How to Make a Wedding Invitation

Express your creativity and save money by making your own invitations.

If you want your wedding invitations to be unique and have a touch of personal creativity, try making them yourself. Creating your own wedding invitations is a great way to express yourself and save on your wedding budget.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Card stock
• Velour paper
• Sheer chiffon ribbon
• Bride and groom photos
• Embellishments such as jewelry charms
• Glue

Instructions

Gather the Materials for Your Invitation

1. Choose a quality card stock such as cotton for a softer texture. Choose a high- gloss color that matches your wedding colors.

2. Cut the card stock 4 ¼ inches x 5 ½ inches and punch two holes on top of the card stock. To ensure that your card stock is cut correctly, take it to a copy center and have them cut it for you.

3. Choose the wording for your wedding invitation. Here is a basic wording sample:

   Bride's Full Name

   and

   Groom's Full Name

   request the honor of your presence

   at their marriage

   on Saturday, the ninth of July

   two thousand and eight

   at three o'clock.

   Wedding Location

   Location address

   City and State

   If your wedding will be at a place of worship, use "request the honor of your presence." If your wedding will be at a nonreligious place, use "request the pleasure of your company."

4. For text, use color ink that coordinates and complements the card stock. Print the wording on sheer velour paper. For the font, try "Edwardian Script ITC" or "Lucida Calligraphy." You will need to save the wording on a USB memory storage device if you want to have a copy center print the wording for you.

5. Glue a wallet-size black and white photo of the bride and groom on the card stock for the background.

Assemble Your Wedding Invitation

1. Assemble your wedding invitation with 7/8-inch sheer chiffon ribbon that matches the card stock. Cut the ribbon in 7-inch lengths, place the velour paper on top of the card stock, then string the ribbon through the two holes from the front to the back.

2. Next, string the ribbon back through the opposite holes from the back to the front and finish by slightly pulling the ends.

3. Include an embellishment that matches your wedding theme, such as a tiny golden heart or a dove.

4. For an added touch, use translucent vellum envelopes for mailing.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to include a reception and RSVP card.

• Be sure to have your invitations hand canceled at the post office if you include embellishments or any fragile elements since the automated rollers will crush or flatten most things in an envelope.

Resources

• Afloral: Sheer Chiffon Ribbon
• ThePaperMillStore: Card Stock
• TranslucentEnvelope: Translucent Vellum Envelopes