Choosing the Right Paper for Your Wedding Invitations

The type of paper that is chosen by the bride and groom-to-be reflects a little bit about the impending wedding. In addition, the paper selected for wedding invitations should reflect the bride and groom’s personality. There are many colors, thicknesses, and paper types on the market ensuring the happy couple’s taste and style are displayed.

Determining the Quality According to the Event

Of course, you never want to use cheap or extremely poor quality paper with your wedding invitations. At the same time, the type of wedding you are planning to have should dictate how high the paper quality should be. Casual weddings, for example, need not use expensive paper stock. At the same time, an expensive and elaborate wedding should not use cheaper paper.

Choosing the Right Color and Design

Classically, the paper used for wedding invitations was white or cream (ecru). Today, there is a wider array of color possibilities. A folded invitation that opens like a book is also most common, though some cultures prefer a single postcard with the wedding information printed on one side. Either option is available in many different paper styles.

Choosing the Material

100% Cotton

100% cotton wedding invitations creates an incredibly smooth feel. In addition, the dazzling white color makes 100% cotton a favorite for many couples. It also cannot yellow over time. Unfortunately, it is also a more expensive option for those purchasing wedding invitations.

Corrugated Card Stock

Corrugated card stock is a wavy cardboard-like paper that is becoming more popular. The paper is expensive to mail, yet still creates an attractive look.

Handmade Paper

Handmade paper is also growing in popularity. It can only be used for handwritten invitations, however, due to its delicate nature. The paper is formed by recycling used paper, breaking down the fibers, and then forming and drying a new sheet of paper. Due to the time it takes to create the paper and the fact that the invitations must be handwritten, handmade paper wedding invitations are usually reserved for small, intimate weddings.

Jacquard

Jacquard is screen-printed to create a layered effect that is another popular option. Though it is one sheet of paper, it is designed to look like many papers have been glued together.

Laid Paper

Laid paper is similar to vellum. The biggest difference comes from laid paper’s bumpy surface. As a result, this card stock is not smooth like 100% cotton.

Linen

Linen is another popular choice. A smooth cotton fiber is cross weaved to create a card stock that has a textured surface, but is not bumpy like laid paper. In addition, linen can be dyed to just about any color, making it capable of matching any color or theme for your wedding.

Moiré

Moiré is a card stock that carries watermarks. It’s older feel and perfect blending of colors gives it artistic flair, making it great for both contemporary and traditional weddings.

Mylar

Mylar is the shiny plastic that forms balloons. Mylar invitations are not commonly used for weddings. Nonetheless, Mylar is becoming a popular choice for informal weddings and can add a whimsical touch to your event.

Parchment

Parchment is a see-through paper that is lightweight. Typically, parchment gives an effect that is unbeatable. Parchment is usually attached to a thicker card stock for mailing purposes. Calligraphers use parchment because the ink cannot bleed or run through the moisture and greaseproof paper, which makes it great for creating hand-designed wedding invitations.

Tissue Paper

Tissue paper is a translucent paper that is used to cover the print inside a wedding invitation. It is too delicate to handle ink. Therefore, it is not used to make the actual invitations. Rather, you will find tissue paper used to separate the print inside a wedding invitation from the enclosures (RSVP cards, direction cards, etc.)

Translucent Vellum

Translucent Vellum is see-through paper that is commonly attached to a thicker paper when used for wedding invitations. Translucent Vellum is smooth and usually only available in ecru.

Vellum

The most common option for wedding invitations is vellum. Vellum is a cotton-blend with a smooth finish that retains a stiff appearance. Vellum is available in a creamy, ecru color traditionally. Today there are many colors available. Vellum is easily embossed. Due to the wide variety of uses, vellum is the most inexpensive option.