Stack of handmade paper for wedding invitations in Boston

You’re engaged! CONGRATULATIONS!! Now that you’ve time to celebrate and have sent out your Save the Dates, you may be just starting to think about your wedding invitations and are overwhelmed by all the options out there. I get it. It’s a lot! I’m going to break down all the types of paper you can get for your invitations as well as the printing methods that can be used.

Before we get into all the details, keep your budget in mind while reading this. Some papers and printing methods will cost more than others. While you may have a certain look in mind for your invitations, you want them to sync up with your wedding vibes. Invitations serve a purpose other than informing your guests of when and where your wedding is. They are a glimpse into your wedding and you want your guests to know what to expect by seeing and feeling your invitations.

Without further ado, let’s talk paper!

PAPER TYPES

Cardstock

Cardstock is the standard when it comes to wedding invitations. They are usually 120lb which is the lowest I would go. They can also come in 240lb which is a nice, thick, luxurious paper. This term “lb” is actually exactly what you probably guessed: lb stands for pounds which refers to how much paper weighs. The thicker the paper, the higher the weight. They also come in many finishes. I love eggshell finish, which refers to how the paper feels as opposed to the color. It is not ultra smooth but it’s not super bumpy either.

Cotton

This paper is made of 100% cotton and feels super soft. It’s my go-to for when I am tearing the edges by hand which is often called deckling. It’s a nice alternative to handmade paper.

Vellum

Vellum is a beautiful, flexible, translucent material that works great alongside other paper types. You can use it as a belly band, to wrap around your entire suite, or even just on top to create different effects. It gives such a romantic and whimsical touch.

Handmade paper

Handmade paper is just what it says. It is paper that is made by hand by an artisan. They break up the paper, mix it, color it, and mold it - ALL BY HAND! You can see why it would cost so much. Handmade paper is also a bit trickier to print on, so a lot of professional print shops simply won’t print digitally on it. We can rely on letterpress or foil printing to do a beautiful job!

PRINTING METHODS

Digital/flat printing

This is what you would recognize as printing from a regular printer but to the 100th degree! We work with vendors who use very high-quality printers and they can print gorgeous and crisp images and text. This is especially great for watercolor art which is what I specialize in.

Letterpress

There’s nothing as luxurious as letterpress, especially when it is done on beautiful, soft, fluffy paper. Letterpress is similar to handmade paper in the sense that a real human works the machine and presses the design onto the paper one by one. It does that by using a metal or plastic die/plate with the design on it and a letterpress machine that is cranked by hand. It’s a lot of work but delivers gorgeous results.

Foil stamping

Similar to letterpress but this is done with heat and foil so it requires a metal die. Foil stamping is perfect for those who want a metallic touch to their invitations. It’s so chic and so special

Embossing

Similar to letterpress in that you can physically see the design raised up on the paper. It’s really fun when we incorporate different designs on the same piece of paper and you have different textures and designs. The ultimate luxury!

Well, there you have it. I hope this post helped clear up some confusion and helped to ease your overwhelm. As always, if you have any questions, drop them in the comments below!