Black and White Wedding Invitations

Here's a great example of a classic black and white wedding invitation. This would go great for a formal black tie affair kind of wedding. Of course, you could use this same style of invitation to make wedding invitations for just about any wedding theme or colors by using different decorative paper. But if you are going for the exact same design as I've made here you will need to purchase the same papers I used. The paper on the upper half of the invitation is made by Doodlebug Design Inc. and is called "white divine" (#1433). The paper on the lower half is made by The Paper Company and the name is Black Velvet Flocked Floral. Oh, and by the way, the pattern on the paper is indeed velvet which really lends some extra style and texture to this invite.

Materials used to make these black and white wedding invitations...
8 1/2" by 11" white card stock
2 different black and white decorative papers
satin ribbon
glue stick
craft glue
or an adhesive runner

Step One: Create the text for the inside of the invitations. You can do this by using either desktop publishing software or even using a simple word processor.
When using desktop publishing software I would recommend setting up the text document as a 2-up invitations format (or two invitations to a page). Create them so that the document is sized for a standard sheet of 8 1/2" by 11" paper. The page should be facing the long way up and down. Divide the page in half and place the text side by side, centered. After you print them the paper should be cut in half the long way to create two sheets measuring 4 1/4" width and 11" length. They will be folded so they open up and down.

If you choose to go with using a word processor you will need to have your card stock cut in half before you print them. Begin by setting up the document so that it is sized at 4 1/4" widthwise and 11" in length. Place the text on the bottom half of the page so that it would fall below where you intend to fold the invitation. Center the text as well. You may need to print out a copy or two to ensure that the text is placed properly.

You can also choose to skip this step by visiting the custom wedding invitations text page on this site where you can put in a request for me to create a custom printable text file just for your invitations.

* a word about printing and cutting you invitations - to make the process even quicker and easier on you why not employ a local copy shop to do the printing and cutting for you. It is much more cost effective than you may think (printer ink is very expensive we all know). The quality of the copies is a lot better than people realize too.

Step Two: Fold the invitations in half. They will be folded from top to bottom. If you plan on using a heavier card stock you may need to score the invitations before you fold them. You can bring them to a local copy or print shop and enlist their services to do this for you but you can certainly do this yourself as well.
Most card stocks will fold nicely without scoring. If the fold seems to be coming out a little wrinkly or messy looking try running a smooth edge along the crease. I usually use a ruler to do this. It irons out the wrinkles.

Step Three: Add decorative paper to create the black and white wedding invitations. Start by cutting the decorative paper to the correct size. Whichever paper you chose for the top half of the invitation should be cut to measure 4 1/4" width by 1 1/2" length. The paper to go onto the bottom section of the invitation should be cut to 41/4 " width by 4" length.
Next attach these papers to the front of the card. Start with the top piece. Apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the paper using a good quality glue stick (or for an even better quality adhesive I highly recommend using a good adhesive runner). Very carefully attach it to the top section of card stock. Repeat the application of glue to the larger piece of decorative paper and attach it to the bottom part of the invitation.

Step Four: Add black ribbon to the black and white wedding invitations. Start by cutting out several lengths of black ribbon measuring about 5 - 51/2" long. Apply some craft glue to the back of the ribbon using a small paint brush or Q-tip. You could use your fingertip but it gets pretty sticky. Lie the ribbon across the front of the card as straight across as you can get it. The ribbon should cover the seam where the two decorative papers meet. This seam also acts as a guideline making it easier to get the ribbon on straight. The ends of the ribbon should overlap the edge of the card on both sides.
Now cut several longer lengths of ribbon (about 10 inches or more) to tie bows for the front of the card. Do not worry about tying the bows perfectly. The bow itself should look symmetrical but the ends of the bow do not need to worried about. Once you have a bow tied apply a small dollop of glue to the middle of the ribbon that is attached to the front of the invitation. Also dip the back of the bow into a little bit of glue. Lay it on the invitation onto the ribbon centered to the middle as best as you can. Leave it to dry for awhile.
After the ribbons have dried you can snip off the edges of ribbon that overlap the edges of the card. Also trim the ends of the bow so they are even. I think it always looks nice to cut them at an angle. Now that everything is dried and snipped the black and white wedding invitations are complete!

More tips and ideas for making black and white wedding invitations...
* Try using black card stock for the base of the card instead of white. Print the words for the inside of the card onto white paper or vellum then cut them into squares which are slightly smaller than the inside of the invitation. Attach them to the inside of the invite using a glue stick.

* Use papers with inverted colors so there is more black than white on the card and then use a thick white satin ribbon.

* Of course these same invitations can be made to match an entirely different theme or color scheme. Just use the basic design with different colored papers and ribbons.

See Also...

an example of this same style of invitation with a different theme

The best glues to use

Decorative papers

Order custom text templates or custom printable wedding maps

How to print onto invitations using a word processor

Make your invitations the easy way with a blank card as the base of the invitations

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