How To Create Your Own Wedding Invitation

When you are planning a wedding, it can grow into a major financial burden, and it feels like every professional you hire is hoping to charge you for more dollars. Wedding invitations are not to be overlooked; you’d be dismayed how much professional card shops will ask for them.

The trouble with invitations is that their design is unique and they need to be replicated hundreds of times, which costs a large amount of money. Designing them on your own should prevent some cost, especially if you try something creative. And even if your budget is unlimited, the do-it-yourself layout will provide you limitless options for your individual needs.

Choose Your Paper
This is probably the initial and most crucial step, because it will influence your design and how you will go about it. You have options for the color, the intensity, the grain, the weight… possibilities are endless. Your selections are plentiful, but your safest bet is a well-reputed print shop, or, if you want to do it yourself, try the town’s art supply store.

Software – It’s All Available
Before you consider paying for any specific software packages, you should take a look at programs already on your computer; the basic computer is offered ready with plenty of tools to make just about anything. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Powerpoint are helpful tools to combine images and text, which is just perfect. Considering backgrounds and pictures, there is a lot available online. It’s easy to find and you can even download unique fonts suited for your favorite look.

Use Pictures
A common way of personalizing your invitations is to include photos of the soon-to-be-married couple into it. You can find them online, and sites like Mpix.com have the option to choose prints of any picture in an array of sizes and forms, which you can choose to use as your invitation or include in it. If your favorites need a little re-touching, you can fix that in Photoshop. Or try one of the various free alternatives like Picasa or Gimp for instance. With that kind of programs, you can easily make your photo black and white, crop backgrounds, or add a border for example. A nice picture pretty much ensures that a lot of guests will keep the wedding invite as a keepsake.

Original Packages
Designing your own is a great chance to think about unique alternatives; the only thing required of your invitation is that it needs to be sized to fit into an envelope. Examples of of real creativity include scrolls, messages in a bottle (both of which can be challenging to ship), origami-type folded invites in one piece, so any inserts don’t get lost, ransom notes, etc… Really creative invitations are sometimes unsettling because you have no way of knowing how the person receiving your invite will respond to it, but they will stand out as different.

Creating your very own invitations is a pretty ambitious project. It is not suited for just anyone, when you count the hours, creativity and energy you will need. But if you choose to go for it, it can turn into a fun project, and it is a great way to get in wedding mood early on.

By: Criss White

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A professional author on topics baby shower, bridal shower, and family, Criss White has composed lots of articles. For more insightful articles and wedding invitation ideas, visit Wedding Ideas Etc. Note: You may reprint this article on your website, blog, or in your newsletter as long as the credits and resource box remain intact and the hyperlinks are active.