Wedding Invitation Inserts

Wedding invitation inserts are usually a must if you're making your own wedding invitations. These add a stylish and professional finish to your card, especially if you take time to create a good layout or typography, use a quality paper and secure the insert in your invitation well.

This article provides valuable information on all these elements to ensure you have a professional look to your wedding invitations.

Types of wedding invitation inserts

There are really two standard types of wedding invitation inserts. The first is a single sheet and the second is a folded sheet that acts like an ‘inner’ card. Both are simple and easy to create and each has its own benefits.

Single sheet inserts

• Less paper is used, so these are more cost effective
• You can use thicker types of paper such as vellums, handmade paper or parchment as there is no need to fold them
• Easy to secure with glue or ribbon
• Easy to create

Folded sheet inserts

• Tend to have a more premium look as more paper is used
• Higher costs as more paper is used
• Easy to create
• Easy to secure with ribbon, but not so good with glue

Personally, I think both work really well and can look stunning, so it’s entirely up to you which type you use.

Creating your own wedding invitation inserts

Making your wedding invite insert is easy, especially since there are loads of free templates around that you can use. You can even use my free wedding invitation templates for modern and traditional invites – they’re suitable for DL, square and A6 cards.

If you create your own, you’ll need to think about some of these key points:

• Make sure you leave a border all the way around. This is important to ensure the card closes properly and looks professional.
• Carefully choose your font or typeface. Consider legibility, size and if it creates the look you want. For traditional look, choose a curly or script-like font and for more modern or contemporary look select an open, sans serif font (without curly bits on the edge of letters).
• Also think about your font size. You should ensure that that the information is clearly readable. Make sure you don’t end up with it too close to the edge of the paper or all scrunched up in the middle!
• Use white or clear space to draw the eye in to the areas you want the eye to go. White space is often used intentionally, as much as areas with images or text on.
• When you layout the text, the main section should be slightly off centre. There should be slightly more space at the bottom of the invitation then at the top. This makes the insert look more balanced and is better on the eye.

Get it proofread for mistakes

Once you’re happy with your layout, make sure you proof read it VERY CAREFULLY. Leave it for a day or so and then come back to it with fresh eyes – you’ll be surprised at what you’ll spot. Also, give it your mum or partner to read and check. More fresh eyes will give you peace of mind.

Proofreading is really important. There’s notheng worse than a typo! (That was intentional!)

Choosing your paper

A high quality paper will make a world of difference to your wedding invitation insert. Don’t settle for printing it out on your normal 80gsm printer paper. It’ll look terrible!

Choose a good weight for your insert – a minimum weight of 180gsm. White or cream smooth paper is classic, while vellums or other special papers will give you a special touch.

If you’re printing the inserts at home, then ask the shop where you buy the paper if it will print on your printer. Also check the printer manufacturer’s guidelines.

My recommendation for a really professional finish is to print out one copy on normal printer paper. Take this to your local copy shop along with your chosen insert paper and ask them to copy it on your paper. They can then trim your wedding invitation inserts to size as well giving you a perfect finish.

Printing considerations

If you’re printing the inserts at home, do a couple of tests on your chosen paper. Certain types of paper don’t print so well on inkjets, so it may take a bit of trial and error.

When printing using an inkjet, don’t let your paper stack up on top of one another. Some papers don’t absorb the ink so sits on top. This may then smudge or mark the piece of paper on top. Take them out and lay them flat on the floor and let them dry as single sheets.

Cutting your wedding invitation inserts

Some templates have trim lines on them for easy cutting. Other inserts don’t and so you’ll have to measure up carefully with a ruler, mark with a pencil and cut with a craft knife. Be careful to ensure you keep your lines straight and at right angles.

A paper trimmer is a great tool for ensuring clean, straight lines at right angles. It’ll make cutting your inserts to size a breeze. If you’re not going to make more cards though, it’s not really worth buying one. So my next suggestion is a better solution...

Finally, for the best finish to your inserts, with or without trim lines, is to use a copy shop. They’ll copy and cut your inserts to size with the best professional finish.

Securing your insert into the invitation

When you do fix them into the invite, it’s important to make sure they’re secure. Having your invitation fall apart in your guests’ hands is not going to a pretty sight! So make sure it’s all secure.

Depending on the finish you’re looking for, you can either glue in your insert or secure it with ribbon. Both will last long and ensure your invitation remains intact.

For glue, don’t use PVA glue as it tends to make paper warp and wrinkle. Glue sticks may dry out and the bond become weak resulting in your insert falling off. So the best glue to use for this task is some glue tape or glue roller. This acts like double sided tape and has a strong bond.

Ribbon is another way to secure your insert. You could punch some small holes in the top, thread through some ribbon and tie in a knot or bow. You could also try this with wire or cord. All will work well to secure your insert - so experiment with different looks.

Related articles:

The Etiquette Of Addressing Your Wedding Invitations
Wedding Invitation Wording
Choosing The Right Wedding Invitation Fonts