Introducing rhinestones into wedding stationery infuses a touch of luxury and elegance that elevates the anticipation for your special day. Rhinestones, with their brilliant sparkle and refined appearance, offer a unique way to make your invitations, save-the-dates, and other wedding related materials stand out. This luxurious embellishment not only captivates the eye but also sets the tone for the event. Perfect for couples seeking that extra touch of elegance, rhinestone wedding stationery promises to leave a lasting impression on your guests.
Choosing the Right Rhinestones
Selecting high quality rhinestones like Swarovski, Zodiac, or Preciosa for your DIY wedding stationery is crucial for adding that extra touch of sparkle while also ensuring durability. These premium brands offer superior shine, a wide range of colours, and the guarantee that the crystals won't fall off your invitations when they're in the post!
Choosing the perfect rhinestones for your wedding stationery can be overwhelming, especially as there is a vast choice of rhinestone colours and effects available, as well as different sizes, shapes and application types.
COLOURS
The best place to start is choosing the right colours to match your wedding theme. Including these colours on your wedding invitation or save the date card gives the guests a hint of what your big day will look like, and shows off your style and personality. Here are some seasonal colour theme ideas:
Season | Theme | Look | Rhinestone Selection | Palette |
Spring | Spring Blossom | Soft hued crystals to complement spring flowers | Pastel rose, Citrine yellow, peridot, chrysolite | ![]() |
Vintage Chic | Pale coloured crystals to evoke vintage styles. | Jonquil, Pale blue pearl effect, light amethyst, light rose | ![]() |
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Summer | Summer Sunshine | Bright, bold crystals to reflect the summer sun. | Citrine, Light blue pearl, Emerald, Topaz | ![]() |
Classic White Wedding | Shades of white, cream and diamante sparkle | Clear, white opal, cream pearls | ![]() |
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Autumn | Autumn Harvest | Warm toned crystals for an autumnal vibe. | Khaki, Cream pearl, Light Burgundy, Topaz | ![]() |
Rustic Vibes | Soft toned, rustic country look | Rose gold, vintage rose, emerald, cream pearl | ![]() |
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Winter | Winter Wonderland | Icy blues, silvers, and whites | Clear, Light Sapphire Opal, White Pearl | ![]() |
All Things Christmas | Warm inviting tones, reds and golds | Ruby, Gold, Emerald, Cream pearl | ![]() |
APPLICATION TYPE
Generally speaking, flatback rhinestones are the most commonly used for embellishing wedding stationery. You can choose between hotfix or non hotfix rhinestones, depending on how you want to attach them. There are a number of differences between hotfix and non hotfix, the main one being the application method – hotfix rhinestones require a hotfix tool to stick them, whereas non hotfix rhinestones can be applied using Gem Tac or other craft glue.
SIZE & SHAPE
Smaller, delicate sizes such as SS10 (3mm) and SS12 (3.2mm) are the most popular rhinestone sizes for decorating wedding invitations. They are big enough to offer a good amount of sparkle, without being too bulky and heavy that they risk falling off. There is a great colour range available in these sizes so the world is your oyster!
Classic round is the most popular shape for embellishing wedding stationery, they are cheaper to buy than shaped crystals, plus the colour range is much larger too. However there are lots of pretty crystal shapes to choose from, which would add a nice focal point to your designs.
PEARLS
Adding pearl embellishments to your wedding stationery gives it a classy and elegant feel, and the white or ivory pearlescent colours work really well with rhinestones too.
Design Ideas for Wedding Invitations
Wrapping a satin ribbon around the invitation and sealing it with a rhinestone brooch is an easy way to bring glamour to the overall feel.

Gluing pearls to your bridal stationery adds an elegant touch, without too much bling. Pearls look stylish and sophisticated with lace designs and work well for a simpler design.

As well as, or instead of, embellishing the invitations, why not add some glam to the envelope too?

Other design ideas for using rhinestones and pearls to decorate wedding invitations include:
- Elegant Borders: Outline the edges of your invitation cards with pearls and rhinestones to frame the details beautifully.
- Monogram Embellishment: Create a lavish monogram of the couple's initials or wedding date using rhinestones and pearls for a personalized touch.
- Floral Accents: Adorn floral designs with tiny rhinestones to mimic dewdrops for a natural yet sophisticated look.
- Vintage Glam: For a vintage-inspired theme, use pearls to decorate invitation corners and rhinestones to highlight key details.
- Luxurious Patterns: Design intricate patterns or motifs using rhinestones and pearls to add depth and texture to your invitations.
Rhinestone Embellishments for Other Wedding Decor
The sparkly theme can be continued throughout the big day, by adding rhinestones to the rest of your wedding stationery and decor, such as save the date cards, RSVP cards, thank you notes, seating plan, table number, guest book, name places and signage. Again, if you have a specific colour scheme, use rhinestones these colours to make your day flow. If you don't have a theme, you can match the rhinestones with the colours of your flowers or bridesmaid dresses.

DIY Tips and Techniques
When embellishing wedding stationery with rhinestones, it is important to practice on a spare piece of card first so you get an idea of how much pressure to apply, how much glue to use etc. Once you've got the hang of it, you can start on your invitations and feel confident in what you are doing. Here are some handy tips and tricks for DIY rhinestone wedding stationery:
Hotfix Method
- Allow the glue on the back of the rhinestone to fully activate before applying it to the surface. You know it is ready when you can see the glue start to bubble.
- Decide where you are going to place the rhinestone before picking it up with the hotfix tool – once it is stuck down, it is hard to remove.
- Always keep your hotfix tool away from your project when not in use to avoid burns.
- If you're a beginner to the hotfix application method, check out our guide to embellishing with hotfix rhinestones.
Non Hotfix Method
- Use a syringe with precision tip to apply the glue in small amounts, for a precise and mess free finish.
- Use a pick up tool to pick up and place your rhinestones rather than fiddly tweezers.
- Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before putting the invitations in an envelope.
- If you're a beginner to the glue on application method, check out our guide to embellishing with non hotfix rhinestones.
Incorporating Rhinestones into Wedding Attire
Rhinestones don't have to feature in your stationery alone, you can incorporate them into many other aspects of your wedding day, for example bridal wear and accessories, flowers, bride's manicure, wedding cake, corsages and boutonniere's.
Bridalwear and Accessories
- Embellish the bridal gown or veil with small clear rhinestones or pearls to add extra detail.
- DIY a pearl headband using round pearls and a glue gun for a sleek hair piece.
- Sew a string of pearls to your backless wedding gown for an elegant finish.

Wedding Shoes
- Crystallize your converse with clear rhinestones (or your chosen colour) for the ultimate glamourous yet comfy dance floor shoes!
- Add some sparkle to the underside of your satin heels for an expensive feel.
- For extreme comfort on your big day, why not bling up a pair of white sliders to dance the night away in style!

Flowers
- Wrap crystal ribbon around the stem of your bridal bouquet for an elegant touch.
- Add a crystal brooch the groom's corsage
- Stick gems onto the petals of your faux flower displays for an extra twinkle under the lights.

Wedding Cake
- Embellish a satin ribbon with rhinestones to wrap around the base of your cake.
- Apply edible gems using glue icing

Nail Art
- Treat yourself to a rhinestone manicure, go big with lots of bling or simple with a few pearl embellishments.
- Learn how to make your wedding nails sparkle and try a DIY manicure at home.
- Research everything you need to know about wedding nails to find your perfect style.

Maintaining the Elegance
To ensure your rhinestone adorned stationery and decorations maintain their sparkle throughout your wedding event, consider these tips:
- Handle them carefully to avoid dislodging stones.
- Store in a cool, dry place to prevent adhesive from weakening.
- Gently clean with a soft, dry cloth to remove fingerprints or dust.
- Keep them away from direct sunlight and moisture to preserve their shine and attachment.
Conclusion
Incorporating rhinestone embellishments into wedding stationery and décor not only adds a memorable touch of luxury but also elevates the entire look of the event. By choosing high quality rhinestones that will last, couples can infuse sophistication and elegance into their special day, and leave a lasting impression on guests.