Creating Unique Wedding Invites: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating your own wedding invitations is a great way to add a personalised touch to your special day. While it may seem daunting, there are plenty of options available to suit all skill levels, from customisable templates to crafting from scratch. In this guide, we'll explore the different types of DIY wedding invitations, offer tips and tricks for achieving a professional finish, and provide inspiration for adding those special creative flourishes. Whether you're a crafting novice or a seasoned DIY enthusiast, read on to discover how you can make your own beautiful wedding invitations.

Invitation design and printing

The design and printing of your wedding invitations is a crucial aspect of the DIY process, allowing you to add a personal touch and ensure they align with your wedding theme and style. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to guide you through the process:

Choosing a Design Approach:

• Editable Wedding Invitation Templates: You can find online templates that you can personalise with your photos, text, and even a QR code. These templates are easy to edit, and some companies will also offer printing services.
• Printable Wedding Templates: Etsy and other online marketplaces offer customisable templates. You can personalise them and then print them yourself or use a printing shop. This option gives you more control over the paper choice and allows for DIY touches like wedding stamps.
• From-Scratch Wedding Invites: Platforms like Canva offer free and paid templates and design tools. You can create your design and then print or send digital invitations. This approach is ideal if you prefer crafting by hand.

Design Ideas:

• Gold Foil Details: Gold foil is an affordable way to add elegance to your invitations. You can apply it to borders or scatter it across the design.
• Watercolour Backgrounds: Using watercolours to paint backgrounds or greenery adds a unique and artistic touch to your invitations.
• Textured Paper: Printing or writing on textured paper elevates the look and feel of your invitations.
• Real Flowers: Including dried flowers or botanical leaves in your design or wax seals adds a natural and whimsical touch.
• Personalisation: Consider incorporating your and your partner's hobbies, interests, or how you met into the design. This makes the invitations extra special and memorable.

Printing and Assembly:

• Paper Choice: Opt for thicker cardstock, such as a 120 lb. uncoated cardstock, for a luxurious feel. Linen or felt textures can also enhance the overall aesthetic.
• Printing Options: You can print at home, use a print shop, or a combination of both. Printing shops can offer guidance on paper choice and provide a professional finish.
• Envelopes: Choose envelopes that complement your invitation design. Consider adding envelope liners, such as metallic paper or patterned options, for a stylish touch.
• Assembly: Use glue dots or double-stick tape for a neat and secure assembly. Delegate this task to your bridal party or friends for added efficiency.
• Post Office Visit: Take a fully assembled invitation to the post office to determine the correct postage. Consider requesting "Hand Cancel, Please" on each envelope to avoid potential damage during processing.

Materials and tools

The materials and tools you will need to make your own wedding invitations depend on the type of invitation you want to create. Here is a list of materials and tools that you may need:

• Paper and Cardstock: Choose a high-quality cardstock for your invitations, preferably thicker than regular printer paper. Look for paper with a luxurious texture or a linen or felt finish. You can find blank wedding stationery, card blanks, or flat sheets in a variety of colours and finishes to match your wedding theme. Don't forget to get envelopes that fit your invitations and RSVP cards.
• Design Software: If you plan to design your invitations digitally, you can use software like Adobe InDesign or Canva, which offer free templates and design tools.
• Printer: Consider the quality of your home printer and whether it can handle thicker cardstock. You may need to invest in a better printer if you want to print on thick card stock. Alternatively, you can use a printing service or a local print shop.
• Ink: Factor in the cost of ink, especially if you choose a design with a colourful background or heavy saturation. White font on invitations can also be challenging to print at home, so you may want to use a coloured background or outsource printing.
• Embellishments: This includes items such as ribbon, lace, gold foil, dried flowers, wax seals, belly bands, vellum jackets, or envelope liners. These add a luxurious or handmade touch to your invitations.
• Adhesives: You will need glue or glue dots, double-sided tape, and possibly leafing adhesive if you plan to use gold, silver, or copper leafing.
• Cutters and Folders: A paper cutter with a sharp blade will give you clean cuts for your invitations. A bone folder can help with scoring and folding the paper.
• Fasteners: If your invitation has multiple sheets of paper, you can use gold, silver, or rose gold fasteners to pin them together.
• Postage: Don't forget to calculate the postage cost for your invitations, especially if they are unusually shaped or heavy.

Before you begin, it's essential to plan your design, practice, and be realistic about your skill set and budget. DIY wedding invitations can be a fun way to add a personal touch to your special day, but they may also require more time and money than expected.

Assembly

Once you have designed your wedding invitations, it's time to assemble them. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you with the assembly process:

Step 1: Gather your materials

Make sure you have all the necessary materials before you start. This includes your printed invitations, envelopes, RSVP cards, and any other inserts. It's a good idea to have about 10% more supplies than you need in case of mistakes. Don't forget the glue dots, double-sided tape, or adhesive of your choice for assembling the layers.

Step 2: Cut your paper to size

If needed, cut your invitations, RSVP cards, and envelopes to the desired size. Use a paper cutter with a sharp blade for clean cuts. The standard invitation size is 4.25" x 6.25", but you can customise the size to fit your design. Remember to leave a little room when choosing your envelopes so that the invitations fit comfortably.

Step 3: Add any special details

If you want to include special details like gold foil, watercolour backgrounds, or lace, now is the time to do it. For gold foil, apply it sparingly and sparsely for an elegant and luxurious look. If using watercolour, let each piece dry before moving on to the next. For lace, apply a small amount of Modpodge to the back of the invitation, then attach the lace while it's still wet, and let it dry.

Step 4: Assemble the layers

Start by taking your main invitation layer and attaching it to the backing, such as a chipboard or thick cardstock. Use glue dots or double-sided tape for a secure hold. Then, assemble any additional layers, such as vellum jackets or belly bands, using the same adhesive. Ensure all layers are aligned correctly and securely attached before moving on.

Step 5: Insert into envelopes

Once your invitations are assembled, carefully insert them into their respective envelopes, along with any RSVP cards or other inserts. Seal the envelopes with glue dots or a stylish wax seal for a more personalised touch.

Step 6: Final checks and postage

Before sealing all the envelopes, perform a final check to ensure there are no mistakes. Double-check the wording, spelling, and grammar. Once you're satisfied, take one fully assembled invitation to the post office to have it weighed and to calculate the correct postage. Apply the appropriate postage to all the invitations and send them on their way!

Envelopes

When it comes to envelopes, you can either buy them or make them yourself. If you're buying them, it's a good idea to get about 10% more than you need in case of mistakes. You'll need both the mailer envelope and RSVP envelopes.

If you want to make your own envelopes, you'll need heavier weight paper or card stock (8.5 by 11" up to 11 by 17"), decorative paper or scrapbooking paper, a glue runner or adhesive, and a paper trimmer with a scoring attachment or a bone folder (optional tools).

Start by choosing a card stock and decorative paper to match your wedding invitations. The card stock will form the outer shell of the envelope, and the decorative paper will be the lining. Vellum is also a nice choice for a lining. You could also use double-sided pattern paper.

Use a printable envelope template as a pattern for hand-trimming the cardstock into handmade envelopes. There are two sizes: the smaller size is for an invitation or card sized at 5.5" by 4.25" (or A2 envelope), and the larger size is for a 5" by 7" (A7 envelope) card or invitation. You can also use both sizes for a matching set of envelopes, with the smaller envelope fitting inside the larger one.

Step One: Print the envelope templates onto heavy card stock to create a stencil. Use a pencil to trace the shape onto your chosen card stock and cut each one out using the lines of the stencil as a guide. Alternatively, you can print the template directly onto your chosen card stock and cut out the shape of the envelope using the template as a guide.

Step Two: Cut the card stock using a personal paper trimmer to create the envelope shell. You can also use a cutting blade (like an exacto knife) along with a cutting mat. Cut just within the lines to avoid any pencil marks on the inside of your envelopes.

Step Three: Score the paper to make an indent in a straight line, which will encourage the paper to fold cleanly and easily in the right place. Scoring is especially important if you're using heavy cardstock. Lighter weight papers can be scored as well, but it's not necessary. You can use a bone folder and a ruler to score the paper, or a scoring attachment on your sliding paper trimmer.

Step Four: Cut out the lining for your envelopes. Many scrapbooking papers come with a grid of cutting lines on the back, or you can use the liner included in the printable envelope templates. Cut the paper to the appropriate size and then score it where the fold of the envelope will be. Hold the paper in place so that it's centered, and use a ruler as a guideline. Run a bone folder or similar tool along the score to create an instant score.

Step Five: Glue the liner into place using a permanent adhesive glue runner.

Step Six: Fold the flaps of the envelopes and apply glue or adhesive. Fold the bottom flap upwards, and you've created matching envelopes for your homemade invitations!

Cost

The cost of making your own wedding invitations can vary depending on several factors, including the number of guests, the complexity of the design, and the materials used. Here is a breakdown of the costs to consider:

Materials

The cost of materials can vary depending on the type of paper, envelopes, and any additional design elements you choose. Paper options include cotton fiber, felt cardstock, matte, glossy, parchment, vellum, glassine, handmade paper, recycled paper, and linen. Cotton fiber, for example, is on the expensive side at around $29 for 100 sheets. In comparison, parchment is the most affordable option, typically costing around $15 for 100 sheets. Envelopes can also be purchased separately, with prices ranging from $15 to $30 per 100 envelopes.

Design Elements

Adding design elements such as photography, engraving, foil stamping, letterpress, glitter, or calligraphy can increase the cost of your invitations. For example, hiring a calligrapher to design the lettering for your invites can add $100-$300 to your budget. Foil stamping, on the other hand, typically adds only a minimal amount to the overall cost.

Shipping

If you're ordering materials online, don't forget to factor in shipping costs. These can vary depending on the weight and destination of your package. For example, the average wedding postage cost for domestic shipping below one ounce is around $0.49 per envelope.

Time and Effort

Creating your own wedding invitations can be time-consuming, especially if you're making a large number of invitations. Consider the time and effort required to design and assemble the invitations, as well as any potential mistakes or learning curves along the way.

Comparison to Professional Invitations

While making your own wedding invitations can save you money, it's important to compare the costs to professionally made invitations. In some cases, the cost of materials and time spent on DIY invitations may be similar or even higher than the cost of purchasing ready-made invitations.

Budgeting

When budgeting for DIY wedding invitations, it's a good idea to set a realistic budget and compare prices from different suppliers. Be sure to read reviews and check for any additional costs, such as shipping or taxes. It's also essential to give yourself enough time to create the invitations and consider any potential delays in shipping or production.

In summary, the cost of making your own wedding invitations can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the materials, design, and number of invitations you need. By carefully planning and comparing options, you can create beautiful and affordable wedding invitations that fit within your budget.

Frequently asked questions