Creative Ways To Make Your Wedding Invitations Stand Out

Wedding invitations are one of the first impressions that guests will have of your big day, so it's no surprise that many couples want to make them stand out. There are many ways to spice up wedding invitations, from adding a simple ribbon or a colourful belly band to going for a quirky scribble style or a fairytale theme. Here are some ideas to make your wedding invitations pop without breaking the bank.

Add a ribbon

Adding a ribbon to your wedding invitations is a great way to add a touch of elegance and sophistication. It can also be a perfect way to indicate your wedding colours and set the tone for your guests. Here are some tips and ideas to help you spice up your wedding invitations using ribbons:

Choosing the Right Ribbon

The first step is to select the perfect ribbon that complements your wedding theme and colours. Consider the material, size, and colour of the ribbon. Silk ribbons add a luxurious and elegant touch, while frayed ribbons can give your invitations a heritage or rustic look. You can also hand-make ribbons by tearing and trimming old or new fabric to create a unique, personalised touch.

Simple Knot or Classic Bow

Once you have chosen the ribbon, decide on the style of closure. A simple knot is a timeless and chic option, perfect for a minimalist and elegant look. If you want to add a touch of whimsy and romance, go for a classic bow. Ensure that the bow has balanced loops, and you can cut the tails straight or diagonally for a playful touch.

Combining with Other Elements

You can also combine the ribbon with other elements to create a unique and elegant invitation suite. Consider adding a wax seal, a vellum overlay or wrap, or even dried leaves or flowers to your ribbon. Combining ribbons with these elements will create a luxurious and creative invitation that your guests will surely remember.

Tying the Ribbon

When tying the ribbon, ensure it doesn't cover any text on the invitation. You can place it on the side or the top, depending on the design and space available. If you're using a wax seal, the length of the ribbon should be slightly greater than double the width of the envelope. Practice tying the ribbon a few times to get it just right.

Adding a Personalised Tag

To add an extra special touch, consider adding a personalised tag with your initials, names, or guest names. Intertwine the tag with the ribbon or twine, and you can even customise the tag to match your wedding colours or theme. This adds a delicate and personalised element to your invitation suite.

Use creative edging

Creative edging can elevate your wedding invitations and make them stand out. Here are some ways to achieve this:

Use a Special Punch or Stamp Cutter

You can create fancy corners or edges on your wedding invitations with a special punch or stamp cutter. These tools are available in various sizes and designs from craft stores and online. It's essential to have a steady hand and work on a good table to ensure the patterns are aligned. Take your time and avoid doing this when tired to prevent mistakes.

Add a Golden Edge

A simple trick to make plain white invitations look luxurious is to add a golden edge to either the invitations or envelopes. You can easily do this yourself by following online tutorials from websites like Something Turquoise, Damask Love, or 100 Layer Cake.

Include a Ribbon or Twine

Adding a ribbon or twine to your wedding invitation is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. It helps keep all the elements together, such as travel information and RSVP cards. You can also add a tag for a special touch. This idea is perfect for those who prefer a rustic wedding theme.

Opt for Deckled Edges

For a unique and artistic touch, consider using handmade deckle-edged paper for your invitations. This type of paper has a textured, feathery edge created by a special deckle tool during the papermaking process. It adds a whimsical and elegant feel to your invitations.

Embellish with Wax Seals

Wax seals add a touch of old-world luxury to your wedding invitations. You can find them in specialist paper or craft stores, as well as on Etsy. Practice is essential when using wax seals to avoid overdoing it and creating a messy look. Take the time to perfect your technique, and you'll be able to add a unique and elegant finishing touch to your invitations.

Address with calligraphy

Addressing your wedding invitations with calligraphy is a great way to add a personal touch to your special day. Here are some tips and options to consider:

Handwritten Calligraphy

If you want to address your wedding invitations with handwritten calligraphy, you have a few options. You can either do it yourself, hire a professional calligrapher, or try faux calligraphy. Doing it yourself will add a personal touch, but it can be time-consuming and mistakes can lead to wasted envelopes and money. If you have the budget, hiring a professional calligrapher is a luxurious option that can elevate your envelopes from plain to works of art. Pricing for professional calligraphers can range from $1 to $5+ per envelope, depending on factors such as turnaround time, style, and materials. Another option is faux calligraphy, where you first write your address in cursive and then reinforce the downstrokes with a black pen to create the illusion of professional calligraphy.

Printed Calligraphy

For a more modern and budget-friendly approach, you can opt for printed calligraphy. Online stationery companies like Minted offer free guest addressing services, where you can upload your contacts and have the addresses printed directly onto the envelope. You can even find calligraphy-inspired fonts that mimic the look of professional calligraphy. This option saves time, money, and the stress of addressing each envelope by hand.

Choosing a Writing Utensil

When addressing your own envelopes, consider using a brush pen or a waterbrush instead of a calligraphy pen or paintbrush, which can be intimidating. Brush pens come in various colours and sizes, so you can match them to your wedding card suite. Waterbrushes use ink and watercolour paint, allowing you to customise the colour.

Writing Straight Addresses

To ensure your addresses are straight, you can draw lines on your envelopes using a ruler and pencil. For darker envelopes, use transfer paper between the pencil and the envelope. Alternatively, you can use a lightbox with a template placed under or inside your envelopes, but this method won't work for medium to dark-coloured envelopes. You can also purchase or make an envelope addressing guide, which helps you letter within a certain area and keep your writing straight.

Choosing a Calligraphy Style

If you're not comfortable using your own handwriting, you can print out different fonts to mimic. Download and print the alphabet and numbers in a font you like, as well as common words such as "Mr.", "and", "Mrs.", "Street", and "Apartment". This will help you reference the font style as you write.

Planning and Timing

Give yourself plenty of time when addressing your own envelopes, as it can be time-consuming. Time how long it takes you to address five envelopes, and then calculate how long it will take to complete your guest list. Have extra envelopes on hand, as mistakes are common. Generally, 10-20% extra envelopes should be sufficient.

Add a watercolour wash

Adding a watercolour wash to your wedding invitations is a great way to achieve a beautiful, artistic effect. It's an easy way to recreate those stunning watercolour invitations you see on Pinterest. Here's how to do it:

Firstly, create a simple wedding invitation design and print it on watercolour paper. You can use any word-processing software to design your invitation, keeping it simple to let the watercolour take centre stage. Remember to include key information such as the names of the couple, the date, time, location, and wedding website. When you're happy with your design, save it as a TIFF file for better printing.

Next, it's time to add the watercolour. Choose your favourite watercolour paint colours and mix them on a palette. You can create an ombre effect by mixing different ratios of paint and water in several small dishes. Test out your colours on a sheet of paper and adjust as needed. Remember, less is more with watercolour, so don't overdo it, or the paper may become misshapen. Practise makes perfect, so don't be afraid to experiment until you achieve the desired result.

Once you're happy with your paint colours, start painting your invitations. You can create a simple design by painting lines around the text or try something more complex like an ombre effect. Paint each invitation one by one, setting them aside to dry and embrace the subtle differences between them.

Finally, add any extra details, such as waxed thread or dried flowers, and write the recipient's address on the envelope. Your watercolour wash invitations are now ready to be sent out, adding a unique and personal touch to your wedding celebrations.

Seal with wax

Wax seals are a great way to add a touch of olde-worlde luxe to your wedding invitations. They are versatile, decorative, and can be used in many ways to elevate your wedding stationery. Here are some tips and tricks for using wax seals to spice up your wedding invitations:

Choosing Wax Seal Stamps

First, decide whether you want to use self-adhesive wax seals or make your own wax seals using a metal stamp. Self-adhesive wax seals are a good option if you don't have much time or don't feel comfortable making your own. You can find a variety of designs and customise them with your initials or other details. If you want to add a personal touch, you can work with a professional stationer to create a custom metal wax seal stamp featuring your monogram, wedding date, or any other design that reflects your wedding aesthetic.

When to Use Wax Seal Stamps

Wax seals can be used in various ways for your wedding invitations and stationery. The most popular way is to close the flaps of your invitation envelopes, adding an antique-inspired look. You can also use wax seals on belly bands, directly on your invitations, on vellum wraps, or with ribbon to secure your invitation suite. They are suitable for different types of paper, including card stock, vellum, linen paper, and cotton fibre.

Mailing Wedding Invitations with Wax Seals

If you're concerned about the wax seals getting damaged in the mail, you have a few options. You can use outer envelopes to protect the seals or ask your local post office about hand-sorting, which will incur additional postage and take extra time. Traditional wax-on-paper seals should be sturdy enough to send through the mail, but self-adhesive wax seals may require a protective outer envelope as they can be less permanent.

Wax Sealing Supplies

To make your own wax seals, you'll need to choose a method for melting the wax. You can use a wax furnace, traditional wax sticks, or a glue gun with round wax sticks. Decide on the colour of your wax seals – metallic gold and silver are traditional, but you can find wax in various colours or create your own marbled effect by mixing colours.

Troubleshooting

If the wax seal sticks to the stamp, wait for the wax to cool before trying to remove it. You can also use a small amount of grape seed oil on a cotton swab to dab the stamp and make it easier to remove. Remember to wipe off any excess oil to avoid staining. If you're using wicked wax sticks and notice soot left in the wax, adjust the angle of the stick so that the flame is not directly under it.

Frequently asked questions