Crafting Wedding Reception Cards: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding reception cards are a great way to give your guests important information about the events happening after the wedding ceremony, especially if your reception is at a different location or starts at a different time. They can be inserted into your wedding invitation suite to give guests essential details about where and when the celebration continues after the ceremony. This guide will cover everything you need to know about how to make wedding reception cards, from choosing a template to customising it with your personal details.

Choosing a template

When choosing a template for your wedding reception card, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you'll want to select a design that reflects the theme and style of your wedding. If you're having a rustic wedding, for instance, a template with rustic elements like twine, woodgrain, or foliage might be a good choice. If you're going for a more elegant or formal affair, look for templates with classic typefaces, sophisticated colour palettes, and elegant borders or frames.

Another important factor is the information you need to convey. Make sure the template you choose has space for all the necessary details, including the names of the wedding hosts, a request for attendance, the names of the couple, the date, time, and location of the reception, and any other relevant information like parking or shuttle services.

You should also consider the level of customisation you want. Some templates will allow you to change fonts, colours, and other design elements, while others might be more restricted. If you want to include photos or other imagery, look for templates that accommodate this.

• Canva offers a range of free, customisable templates with various designs, including "Pink Flowers and Polka Dots", "Cream and Blue Hydrangeas", and "Navy Blue Pink Floral Illustration". You can personalise these templates with your chosen fonts, colours, and graphic elements.
• Greetings Island provides a wide range of editable wedding invitation card templates with custom options for fonts, colours, stickers, and photos. They offer both free and premium templates, with the premium membership unlocking over 5000 designs.
• Adobe Express has a variety of templates ranging from rustic to minimalist, and you can customise them with thousands of fonts, colours, and more. They also offer the Generate Text Effect tool, which lets you create unique font styles.

Customising the card

Firstly, decide on a template that suits your theme. You could opt for rustic, minimalist, floral, or any other style that matches your wedding aesthetic. You can then customise the template with your chosen colours, fonts, and images. Play around with different combinations until you find the perfect style for your card.

Next, add the text. Include the names of the wedding hosts, a request for attendance, the names of the couple, the date, time, and location of the reception, and any other important details. You can also add extra information, such as limited parking or the availability of a shuttle service. If you have a specific dress code, be sure to include that too.

To make your card even more creative, you can add graphic elements like icons, vectors, or illustrations. You could also include photos, either featured or overlaid with text, for a truly personal touch.

Finally, decide on the type of paper you want to use. A card stock between 240gsm and 350gsm in ivory or cream is a luxurious option. You could also use vellum or glassine paper for any additional inserts.

Adding imagery

Choose a Theme: Select a theme that reflects your wedding style and personality. This could be rustic, minimalist, floral, or any other theme that suits your taste. For instance, if you're having a beach wedding, you might want to incorporate coastal imagery like seashells, starfish, or tropical flowers.

Incorporate Graphics: Enhance your reception cards with graphic elements such as icons, vectors, or illustrations. These can be used to decorate the borders, backgrounds, or even as accents within the text. You can find many graphic options in online design tools or create your own for a more personalised touch.

Feature Floral Elements: Flowers are a popular choice for wedding imagery. Consider adding floral borders, wreaths, or floral patterns to your reception cards. You can match the flowers in your imagery to your wedding colour palette or the types of flowers you'll be using in your bouquet and decor.

Use Photos: Adding a photo of the happy couple is a wonderful way to personalise your reception cards. This could be a recent photo of you and your partner, or even a fun throwback picture. You can make the photo the focal point of the card, or incorporate it more subtly as a background image.

Experiment with Backgrounds: Instead of a plain background, consider using patterned or textured backgrounds for your reception cards. This could be a subtle floral pattern, a rustic wood texture, or even a watercolour effect. Play around with different options to see what complements your overall design.

Embellish with Icons: Icons can be a fun addition to your reception cards. You might use icons to represent different elements of the reception, such as a cake, champagne glasses, or musical notes for dancing. These can be subtle accents or more prominent design elements, depending on your preference.

Remember, the key is to choose imagery that reflects your style and the overall theme of your wedding. By incorporating these visual elements, you can create reception cards that truly delight your guests and set the tone for your special day.

Saving and sharing the design

Once you've designed your wedding reception card, it's time to save and share your creation. Here are some tips to help you with this final stage of the process:

Saving your design

When saving your wedding reception card design, it's important to choose a file format that retains the quality of your work. While the specific file formats available to you will depend on the software you're using, common options include PDF, PNG, and JPEG. Saving your design as a PDF will keep your text crisp and clear, while saving it as an image file like PNG or JPEG will allow you to share your design via text or email more easily. If you're printing your cards, be sure to follow any file format requirements specified by the printing service.

Sharing your design

There are several ways to share your wedding reception card design with your guests. If you're working with a print service, they may offer direct mailing services, allowing you to send your designs to your guests' physical addresses. Alternatively, you can download your design and share it via email or text. If you have a wedding website, you can also upload your design to the site for guests to view and download. For guests who prefer a physical copy, you can print out your design and include it with your main invitation or send it separately.

Printing your design

If you plan on printing your wedding reception cards, it's important to choose the right paper. Opt for a card stock between 240 gsm and 350 gsm in ivory or cream for a luxurious feel. If you're including additional inserts with your invitation, use a lighter weight paper such as vellum or glassine. When it comes to printing, you have the option to use a professional printing service or print your cards at home. Compare prices and print quality before making your decision.

Final thoughts

Saving and sharing your wedding reception card design is the final step in creating a functional and beautiful invitation for your guests. Whether you're emailing your design or printing elegant cards, your guests will appreciate the time and effort you've put into creating a seamless experience for them.

Printing the card

Once you have finalised the design of your wedding reception card, it's time to think about printing. You can print your cards at home or use a professional printing service. If you want to print your cards at home, you will need a good-quality card stock in a colour that matches your theme. Ivory or cream card stock with a weight of 240gsm to 350gsm is a good option. You can also use lighter-weight vellum or glassine paper for any additional inserts.

If you prefer to use a professional printing service, there are several options available. Canva Print, for example, offers high-quality printing on premium, sustainable paper. Alternatively, Greetings Island offers professional printing services with prices starting at $18.80 for 10 invitations with envelopes. You can also create a full event management service with RSVP, reminders, and more features.

When printing your wedding reception cards, it's important to consider the information you need to include. The full name of the venue, street address, city, and state are essential. You may also want to include additional details such as parking information or shuttle services. If there is a specific dress code, you can include that as well.

Finally, don't forget to allow enough time for printing and delivery if you are using a professional service. Your wedding invitations should ideally arrive in mailboxes six to eight weeks before your wedding.

Frequently asked questions