Design Your Own Wedding Invites: Free & Easy

Creating your own wedding invitations is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day. With a variety of online tools and templates available, designing and printing your own invitations is easier than ever. In this article, we'll show you how to create your own wedding invitations for free using platforms like Adobe Express, Canva, and more. We'll also offer tips and tricks for customizing your invitations, choosing the right paper and printing options, and planning your timeline. By the end, you'll be well on your way to designing stunning wedding invitations that reflect your unique style and personality.

Using online tools and templates

There are many online tools and templates available to help you create your own wedding invitations for free. Websites such as Adobe Express, Canva, Greetings Island, and Paper Source offer free templates that you can personalize to create your dream wedding invitation. These websites provide a range of customizable layouts, designs, and features that will make your invitation unique and special.

With Adobe Express, you can choose from thousands of standout invitation templates or start from scratch with a blank canvas. You can upload your own photos or browse through libraries of free stock images, icons, and designs to add to your invitation. You can also customize the fonts, colours, size, and layout to make your invitation stand out. Adobe Express is free to use and allows you to save and share your invitation digitally or by downloading it to your device.

Canva also offers a wide range of beautiful and elegant wedding invitation layouts that you can personalize with your own images, fonts, and colours. Their drag-and-drop tool makes it easy to place elements onto your design, and you can access millions of high-quality icons and graphics to choose from. Canva also provides the option to print your invitations or share them via email or social media.

Greetings Island offers elegant, customisable wedding invitation templates with options for fonts, colours, stickers, and photos. They provide free, downloadable, printable, and online invitation templates for those who prefer a virtual experience. You can also print your invitations professionally or at home.

Paper Source, another online invitation design studio, allows you to customise your invitation with unique choices from designers like Monique Lhullier and Neil Lane. They also offer wedding consultants who can provide advice and assistance during the customisation process.

These online tools and templates make creating your own wedding invitations easy, stress-free, and fun, ensuring that your invitation is a true reflection of your special day.

Adding personal touches

Choose a design that reflects you and your partner:

Describe your style as a couple. Do you prefer something simple and elegant, or bold and colourful? Perhaps you want a watercolour motif or a modern and trendy aesthetic. Browse through the thousands of templates offered by online design platforms to find the perfect match for your wedding's theme and style.

Customise with images and colours:

Upload your own photos or browse through libraries of free stock images, icons, and designs to add a personal touch. Play around with colour schemes and use shapes and lines to make your invitations visually appealing and reflective of your personality.

Create a unique hashtag:

Come up with a creative hashtag that represents your special day. Encourage your guests to use it on social media, and you'll have a collection of posts to look back on and remember the celebration.

Add a monogram or a stamp:

Monograms and custom stamps are a great way to add a touch of elegance and uniqueness to your invitations. You can use them not only on the invites but also on other wedding stationery like save-the-date cards and seating cards.

Include a personal message or quote:

Add a favourite quote or a meaningful message to your invitations. You can also include a fun fact or a short story about your relationship to give your guests a glimpse into your journey as a couple.

Experiment with paper and printing options:

Choose a paper type and printing style that suits your design. Consider using textured paper, such as linen or felt, for a luxurious feel. If you're feeling creative, you can even try printing on materials like wood or fabric.

Remember, your wedding invitations are a reflection of you and your partner. By adding these personal touches, you'll make your invitations stand out and give your guests a sneak peek into the love and thought that has gone into your wedding day.

Choosing a style

Consider your wedding theme

If you have a specific wedding theme in mind, such as a beach wedding, a rustic celebration, or a formal event, try to choose an invitation style that complements it. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding, you might opt for invitations printed on recycled brown paper. Or, if you're going for a more elegant affair, consider adding illustrations or using elegant fonts and colour schemes.

Think about the overall design

The design of your wedding invitations should reflect your personal style and the vibe you want to create. You can play with different shapes, materials, colours, and fonts to achieve the desired effect. For instance, you could use fun shapes, mixed materials, hand-painted artwork, or sheer paper to add a unique touch.

Take inspiration from your destination

If you're having a destination wedding, consider incorporating local elements into your invitation design. This could include a map of the area, illustrations of notable landmarks, or even a watercolour map of the wedding venue.

Keep it simple

Sometimes, a simple and understated invitation style can be the most effective. A clean and cohesive design, with a consistent colour palette and elegant font, can be both modern and stylish. This approach also allows you to showcase any special details, such as custom stamps or unique envelopes, without overwhelming your guests.

Get creative with illustrations

Illustrated wedding invitations add a unique and artsy flair to your correspondence. Consider hiring an illustrator to create custom portraits, hand-drawn family crests, or whimsical landscapes of your venue. This approach is perfect for couples who want to inject their personality into every aspect of their wedding.

Play with prints and fonts

Using a variety of prints and fonts can add interest and cohesion to your invitation suite. Try combining different hues and shapes with a similar font, monogram, or linear print to create a unified look. This technique allows you to incorporate your chosen colour palette while maintaining a sense of balance and elegance.

Selecting paper type

Selecting the right paper for your wedding invitations is an important step in the process of creating your own. The type of paper you choose will depend on several factors, including your desired look and feel, your printing method, and your budget. Here are some things to consider when selecting the paper type for your wedding invitations:

Paper Weight and Thickness

The weight and thickness of the paper, also known as the cardstock, will impact the overall look and feel of your invitations. The standard weight for wedding invitation paper is typically between 80# and 120# cardstock. This weight range will ensure that your invitations have a sturdy and luxurious feel without being too thick or heavy for mailing. If you're printing your invitations at home, it's important to consider the maximum weight of paper that your printer can handle to avoid issues like jamming or smudging.

Paper Texture and Finish

The texture and finish of the paper can add a subtle touch of elegance or a unique, creative flair to your invitations. Some popular options include:

• Linen cardstock: This type of cardstock has a delicate woven texture and a matte finish, giving it a subtle elegance that can hide printing imperfections.
• Cotton cardstock: Cotton cardstock is smooth, highly absorbent, and durable. It's a popular choice for wedding invitations as it works well with both laser and inkjet printing and gives a clean, modern look.
• Kraft or recycled cardstock: This type of cardstock has a rustic, on-trend look with a textured, fibrous appearance, making it perfect for vintage or outdoor-themed weddings.
• Parchment: Parchment paper has a thin, semi-translucent quality with a slight marbled look. It adds a unique touch to spring or small, intimate weddings.
• Pearlescent paper: Pearlescent paper has a shimmery finish that adds elegance and a soft glow to your invitations, especially if you're using a photograph.

Printing Method

The printing method you choose will also impact the type of paper you select. Some printing methods, such as letterpress or foil stamping, may require thicker or more textured paper to achieve the desired effect. If you're printing your invitations at home, consider the limitations of your printer in terms of paper thickness and the quality of ink and colour reproduction. If you opt for a professional printing service, they can guide you in choosing the best paper for your desired printing technique.

Budget

Finally, your budget will play a role in determining the type of paper you choose. More specialized papers, such as cotton fibre or acrylic, tend to be more costly. If you're working with a tight budget, consider opting for standard card or cover stock in a smooth matte finish, or explore eco-friendly options made from repurposed materials.

Finalising the design

Pick a Size and Printer:

Choose a standard size for your invitations, as non-standard sizes may require extra postage. Select a printer that can accommodate your printing requests, such as letterpress or foiling. Confirm that envelopes are available for mailing and obtain a print template with exact specifications, including shape, size, bleed, and safe printing areas.

Design a Visual Theme:

Select a visual theme that reflects your personality as a couple. Consider using a colour theme that you can carry into the wedding itself. Design elements such as colour, typography, and style flourishes can also be incorporated into other wedding items like table cards and signage.

Collect Images or Assets:

Decide on the design elements you want to include, such as photos, hand-drawn lettering, or illustrations. Ensure that you have high-quality, high-resolution versions of these elements, as most printers require images to be at 300 dpi or higher for printing.

Find the Perfect Typeface:

Choose a typeface that complements your text. While scripts are popular for traditional designs, modern couples may opt for other options. Test typefaces with important information such as names, dates, times, and locations to ensure they are legible and aesthetically pleasing.

Don't Forget the RSVP:

Include an RSVP card and envelope, provide an email address, or request a phone call to allow guests to confirm their attendance.

Coordinate with Website or Registry:

Use the same visual styling for your wedding invitation and any associated websites or registries. This includes using the same imagery, colour palette, and typography for a polished and professional look.

Once you have finalised your design, send it to the printer and approve the proof. Pay attention to turnaround times to ensure your invitations arrive on time for mailing.

Frequently asked questions