Wedding Invitations: Printing Techniques

Your wedding invitation is perhaps the most important style element, as it is the first introduction to your wedding. Thus, there is certainly more that goes into choosing your invites than simply flipping through a catalog. Printing techniques, paper choices, and typefaces play an equal role in creating a stunning suite of wedding stationery. Here are your options.

Printing Techniques

The most popular printing method? Engraving, which provides the most classic look. But for brides and grooms on a budget, thermography offers a similar presentation, typically costing 20–25 percent less than engraving. (You can tell the difference by the indents on the back—engraving has it, thermo doesn't).

Something New Letterpress, the oldest traditional printing technique, dating back to the fifteenth century, has taken over the modern market. Because this technique is being used more often for everyday paper goods, younger generations are embracing the look and trying to apply it to their invitations for a fresh and contemporary style.

Print Hint If thermography is your technique of choice, know that you'll need to sacrifice the dark paper and light ink combo. Since this heat-based method fuses ink with resinous powder, it's not as easy to get a pretty pastel typeface. Stick with a lighter paper and darker ink.

Don't forget to request a proof before you sign off on your final design. The bride and groom are ultimately responsible for everything on the page, so double- and triple-check that everything is spelled correctly and that the design you've chosen is one you truly love.

Paper Picks

Certain printing techniques will apply more pressure to the paper than others. So if you've already fallen in love with a particular paper, ask your stationer what your printing options are and go from there. If you already know for sure that you want engraved invitations, pick a very strong stock that can hold fine detail.

Something New Crane & Co. has its own exclusive paper, called Lettra, which is rated number one for use with letterpress printing. This method works best on soft and bulky paper, so this specialized option is designed to hold the ink very well to produce an incredibly crisp look with a deep impression.

Print Hint Engraving generally works best on a cotton fiber paper, which can hold up to the stress of the process. Paper made from wood pulp will likely break apart. Try to locate a stationer that carries 100-percent cotton paper if this is the method you plan to use.

Typeface Tips

Mixing type styles is an innovative way to change up your invitation's look. You could even pick one font just for your names to make them stand out from the other lettering. If nothing in the albums at your stationer's strikes your fancy, try flipping through design books and magazines for inspiration. By checking out what's hot in graphic design, you're sure to find a cutting edge look. If you go with a trendy design, try to stick with the same stationer who understands your aesthetic and design needs. In your paper communication with guests, you want to remain consistent.

Something New Brides and grooms are now moving away from the center of the invitation and experimenting with left or right type justifications. Many couples like to place their monogram in the upper or lower corners of the invitation, or justify pertinent information to the right or the left for a modern feel.

Print Hint Make sure your invitation is still readable. While it's fun to play with settings and placement, remember that guests still need to gather information from your invite, so try not to make it too difficult to figure out. Above all, you want to maintain a clean, consistent look.

Style Trends

Wedding invitations no longer have to be an ordinary white square card with plain black type (though this style can look extremely elegant for a black-tie affair). While cream- and ecru-colored papers were once the gold standard in wedding invitations, couples today want to switch things up. Espresso and navy are two of the most desired paper colors, while cream and ecru are still making their mark—this time as ink. Today, you can have a little fun with your invitation design and still uphold a certain level of formality.

Something New If you're torn between a few designs for your stationery, try expressing your funky side in your save-the-dates. At Crane & Co., about 50 percent of brides choose a save-the-date that's completely different from their invitation; there's no rule that says it has to match the entire wedding set. One emerging save-the-date trend is to send a photo strip of yourselves mounted on a card or magnet, which is sure to get guests excited to see you in person. Even better, use a few different strips for a little variety.

Print Hint For a totally unique style statement, look into laser-cut paper. This design trend produces paper with intricate motifs cut right in, rather than featuring ink as your main design element. Because so many trends in wedding stationery evolve directly from what's popular in wedding fashion, you might pick up on the current love of lace and choose laser-cut paper that looks just like the lace from your gown.

-- Meredith Gray

Special thanks to Megan Kuntze for Crane & Co.

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