Custom Wedding Invitations: A Uk Guide

Planning a wedding can be a costly affair, and for those looking to save money, DIY wedding invitations are a great option. While it may seem daunting at first, creating your own invitations is a fun and budget-friendly alternative to outsourcing to a professional. In this guide, we'll take you through the process of making your own wedding invitations, from designing and customising your invites to choosing the right paper and printing options. We'll also offer tips and tricks from experts to ensure your invitations look professional and elegant. So, whether you're a crafting whizz or a complete beginner, read on to discover how to make your own wedding invitations.

Design your own invitations or buy a template

There are several options available for couples who want to design their own wedding invitations.

The first option is to design the invitations from scratch. This option is best for those who are confident in their design skills or have some experience with graphic design software. For those who are less confident, there are online platforms such as Canva, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop that offer free templates and design tools to help create invitations.

The second option is to purchase an editable template online. This option is less labour-intensive and allows couples to personalise the design themselves. Websites such as Papier, Etsy, Creative Market, and stock photography websites offer editable templates that can be customised and printed at home or by a professional printer. This option often includes the ability to add a photograph of the couple for a more personalised touch.

The third option is to purchase printable templates. These are typically cheaper, as you are mainly paying for the copyright of the design, and allow couples to print their invitations at home or with a printing shop. This option provides the flexibility to choose the type of paper used and add DIY touches such as a wedding stamp, additional stationery, or handwritten signatures.

When designing your own invitations or purchasing a template, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, consider the cost of materials and whether DIY invitations will actually be more affordable. Secondly, give yourself enough time to design and create the invitations, as it can be a time-consuming process. Finally, be realistic about your skill set and the level of intricacy you can achieve.

Design your own inserts

Designing your own inserts is a great way to save money on your wedding invitations. While you can hire a professional designer, it's also possible to create them yourself using a Word document or free online software such as Canva. This way, you can ensure that your inserts (details and directions cards, reception information and registry cards) coordinate with your invitations by using the same font.

If you're not comfortable designing your own inserts, you can purchase a template from Etsy, Creative Market, or stock photography websites for around £5-£20. Look for a template with just 2-3 colours, as these will be cheaper to print. Alternatively, you can save money by forgoing the inserts altogether and directing your guests to your wedding website for the details.

Buy cardstock kits

If you're looking to buy cardstock kits for your wedding invitations, there are several options available to you.

Etsy

Etsy offers a wide range of wedding invitation cardstock and kits. You can find various colours, styles, and weights of cardstock on Etsy, including white, cream, navy blue, rose gold, silver gilt, and eucalyptus-themed cardstocks. They also offer kits that include invitations, envelopes, cards for inserts, and instructions for printing at home.

Wowvow

Wowvow is a UK-based company that provides a range of DIY wedding invitation supplies, including luxury A4 card in colours like Colorplan, Stardream, and Gmund Colors, as well as vellum paper, pocketfolds, and embellishments. They also offer sealing wax for creating high-quality invitation wax seals.

Cardstock Warehouse

Cardstock Warehouse offers a variety of cardstock papers, including the Stardream Metallics collection for modern elegant weddings, the Kraft or Speckletone Collection for a rustic feel, and the Pergamenata Parchment Collection for an old-world sophisticated style. They suggest purchasing a Swatch Deck to compare papers and find the perfect match for your theme. Cardstock Warehouse also provides invitation design templates and tips for printing at home or using a local printer.

Other Options

• Amazon: You can find cardstock in various colours and weights, such as the 90 lb bright white stock from Neenah paper.
• Cardstock and Pockets: This online retailer offers wedding invitation kits with invitations, envelopes, and cards for inserts, along with printing instructions.
• Envelopes.com: A site geared towards professionals, offering quality cardstock options but limited tips for printing at home.
• Fine Cardstock: A source for cardstock without the fluff, with an extensive collection of colours and ready-to-print envelopes and cards for thank-you notes.

When choosing cardstock, it's important to consider the weight, with 80-90 lb being ideal for most home printers, and 110-130 lb giving a more professional look but requiring industrial printers. You should also experiment with different papers and print quality settings to find the best combination for sharp and clear prints.

Purchase ink in bulk

If you're printing your wedding invitations at home, you'll need to make sure you have enough ink. Printing your invitations on the "photograph" or "high" setting will give the best quality, but it can be expensive. To save money, buy your ink in bulk from places like Sam's Club, Costco, or Amazon. This way, you'll have a backup if you run out of ink halfway through printing. If your design is particularly ink-heavy, you may want to buy two backup ink sets.

When choosing your design, opt for something that isn't too ink-heavy. Designs with more white space and lighter colour backgrounds will save on your ink bill. You can always add colour to your invitations by using coloured cardstock or backing your invitations with pretty patterned paper.

Plan ahead for things to go wrong

Planning your own wedding invitations can be a fun and rewarding project, but it's important to be prepared for any potential bumps in the road. Here are some detailed tips to help you plan ahead and ensure a smooth process when creating your own wedding invitations:

• Buy extra supplies: It's always better to have more than you need rather than running out halfway through. Purchase about 10% more supplies than you think you'll require, including ribbon, paper, ink, and envelopes. That way, you'll be covered in case of mistakes or the need to reprint.
• Plan for emergencies: Opt for buying a larger pack of invitations and ink than you think you need. For example, go for the pack of 75 invitations instead of 50. This way, if something goes wrong, you won't have to worry about buying more supplies at full price.
• Factor in timing: Give yourself ample time to create the invitations, as printing at home can be more time-consuming than expected. Aim to send out your invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding, and plan your printing time accordingly.
• Proofread and print tests: Before printing all your invitations, proofread the design multiple times and print a few tests. This will allow you to adjust printer settings and ensure the colours and alignment are correct.
• Choose the right paper: Opt for thicker paper, such as a 120 lb. uncoated cardstock, for a luxurious feel. Consider paper with a bit of texture, such as linen or felt. Test different paper options on your home printer to find the best fit and ensure a professional-looking result.
• Manage your ink usage: Keep in mind that designs with colourful backgrounds or heavy ink coverage will use a lot of ink. Look for designs with more white space and lighter colour backgrounds to save on ink and achieve better results on home printers.
• Computer and printer settings: Your computer screen may not accurately represent how the design will print. Home printers tend to produce slightly darker prints, so adjust your printer settings accordingly. Test different settings and print samples to get the desired result.

Frequently asked questions