Step-by-Step Watercolor Guide to DIY Wedding Invitations

Creating your own wedding invitations can feel incredibly personal and fun—especially when you bring in watercolor. It adds such a dreamy, whimsical touch. Plus, with just a few supplies and a little tech-savvy, you can totally DIY it from home. Here’s how to turn your watercolor art into custom wedding invitations, step by step.

Step 1: Paint Your Watercolor Artwork

First things first, grab some good watercolor paper. I personally love Arches Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper because it holds paint beautifully and gives you that textured, high-end feel. Next, you’ll want high-quality brushes. Princeton Velvet brushes are my go-to. They hold water well and make the painting process smoother.

Take your time with this part—experiment with florals, washes, or whatever feels like you. The beauty of watercolor is in its unpredictability, so don’t stress about perfection.

Step 2: Scan It In

Once your painting is dry, scan it using a high-quality scanner. I use the Epson Perfection, and it's amazing at picking up all the delicate details and color variations. Make sure to scan at a high resolution (at least 300 dpi), so the image prints clearly later.

Step 3: Edit Digitally

Now comes the editing. Using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, clean up your scanned image. This usually means removing the background, bumping up contrast, and refining edges. Don’t worry if this step feels intimidating!

If you want to skip the editing part, or if you're hoping to include your watercolor in a professional invitation design, I’ve got you. We offer custom design services where you can send in your own scanned watercolor, and I’ll take care of the rest. Just fill out the wedding stationery form here and let’s bring your vision to life.

Stephanie Gould | custom wedding invitations and calligraphy

While DIY-ing your wedding invites can be a heartfelt project, it’s okay if you decide halfway through that you’d rather have some help. Whether you want your watercolor cleaned up, or you're ready for a full custom design, I’d be thrilled to help.

Let’s create something meaningful and totally you. Click here to get started with your custom wedding stationery. I can incorporate your artwork or create something from scratch—either way, it’ll be stunning!