Creating Wedding Cards With Pagemaker: A Step-By-Step Guide

A wedding card, also known as a wedding invitation or wedding announcement, is a formal written invitation sent to friends and family to inform them about an upcoming wedding ceremony. It is an important aspect of wedding planning as it sets the tone for the event and provides guests with essential details such as the date, time, and venue of the wedding. Couples often choose or create wedding cards that match their wedding theme or colour scheme, adding a personal touch to the invitation. One way to create a wedding card is by using Pagemaker, a software that allows users to design and customise their own wedding invitations. With Pagemaker, couples can download a wedding card format and make changes to suit their preferences. This includes customising the colour scheme, adding text, images, and shapes, and even uploading their own photos to create a unique and elegant wedding invitation.

Choosing a template

When choosing a template for your wedding card, there are a few things you should consider. Firstly, you should think about the overall theme or colour scheme of your wedding. If you have a particular theme, such as rustic, boho, or beach, you can choose a template that complements this. For example, a rustic wedding might suit a simple invite printed on recycled brown paper. You could also opt for a minimalist design if you're after something more modern.

Secondly, you should consider the tone you want to set for your wedding. Wedding cards are an important aspect of wedding planning as they give your guests a taste of what to expect from the event. For instance, a light-hearted and funny couple might prefer a template with a more casual and playful design, while a couple planning a formal event might choose a more elegant and traditional template.

Thirdly, you should think about any additional features you might want to include on your wedding card. Some templates offer custom options for fonts, colours, stickers, photos, and more. If you want to include a photo of you and your partner, look for a template that allows for image uploading. You might also want to consider the shape and size of your card. The classic wedding invitation size is a 5 x 7 inches flat, rectangular card, but you could also opt for a more petite 4.25" x 6" version, a tear-out RSVP version, or a long, thin 4 x 9.5" card.

Finally, it's important to choose a template that suits your budget. Wedding invitations can range from inexpensive to luxury, so decide how much you're willing to spend before selecting a template. Some websites offer free templates, while others provide premium options for a more customised experience.

Remember, your wedding card is a reflection of your personality and style, so take the time to browse through different templates before making your choice.

Adding images, fonts and colours

Adding images, fonts, and colours is a great way to personalise your wedding card and make it stand out. You can choose to add your own images, or select from a wide range of graphics and illustrations.

When it comes to images, you can either upload your own photos or choose from a library of premium images, graphics, and illustrations. This is a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding card. You can also find images that reflect the theme and feel of your wedding, such as traditional Indian wedding card designs that feature artistic designs and cultural symbols.

For fonts, you can select from a variety of custom font options to match your wedding theme. You can also stylize your font to fit the overall style of your wedding. For example, if you're going for a rustic theme, you might choose a simple font that complements the recycled brown paper you're using for your invitations.

Colour is another important element to consider. You can customise the colour scheme of your wedding card to match your wedding colours or the overall theme of your wedding. For instance, traditional Indian weddings often feature shades of red, gold, teal, and silver. You can also add bold colours to make your invitation stand out and reflect the energy of your wedding celebrations.

Additionally, you can use shapes and lines to further customise your wedding card. Whether you're looking for a classic, modern, traditional, or minimalist style, there are endless creative options available to make your wedding card unique and memorable.

Printing and sharing

Once you have designed your wedding card, it's time to share it with your friends and family. You can either print the cards and send them via mail or share them electronically.

• Print at Home: You can print your wedding invitations at home on high-quality paper. This option allows you to have physical copies of your wedding invitations, which you can then mail to your guests.
• Professional Printing Services: If you want higher quality prints, you can use professional printing services. These services can print your invitations and deliver them to your doorstep.
• Electronic Sharing: If you prefer to send your invitations electronically, you can do so via email or by sharing them directly on your social media accounts. This option is environmentally friendly and allows for a faster delivery of your invitations.

Things to Consider:

• Theme and Style: Ensure that your wedding card reflects the theme and style of your wedding. This could be a rustic theme, a minimalist design, or a traditional Indian wedding card with cultural symbols and a colourful palette.
• Information to Include: Your wedding card should include essential details such as the names of the couple, the date, time, and location of the wedding. You may also want to include additional information such as RSVP instructions, the wedding website address, gift list details, and any cultural or religious quotes that are significant to the couple.
• Timing: Send out your wedding invitations six to eight weeks before the wedding. This allows your guests enough time to arrange time off and travel if needed.
• RSVP Deadline: Set an RSVP deadline about three to four weeks before the wedding. This will give you time to follow up on any missing responses and finalise numbers for your vendors.

Wording and tone

The wording and tone of your wedding card will depend on your wedding's theme and style, as well as your own personality and preferences. Wedding cards are often considered an important aspect of wedding planning as they set the tone for the event.

What to Include

Regardless of the tone and style, there are some basics that you need to include on any wedding invitation:

• The full names of the couple
• Date and time of both the ceremony and reception
• Names and locations of the wedding venues
• How to RSVP for the event
• The RSVP deadline date

You may also want to include:

• Any additional information such as the wedding website address and gift list details
• The dress code
• Details of any pre-wedding events, such as a save-the-date or engagement party

Traditional vs. Modern

If you are having a traditional wedding, you may want to reflect this in the wording and tone of your invitations. This could include using formal language and following traditional customs, such as listing the bride's name before the groom's.

On the other hand, if your wedding is more modern or non-traditional, you might want to experiment with different wording and styles. For example, you could choose a minimalist design or include a photo of you and your partner.

Cultural and Religious Symbols

If your wedding has a cultural or religious theme, you may want to incorporate this into your invitations. For example, traditional Indian wedding cards often feature artistic designs with shades of red, gold, teal, and silver, as well as symbolic elements such as mandalas, paisley, Ganesh, peacocks, and florals.

Matching Your Wedding Theme

You can also choose to match your wedding card to the overall theme or colour scheme of your wedding. For example, if you're planning a rustic wedding, you might opt for a simple invite printed on recycled brown paper.

Adding a Personal Touch

To make your wedding card more personal, consider adding your own photos, custom colours, or shapes and lines. You could also include a prayer or religious quote, or even a video message, to make your guests feel extra special.

Using a Template

If you're unsure where to start, you can use a template as a base and customise it to your liking. There are hundreds of wedding invitation templates available online, with various themes, colours, and styles to choose from.

Remember, your wedding card is a reflection of you and your partner, so have fun with it and get creative!

RSVP instructions

What to Include on the RSVP Card:

• A blank line for guests to write their names. On a formal RSVP card, start the line with an "M" to indicate that guests should include their proper honorific (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss).
• An attendance line for guests to accept or decline your invitation. This could be in the form of checkboxes, circles, or fill-in-the-blank lines.
• A place for guests to indicate who is coming (number of guests) if they are attending.
• A section for guests to indicate their meal choice/dietary restrictions. This is especially important for your caterers and can help avoid any wedding day panic or upset.
• A special request line (optional). This could be for song requests, drink preferences, or a favourite memory of the couple.

Wording for the RSVP Card:

The wording of your RSVP cards should match the style and tone of your wedding invitations. Here are some examples:

For Formal RSVP Cards:

• "The favour of a response is requested by…"
• "Respectfully declines"
• "Accepts with pleasure"
• "Declines with regret"

For Informal RSVP Cards:

• "Kindly reply"
• "Kindly respond"
• "Please respond by"
• "Can't wait!"
• "Sorry, I wish I/we could be there!"

RSVP Deadline:

The deadline for your RSVP is crucial and is usually set around four to eight weeks before the wedding date. This allows time for last-minute coordination and gives guests enough time to respond, especially if they need to make travel arrangements.

Online RSVPs:

If you are requesting online RSVPs, include instructions on your wedding invitations or on a separate enclosure card. Provide your wedding website URL and a clear deadline.

Printed RSVP Cards:

For printed RSVP cards, include pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelopes to make it easy for your guests to send their responses.

Other Tips:

• If you are having a destination wedding, a mid-week wedding, or a peak-season wedding, send out invitations early to give guests extra time to respond.
• If you are not allowing children, specify "adults-only" on your invitations or website.
• To prevent guests from adding extra names, carefully address your invitations and utilize your wedding website to limit digital responses.

Remember, your RSVP cards are an extension of your personalities, so feel free to add unique touches and have fun with the wording!

Frequently asked questions