How to Choose the Best Free Invitation Templates

Weddings, graduations, anniversaries, baptisms, birthdays – they all have at least one thing in common: You have to send invitations to ask guests to attend your special celebration. And not just any invitation. Since your day is unique and special to you, you also want a unique and special invitation that will spark interest in your event, motivate guests to RSVP and help make your day memorable from the start. If you don't have the funds or inclination to hire a professional graphic designer to create a custom invitation, and you don't have the time or skill to do so yourself, you'll have to choose a free invitation template. Not all invitation templates are created equal, so here's your guide to how to choose the best free invitation templates for your special celebration.

Dazzling design First and foremost in everyone's mind is the most obvious free invitation template attribute: the quality of the design. You want to find a design that suits both the occasion in question and your personal style: formal, contemporary, poignant, quirky. Don't settle for an amateurish design (unless, of course, that's the look you're after). Instead, scour the web for a dazzling free invitation template to hallmark your celebration.

Customizable You should also check to ensure that your chosen template is customizable, and that you have the ability to personalize it. Look for a free invitation template format that is compatible with software you already have so you can change text and images as needed for your event. Many people have access to Microsoft Word, so the DOC format is a good choice (if you don't have MS Word, you can download Open Office to edit DOC files for free). However, formats such as PSD (Photoshop), AI (Illustrator) and PDF (Adobe) are only able to be edited with professional software. Some free open source software does exist for such formats, but there is typically a large learning curve that is not worth your time investment for a single invitation. The point is that you must be able to work with your free invitation templates so you can customize them to your celebration.

Print-ready specs Another important factor to consider when choosing free invitation templates is whether they meet the requirements for professional printing (which is actually cheaper than desktop printing, once you break down the time, paper and ink investments – and of course looks a whole lot better!). Your chosen template should be available in a CMYK color format, in the right sizes for the printing press, and in a large resolution of at least 300 dpi for best results. If you're not sure, consult with your online printing company about your free invitation templates before you invest the time in customization. The best free invitation templates not only fit your celebration and style perfectly, they make it easy for you to edit and customize to your event and are ready for professional printing. When you find a template that has all three attributes, you've found the best template for you.