How to Choose the Best Paper for Printing Invitations at Home

Printable invitations are a great option if you want to save some money. They are very cost-effective, you pay only once for the design and you can print as many copies as you want. The most important task is to choose the appropriate paper for printing invitations.

Paper weights

When it comes to wedding stationery, there are two basic paper weights:

• Text paper: This is the paper you have in your home printer (the ‘letterhead’ paper). It comes in various weights, generally between 20-80 lbs.
• Cardstock paper: This paper will remind you of a postcard or a business card (sturdy, doesn’t bent as easy as the text paper). It also comes in various weights, between 45-200 lbs.

We recommend that you use at least 80 lb stock for paper for printing invitations. Paper weight of 100-110 lbs will give more professional look to your invitations. If you use 160 lb paper, you might have trouble inserting it in your home printer.

Paper thickness

• Paper thickness is measured in thousandths of an inch.
• Main difference between cardstock paper and text paper is the thickness of the sheets (it’s easier to fold text paper, card stock is more sturdy).
• A good rule of thumb: the heavier the basic weight, the thicker the sheet. The thicker the sheet, the more impressive it feels.

Paper types

There are several types of stationery paper that you can choose depending on your wedding theme, budget and personal preferences:

• Cotton paper: As its name suggests, this paper is made from cotton. Cotton paper feels lovely in the hands, it’s strong and durable, it takes ink well. It’s a very popular choice among brides who want a clean and classic look for their invitations. Cotton paper can be a little pricey, but you can choose a cotton blend rather than 100% cotton paper. This will lower the cost of your paper and your invitations will still look great!
• Linen paper: Linen is a semi-rough paper. It looks and feels like the fine linen fabric. Linen paper is subtle, traditional and timeless, it is used when a classic, elegant look is desired. It will give your wedding invitations a luxurious finish.
• Vellum: Vellum is a thin, sheer, translucent paper. This paper will add a soft, ‘frosted’ touch – it can be used in many ways to decorate and enhance wedding invitations. This paper is typically layered on top of wedding invitations, but some couples choose to print directly onto the vellum itself.
• Recycled paper: This is a low-cost, eco-friendly paper, composed of repurposed materials. Recycled paper is available in many textures, colors and thicknesses. Most popular type of recycled paper is brown kraft card stock – a common choice for natural or rustic weddings. If you decide to print your invitations on recycled paper, be sure to see/feel the paper before the purchase – recycled papers are often less sturdy.

A few general guidelines

• Put a little extra investment into your paper – you don’t want to end up with invitations that look cheap.
• Order some paper samples – this will allow you to evaluate paper weight, color and texture.
• Keep in mind that if you have too many pages of thick paper, you may end up paying more for postage (you can get the cards weighed at the post office).

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