Crafting Your Wedding Invitations: A Step-By-Step Guide

Planning a wedding can be an expensive and time-consuming process, so it's no surprise that many couples are choosing to design and create their own wedding invitations. DIY wedding invitations can be a fun and creative way to add a personal touch to your special day, and they can also save you money. In this guide, we will take you through the entire process of making your own wedding invitations, from choosing a design and customising your template to printing and assembling your invitations. We will also offer tips and tricks for achieving a professional look, and suggest ways to decorate your invitations to create a presentation your guests will love.

Using online tools and templates

There are many online tools and templates available to help you design and create your own wedding invitations. Using these tools, you can make the process of designing your invitations straightforward, cost-effective, and stress-free.

Adobe Express, for example, offers a free wedding invitation maker with thousands of professionally-made templates to choose from. You can also start from scratch with a blank canvas and edit your design in minutes using their drag-and-drop online editor. You can personalize every aspect of your invitations, from the text to the layout, adding beautiful fonts, colours, graphics, and your own personal images. You can even add animation to your invites for extra flair. Once you're happy with your design, you can instantly download it and share it on social media, or resize it for Instagram stories and Facebook posts.

Canva also offers a free wedding invitation maker with hundreds of beautiful and elegant templates to choose from. You can customize your invitations by uploading your own photos, choosing custom colour schemes, and adding shapes and lines. There is also a drag-and-drop tool that allows you to place elements directly onto your design, and you can access over 1 million premium images, graphics, and illustrations to use (some priced at just $1). Once your invitations are complete, you can print them in high resolution or share them on social media.

Greetings Island also provides a free online invitation maker with exclusive designs and helpful filters to ensure you find the perfect invitation for your event. You can personalize your invitations by adding custom text, images, and stickers, and choosing different fonts, colours, and layouts. You can then save your invitation and share it instantly on social media, via text, or by email. Alternatively, you can download a high-quality PDF to print at home or use a professional printing service.

Other websites offering similar services include Download and Print, which provides an easy point-and-click online editor, and allows you to download a high-res print-ready file to print unlimited copies, and Canva Print, which will deliver your printed invitations directly to your door.

Choosing the right paper

When it comes to choosing the right paper for your DIY wedding invitations, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it's important to select a high-quality paper that will give your invitations a luxurious feel. Look for paper with a weight of around 120 lb. or more – this will ensure your invitations feel sturdy and expensive. You could also opt for paper with a bit of texture, such as a linen or felt finish, which can add a nice touch to the overall design.

If you're planning to print your invitations yourself, it's crucial to choose a paper that is compatible with your printer. Take some samples home and test them out before committing to buying a large quantity. This will ensure that your printer can handle the paper weight and that the ink looks good on the paper.

Another thing to keep in mind is the colour of the paper. White is always a classic choice, but you could also explore off-white or cream options for a softer look. If you're going for a more rustic or natural theme, consider kraft paper, which has a brown tint and adds a warm, earthy feel.

Don't forget to order enough paper, and perhaps a little extra, to allow for mistakes and test prints. It's also worth checking if your chosen paper comes in matching envelopes, so your invitation suite has a cohesive look.

Finally, if you're feeling really creative, you could explore adding some special touches to your paper, such as gold foil details, watercolour backgrounds, or even using seeded paper that your guests can plant in their gardens.

Adding personal touches

Envelope and Paper Choices

Coloured envelopes are always a great option for adding a pop of colour to your invitations. You can also choose envelopes with patterned liners, such as metallic paper or a fun scrapbooking paper design. If you're feeling extra crafty, you can even make your own envelope liners using patterned paper or wrapping paper. Another idea is to add a belly band or a piece of twine to tie the invitation suite together.

Addressing Options

Calligraphy is a beautiful way to address your invitations, but it can be expensive. If you're on a budget, consider learning calligraphy yourself or hiring a local calligrapher, as this can be more affordable than using a shipping service. Digital addressing services, such as Envelopes.com, offer a professional look without the need for hand lettering. You can also find many sellers on Etsy who offer this service. Guest address labels are another option, and you can even design them to coordinate with your invitation suite.

Wax Seals and Stamps

Wax seals add a luxurious and elegant touch to your invitations. You can use dried blooms or botanical leaves to adorn the wax seals, or personalise them with your initials. If you're feeling creative, you can even make your own custom couple portrait rubber stamp to use on your invitations and other wedding stationery.

Personalised Details

Adding personalised details to your invitations can make them truly unique. Consider including a monogram, your wedding date, special messages, or even your face printed on custom M&Ms. You can also incorporate your favourite colours, textures, or even a watercolour motif that reflects your wedding theme. If you're feeling extra crafty, try painting your invitations by hand or adding gold foil details for an elegant and luxurious feel.

Assembly and Finishing Touches

When assembling your invitations, consider using glue dots or double-stick tape instead of glue for a neat and secure finish. Add a hand-tied piece of string or ribbon for a rustic touch, or even a dried flower to tease your wedding colour scheme. Finally, don't forget to weigh your invitations at the post office to ensure you're using the correct postage. You may also want to request "Hand Cancel, Please" on each envelope to avoid any potential ripping or damage during delivery.

Printing and assembling

Planning and Customization:

Before you begin printing, it's important to plan and customize your invitation design. You can find downloadable templates online or create your own from scratch using platforms like Canva. Consider the style you want, such as simple and elegant or bold and colorful. It's helpful to create a Pinterest board to identify your style and look for trends in fonts and colors. If you're printing at home, keep in mind that designs with more white space and lighter color backgrounds are better suited for most home printers and will save on ink.

Schedule and Plan Ahead:

Give yourself ample time for printing, as it may take longer than expected. Invitations should ideally be mailed eight weeks before the wedding, so plan your printing time accordingly. Make sure you have about 10% more supplies than you need (such as paper, ink, envelopes, etc.) in case of mistakes or the need to reprint.

Printing Options:

You have two main options for printing: print-at-home or send your completed file to a larger printer like Costco, Office Depot, or a local printing shop. If you choose to print at home, ensure your equipment is working properly, as your computer screen may not accurately depict how the design will print. Test print and adjust settings to get your desired colors.

Paper Selection:

The type of paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your invitations. Opt for something thicker, such as a 120 lb. uncoated cardstock, for a more luxurious feel. Consider paper with a bit of texture, such as linen or felt. Visit a specialty stationery store or a print shop to feel the paper and select the best option for your printing method. Take a few samples home to test on your printer before committing.

Envelopes:

Choose envelopes that fit and match your invitations, with a bit of room to spare. Don't forget to include envelopes for RSVP cards. If you want to add a pop of color, ensure the envelope color is light enough for the address to be visible. Envelope liners are a great way to dress up your invitations, whether metallic or patterned.

Assembly:

For clean cuts, use a paper cutter with a sharp blade. For assembling layers or adding envelope liners, use glue dots or double-stick tape instead of glue. This method is also recommended for sealing the envelopes.

Post Office:

Once your invitations are assembled, take a complete set to the post office to have it weighed and to calculate postage. Remember that the shape of the envelope will impact the cost. If you want to avoid potential ripping or damage, request hand-canceling and print "Hand Cancel, Please" on each envelope.

Envelopes and postage

When it comes to envelopes, you have a few options to choose from. You can opt for plain envelopes or add some extra touches to make them stand out. Here are some ideas to consider:

Plain Envelopes

If you decide to go for plain envelopes, you can still add a personal touch by addressing them with beautiful calligraphy. You can find many calligraphy classes and DIY tutorials online to help you get started. Alternatively, you can use a custom rubber stamp to add your return address to the envelopes. This is a quick and easy way to add a personalised touch.

Envelopes with Extra Touches

• Envelope liners: Lining your envelopes is an easy way to add a touch of elegance. You can choose a solid-coloured paper or go for a decorative paper with a pattern or texture that complements your invitation design.
• Embossed return address: Consider using a return address embosser to add your return address to the flaps of your envelopes. This tool uses a metal plate to impress your address into the envelope paper, creating a raised image similar to Braille.
• Wax seals: Adding a wax seal to your envelopes is a perfect way to incorporate an old-world luxe feel to your invitations. You can find these in specialist paper or craft stores, as well as on Etsy. Practise makes perfect with wax seals, so take the time to get it right before doing a large batch.
• Personalised stamps: Custom stamps are a great way to add a unique touch to your envelopes, and you can use them for both the invitation itself and the return address. Etsy offers a wide variety of custom rubber stamps to choose from.

Postage

Once you have finalised your invitations and envelopes, it is important to consider postage. After assembling a complete invitation, stick it in an envelope and take it to the post office to have it weighed. The shape and size of the envelope will impact the cost of postage. If you are concerned about potential ripping or damage during transit, you can request hand-cancelling, which may require extra accommodations such as printing "Hand Cancel, Please" on each envelope.

Frequently asked questions