Creating Direction Cards For Wedding Invitations Yourself

Creating your own direction cards for wedding invitations is a simple way to ensure your guests can find your venue without issue. Direction cards are especially useful for out-of-town guests or if your ceremony is at an unfamiliar location. You can design your own direction cards using word processing or desktop publishing software and print them onto card stock or heavy paper. When creating your cards, it's important to use clear and concise language, and to include landmarks or major intersections to help guide your guests. You can also include a small map or link to an online map for additional clarity.

Keep the card size in mind

When creating your own direction cards for wedding invitations, keeping the card size in mind is crucial. Direction cards are usually smaller in scale than the main invitation, and their size can vary depending on the amount of information you need to include and your design preferences.

The standard size for wedding invitations is 5"x7, and direction cards are typically smaller. Basic Invite, for example, offers wedding direction cards that measure 3.5" x 5.75", which is the tallest size offered among their enclosure cards.

If you have a lot of information to include on your direction cards, such as detailed directions, parking instructions, or venue requirements, you may need to opt for a larger size. On the other hand, if you want to include just the essential details, a smaller card size will suffice.

Additionally, consider the overall design and legibility of your cards. If you have a bold or intricate design, choosing a slightly larger card size can ensure that the text remains legible. You can also opt for a different orientation, such as vertical or horizontal, to accommodate your design and text.

It's worth noting that larger cards or those with more intricate designs and additional inserts can increase your costs, including postage. Therefore, considering your budget when deciding on the card size is essential.

By keeping the card size in mind and thoughtfully planning the design and content, you can create elegant and informative direction cards that perfectly complement your wedding invitations.

Use a readable font

When designing your own wedding direction cards, it's important to consider the font you'll be using. The font you choose should be easily readable and align with the theme of your wedding. It's also worth noting that you may want to use accent fonts to highlight names or your wedding date.

When selecting a font, it's important to keep in mind that some fonts may look appealing to you, but may be difficult for your guests to read, especially highly-scripted or thin fonts. Opting for a font that is legible will ensure that your guests can easily understand the details of your wedding.

There are several types of fonts to consider for your wedding direction cards. Script fonts, for example, have a formal feeling and are often grounded in traditional styling, with flourishes and swooshes that add an ornate touch. If you're looking for a mix of modern and traditional calligraphy, a script font could be a good choice.

Serif fonts are another option, as they have extra "feet" that help bridge the visual lines between letters, improving overall legibility. There are two styles of serif fonts: traditional, which feels like it belongs in old history books, and modern, which borrows from current design trends while still being grounded in tradition.

If you're looking for a clean and modern font, sans serif fonts might be the best choice. These fonts have no extra flourishes or feet, making them excellent for digital invitations and highly legible. They can also be paired together to create contrast through different thicknesses.

When choosing a font for your wedding direction cards, it's important to consider the tone and formality of your event, as well as the overall design and styling of your wedding accessories. By selecting a font that aligns with your wedding theme, you can create a cohesive and elegant look for your special day.

Include directions from primary locations

When creating your own direction cards for wedding invitations, it's important to include clear and detailed directions from primary locations to ensure your guests can reach the venue with ease. Here are some tips and suggestions for crafting effective direction cards:

Include the Full Address

Provide the full address of both the wedding ceremony venue and the reception site, especially if they are held at separate locations. This ensures that your guests can easily locate the venues and navigate their way there. It is helpful to include the full address even if guests can look up the location on their smartphones, as it gives them extra confidence in knowing where to go.

Consider Enclosure Cards

Use enclosure cards, also known as direction or enclosure cards, to provide directions. These cards can be designed to complement your invitation suite by matching your colour palette, theme, and tone. Enclosure cards allow you to provide step-by-step directions, ensuring that guests with varying levels of familiarity with the area can find their way.

Offer Additional Information

In addition to directions, include other relevant details such as parking lot information, passcodes, or any special requirements or instructions for accessing the venue. This ensures that your guests have all the necessary information in one place.

Provide a Link to Your Wedding Website

Include a link to your wedding website on the direction card. This allows guests to directly access the address and other helpful information related to your wedding. It also serves as a central hub for all the details of your special day.

Map Out the Route

Consider including a custom map or weekend map on your direction card. This not only provides a visual guide for your guests but also adds a personalised touch. A map can be especially helpful for guests who prefer a more intuitive wayfinding experience.

Highlight Unmarked Roads or Difficult-to-Find Locations

If your venue is located off an unmarked road or is challenging to find, be sure to highlight this in your directions. Providing this information in advance through your invitation will prevent confusion and last-minute challenges for your guests.

By following these suggestions, you can create direction cards that are informative, aesthetically pleasing, and helpful for your wedding guests.

Add a map or a link to one

Adding a map or a link to one is a great way to ensure your guests can find your wedding venue with ease. You could include a small, simple map on your wedding invitations, or even a QR code that links to a Google Maps location.

If you want to create your own map, you can use software like Microsoft PowerPoint, or photo editing software such as Photoshop or MS Paint. First, find a map of the area on Google Maps, or another internet map website. You can use the "Get Directions" feature to get an accurate, close-up version of the area. Copy the image and paste it into your chosen software, resizing it to fit. Then, trace over the major roads and interstates with a drawing tool, using the curve tool for smoother lines. Play with the thickness, colour and style of the lines to differentiate between different types of roads, rivers, etc. You can also add labels to identify the roads. Once you're happy with the map, export it as a high-resolution JPEG or PNG, or print it to PDF.

If you'd rather not include a map, you could simply add a link to an online map, or the GPS coordinates of the venue. This way, guests can pull up the location on their smartphones.

Proofread for errors

Once you've written the content for your direction cards, it's important to proofread for errors. This is crucial as you don't want your guests to end up in the wrong place due to a typo! Here are some tips to ensure your direction cards are error-free:

• Reread your text multiple times, checking for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.
• Pay close attention to proper nouns like street names, venue names, and locations. These are easy to get wrong, so double-check them against a source like Google Maps.
• Check for consistency in capitalisation, punctuation, and formatting.
• If possible, have someone else read over your text. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot errors you might have missed.
• If you're creating your cards digitally, use the spell-check and grammar-check tools available in word processing software.
• Be cautious about relying solely on automated tools, as they may not catch everything.
• If your direction card includes a map, ensure that the map is accurate and easy to follow. Check that all roads, landmarks, and directional indicators are correct and clearly labelled.
• Finally, if you're printing your cards, do a test print on plain paper to ensure everything looks correct before printing on your final card stock or paper.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your direction cards provide clear and accurate guidance to your wedding guests.

Frequently asked questions