How I created my homemade wedding invitations

Wedding invitations were the last thing on my mind when I started out planning my wedding. It was just sort of a given that I would make them myself considering my creative background.

If you are planning a wedding then you must already know what kind of pressure and stress is involved. If you don't know it yet, you will. While planning my wedding I went from a small ceremony with less than 20 guests, to planning for about five times that amount of people. I planned the entire wedding almost all by myself. Because I was so busy the invitations got put off until the very end.

Now when I think of homemade wedding invitations I automatically picture what I would make. Something creative and crafty. I was perplexed at how I would put something like this together in record time..

For me the wedding invitations are a big deal! This is something I will keep forever tucked away in a scrapbook. I know a lot of my relatives will also. It's a sentimental keepsake that I will show to my daughter someday, and look back on and reminisce. Anyway, I decided to take things into my own hands and I managed to put together this invite on very short notice. I had to gather the supplies, design it, come up with wording, pull it all together and get it in the mail in about 48 hours time.

Here's what I did:

First: I high-tailed it to a nearby office supply store to buy paper.The paper I selected was a 8 1/2" by 11" letterhead made especially for sending through a computer printer. The pattern on the paper was a faux hand pressed paper made to look like there were dried flowers and leaves pressed into it. I also picked up some nice cotton paper envelopes which fit the size that I intended to make the invitations.

Step two: I hopped onto the computer to lay out my text to print onto the paper. I chose to design the invitations 2-up (or two invitations to a page) to help save money, ink, and paper. This would make each invitation (after they have been folded in half) the size of a quarter of a page.

Step Three: I wanted to include both an RSVP card and also directions to both the ceremony and the reception. I decided to create a RSVP card with the directions written on the back to insert into each invitation. I set up the text in a postcard format. or 4-up to a page, and printed them back to back.

Step four: I printed my invites and cards onto my faux hand pressed paper with the text all in a lavender/purple hue. This paper had the pattern on one side only and was white on the other side. I printed the front of my invitations on the side with the pattern, and also the rsvp side of the cards. The inside text was on white as was the directions.

(clockwise: RSVP card, front cover of invite, inside of invite, directions)

* Planning on making a RSVP/ traffic directions card like the one I made here. Feel free to drop me an email if you need help with the text design. I can help guide you through it or for a small fee I will design it for you.

Step Five: I brought my printed papers to a local copy shop where I had them cut my handmade wedding invitations in half and my RSVP/directions cut into quarters. Having them cut professionally rather than to do it myself saves time and you are guaranteed a perfect, clean cut. It is very inexpensive to boot!
For more information about cutting and folding your invitations go here.

Now for the finishing touches! and here's where it gets a little tricky.

I bought some thin ribbon and tiny brads from a local craft store. After folding all the wedding invitations in half I then started with the embellishments. I cut the ribbon into lengths of about 6-7", and attached a brad to the middle of each ribbon by pushing the brad's sharp edge through the fabric.

I then used the sharp end of the brad to pierce through the front middle of the invitation to hold the RSVP/Directions card in place.

Now just tie the ribbon into a bow in the front! Viola! Simple yet classy wedding invitations that match the theme and tone of my wedding!

See Also...

How to print onto blank invitations

Using blank cards to make your own invitations

The best glues to use

Decorative papers

Order custom text templates or custom printable wedding maps

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