Like all the thoughtful details of your big day, your wedding invitations should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. Think about some common themes that embody your relationship. Does music lead your love story? Do you bond over Tuesday trivia nights? Let these pieces of your personality inspire your stationery choices.
When it comes to personalizing your wedding invitations, don’t be afraid to get creative! Your guests will adore getting a small glimpse into what makes your relationship so special. Just be sure to include all the vital information like your wedding website, ceremony and reception locations, and how to RSVP for the big day.
If you’re feeling a little stumped on where to start with making your wedding invitations personal and unique, here are 20 fun ideas to spark some inspiration.
1. Design a Monogram
One of the easiest ways to give your wedding stationery a personal touch is to design a monogram with your partner. Remember to think outside the box! If you love your couples monogram (traditionally the first letter of your first names bookended by a shared last initial), then choose a fun font or an innovative way to intertwine the letters.
2. Print Your Invite on Sheet Music
Don’t you love it when that special song comes on the radio and immediately transports you to a beautiful memory? Let your guests in on the moment by printing your wedding invitations on the sheet music for your favorite tune. Pro tip: Incorporate a lyric from the song into the wording on your invitation for a truly personal touch.
3. Seal it With Wax
Personalization doesn’t just have to be on the inside of your invite to make an impact. Design a bespoke engraved stamp to seal each envelope carefully with a dollop of wax. The end result is timeless, and your wedding guests will absolutely love getting something so elegant in the mail. Just be sure to do a couple of practice runs on spare envelopes before starting on the actual invitations. Stamping the wax just right takes a few tries before you get the hang of it!
4. Highlight Your Wedding Flowers
Pressed flowers are a beautiful, natural way to add embellishment to an invitation. Incorporate your wedding blooms into your stationery to pull in the color palette and vibe of your big day. Not only will your invitations be elegant, your guests will also appreciate the thoughtful glimpse into your wedding design.
5. Design Custom Postage
Did you know that you can customize the image on your postage stamp? Take your favorite photo, couples monogram or even an illustration and turn it into a stamp for mailing your invitations.
6. Incorporate Your Venue
Was it love at first sight … when you found your wedding venue? Make it the centerpiece of your invite by commissioning a custom illustration to use as a watermark on your stationery. This will show your guests what to look for on your big day and emphasize just how special the venue is to you as a couple.
7. Show Off Your Skyline
Whether it’s the iconic Big Apple or a mountain range near your childhood home, a skyline visual will offer guests a glimpse of your wedding destination’s most recognizable landmarks. For a modern look, choose a simple line drawing of your skyline as the focal point of your stationery, or upgrade to a fun cutout that adds 3-D intrigue to your invite.
8. Include a Hand-Drawn Portrait
A picture is worth a thousand words, but a portrait is priceless. Our advice: Keep it simple. You don’t need a lifelike oil portrait to make a great impression. A pen and ink drawing or watercolor of your favorite engagement photo is the perfect illustration to announce your upcoming union. Make sure to have the artist create a larger version to hang in your home after the wedding ceremony!
9. Make it Themed to Your Interests
Let your hobbies influence your invitation style. Love to travel? Create an itinerary that details your next big adventure — marriage! Are you audiophiles? Design an invitation that fits inside a record sleeve. However you decide to tie in your shared interests, your guests will appreciate the intimate look into your love.
10. Include a Custom Map
Whether at home or in a faraway city, wherever you decide to wed will be as special as the two of you. Give your guests a glimpse into your favorite spots around town with a custom map pinpointing your recommendations, as well as key wedding locations. For example, highlight the restaurant where you had your first date spot as a dining recommendation for out-of-town guests.
11. Design a Logo
Bring a little personality to your invites with a fun wedding logo you can use throughout your stationery suite. Unlike a monogram, this logo can be representative of you as a couple. If you like to road trip, think about putting your names on street signs or in a license plate format. Your guests will love the playful touch!
12. Make Your Pet the Star
Your love is strong, but there may be one bond that rivals the one between you and your partner. If you can’t bear the thought of leaving your fur baby out of your big day, include a portrait of your pet along with all your wedding details.
13. Give Your Guests a Passport to Love
A passport-style invitation is a great way to get your guests excited about a destination wedding. Build a whimsical booklet highlighting your itinerary, hotel information and other travel details that your guests can bring with them as a handy guide. Then, at the ceremony, have a personalized “customs stamp” ready to ink guests’ passports when they arrive at the venue.
14. Send a Message in a Bottle
You don’t have to be lost at sea to mail a message in a bottle. As a nod to your beach wedding — or maybe the shore where you had your first date — send a special scroll to your nearest and dearest. This method will require a more expensive delivery method, but the imaginative wedding invitation will be unforgettable for your guests.
15. Show Your Love in Stars
A love like yours was written in the cosmos. Show your guests how the stars aligned by incorporating a star map of the day you met or got engaged. The dreamy skyscape might even inspire some stargazing when night falls on your wedding day.
16. Tickets to the Best Show in Town
Front row seats to love? Yes, please! If you and your partner are music fans, give your guests tickets to the big show (of your nuptials!) when you style your invites after a favorite concert you attended. For an added bit of fun, add a QR code that will direct to your seating chart. Guests can bring their invites to scan after the ceremony for a creative way of getting their table number.
17. Let Your Guests Be Part of Game Night
Show off your competitive spirit by turning your invite into your favorite pastime. Craft a crossword to announce the details of your special day or transform your RSVP card into a game of Mad Libs. Not only will your guests love to play, they likely won’t forget a single detail of your big day.
18. Show Off Your Outdoorsy Side
If you love camping and the great outdoors, pay homage to your shared hobby with a material swap. Instead of the typical paper stationery, send your nearest and dearest a custom wood-cut invitation detailing the specifics of your wedding day. Make sure to keep it simple so as not to crowd the invite. You can always include your wedding website that provides more information.
19. Put Together a Puzzle
Here’s another one for game lovers. If you still can’t believe you’ve been lucky enough to find the partner of your dreams, show guests how the puzzle pieces of your love go together. This playful invitation is an interactive announcement that’s fun for the whole family!
20. From Your Kitchen to Theirs
There is nothing better than getting a wedding invitation you can actually use. For couples who love to spend time together in the kitchen, printing your wedding details on a tea towel is a sweet way of sharing your hobby with your guests. Your nearest and dearest will be able to use it over and over again well after your big day. You could even include a card with your favorite date night recipe with the invitation suite!