Creating Wedding Stationery: A Guide For The Diy Bride

Wedding stationery can be expensive, so it's no surprise that many couples are choosing to design and create their own. While it may seem daunting at first, there are plenty of resources available to help you craft beautiful, professional-looking invitations and other stationery. From editable templates to printable designs and completely handmade creations, there are many ways to make your wedding stationery unique and personalised. Whether you're a crafting whizz or a novice, with a bit of time and creativity, you can create stunning wedding stationery that reflects your style and personality.

Sourcing paper and envelopes

Determine your needs

First, outline all the paper components you plan to include in your wedding stationery suite. This will help you determine the quantity, size, type, thickness, brand, and color of paper you need. Consider that you will need to fit all the components into your chosen envelope sizes.

Choose your paper type

Uncoated cardstock is the most popular choice for wedding invitations as it has a high-quality, luxurious look and a durable feel. For a more textured look, you can opt for paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish. Visit a specialty stationery store or print shop to feel different types of paper and select the best size and weight for your printer. Take a few samples home to test on your printer before making a final decision.

Order in advance

Given the supply chain challenges of recent years, it's important to order your paper and envelopes well in advance. Stock outages, missing colors, and unavailable paper sizes are common issues. Sourcing these items early on will save you from unnecessary stress and ensure you have everything you need for your project.

Consider envelope liners

To elevate your invitations, you can add embellishments such as ribbons, wax seals, or envelope liners. If you choose to include envelope liners, be sure to purchase envelopes that are slightly larger than your cardstock to accommodate the extra lining.

Seal with care

When sealing your envelopes, use glue dots or double-stick tape instead of traditional glue. This method will give you a neater finish and reduce the risk of the envelope becoming damaged or torn.

Weigh your options

Before mailing your invitations, take a complete suite to the post office to be weighed. The weight of your invitations will determine the exact number of stamps you need. If you want your envelopes to be hand-cancelled to avoid potential damage, be sure to mention this to the postal worker when calculating postage.

Designing the layout

Choose the Right Tools:

Start by selecting the right software for your design. If you're looking for professional-level designs, you can use designer software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign. These programs offer advanced features and tools that will give you more control over your layout design. Alternatively, if you're a beginner, user-friendly options like Canva or Microsoft Word are great choices and offer plenty of templates and design tools.

Determine the Overall Look and Feel:

Decide on the style and theme of your wedding stationery. Consider your wedding aesthetic and choose a design that complements it. For example, if you're having a rustic barn wedding, you might use earthy tones, kraft paper, and twine in your design. On the other hand, a glamorous city wedding might call for metallic accents, modern fonts, and sleek layouts.

Keep it Simple:

When designing your layout, less is often more. Opt for a simple and classic design that is easy to read and navigate. Too many design elements or a cluttered layout can make your stationery look busy and confusing. Leave ample white space and use a clear font hierarchy to guide your guests' eyes through the information.

Focus on Readability:

The text on your wedding stationery should be easy to read. Choose legible fonts and ensure there is sufficient contrast between the text and the background. Avoid intricate or overly decorative fonts for important information, as they can be difficult to read, especially for older guests. It's also a good idea to have a third party read through the text to catch any errors or spelling mistakes.

Include all Necessary Information:

Make sure your layout includes all the essential details your guests need to know. This includes the time, date, and location of the wedding, as well as RSVP details and any other relevant information such as dress code or accommodation options. You can also direct guests to your wedding website for additional information to avoid overcrowding your stationery.

Be Mindful of Paper Size and Orientation:

Consider the size and orientation of your paper when designing the layout. The standard size for invitations is 5" x 7", but you may have additional inserts with varying lengths and widths. Think about how the different elements will fit together and how you want them to be folded or arranged. This will help ensure your layout is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional.

Add Personal Touches:

Incorporate personal touches that reflect your personality and style as a couple. This could be a custom crest, a hand-painted illustration, or even a handwritten message. You can also add decorative elements like gold foil, watercolour backgrounds, or floral wax seals to elevate your design and make it unique.

Proofread and Print:

Once you're happy with your layout, proofread it one last time to catch any errors. Then, print a test copy to see how it looks on paper. Make any necessary adjustments until you're completely satisfied with the result. Remember to choose high-quality paper and envelopes that complement your design.

Remember, designing your own wedding stationery is a creative process, and it's important to have fun with it! Don't be afraid to experiment and try out different ideas until you find the perfect layout that represents your special day.

Choosing fonts

Choosing the right font for your wedding stationery is an important decision. The font you select will help set the tone of your wedding and reinforce the style and formality of your big day.

There are three main styles of fonts for wedding stationery:

• Serif fonts have decorative lines at the ends of each character, also known as "serifs." These fonts are easy to read and are a great choice for smaller text. Within the serif category, you can choose between traditional serif fonts with a classic, centuries-old style, or modern serif fonts that follow current design trends while still maintaining a traditional feel.
• Sans serif fonts do not have the decorative tails of serif fonts and instead feature clean, simple letters. They bring a modern and minimalist feel to wedding stationery and are highly legible, making them ideal for digital invitations.
• Script fonts are traditional and formal, mirroring cursive writing with long, loopy, connected characters and flourishes. Script fonts are perfect for highlighting important details, such as the names of the couple on wedding invitations, but they can be more challenging to read, so they are best avoided for text-heavy designs.

When choosing a font, it's essential to consider your wedding's aesthetic and formality. Sans serif fonts, for example, pair well with contemporary weddings, while serif and script fonts are more suited to traditional celebrations.

Readability is another critical factor. Your wedding font should clearly communicate essential information about your event. Avoid overly complex or calligraphy-inspired fonts for small font sizes and vital details. Instead, opt for clear, clean text, ensuring that the thickness and capitalization of the characters don't obscure the meaning.

To create a visually appealing design, introduce contrast by pairing different fonts, such as a script font with a sans serif. However, be mindful of your placement to avoid a haphazard look. For instance, you can use one font for your names and wedding location and another for the remaining text.

Color also plays a role in enhancing the visual appeal of your stationery. Stick to your wedding color scheme, but use a limited palette to avoid overwhelming your design. Bright, bold shades can highlight important details, but ensure you also incorporate more neutral text for better readability.

Consistency is key when it comes to your wedding fonts. Use the same font throughout your wedding stationery and other printed goods, such as programs, escort cards, and thank-you cards, to create a cohesive design concept for your event.

Before finalizing your font choice, sit down with your partner and discuss your preferences. Consider your unique style and the overall theme of your wedding. Type out your names in different fonts to see how they look, as certain fonts may work better with your names than others.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules for choosing wedding fonts. The most important thing is to select fonts that reflect your personalities and tie your wedding stationery together.

Printing the stationery

Printing your wedding stationery is a crucial step in the DIY process. Here are some detailed instructions and tips to help you achieve the best results:

Choose the Right Printer

You can use a regular home printer to print your wedding stationery, but it's important to ensure that it can handle the weight and size of your chosen paper. Most standard printers can accommodate cardstock up to 80 pounds. If you don't have a suitable printer at home, you can send your files to a larger printer at stores like Costco or Office Depot, or use a local printing shop. Remember to also check that your printer has enough ink.

Select the Right Paper

The type of paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your invitations. Uncoated cardstock is the most popular choice, as it has a high-quality, luxurious appearance and a durable feel. For a more textured look, consider paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish. Visit a specialty stationery or print shop to feel different types of paper and select the best size and weight for your printer. Take a few samples home to test on your printer before making a final decision. Pre-cut cards are also available at craft stores for a cost-effective option.

Design and Layout

When designing your stationery, use software that allows for professional-level designs, such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign. For a beginner-friendly option, Canva and Microsoft Word are great alternatives. Create a full bleed design, ensuring that it reaches the edge of the paper without any white margins. Centre your design on the page, leaving room to neatly trim the invitations after printing. If printing at home, avoid a full-colour background as most home printers aren't well-suited for this and may result in imperfections and discolouration. Instead, opt for a white background with colourful illustrations.

Proofreading and Printing

Before printing, thoroughly proofread your design and have someone else review it as well to catch any errors. Once you're satisfied, save your file as a PDF, which will print at a higher quality than a JPEG. Set your printer to the "`photograph" or "high`" setting for the best quality. Run a few tests, as home printers often display images that are slightly darker than the digital design. Adjust the settings as needed until you're happy with the colour balance. If you're unsure about your printer's capabilities, consider using a professional printing service for precise colour matching and cutting.

Cutting and Assembly

After printing, use a paper cutter or craft knife to cut your invitations down to the desired size. The standard invitation size is 5 inches by 7 inches, but additional inserts may vary in size. Assemble your invitations by placing the inserts inside the corresponding envelopes, sealing them, and adding any desired adornments, such as ribbons or wax seals.

Postage and Mailing

Before mailing your invitations, visit the post office to determine the correct postage based on the total weight and number of invitations. Request hand-cancelling to avoid potential damage during the mailing process. Address each envelope, add the correct number of stamps, and return to the post office to send out your invitations. It is recommended to mail your wedding invitations six to eight weeks before your wedding day.

Adding finishing touches

Gold Foil Details

Gold foil is an inexpensive way to add elegance and luxury to your wedding invitations. You can add gold foil to the border of your insert card or anywhere on the invitation for a sparse and scattered look.

Watercolour Backgrounds

If you're artistic, consider painting the background of your invitations with watercolours. Each invitation will be unique, and as long as you use similar colours and placement, they will look amazing as a set.

Textured Paper

Printing, drawing, writing or painting your invitations on textured paper can elevate the handmade feel. You can also use watercolours to paint greenery or simply handwrite your invites on textured paper for a pretty, detailed finish.

Pinned Wedding Invitations

If your DIY wedding invitations consist of several sheets of paper, consider pinning them together in the corner with a gold, silver or rose gold fastener. This adds a professional finish and makes it easier for guests to fan out and see all the pages.

Hand-Tied Details

Adding a simple hand-tied piece of string or ribbon can give your invitations a handmade touch. You could use hessian string for a rustic look or even tie in your wedding colours with a coloured ribbon.

Real Flowers

Including dried flowers or even fresh blooms is a lovely way to hint at your colour scheme or the flowers you're planning to use on the wedding day.

Floral Wax Seals

Using dried flowers or botanical leaves to adorn wax seals is a creative way to seal your envelopes. These seals often have stickers on the back, making them easy to use.

Personalised Wax Seals

You can also personalise your wax seals with your initials. This can be done with real wax and a rubber stamp or by ordering stickers.

Vellum Invitation Jackets

Translucent vellum jackets are a great way to make homemade wedding invitations look professional and expensive. These jackets come pre-folded, saving you time and effort.

DIY Envelope Inserts

You can download generic templates with the shape of an envelope insert already drawn out. All you need to do is print and cut them out before sliding them into your envelopes.

Ribbons, Wax Seals and Envelope Liners

To elevate your invitations, consider adding embellishments such as ribbons, wax seals or envelope liners. These tactile details will make your invitations stand out and feel luxurious.

Frequently asked questions