Illustrate Your Wedding Invitation: A Creative Guide

Designing your own wedding invitations is a fun and budget-friendly alternative to ordering them from a professional. With a range of online tools and templates available, creating your own invitations is a relatively simple process that allows you to add a personal touch to your big day. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about illustrating your own wedding invitations, from choosing a theme and style to selecting the right paper and envelopes. We'll also provide a step-by-step guide to designing and printing your invitations, so you can create a beautiful and unique invitation suite that reflects your wedding vision.

Choosing a theme and style

Define Your Wedding Theme

Firstly, consider the overall theme of your wedding. Is it traditional, rustic, whimsical, or perhaps bohemian? Defining your wedding theme will help you choose a style for your invitations that complements and enhances your celebration. Think about the small details that make your wedding unique, from the season and venue to any colours, patterns, or fonts you want to incorporate.

Select Your Colour Palette

Once you have a general theme in mind, choose two or three colours to feature on your invitations. This will create a cohesive and elegant look. You can draw inspiration from your wedding colour palette or incorporate colours that reflect the season or venue. For example, soft pastels for a springtime garden wedding or warm tones like yellows, tans, and browns for a rustic celebration.

Decide on the Style Elements

The style of your invitations refers to the specific design choices you make. Consider the font style, size, and placement, as well as any additional embellishments. If you're going for a classic wedding theme, opt for a simplistic design with two colours and minimal flourishes. For a springtime garden theme, include soft flowers or watercolours in the border or background.

Incorporate Personal Touches

Make your invitations unique by adding personal touches. You can include a photo of you and your partner, or overlay text on top of your uploaded images. Adding these special touches will make your invitations even more meaningful and memorable.

Keep it Legible

While it's important to be creative, ensure your invitations are easy to read. Choose a legible font, and avoid overcrowding the invitation with too much text or design elements. Start from the outside in—select a base colour, add a border, place your font, and then add any extra embellishments.

Match Your Envelopes

Consider matching your invitation style with your envelopes or other inserts. Choose envelopes that complement the colour and style of your invitations. If you want to add a pop of colour, select an envelope shade that is light enough so that the address is still visible. Envelope liners are also a great way to dress up your invitations and can be metallic or patterned.

Remember, your wedding invitations should reflect your personality and the style of your wedding. By following these tips, you'll be able to create invitations that are not only visually appealing but also effectively communicate the important details of your big day.

Selecting colours and fonts

Understanding Font Styles:

Before selecting a font, it's helpful to understand the basic terminology of typography. Here are the main styles of fonts to consider:

• Serif fonts have short lines stemming from the ends of the letters. They are highly legible and often used in print design. Serif fonts can range from traditional styles that resemble old history books to more modern interpretations that incorporate current design trends.
• Sans-serif fonts lack the extra lines of serif fonts, resulting in clean and modern-looking letters. They are highly legible, especially for digital invitations, and can be paired to create contrast through different thicknesses.
• Script fonts resemble cursive handwriting or calligraphy and are often used for formal events. They can vary from modern calligraphy with a hand-drawn feel to traditional calligraphy that looks like a script-style font.
• Display fonts are more artistic than legible and are typically used for specific design elements rather than large blocks of text.

Choosing the Right Font for Your Wedding Invitation:

When selecting a font for your wedding invitation, consider the following:

• Legibility: Choose a font that is easy to read. While there are many unique and creative fonts available, ensure that your guests can easily understand the details of your event.
• Wedding theme and style: Select a font that aligns with the overall style and theme of your wedding. For example, a funky, retro typeface may suit an eclectic wedding, while a garden-inspired wedding might call for a romantic and elegant font.
• Accent fonts: Consider using accent fonts to highlight specific information, such as names or the wedding date. These fonts can add a touch of creativity and individuality to your invitation.
• Number of fonts: Limit yourself to one or two fonts for your invitation. Using too many fonts can make the design look busy and cluttered. You can vary the formatting (lowercase, uppercase, italics) to create interest without overwhelming the design.

Selecting a Colour Palette:

The colours you choose for your wedding invitation should tie into your wedding narrative and evoke the desired mood. Here are some tips for creating a harmonious colour palette:

• Complementary colours: Opt for classic complementary colour combinations, such as tones of orange and green, or peach and pear. These combinations create a balanced and pleasing aesthetic.
• Pastel hues: Soft, pastel colours like pink, blue, and peach can add a touch of elegance and romance to your invitation. Just be careful not to overwhelm the design with too much bright colour.
• Analogous tones: Pairing analogous colours, such as deep red with analogous tones of green, can create a sleek and modern look. Use the main colour sparingly and balance it with light pastel hues.
• Seasonal inspiration: Draw inspiration from the season of your wedding. For example, a spring wedding might feature delicate greens and pinks, while a summer wedding could incorporate yellow, deep green, and light taupe.
• Gold and silver: Metallic colours like gold and silver are perfect for traditional weddings and can be paired with contrasting shades for a classic, elegant look.
• Black and white: A combination of black and white can create a stylish, contemporary feel, especially when paired with analogous colours.
• Coral and pastel blue: For a beautiful, blended effect, consider coral and pastel blue. The light rendering of these colours allows metallic bronze text to stand out.

Adding personal touches

• Include a photo of you and your partner on the invite. This is a great way to make your invitations feel extra special and unique to you as a couple.
• Choose a design that reflects the theme of your wedding. Whether you're planning a rustic event or something more modern, there are endless options for customisation.
• Incorporate your wedding colours into the design. This could be as simple as adding a coloured border or background, or you could go for a more intricate design with floral or star motifs.
• Add extra embellishments like foil or glitter text, cut-out borders, or thick cardstock. These small details can make your invitations feel luxurious and elegant.
• Play with the size and structure of your invitations. Consider a half-fold or accordion card that opens up to reveal more information and gives you extra space for your design.
• If you're feeling creative, design your own illustrations or motifs to include on the invite. This could be anything from a simple floral border to a more intricate pattern.
• Don't forget the envelopes! Choose envelopes that match the colour and style of your invitations, and consider adding envelope liners for a extra touch of elegance.

Printing and paper options

Paper Type

The type of paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your invitations. Some popular options include:

• Cardstock: This is a thick and heavy paper that gives a luxurious and elegant feel to your invitations.
• Cotton paper: Made from cotton fibres, this paper is soft, durable, and absorbs ink well, resulting in rich colours.
• Linen finish: A high-quality cotton blend paper with a textured, slightly crosshatched surface that resembles linen fabric.
• Recycled paper: For eco-friendly or rustic-style weddings, this paper is made from repurposed materials and comes in various shapes and sizes.
• Vellum: A translucent paper that can be used for invitations or as an accent, such as belly bands or envelope liners.
• Pearlescent paper: This paper has a shimmery finish that adds elegance and a soft glow to your invitations, especially if using photographs.

Printing Techniques

The printing technique you choose will also affect the overall appearance and cost of your invitations. Some common printing techniques include:

• Flat printing: This is a budget-friendly option that uses a high-quality printer to create beautiful invitations with a quick turnaround time.
• Thermography: A slightly raised text effect is achieved by mixing ink with a special powder and applying heat for a painted-on look.
• Engraving: A classic technique where paper is pressed between an inked plate and a metal plate to create raised letters.
• Embossing: Similar to engraving, but without ink, creating a raised design on the paper.
• Foil stamping: A glamorous effect is achieved by pressing metallic foil onto the paper.
• Letterpress: A soft, romantic feel is created by stamping ink into soft cotton stock, resulting in a vintage vibe.

Other Considerations

When deciding on printing and paper options, keep in mind the following:

• Budget: Printing techniques and paper types can vary in price, so set a budget beforehand to avoid overspending.
• Customization: Consider whether you want to customize the template yourself or have the designer do it for you, as this may impact the cost.
• Ink usage: Think about the ink colours and coverage, as this will affect the overall cost, especially if printing at home.
• Assembly: If your invitations have multiple components, consider the assembly process and whether you need additional materials like glue dots or envelopes.
• Postage: The weight and size of your invitations will impact the postage cost, so be sure to factor this into your budget.

Envelopes and postage

When it comes to envelopes and postage for your wedding invitations, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, you'll need to select envelopes that fit your invitations with a bit of room to spare. It's also a good idea to choose envelopes that complement your wedding invitations in terms of colour and style. You can opt for classic shades like white, ivory or cream, or go for something bolder like gold, silver, or a coloured envelope. Don't forget to consider envelopes for any RSVP cards too.

You can buy envelopes in a range of sizes, including C5, C6, C7, DL, square, 5x7, and RSVP. Some companies offer customisation options, allowing you to personalise your envelopes with your own design or with your guests' names and addresses. This can save you time and make your invitations feel extra special.

When it comes to postage, it's important to weigh your fully assembled invitation (with all the embellishments and inserts) and take it to the post office to ensure you're applying the correct amount. The shape of the envelope can also impact the cost, so it's worth keeping that in mind. If you're concerned about your invitations getting damaged in the mail, you can request "Hand Cancel, Please" to be printed on each envelope, which will help avoid any potential ripping or damage.

Remember to factor in the cost of postage when budgeting for your wedding invitations, as it can quickly add up, especially for heavier invitations or those with non-standard shapes.

Frequently asked questions