How to Create & Print a Wedding Invitation
In an age when throwing one's dream wedding can cost as much as buying a home, many couples are looking for ways to cut corners without giving up any of the details that make that special day so memorable. One of the easiest ways to save money without sacrificing quality is to design and print your own invitations.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer
- Word processing program
- Laser printer
- Blank invitations and reply cards
- Ribbon
- Hole puncher
- Mailing labels or calligraphy pen
Instructions
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Purchase blank invitations. Wedding invitation kits are available at most office supply stores for about $30 and usually include reply cards and envelopes. Purchase more invitation cards, envelopes and mailing labels than you will need for the number of guests you plan to invite so you are prepared for the inevitable printer mishaps, envelope addressing mistakes and any of the other things that can-and usually do-go wrong. While you're shopping, you may want to also pick up mailing labels, also available at office supply stores, for addressing your envelopes, unless you or someone close to you knows calligraphy and has the patience to address numerous envelopes by hand.
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Choose wedding invitations that fit your personality and the colors and theme of your wedding. Many invitations come in cardstock with various colored borders, as well as backgrounds that allow you to superimpose a photo of yourselves, your wedding flowers or something else that is meaningful to your big day.
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Decide on the wording and font size and style you want to use. Take a look at other wedding invitations and reply cards that you have received and do a web search for invitation layouts you like. Play around with some of the fonts in your computer and see what styles look good with the invitations you have purchased.
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Follow the instructions in the wedding kit for laying out and printing your invitations and reply cards. Some kits include instructions inside the box with the invitations, while some kits give you instructions to log into their website. Many kits include further instructions and ideas for writing your invitations.
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Set up your printer and print your invitations and reply cards according to the instructions that came with the kit.
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Spruce up your invitations with at least one ribbon, but no more than two, to avoid tearing your invitations. Make sure you use a ribbon that is no more than 1/2 inch thick. Take a hole puncher and set the holes on the puncher half an inch apart. Punch two holes at this 1/2-inch distance in the top of your invitation at least 1/2 inch from the top and at least 1 inch from where the wording starts. Experiment with one invitation to see what looks best before hole-punching the rest. Weave the ribbons through the holes and tie into a bow at the front. Trim the ribbon edges at right angles for an elegant look.
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Label the invitation and reply card envelopes before stuffing them, especially if you are handwriting on either. Avery 5160 labels tend to be the best size for both the invitation and reply card envelopes. Follow the instructions that come with the labels for laying out and printing your addresses. Make sure to create return address labels for each of your invitations and each reply card in addition to the labels with the addresses of your guests.
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Tips & Warnings
Start creating these invitations at least a few weeks before you plan to mail them, especially if you plan to invite a large number of guests. This way you can print, stuff and label a few invitations each night and avoid getting burned out by the project.
Use a slightly damp rag or sponge to seal your envelopes. No one wants to lick that many wedding invitations!
Recruit your bridesmaids, family and friends to help stuff and label envelopes. Provide champagne and make your wedding invitation project into a fun girls' night.
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
