How to Create a Printable Invitation With Map

It is important to include an accurate map for your guests inside your homemade invitation.

Homemade invitations give you a lot of room for creativity. Use a card-making computer program or a create-your-own invitation website where you can use different sample templates and graphics to personalize your invitation. To include a map with your invitation it is recommended that you make use a one-sided layout on an 8 x 11 piece of paper instead of a folded card, to make printing easier. Copy and paste a map from an online map source to the bottom of your invitation.

Things You'll Need

• Card-making computer program
• Computer
• Printer
• Internet access

Instructions

1. Design your invitation with your card-making computer program, or a website that has free printable invitation templates such as invitationland.com.

2. Choose graphics and designs for the invitation related to the theme of the party you are throwing. Write a short message on the top such as "You Are Invited," and add below the basic information about the party: what, where and when.

3. Leave at least a third on the bottom of you invitation to put your map and directions.

4. Access a directions website such as Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps. Enter your address into the search bar and zoom into the location, covering the approximate distance guests may be traveling from. Copy and paste this map result directly into your invitation and re-size it to fit on your card. Make sure that the street names are visible to your guests.

5. Write out the directions to your house next to or underneath the map if you have room. Use a direction website to help you write out accurate directions to your house. Enter the main thoroughfare nearby your home, or a nearby freeway exit (for guests who are traveling from farther away) as your starting point and your address as the final destination. Make sure to write the directions from all different directions, for guest that are coming from the South, North, East and West.

6. Print out your invitation on inexpensive copy paper for review before you use sturdier card paper for the final product.

Tips & Warnings

• An alternative to printing out your map directly onto your invitation is to print them out on separate cards that you can insert into folded card invitations.

References

• Weddingbee: DIY invitation map

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Invitation Land: Home