Ordering invitations can seem like a daunting task, especially when facing multiple unknown questions. Which invitation parts do you need? How do you address invites? Which return address do you use on wedding invitations?!
Then — phew! — once you’re actually ready to pick out the design and colors, you’re figuring out what kind of paper to print wedding invitations on… and now you’re really stumped!
Well, we’re here to help. :) Don’t feel alone… few people know much about cardstock for wedding invitations until they need to order it themselves.
So, what’s the big deal? What happens if you don’t care what kind of wedding cardstock you choose? Let’s discuss it because this is a common mistake people make when ordering invites.
Here’s What Happens When You Order the Wrong Invitation Paper
What happens if you choose the wrong paper or order from a cheap brand? You may end up needing to print them all over again, which is a huge unnecessary cost.
A colleague accidentally ordered her wedding invitations on the wrong kind of paper. She wanted to save a bit of money, so she opted for a cheaper option and assumed it would still look “good enough”. When the invitations arrived, her wedding invitation paper was very thin, flexible, and too sheer to be considered quality invitation paper. She was disappointed and didn’t want to mail them out to guests, as they look wasn’t quite what she was looking for.
As a result, she had to reorder them from a different company and start at square one, which took a toll on her budget.
As a rule of thumb, the type of paper you choose for wedding invitations is just as important as proofreading your invitation before it goes to print.
When you choose the best paper for wedding invitations, the result is a solid first impression on guests. Since the invitation is the first “official” piece of stationery your guests will see about the wedding day as a whole, the type of invitation printing and/or paper you choose is a big deal.
Best Wedding Invitation Paper Types
So, what are wedding invitations printed on? And who offers the best paper for wedding invitations?
You can shop many invitation retailers online, but one place you can always count on for quality paper options is… Minted.
When it comes to printing anything that requires high-quality, I turn to their site. Every time I order something, the result exceeds my expectations, especially from a printing standpoint.
Whether for my own parties or for family/friends, the invitations, save the dates, wall art, and stationery (like this, my new fave) pieces came out beautifully.
I notice one big thing that Minted offers vs. the competitors: they understand how important it is to get the best paper you can for printing invitations. As such, they offer the most luxurious and wildly thick paper cardstock and unique invitation printing options in a variety of sizes and budget price points. This means when you shop their invitations, you can choose custom paper options to suit your needs… and your budget.
When you’re looking for what kind of printing to choose, you’ll find four main printing options:
Standard Printing
Standard printing at Minted is anything but ordinary. It is their standard option, but the quality is amazing.
Foil-Pressed Printing
Ah, printing you can see with foil that shimmers and shines! I love this style. Here’s an example by designer Kristie Kern.
And if you thought gold foil was your only option, think again! You can choose from 8 different invitation printing styles for foil, including this striking and elegant black foil that shimmers and shines.
Letterpress Printing
This is one of the best printing options for invitations when you want to feel it with your fingertips! Letterpress is printing that is impressed into the paper which you can feel when you run your fingers over it.
Here’s an example you can really see (perfect for a garden theme!)
Or envision an Italian countryside with these picture-perfect invites:
You could make it look like a handwritten letter:
Gloss-Press®
This is an exclusive printing style only available at Minted. Here are a few examples of this unique style of printing that is debossed on luxe paper.
Best Paper for Wedding Invitations
Now, on to paper: what are wedding invitations printed on? There are six invitation paper types.
These paper options are available for select products. The best part? You can choose any invitation design you adore, then choose the paper you’d like to use with it. This means that any invitation style is available in any kind of thickness that’s right for you.
Cardstock for Wedding Invitations
1. Smooth Signature
This type of paper is the first and simplest choice, but it offers a ton of quality. It is optimized for the highest photo print quality with a smooth front surface and is made from 100% post-consumer waste. It is also FSC-certified, carbon-neutral, and manufactured with wind power. See it here.
This type of invitation paper is 137 lb., 18.0 point thickness.
2. Signature
Want a little more thickness? Choose this thick and luxe stock with an off-white hue and a soft, velvety-cotton texture. You can browse this thickness here.
Size: 130lb., 19.3 point thickness.
3. Pearlescent
If you love a little shimmer, choose pearlescent paper for wedding invitations. It will give a soft glow to photographs, which is great if you choose wedding invitations with a photo.
This paper is made with 30% post-consumer waste.
Paper size: 110 lb., 14.5 point thickness.
4. Premium 100% Recycled
Go green! Minted offers the original recycled paper you know and love, but now made from 100% post-consumer waste. It is FSC-certified, manufactured using a carbon-neutral process with wind power. This is the best paper for wedding invitations when you want to choose recycled: it is smooth, thick, and has a nice matte finish. Ooh, check out how thick it is!
Paper weight: 160lb., 17.5 point thickness.
5. Doublethick
This is THE paper for invitations when you want a noticeable increase in thickness. This is extra-thick, luxurious recycled paper that is crafted from two layers of cardstock. The result is a smooth, matte finish.
Size: 320 lb., 35 point thickness.
6. Triplethick
And now comes the creme de le creme for thickness: triplethick! This is SO thick, it’s exclusively found only at Minted. :) This is their thickest paper for wedding invitations: it features three layers of paper and, as you can imagine, is unbendable and has a luxe smooth, matte finish. Note: This is also referred to on their site as Luxe Museum Board.
Paper weight: 480 lb., 52.5 point thickness.
Unsure What Kind of Invitation Paper to Choose?
Still unsure? The best way to decide which paper to use for wedding invitations is to see it for yourself. You can get a free sample here to feel the quality in your fingers.
To shop wedding invitations and get the best paper you can, head over to Minted! They have an amazing collection: browse the new invitations here.
So, what’s my favorite cardstock for wedding invitations? Personally, I’d go with signature; if I’m choosing an invitation with a photo, I’d probably select their pearlescent paper. I hope it helps!
xo
Emma
This is a sponsored post with Minted.
