Some couples plan informal weddings that include only them and the marriage officiant, but many more plan events that involve a large number of family and friends. This means the lovebirds need to send wedding invitations, which they can have professionally produced or do the job themselves. For those who prefer option two, here is a 5-step guide for creating one’s own invitations, starting with using the cheapest ink cartridges.
- Use Recycled Ink Cartridges
Creating your own wedding invitations involves two major costs: cardstock and ink to print the cardstock with photos, graphics, and text that complete the invitation. Using recycled ink cartridges can reduce your ink cost by over 50%.
Recycled cartridges are inexpensive because they don’t involve manufacturing costs and a significant chunk of the savings is passed on to customers. When shopping for cartridges, be sure to check whether they are compatible with your make and model of printer.
- Select the Right Cardstock
You could use standard paper instead of cardstock, but many couples choose the latter because its thickness adds durability and a touch of elegance to their invitations. The wedding will be one of the most important days of their lives, and many guests and newlyweds like to keep invitations as keepsakes. So, utilizing cardstock tends to be a more aesthetically-pleasing option. Additionally, cardstock is popular because of its weight and thickness. Because of this, cardstock can be ordered with designs (e.g., hearts and fleur de lis symbols) stamped into the material.
As with shopping for ink cartridges, be sure the cardstock you choose works with your printer, especially regarding the thickness of the stock and its composition (e.g., cellulose or synthetic).
- Choose Photos, Graphics, and Text
Wedding invitations usually feature a combination of these elements. What you use is up to you and your significant other, so have some fun being creative, but remember an important factor that could affect print quality: Inkjet printers are widely considered the gold standard for printing lush photos and graphics.
Graphic designers use them for this reason. Considering you’re essentially serving as your own graphic designer, inkjet should serve you well, too.
- Do a Sample Print Run
After you finalize the invitation design and are ready to print, perform a test run to see how the invitation looks in real life. As long as you use cardstock and ink that are compatible with a printer that delivers the resolution you need, you should be good to go. If there happens to be a problem with the print job, you’ll be glad you discovered it during a test run instead of after printing all of the invites.
- Perform the Final Print Run
Once your invitations are perfectly produced during a test run, it’s time to perform the final run. Three things to consider before clicking “print” are: whether the printer’s ink levels are ready for the job, whether you have enough space to dry invitations that have remnants of wet ink, and whether the invitation has typos or misinformation. It’s a good idea to have another set of eyes look over the invitation before you consider it finished.
Elegance On a Budget
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what’s important to you in terms of home-printed wedding invitations. With so many great printers and ink solutions on the market, it’s completely possible to create elegant invitations that look professionally-designed. Simply shop around for the best paper or cardstock along with some premium-quality ink, and make sure you do some thorough testing with your preferred ink and paper before doing a full-run. So, good luck and best wishes as you plan your wedding!
Roma “RoJoans” Joans is a freelance writer specializing in tech industry news and trends. While she focuses on the latest happenings in the tech sector, RoJoans enjoys graphic design and crafting at home in her free time.
