Creating Elegant Lace And Pearl Wedding Invites

Creating your own wedding invitations is a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your special day. With just a few simple steps, you can design and assemble elegant, handmade invitations featuring lace and pearl embellishments. This DIY project allows you to customise your invitations to match your wedding theme and colour palette, ensuring that your invites make a great first impression. Whether you're planning a rustic, traditional, or glamorous wedding, the addition of lace and pearls will add a sophisticated and luxurious feel.

Choosing your paper and card

The first step in making your wedding invitations is choosing the right paper and card. This will set the tone and style for your invitations, so it's important to select something that reflects your personality and the theme of your wedding. Here are some things to consider when choosing your paper and card:

Type of Paper

There are many different types of paper available for wedding invitations, each with its own unique characteristics. Some popular options include:

• Card and Cover Stock: This is a thick and heavy paper that gives a luxurious feeling. The typical weight for cover stock is 120 pounds, and it can come in various treatments such as unfinished, satin, silk, or glossy.
• Cotton Fiber: Cotton paper is made with 100% cotton, giving it a soft feel and durable structure. It absorbs ink well, making it ideal for techniques like letterpress. However, it is the most costly option.
• Kraft and Wood-Grain Paper: These options offer a rustic and on-trend look, perfect for outdoor or DIY-themed weddings.
• Glassine and Clear Vellum Paper: These translucent papers are smooth and thin, often used in layered invitations to create depth and interest. They can be used for belly bands or as accents.
• Lace Paper: For a luxurious and elegant touch, consider lace paper. Its intricate design and texture will make a great impression on your guests.
• Parchment or Vellum: This type of paper gives a formal and traditional feel to your invitations.

Weight and Thickness

The weight and thickness of the paper are also important considerations. Cardstock weight is measured in pounds or grams per square meter, and a higher weight generally means thicker cardstock. For wedding invitations, you'll want to choose a weight that feels sturdy and doesn't bend easily. A good range to consider is between 80# and 150#—these weights will give your invitations a professional look without being too heavy or difficult to work with.

Finish and Texture

The finish and texture of the paper can also enhance the overall design of your invitations. Here are some options to consider:

• Smooth Matte: A classic and elegant choice, smooth matte paper is a popular starting point for brides.
• Linen: Linen paper has a delicate woven texture and a matte finish, adding a subtle touch of sophistication to your invitations.
• Eggshell: Eggshell paper has a faint toothiness, giving it a slightly textured feel.
• Metallic or Pearlescent: For a hint of sparkle and shine, consider a metallic or pearlescent finish. This can add dimension and elegance to your invitations.

When choosing your paper and card, it's important to keep in mind the printing method you plan to use. Some papers may work better with certain printing techniques, so be sure to consider the overall design and production process when making your selection.

Now that you've chosen your paper and card, it's time to move on to the next steps of designing and assembling your lace and pearl wedding invitations!

Printing and cutting

Print your wording onto the matt off-white paper, leaving the bottom third blank for your lace flowers. The finished size should be 12.5cm wide by 17.5cm high. Remember to keep the wording set in the top two-thirds of the page. You should be able to print two invitation panels on each sheet if you use a landscape format.

Cut two pieces of card to 12.5cm x 17.5cm. Use a tape runner to stick these two pieces of card together firmly. Put a line of tape around the outside edges and a further line of tape about one centimetre in from the edge. It also helps to run a line across the centre. Stick your invitation panel on top. You should now have a nice firm card.

Cut a sheet of luxury lace paper to 13.5cm x 13.5cm. Stick this to the front of your pocket, making sure that your borders are even.

Cut a piece of pearlised ivory card to 4.5cm x 4.5cm. Stick your front tag on top of the card.

Cut a piece of pearlised ivory paper to 10.5cm x 10.5cm. Stick your invitation panel on top.

Cut a piece of luxury lace paper to 14cm x 14cm. Open up your card and stick the paper to the inside panel.

Cut a piece of pearlised ivory card to 9cm x 11.5cm.

Cut a piece of luxury lace paper to 8.5cm x 11cm. Stick this on top of the ivory card.

Cut a piece of pearlised ivory card to 7cm x 9.5cm. Stick on top of the lace paper.

Print your RSVP wording onto the matt off-white paper and cut down to size. The finished size should be 6.5cm high by 9cm wide.

Sticking the card and paper together

To stick the card and paper together for your wedding invitations, you will need a tape runner or double-sided tape. You will also need mini mounting pads or foam pads to stick the front tag to the centre of your card.

For each invitation, you will need one sheet of matt off-white card and half a sheet of matt off-white paper. Cut two pieces of card to 12.5cm x 17.5cm. Use your tape runner to stick these two pieces of card together firmly. Put a line of tape around the outside edges and another line of tape about 1cm in from the edge. It also helps to run a line of tape across the centre. Stick your invitation panel on top.

If you are using a pocket invitation, you will need to stick the paper to the inside panel. Cut a piece of luxury lace paper to 14cm x 14cm. Open up your card and stick the paper to the inside panel. Cut a piece of pearlised ivory paper to 10.5cm x 10.5cm. Stick your invitation panel on top. Use mini mounting pads to stick the invitation panel in place on top of the lace paper.

For the front tag, cut a piece of pearlised ivory card to 4.5cm x 4.5cm. Stick your front tag on top of the card.

Adding lace and pearls

Materials:

• Luxury lace paper in pearlised ivory
• Booklet pocket invitation in pearlised ivory
• Pearlised ivory card
• Pearlised ivory paper
• Self-adhesive pearl rows (4mm and 2mm)
• Paper trimmer or scissors
• Tape runner or double-sided tape
• Mini mounting pads or foam pads

Instructions:

• Print your chosen wording onto the pearlised ivory paper and cut it down to size. You can make the front tag, invitation panel, guest information, and RSVP sections.
• Cut a sheet of luxury lace paper to size (13.5cm x 13.5cm).
• Stick the lace paper to the front of your pocket invitation, ensuring even borders.
• Create a border of pearls by peeling off a row of 4mm self-adhesive pearls and pressing them along the edge of the lace paper. Repeat this process for all four sides, cutting off any excess pearls.
• Cut a piece of pearlised ivory card (4.5cm x 4.5cm) and stick your front tag on top.
• Add a row of 2mm self-adhesive pearls around the edge of the panel.
• Use mini mounting pads to stick the front tag to the centre of your card, ensuring even borders.
• Cut another piece of luxury lace paper (14cm x 14cm) and stick it to the inside panel of the card.
• Cut a piece of pearlised ivory paper (10.5cm x 10.5cm) and stick your invitation panel on top.
• Repeat the process of adding a pearl border with the 2mm self-adhesive pearls.
• Use mini mounting pads to stick the invitation panel in place on top of the lace paper.
• Cut a piece of pearlised ivory card (14cm x 14cm) and stick your printed panel on top.
• Slot this piece inside the pocket.
• Continue adding lace paper, ivory card, and ivory paper, layering and securing them with glue or double-sided tape.
• Embellish with self-adhesive pearls as desired.

Feel free to personalise your invitations by changing the colours or adding other embellishments. You can also use a Sizzix Machine and die to create die-cut lace flowers for a more intricate design.

Finalising the design

Paper and Cardstock:

Choose a colour scheme that complements your wedding theme. Ivory or off-white cardstock and paper create an elegant and classic look. You will need both cardstock and paper for your invitations, as the paper will be used for printing your wording, while the cardstock will be used for the base and any additional layers.

Wording and Printing:

Decide on the wording for your invitation, including all the necessary information such as the date, time, and venue. Consider the layout of the text, ensuring it is easy to read and visually appealing. Print your wording onto the paper, cutting it down to size afterwards. For a standard invitation, the finished size is typically around 12.5 cm wide by 17.5 cm high.

Embellishments:

Lace and pearls are the perfect combination to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your invitations. Die-cut lace flowers made from lace print paper or lace-embossed paper can be used as a beautiful feature. Adhere the lace flowers to your invitation using a glue gun, layering them as desired.

For the pearls, consider using various sizes of self-adhesive pearls. Start by outlining the lace paper with a row of larger pearls, cutting off any excess at the end of the row. You can then add smaller pearls to the centres of the flowers or scatter them around the lace as an extra touch. Remember to use pearls sparingly to avoid overdoing it.

Assembly:

Once you have all your components, it's time to assemble your invitations. Use a tape runner or double-sided tape to adhere the different layers of cardstock and paper together. If you are creating a pocket invitation, ensure that the pocket is securely attached to the base.

Final Touches:

Add any final touches to your invitations, such as rounded corners using a corner chomper or mounting pads to give certain elements a raised effect. Remember to check that all adhesives are secure and that your invitations are neatly assembled.

Proofreading:

Before finalising your design, carefully proofread your invitations for any errors or typos. Check that all the information is correct and that the layout is consistent across all invitations.

Sample Testing:

Create a few samples of your finalised design to ensure that you are happy with the overall look and feel. This is also a good opportunity to get feedback from others and make any necessary adjustments.

By following these steps, you will be able to create elegant and sophisticated lace and pearl wedding invitations that are sure to impress your guests.

Frequently asked questions