Diy Bridal Shower Invitations: Design & Ordering Guide

The Actual Reality of DIY Bridal Shower Invitations

So you wanna make your own bridal shower invitations and honestly I totally get it because store-bought ones are either boring or ridiculously expensive and there’s basically no in-between. Let me walk you through this because I’ve been down this road with clients and also made my own sister’s invites back in spring 2023 and learned some stuff the hard way.

Figuring Out Your Design Direction First

Before you start pinning a thousand ideas on Pinterest you need to decide what’s actually doable. I see brides and bridesmaids get so overwhelmed because they find this gorgeous letterpress calligraphy situation and then realize it requires equipment they don’t have and skills that take years to develop. Be realistic about your actual skill level and the time you have.

The main DIY routes are gonna be:

• Digital design that you print at home
• Digital design that you send to a print shop
• Template-based designs from sites like Canva or Templett
• Actual physical crafting with cardstock and embellishments
• Hybrid approach where you print and then add physical elements

I’m gonna be honest, the fully handmade route with cutting and gluing and all that looks amazing but takes SO much time. Like I had a client in 2021 who insisted on hand-cutting 60 invitations with decorative edges and adding ribbon to each one and she literally spent three weekends on it and was so stressed she cried twice. Just… keep that in mind.

Design Tools and What Actually Works

Canva is your best friend here and I know everyone says that but it’s true. The free version has tons of templates and if you pay for Pro (around $13/month) you get way more options plus the ability to resize things easily and remove backgrounds from photos. I use it for client mock-ups all the time.

Templett is another option that’s specifically for invitations and it’s kinda genius because you buy a template from a designer (usually $8-20) and then you can edit it yourself with their platform. The bride or shower guests can even edit it which is helpful if you’re not the one organizing everything.

If you’re more advanced, Adobe Illustrator or InDesign are professional options but honestly unless you already know how to use them, now is not the time to learn. The learning curve is steep and you’ll get frustrated.

For actual physical design, Microsoft Word or Pages can work for simple text-based invites but the design options are limited and it’s easy to make something that looks… well, like it was made in Word.

Design Elements You Actually Need to Include

This is where people forget stuff and then have to reprint everything. Your invitation needs:

• The bride’s name (obviously but I’ve seen it left off before)
• Date and time – be specific, like “Saturday, June 15th at 2:00 PM” not just “June 15th”
• Location with actual address, not just “Sarah’s house”
• RSVP information – who to contact, by what date, phone or email
• Registry information if you’re including it (some people do separate cards for this)
• Dress code or theme if there is one
• Parking information if the venue is tricky

What really annoyed me once was when a bridesmaid made beautiful invitations but forgot to include the RSVP date and then people just… didn’t respond because they didn’t know when they needed to decide by. She had to send a follow-up text to everyone which kinda defeated the purpose of the nice invite.

Size and Format Decisions

Standard invitation sizes make your life easier because envelopes are readily available and printing is cheaper. The most common sizes are:

• 5×7 inches (the most popular, fits A7 envelopes)
• 4×6 inches (postcard size, cheaper postage)
• 5.5×4.25 inches (A2 size, more compact)

If you go with a weird custom size you’ll pay more for envelopes and printing and possibly extra postage. I mean you can do it if the design really demands it but just know what you’re getting into.

Also decide if you want vertical or horizontal orientation. Vertical is traditional but horizontal can be really pretty for certain designs and sometimes fits your photos better.

Color Choices and Printing Considerations

Here’s something I learned the hard way with my sister’s invites – colors look different on screen than they do printed. Like significantly different sometimes. That gorgeous coral you picked might print as straight-up orange or even pink depending on the printer and paper.

If you’re printing at home, do test prints. Print one invitation on regular paper first to check the layout, then print on your actual cardstock to see the colors. Adjust as needed. It’s way better to waste one or two sheets than to print all 40 and hate them.

For professional printing, most places offer color proofs or sample prints. Pay for this if you’re doing a large quantity. It’s worth the extra $10-20 to make sure you’re not disappointed with the final product.

Paper Types and Where to Buy Them

Paper makes a huge difference in how professional your invites look. Regular printer paper is gonna look cheap and flimsy. You want cardstock at minimum.

Cardstock weight is measured in pounds (lb) or grams per square meter (gsm). For invitations, you want:

• 80-100 lb cover weight (around 216-270 gsm) for sturdy invitations
• 65-80 lb cover weight if you’re doing a folded card style
• 110 lb cover if you want really premium thick cards

Where to buy paper: Michaels and Hobby Lobby have cardstock but the selection is limited. Paper Source has gorgeous options but it’s pricey. Online, I recommend Cards & Pockets, LCI Paper, or even Amazon if you’re on a budget. You can get 50 sheets of decent cardstock on Amazon for like $15-25.

Finish matters too – matte, glossy, linen texture, shimmer, etc. Matte is easiest to print on at home. Glossy can be tricky because some home printers don’t handle it well and ink can smear.

Home Printing vs Professional Printing

Alright so this is the big decision. Home printing seems cheaper but it’s not always.

Home printing pros:

• You control everything and can make last-minute changes
• No minimum quantities
• Can do it on your own timeline
• Can reprint individual invites if you mess up addressing

Home printing cons:

• Ink is expensive – like really expensive
• Your printer might not handle thick cardstock
• Color accuracy is inconsistent
• Cutting everything yourself takes forever
• You’ll probably waste some sheets figuring out printer settings

For professional printing, I usually recommend local print shops over big chains because they’re more willing to work with you on small quantities and help with formatting issues. Staples and FedEx Office are options but their cardstock selection is limited.

Online printing services are great – Catprint, Printique, Vistaprint, Minted, and Zazzle all do small quantities. Catprint is my go-to for clients because their quality is consistent and prices are reasonable. You can get 25 invitations printed for around $30-50 depending on the paper you choose.

Template Modifications and Customization

If you’re using a template don’t just change the text and call it done. Make it personal by:

• Swapping in your own photos if the template has placeholder images
• Adjusting colors to match the shower theme or wedding colors
• Changing fonts (but don’t go crazy – stick to 2-3 fonts max)
• Adding or removing design elements that don’t fit your style
• Adjusting spacing so everything looks balanced

One thing about fonts – make sure they’re readable. I’ve seen so many DIY invites with gorgeous script fonts that are literally impossible to read. Your guests shouldn’t need a decoder ring to figure out what time the shower starts. Use decorative fonts for headers or accents but keep the important information in something clear.

The Assembly Process If You’re Getting Fancy

So if you’re adding physical elements like ribbon, wax seals, belly bands, or layered cardstock, set up an assembly line. Don’t try to complete one invitation at a time – it’s inefficient.

My sister and I did this for her invites and it actually went pretty smoothly once we got organized:

1. Cut all pieces first if needed
2. Do all the gluing in one session
3. Add all ribbons or ties
4. Apply any wax seals or stickers
5. Stuff envelopes last

Get good adhesive – the cheap glue sticks from the dollar store will fail. I like Tombow adhesive or double-sided tape runners. For layered cardstock, foam mounting squares add dimension and look more professional than flat gluing.

Also my cat knocked over my entire stack of assembled invitations once and I wanted to cry, so maybe do your assembly somewhere away from pets or children or anyone who might accidentally destroy your work.

Envelope Addressing Options

You’ve got a few choices here and honestly this is where a lot of DIY projects start to feel overwhelming because you’re already tired from making the actual invitations.

You can hand-address envelopes which looks personal but takes time and requires decent handwriting. Print addresses on labels which is practical but looks less formal. Print directly on envelopes if your printer can handle it – this looks clean and professional but you need to test it first because envelope feeding can be finicky.

Or you can hire a calligrapher just for addressing even if you DIY’d the invitations themselves. Local calligraphers usually charge $2-5 per envelope which adds up but might be worth it if you want that fancy look without learning calligraphy yourself.

For printing addresses at home, use a nice font and make sure the size is appropriate – usually 12-14pt for the main address. Include return address on the back flap or upper left corner.

Quantity Planning and Ordering Extra

Always order or make more than you think you need. If you need 30 invitations, make 35-40. You’ll mess up some during printing or assembly, addresses will get smudged, or someone will spill coffee on theirs (true story). Plus sometimes guest lists change and you need a few extras.

For envelopes, definitely get extras because those are even easier to mess up. If you need 30, buy 50. They’re not expensive and it’s better than running out.

Timeline for Actually Getting This Done

Don’t start this project two weeks before the shower. Give yourself time because things will take longer than you expect and you might need to reorder supplies.

My recommended timeline:

• 6-8 weeks before shower: finalize design and order supplies
• 5-6 weeks before: do test prints and make adjustments
• 4-5 weeks before: print or order final invitations
• 3-4 weeks before: assemble and address
• 3 weeks before: mail them out

Invitations should be sent 3-4 weeks before the event, or 6 weeks if it’s during holidays or peak summer when people travel.

Budget Breakdown For Different Approaches

Let me give you realistic numbers because budget is usually why people go DIY in the first place.

Ultra-budget home printing (for 30 invitations):

• Cardstock: $15-20
• Envelopes: $10-15
• Ink: $30-50 (if you need to replace cartridges)
• Total: $55-85

Mid-range with professional printing:

• Template purchase: $10-15
• Professional printing: $40-60
• Envelopes: $15-20
• Embellishments (ribbon, seals, etc.): $20-30
• Total: $85-125

Higher-end DIY with premium materials:

• Template or design software: $15-25
• Premium printing: $75-100
• Fancy envelopes with liners: $30-40
• Wax seals, ribbons, etc.: $40-50
• Total: $160-215

Compare this to ordering from places like Minted or Paperless Post where you’re looking at $200-400 for 30 invitations and yeah, DIY saves money if you’re willing to put in the work.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

I’ve seen so many DIY disasters over the years so let me save you from the most common ones.

Don’t forget to proofread. Have multiple people check the text before you print everything because typos happen and you won’t notice them when you’ve been staring at the design for hours. I once saw invitations go out with the wrong date and the poor bridesmaid had to call everyone to correct it.

Don’t use too many fonts or colors. More isn’t better – it just looks chaotic. Stick to 2-3 fonts maximum and a cohesive color palette of 3-4 colors.

Don’t make the file size too large if you’re sending it to print. Most print shops want files under 10MB and in PDF format. Save your design as a high-resolution PDF (300 dpi minimum).

Don’t skip the bleed if your design goes to the edge. Bleed is the extra space around your design that gets trimmed off. Most printers need 0.125 inches of bleed on all sides. If you don’t include it, you might get white borders or your design might be cut off.

Test your printer settings before the final run. Things like paper type selection and quality settings make a huge difference in output.

Digital Invitation Options Because Maybe Physical Isn’t Necessary

Okay so I should probably mention that digital invitations are totally acceptable now and they’re obviously the easiest DIY option. You design it, send it via email or text, done. No printing, no postage, no assembly.

Paperless Post, Greenvelope, and Evite are popular platforms. You can also just make a design in Canva and send it as an image or PDF. Include a link to a wedding website for RSVP tracking.

The downside is some older guests might not be tech-savvy and digital feels less formal. But for casual showers or if you’re short on time or budget, it’s a totally valid option. I’ve planned showers with digital invites and they worked fine… though I personally still prefer physical invitations because there’s something about getting mail that isn’t bills or junk that feels special.

Working With Print Shops and What to Ask

If you’re going the professional printing route, call ahead or check their website for specifications before you finish your design. Every shop has different requirements.

Questions to ask:

• What file format do you need? (Usually PDF)
• What resolution? (Usually 300 dpi)
• What color mode? (Usually CMYK for print, not RGB)
• Do you need bleed?
• What paper stocks do you offer?
• What’s the turnaround time?
• Can I see a proof before you print the full order?
• What’s your policy if I’m not satisfied?

Most local print shops are helpful and will work with you on formatting issues. The big chains are less flexible but also less expensive usually.

Alternative Ideas If Traditional Invites Aren’t Your Thing

You don’t have to do standard rectangular cards. Some alternatives that are still DIY-friendly:

• Postcard style (no envelope needed, saves money on postage too)
• Folded cards with information inside
• Seal-and-send invitations that fold and seal without envelopes
• Bookmark-style invitations
• Tag-shaped invites with ribbon
• Accordion-fold designs

Just remember that non-standard shapes or sizes might cost more to mail and could require hand-canceling at the post office.

Postage and Mailing Logistics