Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- What’s Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design

Are you confused by all the wedding stationery options out there? Not sure what the difference is, and not even sure what options are out there including wholesale printing? To make it a little easier, here, we catch up with stationery expert Claire Mcdivitt from Lost Heritage who tells us all about what’s available and how to make it unique to you.

 

“Recently engaged and looking for wedding stationery but puzzled by all the choice and terminology? Of course you are! Sometimes it can be so overwhelming but at the same time its so important to know all the options and to get your personality as a couple across as well as incorporate your theme. Here, I’ve put a glossary of everything you need to know about with regards to personalising your wedding stationery”

 

Print/Cut Processes and Terms

Blind deboss: A type of printing where text or design is impressed into the paper with no ink.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Images: Lost Heritage

 

Deboss/debossing: To stamp a design into the surface of an object. This is when an impression is pushed into the paper. A lot of people get deboss and emboss completely mixed up so please make sure you are aware of the difference as you can get a surprise with your invitations and it’s an expensive mistake to make!

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Images: Lost Heritage

Die-cutting: A sharp piece of metal aka ‘a die’ is used to slice letters or designs into a piece of stationery.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Invitation Crush

Emboss: If a surface such as paper is embossed with a design then the design is raised and stand up from the material.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image Jukebox Print

Foiling: Also commonly know as foil stamping or hot foiling. Sheets of metallic paper used to give a rich reflective sheen. Very popular to create a luxurious effect. Can use thicker paper stocks

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Images: Lost Heritage

Lasercut: Uses a laser to cut out images, shapes and details onto most materials

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Elegant Wedding Invites

Letterpress: A handcrafted vintage look. Letterpress prints tend to have a tactile quality with a deboss effect. A very hands on and creative process that create a high quality and luxurious look. Even though it is the oldest form of printing it can now be used to print basically anything- images, monograms, motifs and most text making it very versatile. Can use thicker paper stocks

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Lost Heritage

Offset printing: Also know as flat printing. Great for delicate materials and a cheaper option. You can add highly textured paper to add dimension. Ideal for more casual weddings or for tight timelines and/or budgets.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Sandra Picco Design

Screen-printing: Ink is passed though stencilled woven mesh to create a hand- painted design effect.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Oh so beautiful paper

Stock-GSM: The higher the number of the GSM the thicker the paper. Thicker paper is best for more traditional print processes such as letterpress and foiling. Stock is basically the paper that it is being printed on. Generally the heavier the stock the better to convey quality.

Thermography: Ink applied to paper, dusted with powder and heated. This liquefies and hardens the powder resulting in raised ink that can be felt.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Suite papierie

Typeface: A particular design of type also known as a font family. Very important to creating the style of invite.

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Print/Invitation finishes

Add-ons: Extras such as maps/directions, itineraries.

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Etsy

Bellyband: Decorative band of paper, fabric or ribbon that wraps around your invites to tie or hold together.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Ivandy

Beveled edges: Slanted edge of heavier stocks that show thickness and dimension of the invitations

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Cotton Paperie

Bookbinding: Whether it be perfect bound, singer sewn, screw bound or saddle stitch bookbinding is great for wedding guest books, order of services or any other wedding related literature.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Lost Heritage

Calligraphy: Artistic handwriting. A specialist practice and is great for personalisation e.g Place cards and envelope addressing.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Artsynibs

Edgepainting: This is a process where colour is applied to the edge of your cards. Edge painting can add a beautiful colour pop to any stationery. Can be used using any pantone colours

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Digbyrose

Envelope lining: A skilfully lined envelope can hint of a elegant invitation inside. Its like a sneaky peek of what is to come. Its basically where an envelope is embellished inside and can co-ordinate and compliment your wedding stationery design.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Dimitria Jordan

 

Gilded edge: Adds a touch of class to wedding stationery. Commonly done with a gold or silver edge. Created using a gold leaf effect.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Bellinvito

Monogram: Classic way to personalise stationery- could be the 1st letter of your new last name, initials of you and your partner or a combination of them both.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Lost Heritage

Motif: A single design element that appears throughout-a decorative image or design. Usually something personal to you. Whatever you want (e.g. Beach huts if you are from neat the coast) can be printed and adds a lovely personal touch.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Madeline Drive

Perforations: Line of small holes that allows paper to be torn. Typically used on reply cards so that they can be torn and partly returned.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Oh so Beautiful Paper

Rounded corners: Can add an elegant twist to the normal squared edges

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Vera Wang

Wax Seal: Hardened wax to close an envelope

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Hello Ten Fold

Wraparound label: Printed stickers that make addressing envelopes easy and cost- effective. The front can display the return address and the back can bear initials.

 

Wedding Stationery Terms Explained- Whats Available and How To Choose the Perfect Design For Your Big Day

Image: Studio on Fire

Looking for more Wedding advice? Check out our blog on Why you need to hire a Wedding Planner

Follow:
0
Share:

End the wedding planning overwhelm and create a wedding that YOU want (not what *they* want)

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get inspo sent to your inbox every Saturday! Also get:

🖤 Free printables, playlists and screen savers

🖤 The Ultimate Wedding Checklist

🖤 A guide to creating an eco wedding

🖤 The latest BOND Bride Magazine

 

 

 

 

You have Successfully Subscribed!