Custom vs. Semi-Custom Wedding Invitations

When it comes to planning your wedding, your invitations are one of the first things your guests will see. They set the tone for your big day and give everyone a glimpse of your style and story. But how do you decide between custom and semi-custom wedding invitations?

In this post, we’ll explain the differences between the two and help you figure out which option is best for you. Whether you want a one-of-a-kind design or something beautiful with a quicker process, we’ve got you covered.

What Are Custom Wedding Invitations?

Custom wedding invitations are fully personalized to your vision. When you choose custom, we design every part of your stationery just for you. From the fonts to the artwork and special details, it’s all about telling your unique story.

Benefits of Custom Invitations

1. Personalized to Your Vision: Custom invitations give you the chance to work directly with a designer to create exactly what you want. You can include special illustrations, custom colors, or extra fancy details.
2. Tells Your Story: Custom designs make sure all your wedding stationery—like save the dates, menus, and programs—matches perfectly.
3. Completely Unique: No one else will have an invitation suite like yours. A stationer creates it just for you and your special day.
4. White-Glove Assembly and Mailing: With custom invitations, we handle everything for you. We offer white-glove assembly, postage, and mailing, ensuring your invitations arrive beautifully packaged and on time.

All couples who choose custom invitations receive a full keepsake suite that includes your invitation with all the extra embellishments (silk ribbon, vintage postage, and calligraphy). Your invitation suite will be hand packaged in a foil-pressed linen keepsake box. This keepsake suite can be used for detail shots on your wedding day.

Are Custom Wedding Invitations Right for You?

Custom invitations are a great choice if:

• You have a specific idea or theme in mind.
• You want your stationery to be totally unique.
• You’re looking for a hands-off experience where a designer handles everything.
• You have the budget for a completely personalized design.
• You want personalized touches like custom artwork (pet portraits, venue illustrations, maps).
• You value the convenience of having assembly, postage, and mailing fully taken care of.

If these things sound like you, custom wedding invitations might be the perfect fit.

Check out a few of our favorite fully-custom designs:

• Foil press invitations for a wedding at Glen Manor House
• Timeless wedding invitations for Elkins Estate
• Classic letterpress wedding invitations for a Dallas wedding

What Are Semi-Custom Wedding Invitations?

Semi-custom wedding invitations use pre-designed templates that you can personalize with your details. They’re a great option if you want something beautiful but don’t need a fully custom design.

Benefits of Semi-Custom Invitations

1. Budget-Friendly: Semi-custom invitations cost less than custom designs but still look elegant and stylish.
2. Quick Process: Since the design is already done, semi-custom invitations move faster through proofing, printing, and assembly.
3. Luxurious Options: Semi-custom suites can be upgraded to include high-end touches like ribbon, wax seals, or fancy printing techniques, but these can add time to the project timeline.
4. DIY Assembly: With semi-custom invitations, everything is shipped directly to you. While this option saves on cost, it means you’ll need to handle assembly, postage, and mailing yourself. This can be time-consuming and adds another to-do to your wedding planning list.

Is Semi-Custom Right for You?

Semi-custom invitations are a great choice if:

• You want something lovely but don’t need a custom design.
• You’d like to add some personal touches to an existing design.
• You have a shorter timeline and need invitations quickly.
• You’re comfortable with assembling and mailing invitations on your own.
• You want a high-quality suite that fits your budget.

If this sounds like you, semi-custom wedding invitations could be the right choice.

At Heather Paperie, we have three semi-custom designs to choose from:

Key Differences Between Custom and Semi-Custom Wedding Invitations

The choice between custom and semi-custom invitations depends on your priorities, timeline, and budget. On one hand, if you want something completely unique and don’t mind a longer process, custom invitations are perfect. If you need something beautiful and quicker, semi-custom invitations are a fantastic option.

	Custom Invitations	Semi-Custom Invitations
Design Process	Work with a designer to create a unique suite from scratch.	Choose a pre-made design and personalize the details.
Timeline	These take longer because a designer creates everything just for you.	Faster turnaround since the designs are already made.
Budget	Higher cost due to the personalized design and premium materials.	More affordable, with options to add special touches.
Personalization	Everything is made to reflect your style and story.	Partially personalized to match your needs.
Assembly, Postage, and Mailing	We take care of every detail, including white-glove assembly, adding postage, and mailing your invitations directly to your guests. This service ensures a seamless experience and saves you time during a busy planning season.	Your suite will be shipped to you for assembly and mailing. While this allows for a more budget-friendly option, it does require additional time and effort on your part to ensure everything is ready to go.

Pin this table to help you make your decision!

Why Choose Heather Paperie for Your Wedding Invitations?

At Heather Paperie, we offer both custom and semi-custom wedding invitations to fit your needs. Whether you want a fully unique design or a pre-made suite with personalized touches, we make the process easy and stress-free. No matter what you choose, we’ll take care of every step—from design to mailing—so you can focus on enjoying your engagement.

Ready to find your perfect wedding stationery? Contact us today to get started!