Designing Your Dream Wedding Invitation

Planning a wedding can be an expensive and stressful time, so it's no surprise that many couples are choosing to design their own wedding invitations. Making your own invitations is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day. In this article, we'll explore the steps to creating beautiful DIY wedding invitations, from choosing the right template and customising the design to printing and assembling your invitations. We'll also offer tips on how to keep costs down and ensure your invitations look professional. Whether you're going for a rustic, minimalist or elegant theme, read on to discover how to make stunning wedding invitations that will impress your guests.

Choosing a design and customising it

The design of your wedding invitation is important as it sets the tone and style of your wedding. It's also something that your loved ones will be able to keep to commemorate the occasion forever. So, it's worth spending some time finding a design that feels authentic to you and your partner.

There are endless options available when it comes to wedding invitation designs, and you can choose to go with a professionally designed template or create your own from scratch. If you're designing your own, start by picking the shape and dimensions of your invitation. Traditionally, wedding invitations are rectangular, with 4.5-inch-by-6.25-inch dimensions. However, you can also opt for horizontal rectangles or scalloped designs.

Next, consider your wedding location and theme. If you're getting married in a church, you might want to go for a traditional, romantic aesthetic. If you're having a rustic or farm wedding, a natural look with brown paper might be more appropriate. You can also find invitation designs to match the season, such as a winter wedding or beach wedding.

When it comes to customising your wedding invitation, there are a few key elements to consider:

• Fonts: Choose romantic and elegant fonts that reflect the style of your wedding. Cursive or calligraphy fonts are excellent choices for wedding invites, especially for the names of the couple.
• Imagery: Using a photo of you and your partner on the invite is a great way to make it more personal and showcase your love to your friends and family.
• Colour scheme: Your colour scheme will have a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your invitation. Consider choosing colours that reflect your wedding theme or the season. For example, green is a popular choice for outdoor weddings.
• Personal touches: Try to incorporate what makes you unique as a couple, such as a shared hobby or interest. You can also add a personal touch by including your uploaded photos or using a design with a full bleed, which means the design reaches the edge of the paper with no white margins.
• Wording: The language you use on your invitation should suit your style as a couple and the theme of your wedding. Decide if you want it to sound traditional or contemporary, and be sure to include all the necessary information such as the date, time, location, dress code, and RSVP details.

Selecting the right paper and printing options

Paper Type:

• Cardstock: This is the most common type of paper for wedding invitations. It comes in different weights, with 80# to 100# being suitable for home printers. Heavier weights like 110# to 130# will require industrial printers and will give your invitations a more professional look.
• Cotton cardstock: This type of cardstock is smooth, durable, and highly absorbent, making it suitable for both laser and inkjet printing. It is often used by popular wedding invitation companies.
• Linen cardstock: This cardstock has a delicate woven texture and a matte finish, giving it a elegant and rustic look.
• Kraft or recycled cardstock: This type of cardstock has a rustic and on-trend look, resembling coarse brown paper bags. It's perfect for vintage or outdoor weddings.
• Vellum: This paper is sheer and frosted, similar to tracing paper. It can be used as an overlay or accent for your invitations.
• Pearlescent paper: This paper has a subtle shimmer, adding elegance to your invitations. It can enhance the appearance of photographs.

Printing Options:

• Flat digital printing: This budget-friendly option offers freedom, flexibility, and quick turnaround times. It's suitable for image-driven invitations and allows you to play with paper textures and finishes.
• Thermography: This technique creates a slightly raised text effect without the high cost of engraving or embossing. It gives a painted-on look and is suitable for all types of paper.
• Engraving and embossing: These high-end techniques add a hint of luxury to your invitations. They create raised or indented designs and require custom metal plates, increasing the cost.
• Foil stamping: This method uses heat to press metallic foil onto the paper, creating a glamorous and luxe effect. It is more expensive but can be combined with other printing techniques.
• Letterpress: This technique uses a custom die to create a soft, romantic feel. It is slightly more affordable than foil stamping and is often used with premium cotton paper to showcase the ink and texture.

Adding personal touches

Choose a design that reflects your wedding theme and location:

If you're having a rustic wedding in a country setting, consider using recycled brown paper for your invites. If your wedding is in a church, you might opt for a more traditional, romantic aesthetic. A beach or destination wedding could feature tropical elements, like illustrations or a watercolour texture.

Incorporate romantic fonts and imagery:

Cursive or calligraphy fonts are excellent choices for wedding invites as they are soft, romantic, and elegant. You can also incorporate illustrations or photos of you and your partner. A timeline format that maps out the course of your relationship is a unique way to inject personality into your invites.

Include a personal hashtag:

Create a unique hashtag for your special day, and include it on your invites. This will encourage your guests to share their photos and experiences, allowing you to see your wedding through their eyes.

Add a monogram or custom stamp:

Monograms can be used throughout your wedding, from the invites to the seating cards and favours. You can also create a custom stamp with your married monogram to use on your wedding stationery.

Choose a colour scheme that reflects you:

Your colour scheme will have a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your invites. Try to incorporate colours that are meaningful to you and your partner. Perhaps you could use your favourite colours or colours that reflect the season or theme of your wedding.

Include personal details:

If there's a funny story about how you met or a shared hobby that brought you together, consider incorporating this into your invite design. You could also include a photo of you and your partner, or even create a custom couple portrait stamp to use on your invites.

Remember, your wedding invitations are a reflection of you and your partner, so feel free to get creative and inject your unique personality into your invites!

Deciding on a delivery method

Digital Invitations

Digital wedding invitations are a modern and convenient option. They are typically sent via email or text and can be a great choice if you're looking for a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper invitations. They are also ideal if you're short on time, as they can be sent out instantly. However, digital invitations may not be as formal and can end up in guests' junk mail folders. Additionally, you'll need to put in the extra effort to collect each guest's email address or phone number.

Physical Invitations

Physical wedding invitations sent through the mail are the traditional option. They offer a more formal and sentimental approach, providing guests with a tangible keepsake. This method also ensures that your invitations arrive in pristine condition, as they are protected by envelopes. However, postage costs can add up, especially if you have a large guest list or heavy invitations. Additionally, it's important to consider the environmental impact of paper waste.

Hand Delivery

Hand-delivering wedding invitations is another option, especially if you have many local guests. It can be a more personal approach and help you save on postage costs. However, it's important to ensure that you deliver the invitations privately, avoiding any situations where someone not invited may see the exchange. It can also be time-consuming, especially if you have a large number of invitations to deliver.

Hybrid Approach

You can also combine digital and physical delivery methods. For example, you can send out digital save-the-dates and follow up with physical invitations, or use digital invitations for pre-wedding events like bridal showers. This approach allows you to benefit from the convenience of digital communication while still offering the sentimentality of a physical invitation for the main event.

When deciding on a delivery method, consider your budget, the formality of your wedding, the environmental impact, and the amount of time and effort you're willing to put into the process. Remember, the most important thing is to choose a method that feels authentic to you and your partner.

Finalising the text and proofreading

Finalising the Text:

• Include all the essential information: Besides the full names of the couple, be sure to mention the date, time, and location of both the ceremony and reception. Also, provide details on how to RSVP, the deadline for responses, and any other relevant information your guests may need.
• Consider the wording carefully: The language you choose should reflect your style as a couple and suit the theme and tone of your wedding. Decide if you want a traditional or contemporary feel to your invitation text.
• Customise your template: If you're using a template, finalise any customisations, such as changing fonts, colours, or other design elements. If you need help, many designers are happy to make these adjustments for you.
• Add a personal touch: Include a photo of you and your partner, or incorporate a shared hobby or interest. This will make your invitations unique and give them a warm, intimate feel.
• Check spelling and grammar: Before finalising the text, be sure to proofread it thoroughly. Ask a friend or family member to read through it as well to catch any errors or typos you may have missed.

Proofreading:

• Read it aloud: Reading the text aloud can help you catch any grammar mistakes or awkward phrasing that may have been missed during silent reading.
• Get a second (or third!) opinion: In addition to your own proofreading, ask others to review the text. Fresh eyes may catch errors that you've overlooked.
• Check, then check again: Don't rush the proofreading process. Set aside time to review the text multiple times to ensure that no mistakes are missed.
• Pay attention to details: Check and double-check that all dates, times, and locations are correct. Double-check the spelling of names and other important information.
• Finalise the design: Ensure that the text is properly aligned and centred on the invitation. Check that the design "bleeds" to the edge of the paper, creating a professional look with no white margins.

Frequently asked questions