Assembling Wedding Invitations: Belly Bands Step-By-Step

Wedding invitations are traditionally formal, and there are many things to consider when assembling them. Belly bands are a great way to add a special touch to your invitations and keep all the pieces of your invitation set together. They are slim, paper bands that fit snugly around your invitations. This paragraph will discuss how to assemble wedding invitations with belly bands, including the materials needed, the assembly process, and the recommended order of the invitation suite.

Belly band size and material

Belly bands are slim, paper bands that fit around your invitations, holding all the pieces together. They are best printed on thinner paper that can easily wrap around your wedding invitations. A 60-70# text weight (roughly 90-100 gsm) works well and can usually be found online or at your local office supply store.

The size of your belly band will depend on the size of your invitation. For a standard 5 x 7-inch invitation, your belly band should measure 11 x 2 inches. If you're cutting your own belly band for a custom card size, double the width of your card and add an extra inch for overlap.

You can purchase belly bands from online stationery stores or create your own. Many online stores offer editable templates that you can customise and print yourself. If you're feeling extra creative, you can make your own belly bands from decorative paper purchased at a local craft store.

When printing your belly bands, consider the ink heaviness and quantity. If your design has a full-colour background, it will consume a lot of ink, which can get expensive. Printing at home may be more cost-effective for small quantities, but consider a local print shop for larger quantities to save money.

To cut out your belly bands, use a paper cutter or an X-acto knife. Ensure your printer settings are set to "No Scaling / 100%" and that you have selected the correct paper size. Typically, an 8.5 x 11-inch template will fit multiple bands per page.

Stacking the invitation suite

Firstly, gather all the pieces of your invitation suite, including the invitation card, response card, enclosure cards, and envelopes. The number of pieces may vary depending on your specific needs, but typically, you will have at least the invitation and response card.

Now, you can start assembling the suite by placing the invitation card at the bottom, with the printed side facing up. This is the largest piece of your suite and serves as the foundation for the rest of the stack.

Next, add any enclosure cards, such as reception cards, direction cards, or detail cards. These cards should also be placed with the printed side facing up. If you have multiple enclosure cards, arrange them in descending order of size, with the largest card placed directly on top of the invitation card.

After that, add the response card and its envelope. The response card should be placed with the printed side facing up, while the envelope should be placed with the flap on the right and the printed side facing down. This envelope is typically pre-printed with the mailing address.

If you are including any additional inserts, such as accommodation cards or maps, you can place them at this stage, following the same orientation as the previous cards.

Once all the pieces are stacked neatly, it's time to secure them together. This is where the belly band comes into play. Center the belly band over your stacked suite, making sure any personalisation or design is correctly oriented.

Gently lift the stack and flip it over so that all the cards are facing down. This step ensures that the belly band doesn't cover any important information on the cards.

Now, carefully wrap the belly band around the stack, bringing the ends together at the back. Secure the ends with glue or clear stickers. You can also use double-sided tape for a neater finish. Make sure the band is snug but not too tight, as you don't want to bend the edges of your invitations.

And there you have it! Your invitation suite is now neatly stacked and secured with a belly band, ready to be placed into the envelope and mailed out to your guests.

Applying the belly band

• Stack your invitation suite: Place your invitation card at the bottom, followed by any enclosure cards such as the reception card, direction card, and accommodation card. The RSVP card and its envelope should go on top, with the envelope flap on the left. Ensure all cards are facing up.
• Centre the belly band: Lay the belly band over your neatly stacked suite, centring any personalisation or design.
• Secure the first end: Apply pressure with your thumbs to hold everything in place. Wrap your index fingers around the back of the invite and flip the suite towards you so that all the information is face down. Carefully pull one end of the band over the back and crease it.
• Wrap and secure the other end: Crease the other end of the band in the same way. Pull both ends tight, ensuring you don't bend the sides of your stationery. Adhere the two ends together using glue or the included clear stickers or glue dots.
• Insert into the envelope: Your invitation suite is now ready to be placed into the envelope, with the cards facing up.

Your wedding invitations with belly bands are now ready to be mailed out!

Using a vellum jacket and wax seal

Vellum jackets and wax seals are a great way to add a luxurious and elegant touch to your wedding invitations. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to assemble your invitations using these embellishments:

Preparing the Vellum Jackets and Wax Seals:

• Your vellum jackets will arrive flat, ready for assembly.
• Fold the left side of the jacket along the pre-scored line to create a pocket for your invitation suite.
• Slide your assembled invitation suite into the folded area of the jacket and pinch it with your left hand to hold it in place.
• Fold the right side of the jacket along the other pre-scored line, creating a neat overlap on the front of your invitation.

Attaching the Wax Seals:

• Expose the adhesive backing on your wax seal.
• Place the wax seal on the front of your invitation to hold the vellum jacket flaps closed.
• You can customise your wax seal with initials, florals, or something special to the couple.

Finalising the Invitations:

• With the vellum jacket and wax seal in place, your invitation is almost ready!
• Double-check that your invitation suite is securely held together and that nothing is loose.
• If needed, you can use glue dots or double-sided tape to ensure everything stays in place.

Your elegant and luxurious wedding invitations with vellum jackets and wax seals are now ready to be mailed out to your guests!

Adding a silk ribbon

Preparing the Ribbon:

• Use fabric shears or scissors that have not been used for cutting paper to cut your silk ribbon. This will ensure a clean and straight cut.
• The recommended ribbon length varies depending on the orientation of your invitation and the type of ribbon tie you prefer. For portrait-oriented invitations, cut the ribbon to 22 inches in length. For landscape-oriented invitations, cut it to 31 inches.
• Place your cut ribbon on a table, with the matte side facing up.

Assembling the Invitation Suite:

• Place your invitation suite in the middle of the ribbon.
• Fold both ends of the ribbon across the front of the invitation suite.
• Tuck the left end under the right end, then pull both ends tight.
• Place your right middle finger in the middle of the twist to secure the tie.
• While holding the twist, use your left hand to fold the bottom ribbon piece upward, so it is parallel to the other end.
• Now, fold the left end over the right end and tuck it through the hole in the middle, similar to tying a shoelace.
• Continue to hold the twist while pulling the two ends tight.

Using Double Envelopes:

• It is recommended to use double envelopes when sending wedding invitations with silk ribbons. This provides extra protection for your invitation suite during mailing.
• Place the beautifully tied invitation inside the inner envelope, then put the inner envelope inside the outer envelope.
• On the outer envelope, include the guest's name, mailing address, and return address.
• Seal the outer envelope and your invitation is now ready to be mailed!

Frequently asked questions