Designing Wedding Invites: A Creative Words Guide

Creating your own wedding invitations is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day. It can be a fun and creative process, but it's important to keep a few things in mind to ensure your invitations look professional and include all the necessary information. First, consider the overall design and theme of your invitations. This can be influenced by your wedding's location, colour scheme, and personal interests. Choose a shape and dimension for your invitations—traditionally, they are rectangular, measuring 4.5 by 6.25 inches. Select a romantic font that reflects the tone of your wedding, and consider adding imagery, such as a photo of the happy couple.

When it comes to the wording of your invitations, be sure to include the critical information: the names of the couple, the wedding date, time, and location. You may also want to include the dress code, RSVP details, and any additional information such as the wedding website. If the ceremony and reception are at different locations, provide separate addresses. Finally, don't forget to choose the right paper and printing options to ensure your invitations look and feel luxurious.

Choose your words carefully: Consider the tone and formality of your wedding and opt for wording that matches

When it comes to wedding invitations, the wording you choose is important. It should reflect the tone and formality of your wedding while also conveying critical information. Here are some tips to help you choose the right words and create elegant and inviting wedding invitations:

Host Line:

The host line is where you name the hosts of the event, typically the people paying for the wedding. The wording will vary depending on who is hosting: one set of parents, both sets of parents, the couple, or the couple together with their parents. Capitalize proper names and titles, and use punctuation only after courtesy titles. If you're hosting the wedding yourselves, you can omit this line.

Request Line:

The request line is where you invite your guests to join your celebration. Traditionally, formal wording such as "request the honour of your presence" indicated a formal religious ceremony, while casual language is more common for modern, non-religious weddings. Some common wording options include "invite you to join" and "please join us to celebrate."

Couple's Names:

Ensure that the couple's names are prominent and legible. For heterosexual couples, the bride's name traditionally comes first. For same-sex couples, the order of the names can be determined by what sounds best or alphabetical order. Capitalize proper names and titles, avoid punctuation, and consider using both partners' full legal names.

Date, Time, and Location:

Provide clear information about the date, time, and location of the ceremony. For formal invitations, spell out the date, time, and address in full. Use numerals for casual invitations. Include the city and state in full for both formal and casual invitations.

Reception Details:

If the ceremony and reception are at the same venue, you can simply state "reception to follow." If the reception is elsewhere, include the full address on a separate card for formal invitations or on the same invitation for casual ones.

Dress Code:

Including dress code information is optional but helpful. You can mention it in the lower corner or centre of the invite or use a details card or your wedding website. The invitation's design will also indicate the expected dress code; a very fancy invitation suggests a formal affair, while a simpler invitation indicates a more casual dress code.

Remember, these are just guidelines. Feel free to add your own creative touches and choose wording that reflects your personality and the style of your wedding.

Include the essentials: Ensure you cover the who, what, when, and where

When creating your own wedding invitations, it's important to include the essentials—the who, what, when, and where. This means providing guests with all the necessary information they need to know about your big day. Here are some key points to consider:

The Couple's Names

Include the names of the soon-to-be newlyweds. Traditionally, for different-sex couples, the bride's name appears first, followed by the groom's. However, for same-sex couples or those who prefer a different order, the names can be listed in a way that complements the card design.

Date and Time

Be sure to include the date and time of the wedding ceremony. It's important to be clear about the timing to ensure guests' attendance and punctuality.

Location

Provide the address and, if necessary, directions to the wedding venue. If the ceremony and reception are held at different locations, specify the reception details as well. This ensures guests know where to go and can plan their transportation accordingly.

Additional Information

You may also want to include other essential details such as the wedding website, gift registry information, dress code, and any other specifics that will enhance your guests' experience. For example, if there are multiple events throughout the wedding weekend, such as a rehearsal dinner or a day-after brunch, you can include a weekend schedule or direct guests to your wedding website for more information.

When creating your invitations, it's a good idea to proofread and double-check that all the essential information is included. This will ensure your guests have all they need to know to celebrate your special day with you.

Design and layout: Pick a shape and dimensions, and consider your location and colour scheme

When creating your own wedding invitations, the design and layout are key to ensuring your invites complement the tone and theme of your big day. The first step is to pick a shape and dimension for your invitations. While the standard size for wedding invitations is 5"x7", they can vary in scale depending on the amount of information you need to convey and your design preferences. For instance, if your invitation has a lot of design elements, opting for a slightly larger card may be advisable to ensure legibility.

If you have a lot of information to include, a tall or slim invitation (4"x9") can be a good choice, providing more space without requiring additional inserts. For bold designs or more information, a larger invitation of 6"x8" or 7"x9" may be suitable. Square invitations (around 5"x5") are also an option, particularly for more modern designs.

It is also important to consider the weight and dimension restrictions of the country you are mailing your invitations from and to, as these can impact costs. Sticking to common invitation dimensions will help keep costs down, as printers will have experience printing these sizes.

Once you have decided on the shape and size, the next step is to consider your location and colour scheme. Your wedding colours should capture the mood you want for your nuptials and tie in with your wedding narrative. They should also complement the colours of your bridesmaids' dresses and the overall tone of your wedding photos.

When choosing a colour scheme, consider the season of your wedding. For example, a spring wedding could feature a palette of greens and pinks, while summer nuptials might incorporate yellow, deep green, and light taupe. If you are having an outdoor wedding, a floral greenery theme could be a good fit, while a navy blue and gold colour scheme may suit a minimalist indoor venue.

You can also draw inspiration from your wedding location when selecting colours. For instance, a rustic theme could combine contemporary and vintage tones, while a destination wedding could incorporate colours associated with the location.

Remember to choose a colour scheme that can be easily applied to all aspects of your wedding, from invitations and stationery to flower arrangements and decorations.

Add personal touches: Inject your personality and relationship quirks into the design

Injecting your personality and relationship quirks into your wedding invitation design is a great way to make your wedding uniquely yours. Here are some ideas to add personal touches to your wedding invitations:

Think About What's Important to You as a Couple

Consider what you both truly value in life. Do you have any shared hobbies, activities, or pets? Is there a family tradition you want to incorporate? Even something as simple as your favourite Netflix shows can be a fun idea to include. For instance, if you both love watching a particular show, you could include a quote or an inside joke related to it.

Create a Custom Wedding Crest

A custom wedding crest is a beautiful way to symbolise your relationship. It can include various icons that represent your interests, hobbies, or even your pet. You can add your crest to all your wedding stationery, from save-the-date cards to cocktail napkins.

Add an Art Print

Think about adding a beautiful art print to the back of your invitation. It could be a watercolour painting of your wedding venue, a floral illustration featuring one of the flowers from your bouquet, or even a meaningful quote. This adds a special touch that your guests will want to keep and frame.

Include a Custom Wedding Map

If you're having a destination wedding or expecting guests from out of town, consider including a custom wedding map. This can feature both iconic landmarks and your recommended sightseeing spots. It adds a fun and practical element to your invitation suite.

Use a Meaningful Colour Palette

Choose colours that you both truly love and reflect your personalities. Consider your favourite colours or hues that have been with you since childhood. Using a unique colour palette will make your invitations stand out and feel truly yours.

Incorporate Your Wedding Website

If you have a wedding website, you can direct your guests there for more detailed information, such as directions, accommodation options, and registry details. This helps keep your invitation design clean and simple while still providing all the necessary information.

Remember, your wedding invitations are a reflection of you and your partner. By adding these personal touches, you'll create invitations that your guests will cherish and that will set the tone for your special day.

Printing and paper: Select your paper type and whether to print at home or use a service

When it comes to wedding invitations, the paper and printing you choose will depend on your budget and style preferences. Here are some tips to help you select the right paper type and printing method for your DIY wedding invitations:

Paper Type:

• Cardstock is a popular choice for wedding invitations as it is sturdy and gives a luxurious feel. The weight of cardstock is measured in pounds, with 80# being suitable for most home printers, and weights of 100# and above giving a more professional look.
• Linen cardstock has a delicate woven texture and a matte finish, adding visual interest to simple invitations and hiding printing imperfections.
• Cotton cardstock is smooth, highly absorbent, and durable. It gives invitations a modern and elegant look and is considered "photo safe", making it ideal for scrapbooking.
• For a rustic or vintage aesthetic, consider kraft or recycled cardstock, which resembles coarse brown paper bags.
• Parchment is a thin, semi-translucent paper with a subtle marbled effect. It adds a unique touch to invitations and layers well with other papers.
• For a hint of sparkle, pearlescent paper has a shimmery finish that adds elegance and a soft glow to photographs.

Printing:

• Printing at home is a budget-friendly option, but it's important to consider the capabilities of your printer. Home printers may be limited in terms of paper thickness and print quality. Experiment with different paper weights, starting with 80# cardstock, to find the maximum weight your printer can handle without issues like smudging or jamming.
• Textured cardstock can help disguise imperfections from inkjet printing, giving your invitations a more polished look.
• If you're printing at home, buy ink in bulk to ensure you have enough for the entire batch of invitations.
• Online print-on-demand services like Canva Print offer convenience and high-quality results. You can also try local print shops like Kinko's or FedEx Office for professional-looking invitations at a lower cost than boutique printing services.
• When outsourcing printing, save your invitation designs on a thumb drive as high-resolution PDFs.
• For flat printing, consider using a high-quality online stationer like Minted or WeddingWire Invitations, which offer beautiful templates and customisation options.

Remember to factor in the cost of paper, ink, envelopes, and postage when deciding whether to print your wedding invitations yourself or use a professional printing service.

Frequently asked questions