Customizing Wedding Invites: Making Them Truly Yours

Wedding invitations are one of the first impressions your guests will have of your big day. They set the tone for the wedding and provide essential information for your guests. With so many options available, it's easy to personalize your wedding invitations to reflect your unique style and preferences. Whether you're looking for elegant and traditional or fun and modern, there is a wide range of design templates, customization options, and additional features to choose from. From the type of paper and printing style to the colour and font, the possibilities are endless. You can even include a photo of you and your fiancé or add a wax seal for a special touch. And if you're environmentally conscious, there are sustainable and digital options available as well. So, take the time to browse the different websites, explore the customization options, and create wedding invitations that truly speak to you as a couple.

Choosing a design template

Consider Your Wedding Theme and Style:

Think about the overall style and theme of your wedding. Are you going for a rustic, vintage, elegant, or modern vibe? Choose a design template that complements your wedding theme. For example, if you're having a rustic barn wedding, consider invitations with wildflower illustrations or distressed wood textures. If you're having a more formal wedding, opt for elegant scripts or minimalist designs.

Browse Online Templates:

Websites like Basic Invite, Canva, Shutterfly, Truly Engaging, Minted, and Vistaprint offer a wide variety of design templates to choose from. Browse through their collections to get a sense of the different styles available. You can filter your search by style, theme, color, and letter type to find options that fit your vision.

Personalization Options:

Look for design templates that offer customization options. This will allow you to change the color, font, wording, and other design elements to make the invitation truly yours. Some websites even let you upload your own artwork or photos to create a completely bespoke design.

Paper Type and Quality:

Consider the type of paper you want for your invitations. Is it going to be classic cardstock, recycled paper, or something more luxurious like translucent vellum? The paper you choose will impact the overall look and feel of your invitation. Also, pay attention to the weight and finish of the paper. Thicker, higher-quality paper can give your invitations a more luxurious and professional appearance.

Order Samples:

Before finalizing your design template, consider ordering printed samples. Websites like Basic Invite, Artifact Uprising, and Truly Engaging offer this option, allowing you to see and feel the quality of the paper and printing. This will ensure that the final product meets your expectations.

Additional Features:

Some websites offer extra features like matching RSVP cards, enclosure cards, save-the-date cards, and wedding websites. If you want a cohesive look for your wedding stationery, look for design templates that offer these additional items.

Remember, your wedding invitation is one of the first impressions your guests will have of your special day. Take your time to browse different design templates, personalize the details, and choose a style that reflects your unique personality and wedding theme.

Customising colours, fonts and wording

When it comes to customising the colours, fonts and wording of your wedding invitations, there are a few key things to keep in mind.

Firstly, consider your wedding theme. The font you choose should complement and enhance your theme, not detract from it. If you're having a formal wedding, you might opt for a font with a more traditional or elegant style, such as a script or serif font. For a casual or whimsical event, a playful calligraphy or italicised font could be a better choice.

Legibility is also crucial. While some highly scripted or thin fonts may look beautiful, they can sometimes be difficult for guests to read. Consider choosing a font that is easy to read, especially for important details such as the date, time and location of your wedding.

You can also use accent fonts to break up the design and highlight certain elements, such as the names of the happy couple or the wedding date. These fonts will stand out from the rest of the information and add a touch of creativity to your invitations.

When it comes to colours, consider selecting hues that reflect your wedding theme or colour palette. For example, if you're having a rustic wedding, you might choose earthy tones like burgundy or forest green. If your wedding is more modern or minimalist, a sleek black and white colour scheme could be more appropriate.

As for wording, the key is to provide clear and concise information without overwhelming your guests. Include the essential details, such as the date, time, and location of the wedding, as well as any other relevant information, such as the dress code or RSVP date. It's important to proofread your invitations carefully to ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors, and that all the information is correct and complete.

Finally, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with different font and colour combinations to find the perfect fit for your wedding invitations. There are numerous free fonts available online that can help you achieve the look you desire, whether it's elegant, whimsical, or something else entirely.

Ordering a printed sample

Basic Invite, for example, offers a broad selection of design templates, including traditional, modern, vintage, and destination themes. They also provide customisation options like envelope colours and designs, matching RSVP cards, enclosure cards, and save-the-date cards.

Truly Engaging offers a Wedding Essentials Sample Kit, which includes trendy wedding designs, colour palettes, and paper options. They also provide free custom samples, allowing you to discover the perfect style for your big day.

Other websites like Shutterfly, Canva, and Minted also offer custom wedding invitation services, with Shutterfly and Canva providing printed samples delivered to your doorstep.

Envelope customisation

Colour and Design

Choose envelopes in colours that reflect your wedding theme or the time of year. For example, soft pastel envelopes for a spring or summer wedding, or rich jewel tones for an autumn or winter celebration. You can also opt for classic white or cream envelopes with elegant borders or deckled edges for a polished look. If you're having a destination wedding, consider envelopes featuring a tropical or countryside design that hints at your chosen location.

Envelope Liners

Envelope liners add a touch of luxury and surprise to your invitations. They can be made from a variety of papers, including colourful cardstock, elegant vellum, or even handmade paper with natural deckled edges. Envelope liners can be left plain or decorated with items like wax seals, stickers, or stamps.

Wax Seals

Wax seals are a traditional way to seal envelopes, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication. You can choose from various colours and even customise your wax seal stamp with your initials or a design that reflects your wedding theme.

Calligraphy

Hire a calligrapher or use a calligraphy template to address your envelopes. This adds a personal and artistic touch to your invitations, making them stand out from the typical handwritten or printed address.

Printing Services

Many companies offer envelope printing services, allowing you to customise the envelope with your return address, guest addresses, or even your wedding logo or monogram. This can save you time and ensure a neat and consistent appearance.

Envelope Templates

If you're crafty, consider purchasing envelope templates that you can print and assemble yourself. This option gives you complete control over the envelope design, colour, and paper type. You can even add your artwork or decorations to create truly unique envelopes.

Envelope Boxes

Present your invitations in a stylish envelope box, especially if you have multiple items like RSVP cards, enclosure cards, or save-the-date cards. Envelope boxes can be customised with colours, ribbons, or monograms to match your wedding theme.

Adding RSVP cards, enclosure cards and save-the-date cards

Adding enclosure cards to your wedding invitation suite is a great way to share additional details with your guests. While wedding websites have reduced the need for multiple enclosure cards, they can still be useful for conveying important information that doesn't fit on the formal invite. Here are some tips for adding RSVP cards, enclosure cards, and save-the-date cards to your wedding invitations:

RSVP Cards:

RSVP cards, or response cards, are a crucial part of your wedding invitation suite. They allow your guests to confirm their attendance and provide important information for planning. Here are some tips for including RSVP cards:

• Include a blank line for guests to write their names. On a formal RSVP card, indicate the use of proper honorifics (Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss) with an "M" at the start of the line.
• Have an attendance line where guests can accept or decline the invitation. This can be in the form of checkboxes, circles, or fill-in-the-blank lines.
• Set an RSVP deadline of around four weeks before the wedding date and feature it prominently on the card.
• If serving dinner, mention the meal type (buffet or plated) and provide options for guests to indicate their food preferences and any dietary restrictions or allergies.
• Include a special request line, such as song requests, drink preferences, or a favourite memory of the couple.
• Provide pre-addressed and pre-stamped envelopes for guests to send back their responses.

Enclosure Cards:

Enclosure cards are paper inserts included with your invitation suite to share extra information. Here are some common types of enclosure cards:

• Map or Direction Cards: These provide visual guidance or step-by-step directions to the event location(s). They may be combined or replaced with digital navigation tools.
• Attire Cards: Share dress code details for the wedding and other events like the rehearsal dinner. Include any additional information that may impact guests' attire, such as sunscreen or footwear recommendations for a beach wedding.
• Accommodations Cards: Share local hotel recommendations and details about hotel blocks or group rates.
• Transportation Cards: Provide details about any reserved transportation for guests, such as shuttle times and locations.
• Reception Cards: If the reception is at a different location or there's a long break between the ceremony and reception, include the name, address, time, and any other relevant information.
• Itinerary Cards: Outline all the wedding events open to all guests, including the event name, date, time, location, address, recommended attire, and RSVP information.
• Wedding Website Cards: Share your wedding website URL and a summary of the topics covered on the site.

Save-the-Date Cards:

Save-the-date cards are sent out in advance of the formal invitation to give guests a heads-up about the wedding date. They can be more casual and creative, reflecting your wedding theme or destination. Here are some tips for save-the-date cards:

• Include the names of the couple and the wedding date.
• You may also include the location, particularly if it's a destination wedding, to give guests a heads-up for travel plans.
• Add a fun or romantic message to get guests excited about the celebration.
• Provide your wedding website URL for guests to find more details.

Frequently asked questions