Every engaged couple we meet with wants their wedding invitations to be stunning and unique. The printing methods that you choose for an invitation suite can truly set it apart from the rest and create that “wow” moment when your guests first open them. From classic letterpress to modern digital printing, there are many options to choose from when it comes to creating your perfect wedding invitation suite. Each of these printing styles varies in complexity and price point. And very often, our designs combine two or more printing styles, depending on the complexity of the design.
Let’s dive into the wonderful world of wedding invitation printing methods and find the one that’s right for you!
DIGITAL PRINTING – $
Digital printing uses digital technology to print an image or design directly onto paper or other materials. In this type of printing, we create the design of your invitation and then send it to a digital printer. This printer uses an inkjet or laser process to print the design onto the paper of choice, similar to your home printer, just on a more sophisticated, finished, and precise level.
Each of our semi-custom wedding invitation suite designs uses digital printing, which is why we can place them at an affordable price point.
Digital printing is a great option for creating beautiful and personalized wedding invitations. One of the biggest benefits is that it allows for a wide array of customization options, including basically unlimited colors and designs. Some of our most beautiful and colorful invitations use digital printing. In addition, any custom watercolor designs we create for your invitations are printed digitally.
Some might worry that you lose the options for texture when you use digital printing, but you can pair it with a textured paper selection to achieve a unique finish. A perfect example of this is our Lucia semi-custom suite, which is printed digitally on deckled-edge paper.
Plus, digital printing can often be done quickly and at a lower cost than other methods of printing wedding invitations. If you value customization and cost-effectiveness, then digital printing could be a great choice.
FOIL PRINTING – $$
Foil printing is a print method that uses heat and pressure to apply metallic foil to paper. We create the invitation’s design, and then a metal die is created with the design etched into it. This is how the foil transfers onto the paper. Then, the foil color is selected and placed onto the die. The die is heated and pressed onto the paper, transferring the foil onto the desired areas of the invitation. This process creates a beautiful metallic finish.
Foil printing is a classic, luxurious, and eye-catching option for wedding invitations. One of the biggest benefits of foil printing is that it adds elegance and romance to your invitations that can’t be achieved with other printing methods. Foil can come in a range of shades, like gold, silver, and rose gold, which can really make your invitations stand out and add a special touch to your wedding stationery.
LETTERPRESS – $$$
Letterpress printing is a traditional printing method that involves pressing a design into paper to create a textured and elegant effect. We create the design and then a metal or polymer plate is created with the design etched into it, which is then used to transfer the design onto the paper. Thicker and softer paper is used for letterpress to better absorb the impression from the press. The plate is then inked and pressed into the paper, creating a deep impression and a unique texture. Each color is printed separately, so multiple plates may be used for a single design.
Letterpress printing is a classic and elegant option for wedding invitations. One of the biggest benefits of letterpress printing is that it creates a tactile effect that can’t be achieved with other printing methods. The design is pressed into the paper, creating a deep impression and a unique texture that is perfect for those who want a more traditional and sophisticated look.
BLIND DEBOSS – $$$
Blind deboss creates a similar textured effect as letterpress, but without ink. The design is etched into a plate and pressed into the paper. In some cases, a second plate is used to create a blind deboss effect with additional details or a different level of depth. This is less common than using a single plate for blind deboss printing, but it can be done in certain circumstances.
One of the biggest benefits of blind debossing is that it creates a beautiful texture and depth to your invitations without adding any color or ink. This provides an understated effect that is perfect for those who want to keep their wedding stationery simple and elegant. It is a great choice for those who want a subtle and sophisticated effect on their wedding invitations. The level of detail it requires means that it is the most costly printing method.
A Unique Printing Style For Every Bride
Each printing style brings something unique and special to your invitations. And ultimately, your goals for your invitations will truly help determine the printing types that are best for your suite. The best thing about working with AM+Co for your invitations? You don’t have to use just one type! We love creating suites that incorporate multiple printing styles so that your invitations are truly 100% custom. We’re here to help guide you through the process! We design invitations that speak to how beautiful and extraordinary your love story is. We’re experts at walking our brides through the invitation process, from vision, design, paper selection, printing style, and finished product.
Contact us today to discuss your invitation dreams – we’d love to talk and help take you from vision to reality!
People rarely have lukewarm feelings about letterpress. If you love letterpress (don’t kid, you know who you are), then you L-O-V-E letterpress in all caps. (APW readers have even been known to build their own letterpress machines, that’s how dedicated to this craft y’all are.) And while everyone else is all, “I don’t get it, what’s the big deal about letterpress?” you’re conducting a hundred different Google searches to try and figure out how to get affordable letterpress wedding invitations without having to sell an organ. Well, kiss off Google, because I have your answer right here: Thomas-Printers, a woman-owned letterpress company in Philadelphia, created by Kseniya Thomas, who learned the craft of letterpress in the print shop at the Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, Germany. Yes, as in the Gutenberg press, the first printing press in the world.
Here’s how it works: Thomas-Printers is different from a lot of wedding stationery companies, in that they specialize in printing, rather than design and printing (it’s how Kseniya is able to keep such affordable letterpress rates). So you provide the design, and Kseniya prints it for you for less than you’ll find just about anywhere else. Which means more options for you: you can either work with a graphic designer in your area, use letterpress-ready DIY printables, or design something yourself. Then, Kseniya will work with you to get that design on paper and out to your guests.
Rates: Every job is just a bit different, so rates will vary depending on your needs. But for example, one hundred invitations printed on pure cotton stock (you supply the design) would run you $340 for a single color (and if you scroll to the bottom, there’s a sweet deal for a hundred free thank you cards when you book through APW). Blank envelopes are included, too, yay! And since most people are invited to weddings in pairs, one hundred invites will work for almost two hundred guests. Kseniya says:
We are commercial printers, so 95 percent of what we print is designed by our clients. We are always happy to help you with file prep, though, or advise you on what will work with letterpress and what won’t work as well. We pride ourselves on being fast, being friendly, and being fastidious.
Since every job is different, pricing is dependent on the specifics of a given project. We offer foil stamping, edge painting, custom duplexing, die-cutting, and envelope lining, among many other services, and we are always happy to send custom quotes to anyone thinking of making the leap to letterpress. Our project minimum is $195, so contact us with your specifics for a custom quote.
WHAT ABOUT CUSTOM WORK? While the core business of Thomas-Printers is in letterpress printing, Kseniya can absolutely work with you to create a brilliant custom-designed invitation. (Just keep in mind that custom pieces will cut into the affordability factor rather significantly, since design can be a lengthy and time-consuming process.)
There’s a rich history to letterpress printing that appeals to smart (okay, slightly nerdy) couples who appreciate beauty. Which is why Kseniya especially loves working with APW couples—you guys tend to understand the value of bookishness. But Thomas-Printers isn’t just about the art. Kseniya is also a great businesswoman, with a focus on customer service:
My philosophy: not only do I believe in hard work and quality materials, but I also strive to be the fastest, friendliest letterpress printer out there. Good customer service is paramount with us, and the best part of that printer-client interaction is talking with clients about letterpress, educating them about what we do and how letterpress works best, and working together to make a beautiful finished piece.
Letterpress is so rewarding. And challenging, and probably life-affirming. To get philosophical, it’s great to work in a triumphantly defunct industry—one that’s somehow thriving—and it’s really satisfying to have people want what I make.
So if you’re one of those people who L-O-V-E-S letterpress in all caps, then choosing Thomas-Printers for your wedding invitations is a no brainer. Not only do you get to support a woman-owned business, while also supporting an industry that by rights should have died out by now, but you also get affordable letterpress wedding invitations, which until now didn’t even seem like a possibility. So get in touch with Thomas-Printers for a custom quote, and then find something else to Google. Because this problem is solved.
APW READERS GET 100 free, one-color thank-you notes with wedding suite purchase.
get in touch with Thomas-Printers for a quote today!
Photos courtesy of Thomas-Printers