Wedding invitations are one of the most important aspects of a wedding, but they can be one of the most exciting parts of the planning process. Creating your invitation is your chance to show off your personality, creativity, and love for each other in a way that guests will remember. They are also the first impression your guests will have of your special day and set a tone for what they can expect. Most importantly, wedding invitations contain all the crucial information your guests will need to make sure they get to your wedding on time, in the right location, and prepared for whatever the night will bring!
Creating unique and personalized wedding invitations can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. With this step-by-step guide, we will help you create beautiful and unique wedding invitations that express your style and tell your story. From choosing the right paper to personalizing the text, this guide will help you create unique invitations to make a lasting impression on your guests.
1. Start with the invitation design.
There are many things to consider when choosing the perfect wedding invitation design. First and foremost, think about your overall wedding theme, including the location, color scheme, season, and atmosphere you want to create. All weddings are unique. An invitation for a rustic barn wedding will likely not look the same as a traditional church wedding, and a Fall wedding invitation will look different than a Spring wedding. From simple floral elements to an elegant design, these styles will set the stage for your guests' expectations for your wedding day.
The best way to pick the look and feel for your invitation is to match it to the look and feel of your big day. You can incorporate things like your wedding decorations, venue, and wedding season into your design. The colors and tones of your chosen wedding palette can also inspire your invitation. Utilize the color scheme you chose for your special day to help you select your wedding invite's look. Considering all these things can help you with every aspect of the invitation, from what kind of card you want to use, how you want it to look, what decorations to put on it, and even what font to use.
Most importantly, your invitation should reflect you, your fiancé and who you are as a couple! What do you enjoy doing together? Consider making a small reference to it in your invitation if it is important in your life. The design is a chance to highlight both your personalities, whether comical, quirky, sophisticated, loud, etc. If you want to make your invitation something unexpected, go for it!
2. Personalize the Wording
Let your wedding invitation wording reflect the style of your big day. A simple wording change can transform the same design from a rustic country wedding into a shabby chic one. For example, changing the language from "we invite you to celebrate with us" to "we request the honor of your presence" can make all the difference. It is a subtle change, but it changes the tone of the invitation and sets expectations for guests. Also, don't be afraid to mix things up. For example, you could use different fonts in different parts of the invitation to create visual interest. You can also use this technique to highlight specific words or phrases that are meaningful or important to you and your partner. Most importantly, double-check your wedding invitations to ensure that sneaky typos will not spoil the impact of your stunning invites.
3. Add a Personal Touch
There are numerous ways to add personal touches to your wedding invitations beyond the original design. Use your names or initials to make your wedding insignia, or choose photo wedding invitations with a lovely photo of the two of you. Additionally, you can add various elements to your invitations to give your guests a unique feel. You can add a personal touch by wrapping a piece of vintage lace or twine around each invitation, placing a flower or feather inside it, or using a wax seal with your initials. You can even write the guests' names on the invitations to personalize them further. When it comes to weddings, the little things matter!
4. Include the Important Information
Once you have selected your wedding invitation design, it's time to include important information for your guests. There's more to it than just the place, time, and date of your wedding. For instance, you must add details like how guests can RSVP. If you're wondering what to include in your wedding invitations, here is a list to help you have all the necessary information:
Your wedding date
You and your partner's names
Ceremony Start time
Ceremony Venue and Address
Reception Start time
Reception Venue and Address
Dress Code, if necessary
Wedding Website address
If you are having an event between your ceremony and reception
A date for guests to RSVP by, the sooner you receive your RSVPs, the better
Contact details for the RSVPs
RSVP cards with an addressed and stamped envelope for return are also a nice touch and make it easy for your guests to RSVP. If you are planning to include an RSVP card with your wedding invitations, you'll want to have the following:
RSVP by date
Space for your guests' names
Checkboxes to accept or decline the invitation
Meal preference and dietary restrictions (if you are offering options)
5. Select the Stationary for your Invitation
When you must choose just one, wedding invitation material seems straightforward, but there are countless variations of paper, each with its own hues, compositions, weights, textures, and finishes. Knowing exactly what you're getting is essential because every one of these elements impacts how the invitation will appear and feel overall. You also want to pick a paper that complements your wedding's theme and stays inside your spending limit. Here are some popular wedding invitation materials:
Linen paper is a heavy-weight paper with a smooth finish that makes for an elegant look, but it can be hard to find at an affordable price
Cotton paper is a medium-weight paper with a matte finish that gives it a rustic feel and is less expensive than linen but still has an upscale vibe
Premium Smooth is a silky-smooth paper that allows design elements to stand out
Luxe Satin is a contemporary style with a plush matte finish that works best with raised foil designs
Luxe Pearl is a classy option because of the paper's light shine, which has an appealing iridescent look that enhances photos
Double Thick, luxurious paper that has a heavier quality
Triple Thick, premium smooth that is the top tier of stationery
One last piece of advice: don't be scared to ask for guidance when selecting your wedding invites. Stationery suppliers will be more than happy to do so, and websites like The Knot can send you free samples to help you get an idea of the look and feel!
6. Love your Final Decision
Wedding invitations are lovely and treasured keepsakes that remind you of your big day. Will you still love it in the future? Was the overall aesthetic what you wanted your guests to experience? Above all, does it portray what you want on your big day, and do you smile when you look at it? In the end, it is what counts most. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise; choose a wedding invitation you love.