How to Choose the Right Paper for Your Wedding Invitations
Once you know how your invitation will be printed we can pick out the right type of paper. So, lets talk about the different paper types and they can be used for wedding invitations and day-of-event stationery. If you haven’t already, go check out my post on printing methods.
Text | Paper Type No. 1
- Paper Weight: 24 to 80lb / 35 gsm to 118 gsm
- Most commonly used at work/home, your basic copy/print ‘letterhead‘ paper.
- Stationery uses: envelopes, envelope liners, programs, card/bottle/candy wrappers, personal stationery.
Cover or Card Stock | Paper Type No. 2
- Paper Weight: 80 to 110lb / 216 gsm to 298 gsm
- Most commonly used for business cards, postcard stock.
- Stationery Uses: invite card, response card, program, gift/favor tags, signage…
CRANE’S LETTRA® Papers | Paper Type No. 3
- Paper Weight: 110 to 220lb cover / 298 gsm to 595 gsm
- Used in letterpress printing where the ink is pressed into the paper leaving an impression.
- Stationery uses: business cards, postcards, invitations, response cards, gift/favor tags…
What is the Difference? Paper Weight vs. GSM
Both text paper and cover stock paper have an 80lb weight, which might have you wondering…
What is the difference?
This has more to do with how the paper mill produces and packages the paper than the actual weight…
So, what should you be looking for when shopping paper types? GSM (grams per square meter)
GSM is a much better gauge of the quality and thickness of any given sheet of paper. For example 80lb text might be 118 gsm while 80lb cover might be 216 gsm. This is why you will find 500 text sheets vs. 250 cover sheets in a ream of paper.
The thicker/heavier the paper the less it bends and the grander your suite will be. Both weights also come in a variety of finishes and textures (ex: matte, glossy, metallic, linen, felt… ). Which can add to the overall look and feel of your stationery.
Keep in mind that postage is also determined based on shape, weight, and thickness. The threshold for a standard letter stamp is 1 ounce / 0.25 inch thick. See postage guidelines here.
Once you have chosen your printing method and paper type we can move on to my favorite part – the design and presentation. Here is my post on all things Presentation.
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