Considering the wedding invitation, you may want to have your own unique design. You will try to choose the materials you love most, the most beautiful printing patterns and even the most elegant envelopes. However, is it really possible for a couple to have a total control on the design of the wedding invitation? The answer is certainly yes but you should take some time to work and research on the wedding invitation.

First of all you should try to at least understand, if not familiar with, different processes involved in making the wedding invitation. Although a wedding invitation does not need to be a printed card. Most couples will probably go for this option of printing. In this case you should try to understand different printing process, say, four color printing, embossing, hot stamping and engraving.

By understanding these printing or post printing processes, you will know what is possible and what is impossible. For example, you may originally want an embossed pattern on a card of 3mm in thickness, which is impossible. If you do not have a basic knowledge about these printing process, it can be sure that it will lead to misunderstanding between you and the printer you hire. Eventually it will become some unhappy memories.

Once you get the basic knowledge about the printing process, you can start to make your own wedding invitation design. If you are good at drawing, you can draw your own graphic elements. If you are not an expert in drawing, you can still try to compose the wedding invitation using computers. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are some of the most popular software in graphic design.

Using computer software can help you to test and experiment different design options. You can have a rough idea of the printing effects by just printing the design out using the printer at home. However, you should bear in mind that process like embossing cannot be imitated by printing.

After you finalize the design, you can get a professional printing company to discuss about the production of the cards. Firstly you should send the printing company your computer files and let them know your requirements. They should be able to advise you the best way to print the wedding cards. They can also advise if you should make changes to your computer files.

The next step is to choose the materials, in this case it should be paper, which you like most. The printing companies should have different paper samples for you to choose from. You should beware of the colors of the paper. Most probably your design is based on the assumption that the graphics will be printed on white color paper. The colors of the graphic will become totally different if they are printed on gold color paper.

You may also want some environmental friendly paper. If it is really one of you concern, you should be sure that you ask the printing companies if they have collections of environmental friendly paper for your to choose from.

The envelope is also very important. You can choose to get some ready made envelopes if there is a budget constraint. You can also decide to make your own envelope but you have to be prepared that the price will be quite something if this is the case.

When every little detail is settled, you should always ask for a color proof before going for the production. The color proof can give you concrete idea about your wedding invitation. If you find the printing effect is not what you want, you can still make changes and have the color proof done again. You will just waste your money if you do not make a color proof.

If the color proof is alright and you find that you love the effects, you can now ask your printing company to go for the final production. It will normally take seven to fourteen days for the printing process, depending on how complicated the design is. Finally you should get a perfect wedding invitation which is designed by yourself.