If you’re planning your wedding, chances are you’ve considered adding some DIY elements to your day. With the cost of living increasing so rapidly, this is certainly not surprising and I’ve definitely noticed an increase in couples looking for digital or print at home invitations lately.

Because there are so many different things to consider, I thought I’d share some of the pros and cons of both DIY and professional invitations, to hopefully help those of you on the fence make an informed decision.

DESIGN

DIY INVITATIONS

With DIY invitations, you can truly put your stamp on the design and really let your style and personality shine through. Your guests will love the extra personal touch too and will likely treasure them long after the wedding. 

Creating a design from scratch is a great option if you’re a creative type with a bit of a design background, as it does require some artistic skill and knowledge of different softwares etc.. 

If you’re not a particularly artistic couple but still want to give DIY invites a try, a compromise could be to find a customisable template online that best fits your vision and wedding theme. Or you could consider adding in other DIY elements such as wax seals or ribbon. 

PROFESSIONAL INVITATIONS

If the idea of coming up with your own design completely overwhelms you, never fear! Whatever your personal style and wedding theme, there will be a wedding stationer that can create the perfect design for you. And you can be sure that it’ll be executed beautifully with proper spacing and alignment too. 

Going with a professional designer certainly has its perks. Not only will they have access to a wide range of beautiful fonts, some stationers will be able to create bespoke artwork for you, whether that be an illustration of your venue or even a portrait of your pet.

COST

DIY INVITATIONS

Cost is one of the main reasons couples choose to DIY their wedding invitations and in some cases it certainly can save you money but it won’t always.

If you’re printing yourself at home, you’ll need to invest in some high quality paper and test it out on your printer. Printer inks and luxury paper are definitely not cheap, and you’ll have to make sure you order plenty of spare paper in case of any print issues/errors.

Even if you send your design off to professional printers (which would be the safest option), you’d need to ensure your files are all set up properly to avoid having to pay for unnecessary reprints.

If you’re wanting to include other DIY elements such as wax seals or calligraphy addressing etc.. you’ll need to invest in equipment which can all add up quite quickly.

PROFESSIONAL INVITATIONS

It’s no secret that professional invitations can be a more expensive option but at the end of the day, you’re paying for someone’s time and expertise.

You’re paying for someone to take the stress and hassle away, and let’s face it, there’s already enough stress where wedding planning is concerned! 

You’re also paying for quality. Your wedding stationer will use the very best materials and suppliers that have all been tried and tested, so you can be sure that you’ll be happy with the end result.

If you don’t quite have the budget for a bespoke design, a lot of stationers will have a collection of ‘off-the-peg’ designs, which can be a super affordable option.

PRODUCTION TIME

DIY INVITATIONS

If you’re going to make your own invitations, it’s important not to underestimate how much time you need to create them, especially if you don’t have a background in design. 

Some of the things that can take longer than expected (designing aside) are: 

• Researching and trialling different paper and envelope options

• Ensuring your designs are set up properly for print

• Assembly of any kind (ribbons, belly bands etc..) always takes a lot longer than you anticipate.

• Sourcing materials and equipment (ribbons, wax for wax seals etc…)

PROFESSIONAL INVITATIONS

If you’re panicking because you’ve realised that you might not have the time to create your own invitations, then it might be worth outsourcing to a professional wedding stationer. 

DIY invitations can turn into quite a big project and can even become quite stressful if you’re pushed for time. 

Working with a professional will take away all of the stress and uncertainty and will free up time so you can focus on other areas of wedding planning. 

Your wedding stationer will have all the tried and tested tools, equipment and suppliers at their fingertips, so will be able to get everything turned around for you in a timely manner.

THE BOTTOM LINE 

If you’re a creative couple with artistic flair and have plenty of time to take on a fun project, then DIY invitations could definitely be a great option for you to explore.

If you have the budget for it and want to free up your time and reduce stress, then you might want to consider working with a professional wedding stationer. 

Photos by Natalie Stevenson Photography