When it comes to your wedding invitations and other cards, such as the save the date cards, reply cards and thank you cards, there is much to be done. Nevertheless, do not fear, there are ways in which you can make sure that your designs are in line with the theme, without too much cost and definitely lots of creativity, and that is with the help of the good old DIY way. With DIY wedding invitations cards you can use paper stock or DIY invitation kits and add your own spark and magic to it with various means and styles to get that ‘wow’ effect that you desire.

With the right trims and accessories and also, do not forget a clear vision, you can do just about anything. The materials are also important, ensuring that you get the maximum effect with the minimum cost. To achieve that, a simple way of going about it using unique multifaceted materials and going against the grain in terms of traditional wedding invitation styles. In this article, we will look into such items and how you can put it to use.

In terms if the styles for your DIY wedding invitations and moving away from traditional types such as bi-fold, tri-fold and no-fold, you have the options of gatefold wedding invitations, pochette invitations, layered invitations, seal and send invites, stacked pocket invites and also rigid invitation boxes which can hold larger and more creatively designed creations.  The name of gatefold invites gives meaning to its style, which is a folded paper where the invite open up similarly to that of a gate. Pochette on the other is somewhat like the opening of a flower, with petals shaped edges folding on top of another. It is best finished off with a ribbon and box on the front facing. Seal and send invites are similar to that of messages of royal times, where the invite itself is folded and sealed with your choice of material, be it a monogrammed sticker or wax seal. Layered wedding invitations include different papers, of designs, patterns or colour, stacked atop on another to create depth and a design. These are quite popular because you only need to acquire the type of paper, which comes in colour, design and pattern, and paste it atop one another to get the effect. Rigid invitations boxes are boxes, which will contact the invite, which are usually either large or delicate and require boxes to carry its wonder.

Materials on the other hand, apart from the most obvious being different types of paper, you can opt for tissues and velum or wraps or even the creation of envelopes, or use paper, satin or lace ribbons for belly bands as finishing touches. The likes of studs, buckles, fasteners, lace & tape are also great trims to finish off the look you were trying to achieve.

In terms of treatments that you can use, apart from the usual, which includes embossing and engraving, you also have metallic or foil printing, or even the option of using such paper. Another great option is either indulging in the DIY or handmade version of laser cut treatment, which would require you to use a very sharp paper-cutting knife and a stencil or acquiring a puncher with the design you have in mind.

With such great ways in which you can truly get that desired “wow” effect from invitees, what is stopping you? Get down to business and have fun.

Origami is an oriental style of art and craft, and essentially in definition and translation, it means to say “folding paper”, as “ori” translates to ‘folding’ whilst “gami” means ‘paper’ (a connotation of kami). This Japanese art form has spread throughout the world. The beauty of the creations can truly marvel and the precision and patience it takes to make them truly tests one’s character. Therefore, when you opt to do up your DIY wedding invitations in a unique way, you might want to think of Origami and DIY Wedding Invitations.

There are many types of origami, as well as techniques and materials, which you can use. In addition, when it comes to shapes there also various types you can come up with, whether it is to tie it up with your wedding theme, with the traditional ones being flowers, or even just something the bride and groom cherish and want to use as their wedding theme.  In this edition of DIY Wedding Invitations, we have looked into a few ways types and shapes of origami you can use for your DIY wedding invitation base that you can acquire. Let us look at what you can do.

1. Cranes

Cranes are considered lucky, and for you to feature a crane on the front facing of your DIY wedding invite would be quite lucky too. Cranes are also one of the popular origami shapes and is considered somewhat easy to implement, once you have gotten the hang of it. Make a few samples before you embark on the final one.

2. Butterflies

Butterflies, whether they are real, photographs or even illustrations, they are all beautiful. For you to come up with something as like an origami butterfly is so unique and unusual that could amaze your invitee trying to figure out how you did it. You can find yourself creating simple yet beautiful butterflies with patterned paper, or intricate complex ones as well.

3. Lotus

Lotus flowers are beautiful and are quite intricate depending on the type of origami you choose. No matter which one you choose, your outcome of a beautiful lotus flower will be quite spectacular. You can opt to use one large intricate lotus or many to form a design on your DIY wedding invite. The choice is up to you.

4. Roses

Roses have always held a place in weddings and even in origami; you will find these beauteous flowers. Decked in red, white or whichever colour you have chosen and with different folding types for a larger bloom or even bud, you can arrive at a beautiful design for the invite.

5. Hearts

A heart origami is quite appropriate for a wedding, don’t you think? In addition, it can be quite intricate. This carefully folded heart could very well be the centrepiece of your design or even make up a design of its own using various heart origami pieces.

6. Other Shapes

Other shapes that you can make with origami for your DIY wedding invites include the likes of a windmill, fish, peacock, wreath, seashells, horses, elephants, doves, swans, stars and many more. Start discovering now!

Art in itself is a varied and diverse topic altogether, but here, we are talking about pencil art in the sense of how it can help in your wedding designs and using it on your wedding invitations. Illustrations are quite the rave with wedding themes and stationery, but this is one style is one that is still very sentimental and rare.

There are many types of pencil art out there, from charcoal to chalk, lead art, doodles and even colour pencil art, which are beautiful when the final output comes out.  When it comes down to what the art is all about, there are many items you can feature on your wedding invitation. From a pencil art portrait of the couple, to details of the couple’s attire, such as the wedding dress sketch, or even illustrations of the wedding venue and various decor elements, that is the focal element of your special day. Usually, you find your wedding theme around a colour or an inspiration from a certain element. It could be the altar you plan on getting married at and the details around it, to the wedding cake topper, which can be anything from the traditional bride and groom, to lovebirds, these elements can be found all across your wedding design, and therefore also featured on your wedding invitations and other wedding stationery.

When you are planning on doing up DIY wedding invitations, all you will need to acquire from your wedding invitations vendor would be the DIY wedding invite kits, and from thereon, put artistry to the test. If you are artist in question, then it is up to you to do up some great sketches and designs. If not you can also hire someone who is gifted with creative skill of pencil art, and have them create a masterpiece for you. If that artist in question is also gifted in calligraphy, then you are crossing out two items on your to-do list, the illustrations and design, as well as the text that needs to be done on your DIY wedding invitations.

For those couples who are getting married at great landmarks in Australia, your DIY wedding invitations can feature them so that everyone will know where you are getting married from the moment they have your wedding invite in hand. If you are planning to have your ceremony at the Sydney Harbour, then by all means, feature the beauty of architecture of this great landmark as your focal element on your wedding invite using pencil art. Like so, there are so many ways you can do up your DIY wedding invitations and stationery. Think of the great possibilities, and try them out through samples before committing to it and clear all doubt.

When we go out in to the world, and wherever we look, we find inspiration. When we look at a blank canvas, inspiration comes to us from the things we have seen and experienced. Therefore, when it comes to the most special day of your life, and you are about to embark on creating your DIY wedding invitations, inspiration will come to you.

A great way of coming up with beautiful DIY wedding invitations, is to personalise it, in a way that is more than doing up a wedding invitation yourself. Using inspiration from whatever wedding element you put to use, or even inspiration from the venue itself, you can make your DIY wedding invite beautiful, sentimental and trendy. What is this trend? As the title says, hand drawing or hand painting is the focal wedding element on your DIY wedding invitations.

Focal Theme Elements

Most couples enjoy using a focal element to make their wedding stand out. This is usually in line with the theme they are planning on using. What is meant by focal themes is that it takes a specific item or element from the overall inspiration and design and is used thorough varying areas of the wedding, from the wedding invitations to the stationery and decor as well. You can opt to use the likes of any of the below mentioned.

Floral

Floral weddings and inspirations drawn from the floral accents and elements of the big day is quite common, but do not let that bit of information let you down because how you go about doing is where the uniqueness lies. Whether you are choosing roses or cherry blossoms, how you draw or paint it on your DIY wedding invite is true to yours and yours alone. An example of a floral illustrated floral wedding invitation would be Rose Watercolour.

Fruits

Along the same lines of how you paint a picture of a flower, you can do so with fruits. Weddings nowadays, you tend to find fruits used in the decor itself, from apples, pears, to grapes and pomegranate. Put a twist into your wedding with a fruity theme.

Foliage

Foliage can be considered floral, but when it has come to decor and taking inspiration from it, you tend to lean towards these beautiful scenes of creeping ivy or beautiful leaves you would find in various times of the year.

Fauna

Fauna can be anything from a cute bunny rabbit to lovebirds. A popular trend would be using lovebirds and cages in the wedding decor, where if you are using a birdcage for the centrepieces you can tie it in with lovebirds on your DIY wedding invitations.

Portrait or Silhouettes

Portraits are quite lovely if done by a talented artist, in a beautiful and romantic setting and set in your wedding invitations at the very bottom, setting of a lovely balance between art and etiquette. If you want to a little chic, then opt for silhouettes of you and your fiancé that will be featured on the very top.

Motif or Monogram

Similar to the silhouette setting, you can include a motif such as the family crest, a theme element or a monogram of your initials entwined together.

Venue and Location

A beautiful way of featuring your venue would be to have it drawn or painted on your wedding invitation. This way you will not only be infusing the place you are getting married at forever in your minds but also making it a unique way of giving away the location of your venue to your guests. Even if they have a map and directions card in hand, instantly recognising the venue from your wedding invitation would be a lovely gesture.

Design or Pattern

Many do designs or patterns, whether it is as a border or as a specific area of the wedding invite. Some couples opt to choose a dark colour for the design or pattern on a white base, but nowadays an inverted effect is quite popular. Any of the above mentioned focal elements can be used to create a design, and if not there are way ways in which a pattern can be used, from various inspirations from damask to chevron and much more.

Borders

Borders are lovely ways to add a distinctive appeal to your wedding invite and you can draw inspiration from your dress itself. If there is a pattern or a lace design on your beautiful wedding dress that you have chosen, you can put it to use by mimicking the design and drawing it out on your DIY wedding invitations.

Theme Illustrations

Theme illustration is considered a great trend that is customisable to couples, you could even tell your love story in the form of an illustration. From a simple drawing of the couple to the setting of the wedding, there are so many ways in portraying things with the use of illustrations if you let your imagination soar.