There are so many different elements to arrange when it comes to your wedding day: there’s the venue, the catering, the music and, of course, the outfits. With so many things requiring outside help or rentals, finding a few elements that can be quietly done yourself can not only add a nice individual touch but also keep costs down. The wedding invitations and thank you cards are a perfect example of something can be done beautifully at home with minimal effort. Here we take a look at some top tricks for how to make them extra special.
Opt For Simplicity With Maximum Effect
We all know that the best ideas are often the simplest. That’s why when it comes to designing and creating your invites, it’s good to start with a theme or some creative inspiration. Just as discussed in a previous article about choosing your wedding flowers, using websites like Pinterest or wedding magazines is a great way to get a feel for the kind of look you are aspiring to. Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you are going for, you are free to start experimenting with how to make your dreams come to life.
Stamps and seals
They often say that the devil’s in the details, and that can certainly be true when it comes to your wedding invitations. If you have a large number of guests or are simply pushed for time, there are a number of shortcuts you can take that will help to reduce costs and time spent. For instance, you can use an online service like print24’s leaflet printing to take care of printing the basic invite templates in bulk, and then embellish them using custom stamps or wax seals to give them a personal touch. These can be applied to either the envelopes or the invitation itself, and can feature the bride and grooms’ initials or simply a unique design.
Twine and ribbon
Using physical decorative elements to your invitations can bring a whole new level of sophistication to the design. Rather than using self-seal envelopes or messing about with glue, opt instead for the earthiness of a simple twine knot or a delicate ribbon bow. Using these as anchors, you can then also add on various other items and trimmings. Ribbon and string are easy to adapt to whatever theme you have chosen for your wedding: for instance, if it’s a winter wedding, pick a rich tartan or velvet fabric, while spring weddings would suit delicate lace patterns.
Calligraphy
You don’t have to be a master penman to dabble in calligraphy, nor does your entire invitation need to be written in exquisite script to give it an artful look. Instead, creating a highly visible central banner composed of just the bride and groom’s names or the date of the wedding has the same visual effect without all the hard work. For anyone wondering how to get started with calligraphy there are a number of excellent resources out there. This beginner’s guide goes through the basics of nib cleaning and dip pen assembly, as well as detailing some good practice routines to get you off your feet.
