Crafting Delicate Doily Wedding Invites

Doilies are a great way to add a rustic or elegant touch to your wedding invitations. You can buy doily wedding invitations or make them yourself. If you want to make your own, you can buy doily wedding invitation templates online, or you can create your own design. You will need a few supplies, including paper, doilies, and scissors, and you can decorate your invitations with lace, flowers, stamps, or ribbons. You can also handwrite your invitations or use a printer.

Using a doily wrap or doily envelope

Materials:

• Doilies: Choose paper or fabric doilies in your preferred colour, such as white, off-white, or ivory. You can find these at craft stores or online.
• Invitations: Design and print your wedding invitations on cardstock or plain paper. You can also write them by hand if you prefer a more personalised touch.
• Embellishments: Ribbons, twine, or string can be used to secure the doily wrap and add a decorative element.
• Other supplies: Scissors, glue or adhesive, and any additional decorations like stamps, flowers, or lace.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Prepare your invitations: Design and print your wedding invitations, ensuring they fit within the dimensions of the doily wrap. If you prefer a more rustic look, you can handwrite your invitations using calligraphy or fancy fonts.
• Cut and fold doilies: Cut the doilies to the desired size, ensuring they are large enough to wrap around your invitations. You can also fold the doilies to create an envelope-like structure.
• Assemble the invitations: Place your invitation in the centre of the doily. If using a doily wrap, bring the ends together and secure them with ribbon, twine, or string. For a doily envelope, use glue or adhesive to seal the edges of the doily, creating a pocket for your invitation.
• Embellish your design: Decorate your doily invitations with additional elements such as stamps, pressed flowers, or lace accents. You can also tie a bow with the ribbon or twine for a more elegant touch.
• Finalise and send: Once your invitations are assembled and embellished, carefully review them for any necessary adjustments. After ensuring they are perfect, it's time to send them out to your guests!

Creating doily wedding invitations is a fun and creative project that adds a unique touch to your special day. By following these steps and adding your personal touches, you can achieve elegant and rustic invitations that impress your guests and set the tone for your wedding.

Handwriting your invitations

Handwriting your wedding invitations is a very special contribution to your big day and can be a thoughtful heirloom to cherish for years to come. However, it is a time-consuming and tedious task that requires the right tools and a steady hand.

If you have always loved your handwriting and want to add a unique touch to your wedding correspondence, you can consider handwriting your own invitations. This option allows you to inject your personality and creativity into the design. It is also a cost-effective approach, as you can save money on hiring a professional calligrapher. However, it is essential to have the right tools, such as fine-tipped markers, pointed pens, inkwells, and nibs, to achieve a calligraphic look.

Before diving into handwriting your invitations, it is crucial to consider the size of your guest list. Handwriting each invitation can be a daunting task if you have a large number of invitees. It is recommended to limit this approach to a small guest list, preferably no more than 50 invitees, to ensure a pleasant experience without overwhelming yourself.

Additionally, you should allow ample time for this endeavour. Calligraphy is a meticulous art form, and rushing the process may lead to mistakes and inconsistencies in your invitations. It is advisable to start early and allocate dedicated time slots to work on your invitations without feeling rushed.

If you have the budget and desire to elevate your invitations, hiring a professional calligrapher is an option. They can transform your envelopes from plain to works of art, creating a luxurious impression on your guests. However, professional calligraphy services come with a hefty price tag, ranging from $1 to $5 or more per envelope, depending on factors such as turnaround time, style, special materials, and paper type.

In conclusion, handwriting your wedding invitations can be a rewarding and personalised approach to your special day. It allows you to showcase your creativity and add a unique touch. However, it is important to consider the time commitment, guest list size, and potential expenses associated with this endeavour. Alternatively, hiring a professional calligrapher can elevate your invitations to the next level, although it will be more expensive.

Using the right equipment and supplies

Making your own wedding invitations is a great way to save money without compromising on elegance and style. Here is a list of the equipment and supplies you will need to create beautiful doily wedding invitations:

Paper and Cardstock

The foundation of your invitation is the paper or cardstock you choose. Opt for a good quality cardstock in a colour that complements your wedding theme. You can find cardstock at craft stores or online, and it's worth considering wholesale options to save costs. Don't forget to include envelopes with your invitations.

Doilies

Doilies add a delicate and elegant touch to your invitations. You can choose from a variety of colours, such as white, off-white, or ivory. They can be used as a background or attached to the sides of the invitation, creating a unique opening. Consider the size and shape of your doilies to ensure they fit well with your invitation design.

Lace and Ribbon

Lace is a perfect accessory to enhance the elegance of your invitations. You can paste lace to the bottom or background of your invites or use paper lace doilies. Ribbon can also be used to tie your invitation like a gift, creating a classy and creative presentation.

Paper Cutters

Investing in a high-quality paper cutter will ensure precise and straight cuts for your invitations. If you're on a budget, small-scale paper cutters in various designs from a craft store can also do the trick with a little practice.

Stamps and Ink Pads

Stamps are an inexpensive and fuss-free way to add design elements to your invitations. With just one ink pad, you can transform the look of your invites by stamping elegant patterns or motifs.

Template

Creating a template will help you format your invitation text and ensure a consistent layout. You can find free templates online or design your own using software. This step will make the writing or printing process much easier.

Other Embellishments

Depending on your preference, you can include additional embellishments such as flowers, wax seals, or pressed flowers. These add-ons will make your invitations even more special and memorable.

Adding lace to your invitations

Lace wedding invitations are a popular choice for brides, as lace is often associated with romance and vintage style. You can add lace to your wedding invitations in several ways to create a beautiful and delicate look. Here are some ideas and instructions:

Choose a lace invitation design

Select a laser-cut lace invitation design that features a lace pattern or lace doily. These invitations can be purchased as a kit or individually. They come in various colours, including white, ivory, gold, and silver. You can also find invitations with lace pockets or sleeves, which add a elegant touch.

Embellish with lace

If you want to add a more personal touch, you can embellish your invitations with lace. Purchase some lace fabric or lace trim and cut it to size. Use a strong adhesive to attach the lace to the front of your invitation, being careful not to use too much glue, which may cause the paper to wrinkle. You can also wrap the lace around the invitation like a band and secure it at the back.

Combine with other materials

Lace is often combined with other materials such as burlap, kraft paper, or ribbon to create a rustic or vintage look. You can layer the lace over these materials or use them as accents. For example, tie a piece of twine or ribbon around your invitation, or attach a small piece of burlap with your initials stamped on it.

Add lace to the envelope

Decorate your envelope with a lace liner or lace paper doily. You can also seal your envelope with a wax seal that has a lace pattern on it. This adds a luxurious and romantic touch to your invitation suite.

Carry the theme through

If you want to go all out with the lace theme, you can carry it through to other wedding stationery, such as RSVP cards, menus, and order of service booklets. You can also decorate wedding day accessories, like table plans and place cards, with matching lace details.

Remember to consider the overall style and colour scheme of your wedding when choosing your lace invitations. Whether you opt for elegant white lace, rustic burlap and lace, or glamorous gold lace, your invitations will surely impress your guests.

Using flowers in your invitation design

Flowers are a versatile theme for wedding invitations and can be incorporated in many ways, from bold and dramatic to minimalist and delicate. The type of floral invitation you choose will depend on the season, your colour preferences, and your wedding style.

For spring, you might opt for an invitation featuring big blooms in blush, pink, and green. Summer invites could showcase wildflowers and bright colours, while fall invites tend to favour deep, rich hues like marigold, maroon, and deep reds. Winter invites often feature whites and greens, with spruce and wintergreens.

If you're looking for a more rustic or whimsical style, consider the Paper Source Egret Garden Wedding Invitation, which features a full border of colourful, vibrant flowers framing the text. For a black-tie event or a darker colour scheme, Zola Woads Wedding Invitation features a delicate wreath of white roses and greenery, creating an elegant frame for the text.

For a more dramatic and lush look, the Shutterfly Deeply Beautiful Wedding Invitation offers dark green or red colour palettes with an array of florals surrounding a central rectangle for text. Zola's Camellia invitation is another eye-catching choice, featuring romantic anemones, ranunculus, and other blooms above the text, with a marbled background.

If you prefer a simpler design, the Shutterfly Fresh and Floral Wedding Invitation features a monochrome palette with a bouquet of white and cream flowers mixed with greenery. This gate-fold card has a unique shape that opens up to reveal illustrations, text, and a photo of the happy couple.

There are also many DIY options for floral invitations, with Etsy offering a range of flower-themed doily invitations, liners, envelopes, and laser-cut templates that you can customise and assemble yourself.

Frequently asked questions