Printing your own wedding invitations can save money and time, and it lets you reprint a card in an afternoon if a detail changes. It can also go wrong in small, annoying ways: colors that print darker than on screen, a white sliver along one edge, or a card that jams the printer. This guide covers when home printing works, what to ask a print shop, which paper and envelopes to choose, and how to test before you print the whole batch.
Home printer, local print shop or online printer?
| Home printer | Local print shop | Online printer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small guest lists, simple designs, last-minute changes | Most invitations, especially designs that run to the edge | Large orders when you have time for shipping |
| Edge-to-edge color | Usually not: most home printers leave a white margin | Yes, from a file with bleed | Yes, from a file with bleed |
| Paper choice | Limited by what your printer can feed | Wide, and you can feel samples | Wide, but you choose from a screen |
| Proof | Your own test print | A printed proof you can check in person | A digital proof, sometimes a paid printed one |
| Time | Same day | Often a few days | Production plus shipping |
| Cutting | You, with a trimmer | Done for you | Done for you |
A common middle ground: print the invitation itself at a print shop and print simple inserts, such as a details card or a reply card, at home.
Choose the size and envelope first
Pick the card size before anything else, because the envelope, the paper and the postage all follow from it.
| Card | Size | Envelope that fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 7 in | 127 × 178 mm | A7 (5¼ × 7¼ in) | The standard invitation size in the US |
| A5 | 148 × 210 mm | C5 (162 × 229 mm) | The usual invitation size in the UK and Europe |
| Details card | 3½ × 5 in or A6 | Goes inside the main envelope | Fits behind the invitation |
Postage: in the US, square envelopes, very stiff pieces and envelopes with clasps, ribbons or wax seals cost more to mail, because sorting machines cannot handle them. The Postal Service's letter standards list these "nonmachinable" features, including an aspect ratio outside 1.3 to 2.5, which is why a square envelope does not qualify. Take one fully assembled invitation to the post office and have it weighed before you buy stamps. Outside the US, check your own postal service's size and weight limits.
Paper
- Weight: invitations usually use card of roughly 250 to 350 gsm (about 90 to 130 lb cover). Check your printer's manual for the heaviest card it accepts; many home printers stop well below that.
- Finish: matte or lightly textured card hides fingerprints and prints well on most home printers. Very glossy or metallic card may smudge with inkjet ink.
- Color: white or soft ivory keeps colors close to the design. Strongly colored card changes every color printed on it.
- Buy extra: plan for 10 to 15% more card than invitations, for test prints and mistakes.
Bleed and crop marks, explained
If a design has color or a pattern that runs to the edge of the card, the file needs bleed: the background extends a little beyond the final size, usually 1/8 inch or 3 mm on each side. The printer prints on a larger sheet and cuts through the bleed, so a tiny shift in cutting never leaves a white edge.
Crop marks are thin lines outside the bleed that show exactly where to cut. A print shop needs both for edge-to-edge designs. At home, you can use the crop marks to line up a paper trimmer.
If your design has a plain margin all around, bleed matters less, and a home printer can often print it as it is.
Printing at home, step by step
- Print a test page on plain paper first, at 100% or "Actual size". If the print dialog says "Fit to page", the card shrinks and the margins shift.
- Hold the test print against your card to check the size and position.
- Set the paper type in the print dialog to card or heavy matte paper, and use the highest quality setting.
- Feed card one sheet at a time, using the rear or manual feed if your printer has one; thick card jams in the main tray.
- Print one real card and check it in daylight: colors, sharpness, and whether small text is readable.
- For a back side, print the front of all cards first, let them dry, then print the back on one test card to check that it lines up before you print the rest.
- Trim with a guillotine or rotary trimmer, a few cards at a time, along the crop marks.
Print a few spares: there is always one guest you forgot, and you will want copies for yourselves.
Working with a print shop
Bring or send a PDF, not an image, and ask these questions before you order:
- Can you print on this paper, or which of your papers is closest?
- Do you need bleed and crop marks in the file, and how much bleed?
- Can I see a printed proof before the full run?
- Will you cut the cards to size, and is that included in the price?
- How long will it take, and can you print the back side as well?
Check the proof for the details that are hardest to fix later: the spelling of every name, the date with the weekday, the time, the venue address and the website address. If the card has a QR code, scan the printed proof with two phones; our guide on QR codes for wedding RSVPs explains size and contrast.
Before you print the full batch
- Names, date, time and venue match your website exactly
- The reply-by date is written in full, such as May 15, 2027
- The website address is correct, and the QR code opens it
- Colors look right on the real card, in daylight
- Small text is readable without glasses at arm's length
- The card fits its envelope, and one assembled invitation has been weighed
Our guide on putting your website on the invitation has wording for the details card and the reply card.
Printable invitations with our wedding websites
Every website comes with a printable invitation in its design, as a PDF you download from your panel: 5 × 7 in or A5 (148 × 210 mm). For a print shop you can add bleed (1/8 in or 3 mm) and crop marks, and you can add a back side with the details (schedule, dress code, reply-by date) and a QR code to your website. The invitation uses your names, date and details from your website, so a change you make there appears in the next file you download. You can also download a printable 4 × 6 in QR card. We do not print or ship anything; you print at home or at a local print shop. See the features, open the Olive & Ivory demo, or start with how to make a wedding website on your phone.
FAQ
Can you print wedding invitations at home?
Yes, for a small guest list and a design with a plain margin around the edge. Use matte card your printer accepts, print at 100% scale, feed sheets one at a time and test one card first. For edge-to-edge color or a large order, a print shop usually gives a cleaner result.
What paper should we use for wedding invitations?
Matte or lightly textured card of about 250 to 350 gsm (roughly 90 to 130 lb cover) in white or ivory. Check that your printer accepts that weight before you buy, and get 10 to 15% extra for tests and mistakes.
What is bleed on a wedding invitation file?
Bleed is extra background, usually 1/8 inch or 3 mm on each side, beyond the card's final size. The printer cuts through it, so a small shift in cutting does not leave a white edge. You need it for designs with color or a pattern that runs to the edge.
What size envelope does a 5 × 7 invitation need?
An A7 envelope, 5¼ × 7¼ inches. For an A5 invitation, use a C5 envelope (162 × 229 mm). Avoid square envelopes if you are mailing in the US, since they cost more postage, and weigh one fully assembled invitation before you buy stamps.