How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Wedding Invitations | Wedding Stationery Guide

Paper is one of those things that seems simple until you need to pick just one. There are hundreds of thousands of types of paper: different colors, materials, weights, textures, and finishes. All these characteristics impact the final look of your invitation, so it’s important to know just what you’re getting. I’m going to give a brief overview of the options I offer, but nothing compares to holding the paper in your own hands. Make sure to order an invitation sample pack to see them yourself!

Paper is one of the key elements in your wedding invitation suite, and there are a few characteristics that differentiate papers from one another.

Color

Paper is available in a myriad of colors, but for most invitation orders you’ll be looking for something in the “white” family.

I’ve selected two shades of white for Banter & Charm’s house paper: Fluorescent White (a crisp, brilliant white that glows) or Pearl White (a warmer, natural hue with warm undertones). These white cotton papers are available for all printing methods.

In addition to the house white papers, I’ve selected a handful of gorgeous colored paper stocks. Stone (a warm gray Italian made paper), Blush (another Italian made paper in barely-there pale rose), Wine (a smooth and rich burgundy color), Powder (a subtle dusty blue), Navy (a rich dark blue), and Black. All these colored stocks are perfect for screen printing. Foil stamping truly pops on the darker shades, and the soft Blush and Stone papers are ideal for Letterpress. Colored paper is not available for flat printing, but you can print a flood of ink on white paper to achieve a similar look. The “color” is ink covering the paper, and the white portion is the paper showing where no ink was printed.

Weight/Thickness

One of the most befuddling paper terms is the “weight” of the paper. This number (usually expressed in pounds – 110#, 118#, etc) refers to the weight of a stack of 500 pieces of that paper. So the higher the number, the heavier the paper.

Flat printing, letterpress, and foil stamping are offered on 110# and 220#. The 220# papers are also called “double thick” or “2-Ply” because they are as thick as two pieces of 110# paper. Screen printing is available on a variety of paper weights, and the paper can be duplexed (two pieces of paper are laminated into a single sheet) to achieve an extra thick paper weight.

Texture

When you run your fingers across a piece of paper you’ll notice immediately if it’s smooth or rough to the touch. While smooth papers are great for screen printing, I prefer a stock with a bit of texture to it for all other printing processes. The 100% cotton papers on the left have a soft, luxurious feel to them. This texture adds depth to flat print invitations and is perfect for showing off the impression from letterpress or foil stamping. The Stone and Blush Italian made papers have a distinct texture that adds a lavish feel.

Material

Many papers are made from trees, or from recycled materials, but the house white papers I’ve selected are made from natural cotton fibers. The cotton gives the paper a soft, luxurious feel. It’s supple, which enhances the impression from letterpress or foil stamping. These 100% cotton papers are tree-free and made from fibers reclaimed from the garment industry.

Finish

Paper can have a variety of finishes, but the main options are glossy (like a shiny photo print), metallic or shimmer (will have a subtle shimmer to them), or matte (no shine). All the papers I print on have a matte finish, but I do offer a variety of metallic papers to use as envelope liners or belly bands. Looking for something extra sparkly? There are glitter (yes, real glitter!) papers available too!

Now that you have a basic understanding of the different paper characteristics, I hope that makes choosing the right one for your stationery a little easier! But nothing compares to seeing and feeling the papers yourself! Samples of all Banter & Charm’s house paper options are included in each invitation sample pack . Still not sure which to choose? Feel free to get in touch and I’ll gladly provide guidance and personalized advice!