How to Make Bridal Shower Invitations With Recipe Cards

A shower invite with a recipe on the back sticks around forever.

Trends and fads come and go, but when it comes to traditional bridal showers, nothing surpasses a kitchen-focused party held to outfit an engaged couple with the equipment and linens they'll need to prepare meals and set a beautiful table. Whether your shower is to be coed or just for the girls, make sure the bride and groom get more than just pots, tablecloths and china. Give them personal mementos from each shower attendee in the form of recipe cards that share treasured dishes to launch the new family in style.

Things You'll Need

• Card stock Printer Paper cutter Stickers Box of 9-by-6-inch envelopes

Instructions

1. Boot up your computer. Launch Microsoft Word or another word processing or page layout program. Open a new 11-by-8.5-inch document in landscape orientation. Select "Columns" from the Format pull-down menu to create two columns. Set .5-inch margin parameters. The page will now be set up for two invitations per sheet of stock.

2. Drag a vertical text box that covers the left half of the page. Compose the invitation copy by setting the alignment (under Format) to "Center." Compose your own invitation copy or use this version as an idea-starter:
   Juliet Jonas and Rachel Barrington
   Invite you to a kitchen bridal shower
   In honor of
   Jessica Bradley and Michael Rogers
   April 22, 2012; noon to 4 p.m.
   1212 Main Street, Topeka, Kansas
   The bride is registered at Macy's.
   Please share your favorite family recipe with Jessica!
   Complete the recipe card on the reverse side of this invitation.
   Bring it to the shower or mail it back if you can't attend.
   RSVP by April 15, 2012.

3. Select the invitation copy and choose a font that reflects the mood of the shower. If it's to be a formal affair, pick a script like Lucida Handwriting. For a lighthearted shower, try Curlz, Sand or a font that's playful and fun. Palatino, Times or Gaudy are easy to read and appear on most font menus.

4. When the invitation copy is complete, check the spelling and save the panel. Next, duplicate or copy/paste the panel and place it beside the original. This completes the invitation side.

5. Add Page 2 to your document and repeat Step 1 to create the recipe card side of the invitation. Design Side 2 of the card with minimal wording so there's plenty of room for original recipe directions. You may wish to use this type of wording for header of the recipe card side of the invitation:
   Your name:
   Recipe name:
   A note just from me:
   Stack lots of lines below the header. If you have room to add a graphic, import a small picture. Otherwise, use a sticker to add a bit of color to that side of the invite.

6. Load the printer with card stock (white or light color to match the bride's wedding color) and print out a sample of side 1. Place the sheet back into the printer and imprint the recipe side of the card. Adjust as necessary before outputting enough cards for everyone on the guest list. Cut the sheets in half to make individual cards measuring 8.5 by 5.5 inches. Trim as necessary to fit envelopes.

Tips & Warnings

• Make life easy for the bride by finding a photo album with plastic sleeves that are large enough to hold the recipe cards. File the cards into the album as gifts are opened. Send the bride photos taken at the shower so she can add the pictures to the recipe book. With everything behind plastic sleeves, there's no risk of pasta sauce ruining the cards, the photos or the memories.

References

• Celebrations
• Unique invitation ideas
• Wedding details