Tips for DIY Wedding Invitations
Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and commitment, but they can also be a significant financial burden. From the venue and wedding dress to bridesmaid robes, there are many expenses that add up quickly. One area where you can save some money is by making your own wedding invitations. Here are some tips for you to create the most beautiful wedding invitations while saving up a great deal:
Work Out the Cost First
Bridal gowns, satin robes, cakes, venues, and more can already eat much on your wedding budget. So before you head onto a DIY wedding invitation-making project, consider all of its expenses, including the cost of ink, paper, embellishments, postage, and envelopes. To accurately calculate the cost, you’ll need to consider the size of your invitations, the type of paper you plan to use, and any additional details such as whether your invitations will be flat or folded and if you plan to include a belly band or wrap.
Determine Your Style
Some designs are better suited for at-home printing than others. Take the time to look at different options and find a design that matches your wedding’s theme and your personal style. You may find it helpful to create a Pinterest board as a mood board. Pin everything that catches your eye, and then go back to look at what you’re pinning the most. If you notice a trend in certain fonts or colors, you should consider starting with designers who incorporate those elements into their designs.
Keep in mind that intricate designs and heavily saturated inks may not print as well at home as they would if printed professionally. If you’re unsure if a design is well-suited for at-home printing, you can always reach out to the designer for advice or consider printing a sample invitation to test the quality.
Give Yourself Some Time
While making your own invitations can be more affordable than having them printed by a professional, the process may not always be faster. Printing at home can be complicated and time-consuming, so it’s important to give yourself enough time, grace, and patience to ensure that everything turns out as you envisioned.
It’s best that invitations be mailed out eight weeks before the wedding date. Make sure you allocate enough time for printing, assembly, and addressing. To avoid running out of materials, have about 10 percent more supplies than you actually need, such as ribbon, paper, ink, and envelopes in case of mistakes or the need to reprint something. Take into account any other wedding tasks that may be taking up your time and adjust your timeline accordingly.
Know Your Vendor Options
There are several options of vendors to choose from, including Minted, Shutterfly, and Zazzle. These websites offer beautiful invitation templates at affordable prices, often with discount codes available as well. These templates typically come with everything you need for a full suite of wedding stationery, including invitations, menu cards, and thank-you cards. Etsy, on the other hand, can customize templates to your specific needs.
For printing, your options include printing at home and sending your completed file to a professional printer, such as Costco, Office Depot, or a local printing shop. Printing shops have the expertise to help select the best paper for your design, trim the cards to the perfect size, and provide the professional touch that your wedding invitations deserve.
Customize By Yourself or with a Designer’s Help
When choosing a designer for your wedding invitations, you can choose to customize the template yourself or have the designer do it for you.DIY is cheaper but it may limit your ability to change elements such as fonts or colors while having a designer make the changes for you will give you more flexibility in terms of customization.
Before you start the design process, run your design and wording by multiple sets of eyes. This will help avoid any mistakes before you hit the print button. The most cost-effective option is to download the template and make the necessary changes yourself, but if you want any design elements altered, the designer should be able to accommodate and provide you with a ready-to-print file.
Find the Right Fit
One of the most effective ways to achieve a professional look in your wedding invitations is using a full bleed design in which the design extends all the way to the edge of the paper, without any white margins. This gives the invitation a polished and cohesive appearance, making it look like it was printed by a professional. To achieve this effect, create a design that is slightly larger than the final cut size; allowing for enough room to trim the extra paper without cutting into the design.
However, not all printers are capable of printing all the way to the edge. This is why it is recommended to use a professional printing service, as they have the necessary equipment; and expertise to produce a full bleed design with precise and clean cuts. If you use a home printer, center the design on a larger sheet of paper; leaving enough room for margins and easy trimming to prevent your design from looking cut off or incomplete.
Pick the Right Kind of Paper
Consider both the look and feel of the paper. Regular thin printer paper is not the best choice for this special occasion; as you want to create a luxurious and elegant impression. Instead, opt for a thicker paper option, such as a 120 lb. uncoated cardstock. Incorporate some texture into your paper choices, such as a linen or felt finish; adding another dimension to the invitation to the paper.
Visit a specialty stationery store or print shop to feel the touch of the paper first; then test different paper options on your printer at home; to ensure that the paper will work well with your printer and produce the desired result.
Figure Out How Much Ink to Use
The ink can also add up quickly, especially if the design includes a colored background. A lot of ink will be used to print a full background color; which can significantly impact the overall cost of the invitations. If you use an older or less-than-brand-new printer can result in imperfections in large fields of color; detracting from the overall quality of the invitation.
To save on cost and ensure a professional look; it may be best to opt for a paper with a neutral color or texture and include colorful touches in the design; rather than printing a full background color. This way, the cost of the ink can be reduced; and the invitations will still have a vibrant and eye-catching appearance.
Select the Right Envelope
Once the printing of your beautiful wedding invitations is complete, you’ll need to find envelopes to put them in. Make sure to choose envelopes that fit and complement your invitation design. It’s advisable to choose envelopes that are slightly larger than the invitation to allow for some extra room; and don’t forget to also get envelopes for your RSVP cards.
Send Them to the Post Office
When you have finished assembling your wedding invitations; put them in an envelope and take them to the post office to determine the postage required. Keep in mind that the shape of the envelope can also affect the cost. If you would like the invitation to be hand-canceled to prevent any potential damage or tearing; be sure to mention this to your postal worker while calculating the postage, as this may require additional arrangements.
So that you can allocate more to what matters, such as a jaw-dropping wedding gown, gifts of satin robes for women, and even a long weekend for the ceremony, it’s best to trim up other costs for trivial aspects of the event.
