How to plant seed paper wedding invitations

Wedding invites and stationery made from plantable seed paper are becoming increasingly popular. And it’s no surprise. Paper made from consumer waste, completely biodegradable and packed full of seeds that your guests can grow into beautiful wildflowers. What’s not to love? One of the most common questions I get about seed paper wedding invitations, is how do you plant them?

Seed paper place cards for a wedding. An autumnal design, showing the planting instructions printed on the back.
Planting instructions are printed on all my seed paper wedding invitations & stationery

Seed paper planting instructions

When I print any invites or stationery onto plantable paper I always include some brief growing instructions (discreetly) on the back. So your guests will know exactly what to do with them. If you want a little more detail on how to grow plantable seed paper wedding invites though, read on for some top tips!

What is seed paper?

Seeded paper is made from post consumer waste. This means that the paper itself is tree free, biodegradable, and very eco friendly. During the manufacture process, seeds are added to the paper pulp. 

wedding invitations printed on plantable seed paper with a watercolour meadow flowers design
Seed paper wedding invitations from my Meadow Flowers collection

How does seed paper work?

The finished seed paper is then printed and made into all kinds of wedding invitations and stationery, by me. When it’s planted, the paper composts away leaving the seeds to sprout and grow into wildflowers. It really is a zero wate

How to plant seed paper wedding invitations

As with any seeds, those in your plantable seed paper invites will need the basics of water, light, and compost to spout and grow.

To grow your plantable seed paper wedding invitations indoors: 

  • Dampen the seed paper (whether that’s a save the date card, invitation or other piece of stationery) with water and keep it in natural light. 
  • You don’t need to tear up the paper first, but you can if you want to.
  • Don’t use too much water, you just want to moisten the paper.
  • Do not let the paper dry out. The seeds need water to germinate.
  • After the seeds start to sprout, transfer them to a pot with compost and water regularly.
autumn theme plantable seed paper wedding place card and menu
Seed paper place cards and menu from my Autumn collection

Alternatively, you can plant your seed paper straight into a pot with compost. 

  • Whether you then keep your pot inside, or put it outside will depend on the time of year. In the UK, you should keep indoors unless you are planting in the summer months. 
  • Do keep the pot in natural light, whether that is inside or outside.
  • Place a layer of compost into your post.
  • Tear up your seed paper and place it on top of the compost. It doesn’t matter if the paper overlaps.
  • Cover the paper with another thin layer of compost, around 3-5mm is ideal.
  • Press down gently, and give the compost a good water.
  • Keep the compost and paper well watered (but not soaked) during the first week or so. The seeds need the water to germinate.
  • Once the sprouts appear, water as necessary.

Does seed paper actually work?

Yes, it does. But, please bear in mind that, as with everything in nature, many factors will come into play. While I cannot guarantee success, your seeds should sprout if you follow the instructions and look after them properly.

More ideas for seed paper wedding invitations and stationery

So those are my instructions and tips on how to plant and grow your seed paper wedding invitations and stationery. If you’d like to find out more about the wedding invitations and stationery that I make using seed paper, click the links below.

wedding invitations printed on plantable seed paper with a watercolour meadow flowers design

Seed wedding invitations & stationery

See what parts of your wedding stationery I can make using seed paper.

concertina style wedding invitations with a bright, colourful ink splash design printed on plantable seed paper

Colourful seed paper real wedding

Colourful, bespoke seed paper wedding invitations and stationery for Chris and Lucy.

autumnal wedding invitations printed onto eco friendly plantable seed paper with a recycled kraft envelope

Autumnal seed paper real wedding

Autumnal seed paper wedding invitations and stationery for Rebecca & Robert

Seed paper wedding stationery ideas

6 ways to use seed paper for your wedding invitations and stationery.