Complete Guide to Watercolor Wedding Invitations: Everything You Need to Know
My journey with watercolor wedding invitations began in 2017 when I started painting portraits and landscapes for anniversary gifts. What started as a creative side hustle quickly blossomed into a passion for telling love stories through art. After years of balancing corporate marketing with my growing stationery business, I took the leap in 2023 to dedicate myself fully to creating custom watercolor invitations for couples who want something truly unique.
The magic of watercolor lies in its ability to capture every nuance of a couple’s journey. Whether it’s painting the beach where they got engaged, incorporating hidden elements from their first date in an elaborate border, or weaving in subtle nods to their shared passions in a watercolor crest, painting allows me to tell rich, layered stories that make each invitation suite completely unique.
What Are Watercolor Wedding Invitations?
I’ll never forget the moment I sent me first custom venue illustration in watercolor, printed on delicate handmade paper. The soft washes of color and delicate brushstrokes captured not just the appearance of the couple’s ceremony location, but the romantic feeling the bride hoped their guests would experience when they later attended. That’s the unique power of watercolor wedding invitations.
Unlike cookie-cutter designs, true custom invitations incorporate original artwork in a way that adds a distinctive, personal touch to your wedding stationery. Just last month, I worked with a couple who wanted to capture all of the love stories that came before them in a nod to their parents and grandparents’ strong marriages.
The Magic of Watercolor for Wedding Stationery
One of my favorite aspects of being a watercolor artist is the endless possibilities each new project brings. Recently, I worked with a couple planning a destination wedding in Tuscany. Through layers of soft greens and blush pinks, we created a suite that captured not just their villa venue, but the entire feeling of an Italian summer evening. The subtle variations in color allowed us to incorporate their palette in a way that felt natural and organic, while the flowing brushstrokes echoed the relaxed elegance of their celebration to come.
What makes watercolor so special for wedding invitations? The medium offers:
- Endless color possibilities that perfectly match your wedding palette
- Subtle variations in tone that create depth and interest
- Ability to capture specific details like venue illustrations or meaningful locations
- Organic, romantic quality that digital paintings can’t replicate
- Original artwork you can keep as an heirloom after your wedding to frame or tuck into a wedding album
Types of Watercolor Wedding Invitations
Custom Watercolor Invitations
Last spring, I worked with a couple who came to me with a unique vision: they wanted to incorporate elements from both their cultures into their invitation suite. Through custom watercolor, we were able to blend Slovenian Edelweiss with California Poppies in a way that felt cohesive and meaningful. This level of personalization is what makes custom watercolor invitations so special. This process typically includes:
- A personal consultation to understand your vision
- Custom artwork creation
- Multiple rounds of revisions
- Complete design and printing of the invitation suite
- Original artwork you can keep
You can learn more about our specific step-by-step process here.
Semi-Custom Watercolor Invitations
Semi-custom options modify existing watercolor designs to match your wedding details and colors. These offer:
- Lower cost than fully custom designs
- Faster turnaround time
- Pre-designed artwork with customized colors or
- Fixed opportunities for original watercolor artwork
Curious what the difference between semi-custom and custom is? Check out this article that dives deeper into the differences and which one is right for you. Personally, I love semi-custom for couples who are looking for something special and not as cookie-cutter as other printers’ designs but want a streamlined ordering and design process.
Ready-to-Order Watercolor Collections
Pre-designed collections feature established watercolor designs that can be ordered with your wedding details. These provide:
- Most affordable option
- Quickest turnaround
- Fixed design elements
- Limited customization
This is great if you already know that you want an existing illustration (e.g. a New York City skyline or a certain venue illustration you love), and just want to make some minor tweaks to the design or artwork colors.
Ready-made collections are also great for accessories and day of items to add a little something extra to your classic invitations.
The Custom Watercolor Design Process
Initial Consultation
One of my favorite consultations recently was with a couple who arrived saying they had “no idea what they wanted.” As we talked about their story – how they met rock climbing, their shared love of national parks, their pandemic puppy – the perfect invitation concept naturally emerged. That’s why I always start with an in-depth conversation about not just your wedding details, but your journey as a couple.
The design consultation typically covers:
- Your wedding vision and aesthetic
- Color palette and theme
- Venue details and special elements to incorporate
- Timeline and budget considerations
- Questions about materials and printing methods
- How many invitations you need
- How you want your guests to feel when they open the invitations
After the consultation, I provide a tailored proposal that contains a range of options that fit your style and budget. And it answers some commonly asked questions about the process and what sets Cotton & Bow apart from your other potential options.
Concept Development
I remember a bride who loved the look of watercolor but wasn’t sure how it fit into her modern, minimalist wedding. During the concept phase, I created one design that aligned with her original vision and another that pushed the boundaries slightly with a subtle watercolor wash and architectural venue sketch. She fell in love with the unexpected combination, and it became one of my favorite projects of 2024.
After the contract is signed and we get started, I create:
- Initial sketches and design concepts
- Multiple creative directions to consider
- Recommendations for papers and printing methods
- Preliminary color palette options
The concept phase is where we align on exactly what’s being created and the potential layout of each piece. We also talk about font options and colors for your first set of digital proofs.
Artwork Creation
The sketching and painting phases brings your vision to life through:
- Detailed sketches for approval
- Original watercolor artwork
- Multiple elements for different pieces of your suite
- Opportunities for refinement and adjustments
These phases can be as collaborative or as hands off as you’d like. Some couples love to work hand-in-hand with me to refine their artwork style, composition, and colors. I love a good partnership and welcome all feedback! Other couples just want to see an artist’s interpretation come to life but don’t have time or the desire to weigh in until the final stages and that’s okay too!
Digital Design Integration
Once the artwork is complete, we:
- Scan and digitize the watercolor paintings
- Design layout and typography
- Create digital proofs for review
- Make any necessary adjustments
This is called the proofing stage and it’s important for catching any typos or misspellings entered during the onboarding forms. Multiple sets of eyes on your proofs is one of the key advantages to working with a stationery designer. If you go it alone, you’ll need to make sure you set up a thorough proofing process of your own. I have a system that’s been honed for several years across hundreds of invitations designed to catch the most frequent types of errors and even unexpected errors. Nothing is fool proof but my process and checklists come pretty darn close!
Timeline and Planning
When to Start Ordering Your Wedding Invitations
For custom watercolor invitations, you should begin the process earlier than you think:
- 6-8 months before the wedding lock in your stationery designer
- Invitation design can take 6-8 weeks for standard production, 10-12 weeks for anything with letterpress, embossing or other complex printing techniques
- 3-4 months before the wedding is your recommended mailing date (4-6 months before for destination weddings)
- 2 months before is your recommended RSVP by date
Here’s a handy chart of which month you should send out your invitations by wedding month. Remember to start your design process several months before you need to send them out. Here’s a more detailed look at when to send your wedding invitations.
A Typical Production Timeline
Why do custom wedding invitations take so long to develope? Here’s a look at a typical production timeline.
Most projects include:
- An initial consultation and time to evaluate options: 1 week
- Concept development and onboarding: 1-2 weeks
- Artwork creation: 2-3 weeks
- Digital design proofs and revisions: 1-2 weeks
- Printing and assembly: 2-4 weeks
Here’s a sample timeline with a normal schedule of 6-8 weeks:
- Project Kick Off – Week 1
- Concepts – Week 1
- Sketches – Week 2
- Paintings – Week 3
- Proofs – Week of 4
- 2nd & 3rd Rd Proofs – Week 5
- Production – Weeks 6 & 7
- Mailing – Week 8
Investment Considerations
When you’re thinking of working with a stationery designer, especially on something as custom as original watercolor artwork, you may be wondering how much it costs. As you can see from the above, the process is quite lengthy and involved so that’s definitely a major factor in how much you need to budget for custom or semi-custom invitations.
Cost Factors
Watercolor invitation pricing varies based on:
- Level of customization
- Complexity of artwork
- Quantity needed
- Paper and printing methods
- Additional elements (envelope liners, belly bands, etc.)
- Assembly and mailing services
The typical budget for custom invitations is $3,500-5,000 for an average order of 100 invitation suites. Semi-custom since it’s a streamlined process comes in at a range of $600-2,500. You can receive a personalized quote by contacting us and setting up a consultation call. Or you can get an exact price for semi-custom invitations here.
Value Benefits
I like to say that ordering custom invitations is really commissioning your first original artwork as a couple. And the invitations, are just a bonus! I love the permanence of working with an artist to develop custom work because it’s truly something you can keep forever when the flowers have wilted and the cake has been eaten.
Here are some of the lesser known benefits of watercolor wedding invitations:
- Original artwork as a frameable keepsake
- Completely unique design
- Professional guidance throughout the process
- An extra set of eyes on your proofs
- Heirloom quality materials
- Memorable first impression for guests
Enhancing Your Watercolor Suite
Once you’ve decided that watercolor is the way to go, here are some additional ways to make the most of your invitations.
Additional Elements
Consider incorporating watercolor into:
- Save the dates
- RSVP cards
- Details cards
- Envelope liners
- Welcome signs
- Menus and programs
- Thank you cards
Printing Methods
Watercolor designs can be produced using digital printing for full-color printing and combined with the following more complex printing methods for added luxury and texture:
- Letterpress for texture and dimension
- Foil stamping for metallic accents
- Embossing for a classic, sculptural look
- Velvet, leather, or other unexpected material backings and accessories
- Combine multiple techniques for unique effects
Caring for Your Watercolor Invitations
After you’ve sent out your invitations, here are some ways to preserve any extras so that they will stand the test of time.
Storage Tips
Protect your invitations by:
- Storing flat in a cool, dry place
- Avoiding direct sunlight
- Using acid-free materials for preservation
- Keeping original artwork and colored card stock separate from printed pieces
Preservation Methods
And your original artwork can be preserved by following the guidance below:
- Frame original artwork or store flat in a book or storage box
- Keep artwork away from direct light sources
- Make sure your artist is using the highest quality paints and papers meant for longterm storage (not student art materials)
- Save any digital copies for reproduction if needed
- Consider professional archival preservation methods
Conclusion
Watercolor wedding invitations offer a unique opportunity to begin telling your love story through art before your wedding day even arrives. Whether you choose fully custom designs or adapt an existing collection, these invitations create an unforgettable first impression while providing you with an heirloom piece of art to treasure long after your celebration.
Ready to begin your watercolor wedding invitation journey? Contact us to schedule a design consultation and discover how we can bring your vision to life through original watercolor artwork.
Looking for more information about watercolor wedding invitations? Check out these helpful articles:
- How Much Do Watercolor Wedding Invitations Cost? A Price Breakdown
- Custom vs Semi-Custom Watercolor Wedding Invitations: Which is Right for You?
- Timeline Guide: When to Order Watercolor Wedding Invitations
Credits:
Planner: @copperblossomevents
Photographers: @alyssaryanphotography @sarabeebishop
Videographer: @escapeandadventure
Content Creator: @pinkpetal.bts
Venue: @thewoodlandphxaz
Florist: @fleurphx
Hair: @stylesalonstudio
Makeup: @sairaobeauty
Cake: @artfulsweetsaz
Rentals: @theconfettistudio
Linens: @bbjlatavola
Stationery: @cottonandbowpaper
Bridal Gowns: @ohanabridal.az
Menswear: @celebtuxntails
