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UPDATE: Now is the time to design your own wedding postcards and print them. You can get 20 FREE 4×6 photos with the code WOW20 at Walgreens on October 16, 2024 from 2 pm to 4 pm EST. Choose instore pickup to save on shipping too.
When my friend Mallory got married in Washington, it was similar to ours in that it was a destination wedding for everyone except, basically, the bride and groom. So she had a similar situation where she had to make a ton of wedding welcome bags for the out of towners.
When I was making our wedding welcome bags, she suggested that I attach a postcard from our town to the bags. Well, quick math told me that at $.35 a postcard for 100 bags would run me $35 plus tax. I had to come up with a cheaper alternative.
And that's when it hit me. I would design my own wedding postcards.
I took a photo when we were at a local beach and was in love with it. Our really eye-catching (yet simple and logo-less) umbrella hangs over the beach on a perfect day, with a bit of waves but not enough for children or surfers. There was a build up of sea junk that makes it look like I placed it there. There's nothing distracting in the background, not a cloud in the sky or a rogue person in the background. It looks, well, it looks sort of like a postcard.
And since our wedding was at the beach, since that's where we live, this was perfect. If you live in New York City, consider going out and taking a photo of the Empire State Building. Getting married in San Francisco? Snap a pic of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Not sure what exactly your town is known for? Stop into a souvenir store and check out the postcards. Figure out what landmarks and shots are used and replicate that on your own.
When I was making our wedding welcome bags, she suggested that I attach a postcard from our town to the bags. Well, quick math told me that at $.35 a postcard for 100 bags would run me $35 plus tax. I had to come up with a cheaper alternative.
And that's when it hit me. I would design my own wedding postcards.
How To Design Your Own Wedding Postcards
I'm pretty creative on the computer. I mean, I do run two blogs for a living and spend much of my time designing images online.
But at the time, I wasn't that great.
I actually designed two wedding postcards. One from my phone and the other on the computer. The second one was so much better than the first. So, if you have a desktop, use that.
But at the time, I wasn't that great.
I actually designed two wedding postcards. One from my phone and the other on the computer. The second one was so much better than the first. So, if you have a desktop, use that.
I took a photo when we were at a local beach and was in love with it. Our really eye-catching (yet simple and logo-less) umbrella hangs over the beach on a perfect day, with a bit of waves but not enough for children or surfers. There was a build up of sea junk that makes it look like I placed it there. There's nothing distracting in the background, not a cloud in the sky or a rogue person in the background. It looks, well, it looks sort of like a postcard.
And since our wedding was at the beach, since that's where we live, this was perfect. If you live in New York City, consider going out and taking a photo of the Empire State Building. Getting married in San Francisco? Snap a pic of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Not sure what exactly your town is known for? Stop into a souvenir store and check out the postcards. Figure out what landmarks and shots are used and replicate that on your own.
Then, go to a design website. Both Canva.com and PicMonkey.com are free, so those are good options.
Make sure to start with a 4x6-inch template. I would recommend 800x1200 pixels, at minimum, so you can make sure they don't print grainy. And if you start them at a 4:6 ratio, you can print them as 4x6 prints, which are often free (like right now!).
I added text that says, "Welcome to North Carolina for Lisa & Pete's wedding" in a large, dark font. I put this right in the middle of the picture because I thought it would get lost at the top or the bottom. To jazz it up a little more, I added the words Post Card at the bottom. And, to personalize them, I added our wedding month and year up top.
I made them up myself, but I'm sure you could find a free wedding postcard template out there somewhere if you didn't feel like you could make them on your own.
Since I made sure to pick a really clutch photo, it doesn't actually look like I made it myself. I mean, yes, it's personalized so you know I made it, but it looks like I ordered them.
If you want, you can add handwritten note onto the back since you have a blank canvas for it.
Make sure to start with a 4x6-inch template. I would recommend 800x1200 pixels, at minimum, so you can make sure they don't print grainy. And if you start them at a 4:6 ratio, you can print them as 4x6 prints, which are often free (like right now!).
I added text that says, "Welcome to North Carolina for Lisa & Pete's wedding" in a large, dark font. I put this right in the middle of the picture because I thought it would get lost at the top or the bottom. To jazz it up a little more, I added the words Post Card at the bottom. And, to personalize them, I added our wedding month and year up top.
I made them up myself, but I'm sure you could find a free wedding postcard template out there somewhere if you didn't feel like you could make them on your own.
Since I made sure to pick a really clutch photo, it doesn't actually look like I made it myself. I mean, yes, it's personalized so you know I made it, but it looks like I ordered them.
If you want, you can add handwritten note onto the back since you have a blank canvas for it.
If you choose to do that, I would recommend a felt tip pen. A regular ball point would run the risk of indentation. If you push too hard, you'll be able to see the lettering from the front of the print. A felt pen would eliminate this issue, however, be careful to let it dry before stacking these or affixing them anywhere. You don't want the ink to bleed. Or, to be perfectly safe, you can just leave the backs blank.
Then, affix them to your wedding welcome bags.
BRIDAL BABBLE: Would you make these wedding postcards?
It totally pass! This is way more personalized than a postcard you buy at a shop. Love the picture.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, like the message in the middle of pic.
ReplyDelete