Autumn Themed DIY Wedding Invitations

Make your own save the dates, RSVP cards and invitations. A Journey through DIY wedding ideas for the budget savvy couple!

Having an autumn themed wedding is becoming more popular. You don’t necessarily need to be holding your wedding throughout the season, you just need to like autumn! What’s not to like? Beautiful colours of orange, red and brown, gorgeous foliage incorporated into the décor and romantic vibes.

Even if you are having a loose theme, the colours you can use are stunning. So with this in mind, you may want to consider incorporating the theme into things like your wedding stationery.

DIY-ing parts of your wedding is a great way to make the details personal to you, and save a bit of money. These make your own wedding invitations are easy to do, and perfect for you to get together with your partner or get he bridesmaids to help with over a glass – or two! – of wine.

So what better way to incorporate a stunning theme, than with a rustic, autumnal style DIY budget wedding invitation.

Get a production line going, you’ll have a great evening and the invitations will be done in no time!

For those who are daunted by free hand drawing, there is more information on how to make this easy!

To start with you’ll need everything in this picture:

1. Envelopes – Adapt this to fit your theme by choosing any colour.
2. A guillotine or scissors – NB. You will only need this if you have to adjust the size of the card. A guillotine will make it easier to measure and cut multiple layers at once.
3. Card – You can add a design and colour the card. Use this same card for the RSVP’s and invites to tie it all together. If you want them to be two different colours, choose two different types at the craft shop.
4. A pencil – Always handy!
5. A fine liner – These are cheap from WH Smiths. This one is a brown-red colour.
6. A calligraphy pen – These are also from WH Smiths, and come with a few different coloured ink cartridges.
7. Ribbon – This one is a sheer organza type ribbon in a bronze colour
8. Spray paint – You can get some awesome colours and textures to really personalise your invites.
9. Pastels – these are ideal but you could use watercolours, felt pens; anything to decorate with.
10. Bin liners – so the clean up is easier!

Extra things you’ll need:

1. A glass of water
2. Teabags
3. A rubber

METHOD

1. Antiquing

Firstly, antique the paper. This is a really pretty technique, which you can use to make any paper look more rustic.

Put the tea bags in the glass of water, it works best if you put them in hot water and let the water cool down, as it releases more tannin, and that’s the stuff that colours your paper.

Whilst they’re soaking, lay down the bin bag with your chosen card on top.

NB. Here we have cream card on top of brown paper, because the cream colour was too close to the white bin liner to take effective photographs – you, of course, need only lay it straight on the bin liners.

Remove the tea bag from the glass and gently drag across the card. You’ll notice the colour starting to take. For more texture, dot the teabag here and there to create a mottling effect.

This is what you’ll end up with. Repeat on other side and leave to dry in the sunshine or under a radiator.

2. Spray Painting

Next, take your envelope and put a piece of paper underneath the flap to protect the body.

Take your spray paint, shake vigorously, and test on the bin liner until you get the right spray.

Spray paint a light layer over the flap, wait to dry and repeat.

3. Invitations

Cut down your antiqued paper to a smaller size.

NB Only do this if you have chosen a card that’s bigger than your envelope, otherwise don’t bother.

These are 17cmx12.5cm. Next, mark out guidelines for the writing.

Using a rule, place it along the edge and mark out 0.5cm marks down both sides, and the centre – turn the paper 90 degrees and join marks up using a ruler.

Pencil out what you want to say, then using your calligraphy pen go over the top and once dry, erase pencil marks.

You can change up what the invite says but remember to include:

-Names of Bride and Groom

-Date

-Time (Don’t forget this, unlike us!)

-Location

 4. RSVP Card

Take another piece of your cream card (not antiqued) and cut down to a smaller size. I’ve used 16cmx11cm.

Using the same method as above, use a ruler to mark out guidelines with 0.5cm between each line.

Sketch out in pencil what you want your RSVP card to say.

-Name: (The recipient can then put their name so you don’t have to address each one individually)

-Delightfully accept (With an adjacent checkbox)

-Regretfully decline (With an adjacent checkbox)

-A song you’d like to hear at the disco (That way you’ll know what your guests want to hear at the party!)

Go over the top of your pencil writing in calligraphy pen.

Once dry, erase pencil marks.

TIP using simple clean lines with calligraphy pens makes the process much easier and quicker! 

 5. Drawing a Design

It’s time to get artsy.

Using a pencil sketch a design on your RSVPs and invites.

The world is your oyster here, so really get creative. Remember this is going to be the first thing everyone sees of your wedding, so pick something personal to the theme or to you.

You could draw a fat pumpkin sat on some leaves for a Halloween wedding, a cascade of snowflakes for a winter wedding, daisies for spring etc.

For those not wanting to draw free hand:

If you find drawing free hand a little daunting, you can transpose a picture.

Google a design to find one you like.

TIP Using keywords such as ‘pumpkin drawing’ or ‘snowflake outline’ will get you the results you want!

Print it out and trace over the outline with a pencil on baking parchment.

Flip the parchment over, trace the outline on the other side.

Turn it back over, position on the invite/RSVP and firmly rub over the lines with your pencil.

You should be left with an outline without having to draw your own design!

6. Colouring the Designs

If you can, use oil pastels because they’re lovely to use and super blendable.

The whole design is coloured green.

At the base of the leaves we’ve added the dark orange and down the stems, a light orange, then given them a quick rub over with your little finger to erase any harsh lines.

TIP Don’t worry about getting this bit neat, the next bit tidies it up.

Go over those original pencil marks with your fine liner to give the design more definition.

7. Putting Everything Together

Write your address on the back of the envelope and pop a stamp in the corner.

Place both the invite and the RSVP card under the flap.

Tie a piece of coloured ribbon around the whole thing. You can use anything from twine to hessian, and decorate with beads, or, if you’re really adventurous, dried leaves for that real autumnal feel.

8. Put the whole little package in an envelope addressed to your guest then send in the post the next morning

Making your own DIY invitations can seem daunting, but it’s not – even for those people less crafty, however, if it does seem too much, take a moment to peruse stationers who will be more than willing to help create something perfect for you!

If you’ve got any hints or tips, or have made your own DIY invitations, leave a comment below!