11/02/2026
FULL PROCEDURE FOR PRINTING WEDDING INVITATION CARDS IN NIGERIA
STEP 1: UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF WEDDING INVITATIONS
In Nigeria, wedding invitations fall into two major categories:
A. Ready-Made (Off-the-Shelf) Wedding Cards
These are pre-manufactured cards imported from China, Dubai, India, or produced locally.
They:
Come in packs (usually 100 per pack)
Have envelope included
Have a blank inner sheet for printing
Come in different:
Sizes
Colors
Textures
Finishing (foil, emboss, ribbon, laser cut, etc.)
This is the most common option.
B. Custom-Designed Wedding Cards
These are fully produced from scratch.
You:
Design everything
Print on card stock
Add finishing (lamination, embossing, foil, die-cut, etc.)
Package manually
This option is more expensive.
For beginners, ready-made cards are easier and safer.
STEP 2: KNOW YOUR SUPPLIERS
As a print vendor in Nigeria, you must:
Know where to buy ready-made wedding cards (Lagos Island, Mushin, Onitsha, Aba, Kano markets, etc.)
Understand their categories and price differences
Ask for updated price list regularly
Prices vary because of:
Card quality (300gsm, 350gsm, textured board)
Finishing (gold foil, glitter, ribbon, acrylic cover)
Packaging style
Very important: Prices change frequently due to exchange rate. Always confirm before quoting your client.
STEP 3: HAVE SAMPLES
This is where many vendors fail.
You must:
Take clear photos of available designs
Categorize them (Economy, Standard, Premium, Luxury)
Save samples on your phone or tablet
If possible, keep 2–3 physical samples
When a client sees samples, decision becomes easier.
People buy with their eyes.
STEP 4: UNDERSTAND PRICING STRUCTURE
Wedding cards usually come in 100 pieces per pack.
For example:
If 1 pack costs ₦35,000
Printing inner sheet may cost ₦8,000–₦15,000
Design fee ₦5,000–₦20,000 (depending on complexity)
Your job is to calculate:
Cost price + Production cost + Your profit = Selling price
Never guess price. Always calculate.
STEP 5: COLLECT CLIENT DETAILS PROPERLY
Before design, collect:
Bride’s full name
Groom’s full name
Parents’ names
Wedding date
Church/Mosque venue
Reception venue
Time
RSVP contact
Dress code (if any)
Color theme (if any)
Spellings must be confirmed. Let the client cross-check before design.
Mistakes in wedding cards are expensive.
STEP 6: DESIGN PROCESS
If you are a graphic designer:
Use CorelDRAW, Illustrator, or Photoshop
Confirm inner sheet size from the card
Use correct margin
Avoid placing text too close to edges
Use readable fonts (don’t over-design)
If you are a print broker:
Have a trusted designer
Negotiate design price before collecting job
Ensure designer sends proof before print
Always send draft to client for approval.
Never print without written approval (WhatsApp confirmation is fine).
STEP 7: PRINTING THE INNER SHEET
Most ready-made wedding cards require printing only on the inner sheet.
Procedure:
Measure exact size of inner sheet.
Arrange multiple copies on one large sheet (imposition).
Print on:
120gsm – 200gsm paper (depending on thickness required)
Use:
Digital print (for small quantity)
Offset print (for large quantity)
After printing:
Allow ink to dry properly
Cut with guillotine machine accurately
Precision matters. Crooked cuts spoil presentation.
STEP 8: ASSEMBLING
For ready-made cards:
Insert printed inner sheet into cover
Attach ribbon if required
Insert into envelope
Count properly (never short the client)
For custom cards:
Laminate if required
Die-cut if necessary
Fold neatly
Package well
STEP 9: QUALITY CONTROL
Before delivery:
Check spelling again
Check ink consistency
Check alignment
Count quantity
Remove damaged pieces
This is where professionalism shows.
STEP 10: DELIVERY AND BALANCE PAYMENT
Best practice in Nigeria:
Collect 60–80% deposit before production
Balance on delivery
Never start without deposit. Wedding jobs can delay if you don’t secure payment.
COMMON MISTAKES PRINT VENDORS MAKE
Quoting price without checking market price
Printing without approval
Poor cutting alignment
Over-designing inner sheet
Not calculating profit properly
Ignoring delivery timeline
SIMPLE SUMMARY FOR BEGINNERS
If mama Ngozi wants to print wedding cards herself:
Go to market and buy ready-made wedding card pack.
Take one inner sheet to a designer.
Design content.
Print all inner sheets digitally.
Cut neatly.
Insert into cover.
Package and distribute.
That is the simple process.
FINAL ADVICE FOR PRINTING STUDENTS
Wedding invitation printing is not about machines. It is about:
Vendor knowledge
Cost control
Design accuracy
Supplier relationship
Attention to detail
Master those five, and you will never struggle in this segment of printing business in Nigeria.
