Wedding Invitation Paper

It's your special day. From the lace on your hem to the spice in the soup, you want every detail to be perfect. Your wedding invite is no exception. That's why it's critical to educate yourself not only about wedding invitation paper but about the printing process as well.

Before you even start the search for that perfect invite, set a budget. This makes it easy to eliminate those out-of-reach invitations and help narrow down your search so you can spend more time sampling menus and less time stroking pieces of paper. Here's your guide to better buying:
Paper: Paper is paper, right? Wrong. When it comes to the happiest day of your life, knowing the fundamentals of wedding invitation paper can help you set the scene for your special event.
Cardstock: A heavyweight option, it's affordable, comes in standard sizes, and is readily available in many craft stores. Cardstock is an ideal option for DIY wedding invites.
Cotton: 100% cotton papers are smooth and elegant, making them a favorite for formal ceremonies.
Linen: This textured paper has long been a go-to wedding paper. It's elegant and always in style.
Vellum: This thin paper comes in many colors and patterns. Vellum is also less costly than 100% cotton, which makes it a great choice for budgeting brides. It's also available in a translucent blend that's used as an overlay on a bolder, heavier invitation paper.
But when it comes to wedding invites, it's not only about the paper. Wedding invitation printing is just as important to creating the style you want for your dream day. Here are the most commonly-used printing processes:
Engraving: Considered the most formal of invitation printing processes, engraving is a method in which content is etched onto a plate. The plate is inked then pressed into a high-quality paper.

Letterpress: This is the granddaddy of wedding invitation printing processes. Created in the 15th century, the method uses metal plates that press the paper. Since the 1990s, the technological advances have made letterpress more affordable. These invitations have a vintage look and feel.
Embossed: In this process, wedding invitation paper is pressed between two sheets of metal, creating a raised impression. And although embossing is often done by a professional printer, you can create your own high-end embossed look with a decidedly wallet-friendly cost. If you love the look of embossing, but not the cost, consider purchasing an embosser that features your initials then stamp it onto the flap of invite envelopes.

Thermography: Another alternative to embossing, this method uses dust or powder fused to wet ink to create a raised lettering effect.
Offset: Also called lithography, this wedding invitation printing method works by transferring images and text from a plate with ink directly onto rubber. The rubber is then rolled over the paper. This is the same process used to print your favorite magazine or newspaper.

Digital: This affordable option is an increasingly popular way to print on wedding invitation paper. To save money, brides can choose to use digital printing for RSVP cards, while using letterpress or engraving for the main invitation.
Whatever wedding invitation paper or printing process you choose, be sure that it reflects you, your spouse, and the love you share.