicate, elegant feel. Consider options like matte, pearl, linen, glossy, or hemp-blend paper to find the perfect match for your design.

Order a Sample

Before placing a large order, consider ordering a single custom sample to see and feel the quality of the invitation. This way, you can make any necessary adjustments to the design, paper choice, or finish before finalising your order.

Explore Additional Features

Some platforms offer unique features like QR codes, foil accents, or embossed details to add a special touch to your invitations. These can elevate the look and feel of your invitations, creating a memorable impression on your guests.

By following these steps and exploring the customisation options available, you can design a wedding invitation that perfectly captures the essence of your love story and sets the tone for your big day.

Preview your design

Once you've designed your wedding invitation, it's time to preview your design. This is your chance to see how your invitation will look when it's printed and make any necessary adjustments to ensure it looks perfect. Here are some things to keep in mind during the preview process:

• Pay attention to the layout: Check that all the elements of your invitation are placed correctly and that the text is aligned neatly. Make sure there is a clear hierarchy in the text, with important information such as the date, time, and venue standing out.
• Proofread for errors: Carefully review your invitation for any spelling or grammar mistakes. Ask a friend or family member to double-check as well, as it can be easy to miss errors in your own work.
• Check colours and images: Ensure that any colours and images you've used look clear and crisp. Verify that the colours match your chosen theme and that any images are high-quality and not pixelated.
• Finalise paper type: Consider the type of paper you want your invitation printed on. Thicker stocks can give a more luxurious feel, while lighter stocks can provide a delicate touch. Choose a paper type that complements your design and reflects the overall style of your wedding.
• Get a second opinion: Share your preview with someone else, such as your partner, a friend, or a wedding planner. They may spot something you've missed or have suggestions for improvements.
• Be mindful of costs: If you're working with a tight budget, keep the cost of printing in mind. The paper type and quantity you choose will impact the overall expense. Consider getting quotes from multiple printers to find the best option for your budget.

Remember, the preview step is crucial as it allows you to make any necessary changes before finalising your order. Take your time and make sure every detail is exactly as you want it to be. This will ensure that your wedding invitation is absolutely perfect and ready to impress your guests.

Choose paper type

When making a wedding invitation, the type of paper you choose will dictate what printing methods you can use and the overall look and feel of the invitation.

If you're printing at home, it's important to note that desktop printers are often limited in the paper thickness, or weight, they can handle. The best way to determine the maximum weight of paper your printer can handle is by reviewing your printer's instructions and then doing a test print. Start with 80# cardstock and increase the weight until you encounter issues like smudging or jamming.

If you're printing at a local print shop, you'll be able to use thicker paper. Industrial printers at a commercial print shop can typically handle paper with a weight of up to 100-120#.

• Solid white cardstock: This is medium to heavy-weight paper made from tree pulp with a smooth, matte finish. It comes in a variety of colours and weights, making it perfect for printing at home.
• Linen cardstock: This type of cardstock is made to look like linen fabric with a delicate woven texture and a matte finish. The basket weave texture is perfect for hiding imperfections or quality issues that may arise when printing at home.
• Cotton cardstock: This type of paper is relatively smooth to the touch but still highly absorbent, making it great for both laser and inkjet printing. It gives wedding invitations a clean, modern look and is considered "photo-safe", meaning it will keep better in your scrapbook and wedding albums for years to come.
• Parchment: Parchment is a thin, semi-translucent paper with a slight marbled look. It's subtle and soft and layers nicely with vellum or cotton cardstock to add depth.
• Felt: Felt is a thick cardstock with a texture that's somewhere between cotton and canvas—smooth and yet coarse. It gives invitations an air of sophistication.
• Kraft, or recycled cardstock: This type of cardstock has a rustic look and resembles the coarse paper used for brown grocery bags, but thicker and more polished. It's smooth to the touch but still has a textured, fibrous look, making it perfect for vintage or outdoorsy weddings.
• Vellum: Translucent vellum looks gorgeous on its own or layered over an illustration, artwork, or a photo. You can print the invitation details directly onto the vellum or overlay unprinted vellum on top of your invitations to add subtle depth.
• Coloured cardstock: This type of cardstock most closely resembles thick craft paper and is incredibly smooth, without any texture or grain. It comes in various colours and weights and is a great option for pairing with coloured envelopes to create a fun, cohesive look.
• Wood grain cardstock: Wood grain cardstock has a subtle wood grain texture embossed into the paper. It's perfect for accents like belly bands and tags, as well as for enclosure cards and vellum underlays.

When choosing the weight of your paper, it's important to note that the higher the weight, the thicker the cardstock, and the better your invitations will look and feel, especially if you're printing them yourself. Here are some standard weight options:

• 80-90#: Ideal for most home printers.
• 100#: Can go through some home printers but may cause problems in others.
• 110-130#: The heaviest weight you can probably print yourself, this weight will give your invitations a professional look.
• 150# and up: Reserved for professional printers, embossers, and letterpress printing.

Order a sample

Ordering a sample wedding invitation is a great way to see and feel the quality of the product before placing a full order. Basic Invite offers customers the opportunity to order a custom sample of their actual suite, which includes a wedding sample kit. This can be done by clicking the "order a sample" button on any card. VistaPrint also offers a similar service, allowing customers to order a single invitation in their 4.6 x 7.2 size option. This is a cost-effective way to see the invitation in person before placing a larger order. After reviewing the colour, paper, and size, reordering a higher quantity is quick and easy.

Canva also offers free and printable wedding invitation templates that can be personalized and edited to your liking. You can choose to download and email the invitations to your guests or send them to Canva to be printed and delivered to your door within days. This is a great option if you want to see a sample of your invitation before sending it to your guests.

Additionally, VistaPrint offers free digital proofs that can be downloaded and shared with others. This allows you to get feedback and make any necessary changes before placing your final order.

Frequently asked questions