How to Print Wedding Invitations from Etsy

You’ve nailed down a date. You found the dress. You signed on the dotted line for your dream venue. Simply put, your wedding planning is going as smoothly as possible, but, even so, there’s still one very important task on your to-do list: Sending the invites.

Wedding invitations come in all shapes and sizes: super opulent and grand with metallic details and multiple fold-outs; simple and minimal in sleek black and white; or personal and sweet with a photo of the couple. They can also come with a surprisingly high price tag, which is why more couples are looking to Etsy for stylish invites that won’t break the bank—easy-to-use wedding invitation templates that can be effortlessly customized to readily self-print.

Sounds fast and simple, right? It can be, but success hinges on how you print the invites. While you can choose the most beautiful design in the entire Etsy landscape, if it’s not printed correctly, it’ll be a hot mess. That's why we put together a simple guide to help you learn about printing Etsy invitations, including how to find a quality printing service and what to look for in an invite itself. Read on for more.

The Best Printing Options for Etsy Invitations

Before printing anything, you first need to land on a functional, beautiful Etsy design template. “I always suggest going with wedding invitations that follow the theme of the wedding; if in the barn, and the overall look and ambiance feel rustic, flower designs are a good way to go,” shares Rébecca Mathieu, founder and senior planner at Simplement Nous, and a former bride who used Etsy for her own wedding. “For a more contemporary black and white look, clean black lines and square fonts would be perfect.” Make sure your chosen template has space for all the necessary details, as well—location, time, date, wedding website, and dress code—or you’ll be fielding calls and texts from confused guests.

Once those details have been solidified, print out your design, either at home or at work, to make sure you like the overall vibe. “Make the proper changes and do as many changes and tests as necessary before sending to print. Be aware, this may take a while,” adds Mathieu. “Templates are made to be good looking and visually appealing; not all designers on Etsy are actually designers and their designs may be beautiful, but not necessarily functional.” Have a friend, family member, or coworker do a thorough once-over for anything you may have missed, to boot.

Are things looking good? Great! Now it's time to select the best printing option that's right for you and your budget.

Online Printing Services

Websites like Shutterfly and Vistaprint are made for this exact purpose; you may have even designed and printed holiday cards from one in the past. Best of all, they’re built to make the process as simple and streamlined as possible with just a few clicks. 

On the other hand, don’t forget about classics, like FedEx or Staples, either. These faithful shops often offer a quick turnaround time and a variety of options—though it may be easier to stop by in person, so you can see and feel the cardstock and chat with a printer about your needs.

Local Printing Services

Going local means you’ll be able to see and feel every paper option and detail, including embossing, metallic detailing, and more. A local printer is also a great choice if you’re feeling overwhelmed and need more guidance; you can team up with a real person with expertise in this very area. If you’re working with a wedding planner, bring them along too.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Printing Service

Still unsure of where to print your wedding invitations from Etsy? Here are some factors to keep in mind when making this decision.

Quality

Quality is the most important factor in your invite journey. If the final product is blurry, off-center, or on cheap paper, you’ll notice right away. Be sure you do your due diligence in advance and ask your vendor for a few test runs before printing out your whole batch of invites. You should also consider heavier-weight cardstock, as that tends to feel fancier, more expensive, and give off a high-quality aesthetic. “I always go with a minimum of 17 pts weight cardstock for a nicer feel,” advises Mathieu.

Pricing and Turnaround Time

Another essential factor to keep in mind is price. Ensure that the service you're looking to use fits within your budget. You may even want to shop around and ask a few different vendors for the best possible price, in order to guarantee that you're getting the best deal.

As you’re shopping around, be sure to also ask the printer what their turnaround time will be. Can they do it in 24 hours or will it take a few weeks? This all factors into your wedding planning timeline, as invites should be sent six to eight weeks before the wedding.

Customer Reviews and Recommendations

There’s never been a better time to read reviews than when finding a vendor who can print your Etsy wedding invitations. If you’re shopping online, see what other couples are saying—not only on the websites themselves but on wedding forums and sites like Reddit. You can also go directly to your Etsy seller of choice and ask them for a recommendation, or browse their reviews for insight from other couples who used the same template.

What's more, ask your friends, family members, and coworkers who they used for their wedding invites. You may just discover a hidden gem with a great price point and quality, or find out which vendors to stay far, far away from. Happy printing!