Lyla Dejesus
DIY wedding invitations can be a fun and creative way to save money on your wedding. However, it's important to remember that they can also be time-consuming and may not always be cheaper than ordering from a professional. When it comes to designing and creating your own wedding invitations, there are many options to choose from, such as using editable templates, printable templates, or creating invitations from scratch. The level of customisation and personalisation is up to you, and there are plenty of online resources and tutorials to help you along the way. Whether you're adding a simple ribbon or a wax seal, focusing on the little details can make your invitations stand out and wow your guests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Cheaper than professional services, but can be expensive depending on the design and materials used |
| Customisation | Customisable through DIY methods such as gold foil, watercolour backgrounds, textured paper, stamps, ribbons, wax seals, envelope liners, and twine |
| Time | Requires significant time investment, including practice, assembly, and potential errors |
| Skill | Requires some level of skill and creativity, with room for customisation and personal touches |
| Materials | Requires paper, ink, envelopes, and other embellishments like stamps, ribbons, and wax seals |
| Tools | May require specialised tools like paper cutters, paper folders, and scorers |
| Printing | Various printing options are available, including online, at-home, and local printing services |
| Design | Numerous design options and templates are accessible online through platforms like Canva, Etsy, and Creative Market |
What You'll Learn
Gold foil, watercolour or ribbon details
Gold foil, watercolour, and ribbon details are all ways to elevate DIY wedding invitations and make them look luxurious.
Gold foil is an excellent way to add an elegant and luxurious feel to wedding invitations. It is also very cheap to buy and easy to do at home. The beauty of gold foil is that it doesn't have to match—it looks best when sparse and scattered. To create gold foil invitations, you will need a cheap laminator, toner-reactive foil, and a laser printer. First, print your wording or image onto card or paper in black ink. Cut the paper down to size and turn on your laminator to warm up. Cut a section of toner-reactive foil and place it over the text. Feed the paper and foil into the laminator, and the foil will stick to the text, creating a metallic finish.
Watercolour backgrounds are another way to make DIY wedding invitations look unique and beautiful. The beauty of watercolour is that each invitation will look different, and as long as you use similar colours and placement, they will look amazing as a set. You can print simple wedding invites on watercolour paper and give them a watercolour wash for an arty effect.
Adding a ribbon to your wedding invite is a gorgeous extra touch and a perfect way to keep all the other elements together, such as travel information and RSVP cards. You can also add a little tag for an extra-special touch.
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Paper type and finish
When it comes to paper type and finish, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the weight of the paper is important. Heavier cardstock, typically 110 lb or more, will give your invitations a more luxurious feel. However, it's important to note that some home printers may not be able to handle cardstock that is too thick. So, before settling on a paper weight, be sure to check the maximum weight your printer can handle.
The finish of the paper is also key to achieving the look you want. For a luxurious feel, opt for a smooth, matte finish. If you're going for a more rustic look, kraft paper or wood-grain paper are great options. For a modern invitation, cotton cardstock is a good choice as it has a clean, smooth finish. You can also add texture to your invitations with paper that has a linen or felt finish.
If you want to add a bit of sparkle, consider a paper with a metallic or pearlized finish. This will give your invitations a pearlescent sheen that is sure to impress your guests. Another way to add interest to your invitations is to use textured cardstock, such as linen. This can help to hide any imperfections that may occur during the printing process.
Don't forget to think about the colour of your paper, too. White cardstock is the most popular choice, but you can also find cardstock in a variety of colours to match your wedding theme. If you're going for a simple and elegant look, a plain white invitation with black text can be very effective. However, if you want something bolder and more colourful, there are plenty of paper options to choose from.
Finally, don't forget to order enough paper! It's recommended that you order 20-25% more than you need to allow for mistakes and practice runs.
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Calligraphy
There are tons of different calligraphy hands, and some are crafted with a pointed pen, while others use a broad-edge or chisel-tip pen. Lately, pointed pen varieties are the most popular for wedding work. There are many varieties within the pointed pen category, ranging from ultra-flourished and traditional to organic or more feminine and whimsical.
To find a calligrapher, start with your local calligraphy guild. Most states or major cities have a calligraphy association or group, and many of these have a listing of local calligraphers or can put you in touch with their members. When in doubt, a word-of-mouth recommendation from someone who has had calligraphy wedding invitations that you liked is always a great option.
When should you hire a wedding calligrapher? Book your calligrapher when you book your invitations. While the process itself doesn't take too long, client lists tend to fill up quickly, and there is a limit to the amount of work calligraphers can take on.
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Wax seals
You can buy custom wax seal stamps, or design your own with your initials, names, or the wedding date. You can also add decorative elements like flowers or laurels. The traditional sealing wax colour is red or burgundy, but you can choose any colour that fits your wedding theme.
If you want to make your own wax seals, you will need sealing wax, a decorative stamp, and a way to melt the wax. You can use a wax furnace, a traditional wax stick, or a glue gun. To create your seals, melt the wax, pour it onto the envelope, press your stamp into the wax, and hold it for 10-15 seconds. You can also use self-adhesive wax seal stickers, which are quicker and easier to apply.
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Stamps and punches
Using stamps and punches is a great way to add creative edging to your wedding invitations. They are available in a variety of different sizes and designs from craft stores and online. It is important to give yourself enough time and ensure you have a steady hand when using these tools, as you don't want to end up with patterns that are off.
One option is to use a special punch or stamp cutter to create fancy corners or edges on your wedding invitations. This can give your invitations a unique and elegant look. You can also use paper punches to punch out letters or images to create custom stamps for your invitations. This allows you to personalise your invitations with your own designs and messages.
Another idea is to use rubber stamps to create a textured, hand-printed look for your invitations. Custom rubber stamps are relatively inexpensive and can be used to print not just your wedding invitations, but also return addresses, and even thank-you cards. When using rubber stamps, it is important to choose a smooth paper that is not too "toothy" or textured, as this can make it tricky to get a clean, crisp print.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few ways to make DIY wedding invitations look professional. Firstly, consider the design and opt for a simple and elegant style or a bold and colourful motif. You could also add gold edging to your invitations or envelopes, which is easy to do and looks expensive. Another way to elevate DIY invitations is to wrap them in vellum cases. Finally, using a paper cutter with a sharp blade will give you clean cuts for your invitations.
There are lots of creative ways to decorate DIY wedding invitations. You could add a personalised stamp, a ribbon, creative edging with punches, a watercolour wash, twine and tags, an envelope liner, a wax seal, or a gold foil detail.
To make DIY wedding invitations, you will need a computer and printer, envelopes, paper (cardstock or textured paper), ink, and embellishments such as ribbon, twine, stamps, or wax seals. You may also want to invest in a paper cutter and paper folder/scorer.
