Creating Wedding Stationery: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

Planning a wedding can be a costly affair, and one way to save money is to make your own wedding stationery. Designing and printing your own invites can be a fun and creative way to express your personality as a couple and add a unique touch to your big day. Whether you're a dab hand at design or a complete beginner, there are plenty of tools and templates available to help you create beautiful wedding stationery. From choosing the right paper and envelopes to adding special touches like wax seals and ribbons, making your own wedding stationery can be a rewarding project.

Sourcing paper and envelopes

First, you'll need to determine the size and thickness of your paper. This will depend on the number of paper components you want to include and the size of your envelopes. It's important to make sure that all of your paper components will fit comfortably inside your envelopes. If you're planning on creating a faux deckled edge, you'll need to use a larger paper size than your final desired size.

Next, consider the type and colour of paper you want to use. Uncoated cardstock is the most popular choice for wedding invitations, as it has a high-quality, luxurious look and feel. For a more textured look, you can opt for paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish. If you want to incorporate your wedding colours, you can choose coloured cardstock or back your invitations with patterned paper.

Once you've decided on the type and colour of paper, it's time to start sourcing your paper. You can find paper at craft stores, specialty stationery stores, or online. It's a good idea to take your time and shop around to find the best quality and price. Don't forget to buy a little extra in case of mistakes or last-minute additions.

Finally, don't forget to purchase envelopes for your invitations and RSVP cards. Make sure to buy envelopes that are slightly larger than your paper components to ensure a comfortable fit. You can find envelopes in a variety of colours and materials to match your wedding theme.

Remember to give yourself plenty of time for sourcing paper and envelopes, as it can be a time-consuming and challenging process. By planning ahead and considering your options carefully, you'll be able to create beautiful and unique wedding stationery that reflects your style and personality.

Designing the layout

Choose the Right Tools:

Start by selecting the software you will use to design your layout. Adobe applications such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign offer professional-level tools. However, for a beginner-friendly option, you can opt for Canva or Microsoft Word. These programs provide user-friendly interfaces and a range of customizable templates.

Determine the Overall Design:

Consider the style and theme of your wedding when designing the layout. Decide on the number of inserts, the colour scheme, the font styles, and any illustrations or decorative elements you want to include. If you need inspiration, sites like Pinterest are a great resource for design ideas, including colour palettes, font combinations, and decorative elements.

Create a Cohesive Suite:

Your wedding stationery suite typically includes the invitation, RSVP cards, details/direction cards, and envelopes. Ensure that all components of your suite complement each other and reflect the overall design and theme. This includes using consistent fonts, colours, and decorative elements across all pieces.

Focus on Readability:

While the design is important, ensure that your text is legible. Use clear and concise wording, and avoid overly complex or ornate fonts that may be difficult to read. Leave adequate space between lines and around text blocks to enhance readability.

Pay Attention to Margins and Alignment:

When designing the layout, be mindful of margins and alignment. Centre the text on the page, allowing for enough space around the edges for cutting or trimming. If you plan to have a full-bleed design (where the background colour or illustration extends to the edge of the paper), be sure to account for this in your layout.

Proofread and Finalise:

Before finalising the layout, carefully proofread the text for any errors or typos. Ask a friend or family member to review it as well to catch any mistakes you may have missed. Make any necessary adjustments to the layout based on feedback and your own review.

Print a Test Copy:

Once you're satisfied with the digital layout, print a test copy to see how it looks on paper. This will help you identify any issues with text placement, colour accuracy, or overall design. Make any necessary adjustments until you're happy with the result.

By following these steps, you'll be able to design a beautiful and effective layout for your wedding stationery, creating a cohesive and impressive suite that reflects your wedding theme and provides essential information to your guests.

Choosing fonts

Choosing the right font for your wedding stationery is a crucial step in the design process. It will impact the overall look and feel of your invitations and set the tone for your wedding. Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect fonts:

• Consider your wedding aesthetic: Choose a font that reflects the style of your wedding. For example, if you're having a rustic barn wedding, you might opt for earthy tones, kraft paper, and a twine-inspired font. For a glamorous city wedding, modern fonts and sleek designs might be more appropriate.
• Legibility: Select a font that is easy to read. You want your guests to be able to clearly understand the information on the invitation. Avoid overly intricate or fancy fonts that may be difficult to decipher.
• Consistency: Use the same font throughout your entire suite of wedding stationery, including the invitation, RSVP cards, and any other inserts. This creates a cohesive and polished look.
• Contrast: Play with different font sizes, weights, and styles to create contrast and visual interest. For example, you might use a script font for the header and a classic serif font for the body text.
• Personality: Choose a font that reflects your personality and that of your partner. If you're a fun and whimsical couple, a lighthearted font might be appropriate. If you prefer something more traditional, a classic font like Garamond or Baskerville could be a good choice.
• Proofread: Before finalising your font choice, proofread your design to ensure that the font is legible and visually appealing. Ask others to review it as well to get a second opinion.

Printing the text

Now that you've sourced your paper and designed your invites, it's time to print the text. There are a few ways to go about this, depending on your budget and desired level of customisation.

If you're looking for a simple and cost-effective option, you can print your invitations at home using a regular printer. Keep in mind that most standard printers can accommodate cardstock up to 80 pounds, so choose your paper accordingly. You'll also want to ensure that your printer can handle the size and weight of your paper. Run a few tests and adjust the settings until you're happy with the colour balance, as text and images tend to print a shade or two darker than they appear on your screen.

For a more professional finish, you may want to consider using a letterpress printer. This technique creates a beautiful relief effect that makes the text stand out. If this is the route you want to go down, you'll need to find a local letterpress printer and check with them to ensure that your paper sizes are compatible with their machines.

Another option is to use an online printing service or a local printing shop. This can be a good choice if you're unsure about your printer's capabilities or want to achieve precise colour-matching and cutting.

Before printing your final product, be sure to proofread your design and have someone else look over it as well to catch any errors or mistakes. Save your file as a PDF, as this will print with higher quality than a JPEG. Aim for a template resolution quality of at least 300 DPI for a crisp result.

Finally, remember to plan for emergencies and buy extra supplies if needed. It's worth spending a little extra upfront to avoid having to buy more supplies later at full price.

Adding finishing touches

So, you've designed your wedding stationery, now it's time for those all-important finishing touches.

Wax seals

Wax seals are a traditional way to finish your wedding invitations. They add a touch of charm and luxury and can be used to seal your envelopes or paired with a wrap or ribbon. You can get creative with different shapes and sizes, and if you want to be extra fancy, you can get a bespoke monogram stamp made as a wonderful keepsake.

Vellum wraps

Vellum wraps add an extra layer to your invitations, holding everything together and offering a glimpse of the design within. You can use stickers, wax seals, silk ribbon, or gold twine to tie or seal them shut.

Belly bands

Belly bands are a great way to gather your suite and keep it held together neatly. They can be customized with your names, monogram, or wedding date, and you can use stickers to seal them securely.

Envelope liners

Envelope liners are like a hidden surprise for your guests when they open their envelopes. They're a great way to add bespoke design elements such as florals, venue illustrations, or custom crests, and they also add an extra level of protection for your invitations.

Addressing envelopes

You could opt for calligraphy done by hand or printed addresses to give your invitations that extra wow factor. If you're feeling creative, you could even try your hand at calligraphy yourself. Your guests will surely be touched by the extra effort.

Return address labels

Return address labels are a fun and inexpensive way to personalize your wedding stationery. Include your names and address on these simple stickers and place them on all communications sent to your guests.

Envelope seals and stickers

Custom stickers can be used to seal your envelopes, adding a personal touch. You can also use wax seals or fasten decorative belly bands around them for a rustic look.

Custom envelopes

Custom envelopes will make your invitations stand out in your guests' mailboxes. You can match the envelopes to your wedding aesthetic and even get creative with different papers and finishes.

Itinerary cards

Itinerary cards provide information beyond the wedding date, time, and location. They can be sent with your invitations or given to guests on the day of the wedding, especially helpful for guests travelling from out of town.

Rehearsal dinner invitations

Rehearsal dinner invitations are usually sent soon after the main invitations and include the date, time, location, and RSVP details.

Farewell brunch invitations

Farewell brunch invitations are typically sent to all wedding guests, especially those who have travelled and are staying longer. They are the same size as the main invitations and are sent out after the wedding.

Thank-you cards

Thank-you cards are a must to show your guests your appreciation. They should include a personalized message, ideally naming their specific gift when thanking them for it.

Framed prints and photo books

Framed prints and photo books are wonderful keepsakes to treasure your wedding memories forever. You can also gift framed prints to the couple's parents.

Matching day-of stationery

Don't forget the day-of stationery, such as place cards, escort cards, wedding thank-you cards, and menu cards. These will guide your guests through the wedding and reception and can be designed to match your wedding aesthetic.

Frequently asked questions