Custom Wedding Card Ideas: Unique Places To Make Them

Planning a wedding can be a stressful and expensive endeavour. One way to save money is to make your own wedding invitations. There are many online platforms that offer free or premium wedding invitation templates, such as Greetings Island, Canva, and Simply Handmade Studios. These websites offer customizable designs, with options to change fonts, colours, and images. You can also choose to print your invitations at home or use a professional printing service.

Online vs traditional

When it comes to wedding cards, there are two main options: creating them online or sticking to the traditional method of printing and mailing them out. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice will depend on your personal preferences, budget, and how much time you have to dedicate to this task.

Online wedding cards offer a convenient and cost-effective solution. They are often free or low-cost, with some companies offering premium features for a small fee. This option allows you to design your cards using templates, custom fonts, colours, and even upload your photos. You can then choose to send them electronically via email or share them on social media, saving time and postage costs. Additionally, online RSVPs offer quicker response times, as guests can respond instantly with just a few clicks.

On the other hand, traditional wedding cards provide a more tangible and classic approach. They are mailed out to guests, offering a more formal and traditional way of requesting responses. This option may appeal to those who prefer a physical keepsake and enjoy the process of designing and customising their cards with a hands-on approach. However, it can be more expensive due to printing and postage costs, and it may take longer for responses to arrive by mail.

While online wedding cards offer convenience and cost savings, traditional cards provide a more tactile and classic experience. Ultimately, the decision between online and traditional wedding cards depends on your personal style, budget constraints, and the level of interactivity you want with your guests.

Whether you choose to go online or traditional, it is essential to consider the overall theme and feel of your wedding. From rustic and floral to modern and minimalist, there are various design options available to match your special day's unique style.

DIY templates

DIY wedding card templates are a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your wedding. Here are some tips and ideas to create your own wedding cards:

Using Online Tools and Templates

Canva is a popular option for creating DIY wedding invitation templates. It offers hundreds of editable designs suitable for any wedding theme, from rustic to minimalist. You can personalize the templates with your photos, text, and colour schemes. The best part is that Canva's templates are free, and you can choose to print and deliver the invitations to your doorstep or email them to your guests.

Another similar option is Greetings Island, which offers free, editable wedding invitation templates with custom options for fonts, colours, stickers, and photos. You can download, email, and share the invitations directly via social media or messaging apps. They also provide a full event management service with RSVP, reminders, and more.

Other online companies like Minted, Shutterfly, and Zazzle also offer affordable, customizable templates. Etsy is another great source, with many designers who can customize templates for you.

Designing Your Own Cards

If you want to design your cards from scratch, you can use designer software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign. However, for beginners, Canva and Microsoft Word are also good options. When designing your cards, consider your wedding theme and try to incorporate it into the design. For instance, if you're going for a rustic theme, opt for recycled brown paper, or if you want something modern, choose a minimalist design.

Materials and Printing

The materials you choose will impact the look and feel of your invitations. For a luxurious and durable feel, uncoated cardstock is a popular choice. Paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish adds a textured look. You can visit a specialty stationery store or print shop to select the paper that suits your needs and budget. Don't forget to test the paper samples on your printer before finalizing your purchase.

You can print your invitations at home if you have a compatible printer that can handle the weight and size of your chosen paper. Most standard printers can accommodate cardstock up to 80 pounds. Alternatively, you can send your design to a larger printer at stores like Costco or Office Depot.

Embellishments and Envelopes

To elevate your invitations, consider adding embellishments like ribbons, wax seals, or envelope liners. You can also buy pre-made envelopes in a coordinating colour or make your own using envelope templates.

Proofreading and Finalizing

Before printing your invitations, it's crucial to proofread the design and wording. Ask a third party to read through the text to check for errors and spelling mistakes. It's also recommended to save your file as a PDF, as it will print with higher quality than a JPEG. A template resolution of at least 300 DPI will ensure a crisp result.

Mailing Your Invitations

Once your invitations are printed and assembled, take a complete suite to the post office to determine the correct postage. The number of stamps will depend on the total weight and number of invitations. It's recommended to send your invitations six to eight weeks before your wedding.

Design and customisation

There are many options available for designing and customising your wedding cards. You can choose to design them yourself or use a website with pre-made templates.

Canva, for example, offers a free wedding invitation maker with a selection of beautiful layouts to create an invitation worthy of the occasion. You can add your own images, fonts, and colours to make easy, beautiful DIY wedding invitations. They also offer a drag-and-drop tool that lets you place elements onto your design easily, with access to millions of high-quality icons and other graphics. You can also customise your template by uploading your own photos, customising colour schemes, and using shapes and lines.

Greetings Island also offers a similar service, with custom styles to give every couple a tailor-made invitation to cherish forever. They offer DIY templates with custom options for fonts, colours, stickers, and photos. They also have a wide range of affordable invitation sample options for all budgets, with free and premium designs.

VistaPrint is another option, with stylish wedding invitations for every theme, whether you're looking for bold, modern typography or a rustic, nature-inspired look. Each wedding card is customisable to include your preferred colours, paper stock, and finishing touches. They also offer Graphic Design Services, where you can work with a professional designer to update one of their existing templates or create a bespoke invitation.

If you're looking for a more hands-on approach, you can also design your own wedding cards from scratch using programs like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. This gives you complete creative freedom to design your dream wedding card.

Printing options

There are four popular printing methods for wedding cards: letterpress, hot foil stamping, digital (flat printing), and laser-cut. Each method conveys a different sentiment and has different cost implications.

Letterpress

Letterpress is the oldest traditional printing technique, dating back to the 15th century. It has recently become the go-to printing option for high-end stationery. The design is reproduced onto raised printing plates, which are then inked and stamped onto paper. The paper used for letterpress is usually thick and of high quality, like cotton fibre or bamboo, to withstand the pressure of the printing process. Letterpress is a good option for vintage-themed weddings, as it creates an air of formality and elegance. However, it is a specialised and costly technique, and the process only allows for one colour at a time.

Hot Foil Stamping

Foil stamping uses solid, metallic colours and creates a slight impression on the paper. It is a unique and extravagant process that conveys luxury, indulgence, and elegance. Foil stamping is time-consuming and therefore not ideal if you are under time constraints or on a tight budget. It is also limited to a few colours.

Digital Printing ("Flat Printing")

Digital printing is ideal for imaginative and artistic wedding invitations. It is flexible in terms of colour options and design and is the least expensive printing option with the quickest turnaround time. However, it lacks texture and is limited to thinner paper.

Laser-Cut

Laser-cut wedding invitations are a popular trend, featuring intricate motifs cut into the paper without ink. This method is precise and intricate, but it is costly and time-consuming. Laser-cut invitations are usually not well-suited for larger weddings due to cost implications.

Other printing options include embossed gloss, raised foil, and soft touch.

Cost

The cost of wedding cards varies depending on several factors, including the number of guests, the complexity of the design, materials used, and whether they are purchased online or in-store.

Online retailers such as Canva offer free, customizable wedding invitation templates, with the option to print and deliver the cards for a fee. This is a cost-effective option, allowing you to personalize your cards without incurring significant expenses.

If you prefer a more traditional route, Greetings Island offers a range of premium wedding invitation designs, with prices starting at $8.99 per invitation. They also provide a premium membership that grants access to over 5000 designs for $3.49 per month or $26.99 per year.

The average cost of wedding invitations for most couples falls between $400 and $650, with the average total cost of wedding stationery being $530, according to The Knot. This includes save-the-dates, invitations, RSVP cards, and day-of stationery.

The price of wedding invitations can increase with the addition of certain design elements, such as foil stamping, wax seals, envelope liners, and heavier cardstock. The method of printing can also impact the cost, with letterpress and calligraphy options being more expensive.

When considering the cost, it is important to factor in the price of envelopes, which can range from $15 to $30 for 100 envelopes, as well as shipping costs, which are approximately $0.49 per envelope for domestic postage.

Ultimately, the cost of wedding cards depends on your specific requirements, the level of customization, and the materials used. By exploring different options and comparing prices, you can find the best value for your dream wedding invitations.

Frequently asked questions