Wedding Invitations Guide

Letterpress Invitations

The process of letterpress printing as well as the ultra thick papers that are used combine to produce a truly amazing work of art.Much of this work is subjective and left to the pressman's judgment as far as how much pressure and ink to apply. In the past pressure was frowned upon and they were actually trying to achieve a digital or flat printed look which can be difficult with a platen press. Today, however, paper thickness and massive pressure have almost become status symbols for modern brides.

New Technology Meets Old

At a point in the recent past old printing presses were a dime a dozen and even being thrown in the dump. That's the benefit of a free market, entrepreneurs see an opportunity and soon these low cost presses are in high demand and end up in businesses where new technology blends with old to produce a wonderful product once again. Today with the computer design and and more environmentally-friendly photo polymer plates that use a water based washout, wedding invitations can be created and printed an a matter of days depending on the additional production requirements.

Letterpress printing has surged in popularity beginning in the late 1990’s as magazines like Martha Stewart Weddings began using more and more letterpress wedding invitations in their photo-shoots. Many companies that were able to catch this new trend still thrive today. Why? There is simply nothing that compares with the beauty and detail of letterpress, be it a wedding invitation, baby announcement, personal stationery or a holiday photo card. The craftsmanship and skill required to set-up these antique presses and really master this art is impressive to say the least. And that is really what you are paying for.

As the popularity of letterpress has grown, more and more novice printers have started their own businesses in garages nationwide. If you decide to use letterpress stationery for a wedding invitation, save the date card, stationery, or birth announcement, make sure you get what you pay for. Many of these start ups are green and the material they produce shows it. Print and paper quality can be big issues. One way to ensure a quality product is to order samples from several different companies and see how thick the papers are they use and if the printing is slurred.

Many companies also offer eco-friendly papers, usually made of cotton and printed with vegetable based inks. I know of one company that uses solar power to power their presses. Turn around time is also another consideration. I have seen smaller companies turning an order around in 4-6 weeks and some of the larger ones in 5-7 days without sacrificing quality. If you like to do things yourself and are a designer you can easily submit your own design for printing.

Thankfully with this new interest in printing and design there’s really no doubt that letterpress products are here to stay

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How About Cost...

There are many ways to save money on your wedding invitations. To start try setting an overall budget for your wedding or sub-budgets for announcements etc... As in personal finance this is a must and adhering to it will save you big money in the long run.

I'm not suggesting you skimp on invitations. If you really want a nice invitation set for your wedding then get what you want. You will be unhappy if you don't. It may not be inexpensive but there are other ways to save. For instance, reallocate other items in the budget like flowers for invitations. Instead of using flowers for the rehearsal dinner or reception save money by using decorating ideas instead. Martha Stewart is an expert in doing this and looking through past editions of her Weddings magazine can offer a host of ways to decorate on a limited budget.

Once you decide you want a nice invite I wouldn't opt for a run of the mill invitation from a vendor like William Arthur or Cranes. These guys are printing around the clock and won't put the attention you want into the design and printing that a smaller boutique company can offer. Don't rush, plan ahead. When you are in a rush you will have to get something fast and getting it done fast means that details will be overlooked and it will surely cost more.

I prefer to use a letterpress printer. They can design your invitation just like you want and give you that one-on-one attention that you deserve. Some have a broad selection of ultra-thick papers and you can still get your invitations in a week or two. Letterpress printers also offer a diverse selection of environment friendly options such as recycled tree-free papers and vegetable inks.

When choosing the invitations look for other ways to save money. Look for options like borders that may be shown on the invites or RSVP cards. Many companies offer these as options. Removing them doesn't alter the look that much and you can save up to $1 per piece. If formalities are not an issue you can also include your RSVP information at the bottom of the invitation and save the cost of an entire card and envelope by having them email or respond via your website. If you do choose to have an RSVP card you can opt to use a postcard RSVP and not use the envelope. In this economy many companies are also offering deals like free return address printing and free ground shipping. These savings can add up, as much as 20% off. Many companies also have specials like free return address printing or free shipping. If you don't see if offered, ask!