How to Select the Right Wedding Invitations for You

Figuring out which wedding invitations to choose can almost be as stressful as choosing the right dress. Not only do first impressions matter, but your marriage cards are something that will likely be stored as a keepsake for the rest of your life.

Pressure aside, the process can also be a lot of fun! Allow your creativity to run wild and create the cards of your dreams. Here are some tips for designing cards that you and your guests will adore for years to come.

 

Choosing a theme

Figuring out what theme your marriage ceremony will take can be one of the trickiest decisions – there are so many great ones to choose from! However, you’ll tend to find that brides start with a theme in mind but end up swapping it for another one later on as new inspiration strikes. This is totally fine. Keep an open mind regarding which wedding invitations you’re going to choose and let yourself be inspired by some of the amazing designs that are out there. Alternatively, you can pick a colour scheme and let hues be your guide.

 

Consider your budget

While it’s tempting to go all out with your wedding invitations, it’s worth keeping in mind that they can often add up to be quite expensive – in the thousands, if you opt for fancy embellishments and calligraphy. Write up a budget and figure out how much it will cost to get your cards printed. You can compare prices across different vendors online to find a good deal – ideally you want something that is both a fair price and high quality. Your choice of paper stock will also affect the price – 100% cotton will be very expensive, whereas recycled paper will cost less.

 

Explore designs

wedding invitation

What one person loves, another hates. While some may prefer a bold, metallic design for their wedding invitations, others may prefer a classic vellum or cotton look. Your choice of design will depend on your personality and the theme of the ceremony. Some nice embellishment options include letterpress, engraving, embossing, thermography and foil stamping. You can also choose whether you want your paper to have a glossy, matte, linen or sparkly finish. While at the end of the day it’s your choice, you might want to ask family, friends or your partner for their opinion on the design you’re considering.

 

Things to avoid

While there are no real rules when it comes to the designing of wedding invitations, there are some things that many may consider to be design no-no’s, which you might want to steer clear of. These include having a photo of the couple on your cards (although this is fine for engagement party or save-the-date cards), or featuring gemstone embellishments or anything that could be considered too gaudy.

 

Shop online

Buying your wedding invitations online is a great way to save time and money. There are a number of marketplaces which offer cards designed by professionals, as well as ones which allow you to create your own unique design. You can also look up online reviews for feedback to find a vendor that suits your needs (make sure you chat with them, too, to assess them for yourself). It’s recommended to order a sample before you go ahead with printing to make sure the cards look good and don’t have any spelling errors on them. You don’t want to waste money on a bad batch of wedding invitations, and seeing them in person can really make a difference – you truly get to see their quality – or lack thereof.