Designing Your Wedding Invitation Card: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating a wedding invitation card is an important part of wedding planning. It sets the tone for your special day and provides guests with a memorable keepsake. While the process can be stressful, there are many online tools and templates available to help you design and create your perfect invitation. Whether you're looking for a traditional or modern design, you can choose from a range of options, customise templates, and add personal touches to make your invitation unique.

Choose a card-making platform or application

There are many card-making platforms and applications available for creating wedding invitations. Here are some options to consider:

Canva

Canva is a popular choice for creating wedding invitations, offering a wide range of customisable templates. You can upload your own photos, customise colour schemes, and add shapes, lines, and text. Canva also provides access to millions of premium images, graphics, and illustrations, with many free options available. You can also print your invitations or share them electronically via email or social media. Canva offers a free version and a premium version with more features.

Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign CC

Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign CC are professional graphic design software with robust features for creating wedding invitations. They offer a wide range of layout options, customisation tools, font choices, and graphic elements. These software are ideal for those seeking more advanced design capabilities and are willing to invest in industry-standard tools.

Greetings Island

Greetings Island is an online invitation maker that offers beautiful, customisable templates for various events, including weddings. You can personalise your invitations with text, images, and stickers. They provide free and premium options, with the ability to download, print, or send your invitations online. Greetings Island also offers full event management services, allowing you to collect RSVPs, share event details, and manage guest lists.

Wedding Invitation Cards Maker

Wedding Invitation Cards Maker is a free mobile application available for both iOS and Android devices. It provides a variety of customisable templates, allowing you to add text, photos, stickers, and change backgrounds. You can save your creations, share them digitally, or print them at home. The app also offers in-app purchases to remove advertisements.

Evite

Evite is a versatile application that offers wedding invitation options, as well as invitations for other events like birthdays and parties. You can create and customise your invitations, add event details, and manage guest lists. Evite is free to use and allows you to send invitations via email, text messages, or social media platforms.

These are just a few examples of the many platforms and applications available for creating wedding invitations. Each option offers unique features, templates, and customisation options, so it's important to explore and choose the one that best suits your needs and design preferences.

Pick a card design

Picking a card design is a crucial step in creating your wedding invitation. The design you choose will set the tone for your special day and give your guests a memorable keepsake. It should reflect your unique taste and the essence of your celebration.

When selecting a card design, consider the overall look and feel you want to achieve. Do you prefer a classic, modern, or stylish design? Perhaps you want to incorporate cultural traditions, such as Indian wedding invitation designs. You can also add a rustic or natural theme if you're getting married on a lawn or opt for a more traditional style for a church wedding.

The shape and dimensions of your card are also important. The standard size for a wedding invitation card is 4.25" x 6" or 4.5" x 6.25", but you can also choose a different size to give your invitation a unique look.

When it comes to the design elements, fonts and colours play a significant role. Cursive-style fonts are popular for wedding invitations as they look romantic and elegant. You can pair them with other fonts to create a unique combination. Carefully choose your colour palette to match your wedding theme or use a memorable picture as inspiration for your shades.

Don't be afraid to experiment with different design elements and add a personal touch. You can include personal jokes or switch up the wording to make your invitation stand out. Remember, the design process should be enjoyable and reflect your personality.

Add your wedding information

Wedding invitations should include the following information:

• A warm and personal greeting.
• A message expressing happiness and best wishes for the couple.
• The names of the bride and groom.
• The wedding date.
• The time of the wedding ceremony.
• The wedding venue.
• Details on how to RSVP (by phone, email, or a designated website).
• Any specific guidelines or requests for guests.
• A personal message or anecdote (optional, for close guests).
• A sincere sign-off and signature.

It is also important to consider the format and style of your invitation. The standard size for a wedding invitation card is 4.5 inches by 6.25 inches, but you can choose a different size to give your invitation a unique look. The font is another key element—cursive-style fonts are romantic, soft, and elegant, and can be paired with other fonts to create a stylish contrast. The colour palette of your invitation is also important and can be inspired by meaningful images or colours that hold significance for the couple.

Finally, consider the delivery method for your invitations. You can send them by post, or opt for online invitations via email or social media. Some couples create a mini website for their wedding, which can be a cost-effective option.

Customise with text, colours, and images

When creating your wedding invitation card, customising the text, colours, and images is a crucial step in making it unique and memorable. Here are some detailed tips to help you with this process:

Text Customisation:

• Include essential information: Provide details such as the names of the couple, the wedding date, time, and venue. You may also want to include information on how to RSVP (by phone, email, or a designated website) and any special instructions for guests.
• Choose a romantic font: Cursive-style fonts are elegant and romantic. They can be paired with other fonts to create a unique and visually appealing design. Play around with different font combinations to see what suits your style best.
• Add a personal touch: If you're close to the guests, consider including a personal message or anecdote. This could be a heartfelt paragraph expressing your happiness and best wishes for the couple.

Colour Customisation:

• Pick a colour scheme: Choose colours that complement each other and reflect your wedding theme. You can use an image colour picker tool to select shades from a memorable photo, such as your engagement picture.
• Experiment with different combinations: Don't be afraid to play with different colour palettes. Try out various combinations to see which one makes your invitation stand out and creates the desired ambiance.

Image Customisation:

• Add personal photos: Include a photo of the couple, a special location, or any image that holds significance for your wedding. This adds a unique and meaningful touch to your invitation.
• Enhance your photos: Use photo editing tools to improve the quality of your images. Adjust the brightness, saturation, lighting, and contrast to make sure your photos look their best.
• Incorporate stock photos: If you don't want to use personal photos, you can choose from a library of high-quality stock photos. Select images that complement your wedding theme and add visual appeal to your invitation.

Download, print, or share your invitation

Once you've designed your wedding invitation, it's time to share it with your guests! Here are some options for downloading, printing, or sharing your invitations:

Downloading

You can download your wedding invitation as a high-resolution image or PDF file. This option gives you the flexibility to share your invitation electronically or print it at your convenience. Some websites, like Greetings Island, offer free downloads with a subscription plan. You can access unlimited designs for a small annual or monthly fee.

Printing

If you prefer to print your invitations, look for websites that offer print-ready files. These files are specifically designed for easy printing on standard paper sizes like Letter or A4 cardstock. Websites like Download & Print provide dotted cut lines to help you trim your invitations to the correct size. You can also explore professional printing services, such as those offered by Greetings Island, to ensure a high-quality finish.

Sharing Online

If you want to share your invitations digitally, you can take advantage of social media or messaging apps. Some websites, such as Greetings Island, allow you to share your invitations directly from their platform to social media platforms. This eco-friendly option eliminates the need for paper invitations and provides a convenient way to reach your guests.

Mailing

For a more traditional approach, you can mail your printed invitations to your guests. This method ensures a tangible keepsake for your guests and adds a personal touch. Be sure to send your invitations six to eight weeks before your wedding to allow ample time for your guests to make arrangements.

No matter which option you choose, always review your invitation for accuracy before finalizing it. Ensure that all the necessary details, such as the couple's names, date, time, and location, are included.

Frequently asked questions