Wedding stationery sets the tone for your special day. After all, your personalized wedding invitation provides a glimpse into your celebration months in advance. Whether you’re planning a glamorous black-tie reception or a casual get-together, your invites will convey the theme. That starts with the paper you use for wedding invitations. While some couples have gone fully digital, many people print wedding invitations and other wedding stationery essentials as sentimental keepsakes. Using quality paper ensures they’ll last for years to come. Begin the wedding planning process by finding the right invitation cardstock with GotPrint’s paper guide.
| Glossy | Matte | Linen | Pearl | Kraft | Trifecta | |
| Paper Thickness | 14 pt. | 16 pt. & 18 pt. | 13 pt. | 18 pt. | 18 pt. | 24 pt. & 38 pt. |
| Finish | Gloss | Woven Matte | Matte | Shimmery Matte | Brown Matte | Velvet Matte |
| Writable Surface | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Add-Ons | Rounded Corners; High Gloss UV Coating | Raised Foil & Raised UV; Rounded Corners | Rounded Corners | Rounded Corners | Rounded Corners | Color Core |
Glossy Paper
The most common wedding invitation paper is 14 pt. Gloss. This is a thick cardstock that is perfect for postcards and is very durable. The shiny finish is ideal for designs with bright colors and photo wedding invitations. In addition to making your designs look vibrant, the High-Gloss UV Coating protects the paper from scratches. This white glossy paper is the best material for a smooth, clean invitation. Since this paper doesn’t have a writable surface, don’t use it for any wedding prints that will require a handwritten message.
Premium Matte Paper
For an elevated invite paper, 16 pt. Premium Matte has a modern finish that looks sophisticated and chic. The soft finish is ideal for designs on neutral wedding invitations. The matte finish means you can write on the paper. Use matte uncoated papers for wedding RSVP cards so people can mark their attendance. You can also print wedding thank you cards on this paper stock, which allows you to include a handwritten message.
This paper stock also lets you include elegant design elements like raised foil and raised UV. Custom foil wedding invitations let you include shiny metallic accents in gold, silver, or rose gold. For a truly deluxe print, design gold foil wedding invitations. GotPrint also offers raised UV printing, which adds a 3D element to your wedding cards. It applies a high gloss finish to specific areas, like your names or special design elements.
Another option for a matte wedding invitation is 18 pt. Ultra Premium Smooth White. A touch thicker than the 16 pt. version, you can feel the difference in the paper stock. A white 18 pt. paper is the best option for a luxury matte invite.
Linen Paper
Linen wedding invitations have a woven material that has a delicate and elegant appearance. It feels textured but not rough, which creates a luxe tactile experience. The texture works best with text-based designs and simple artwork. The 13 pt. paper stock is thick without feeling bulky. The final product looks sophisticated and high-end.
Premium Pearl
This pearlescent paper has a classy shimmer with a distinctly luxurious aesthetic. The slight luster sets it apart from the average white paper stock. The ivory shade is made with a thick 18 pt. paper. This paper is the best option for luxury wedding stationery. Use this high-end paper if you want to print elegant wedding invitations with a slightly matte finish.
Premium Kraft
If you want rustic wedding invites for a more casual event or are looking to print recycled paper wedding invitations, then Kraft Paper is the right choice. It is a light brown paper stock with a textured, natural finish you can write on. The appearance is best for rustic wedding invitations. Whether you’re tying the knot on the beach or in the mountains, this style is ideal for outdoor nuptials. This eco-friendly paper is ideal for text and artwork-based designs, as the brown background will change the colors that appear in photos.
Trifecta
Triple-layered paper is the best material for incredibly elegant, durable print products. GotPrint’s unique Trifecta Paper has a 38 pt. thickness and a velvet finish that is soft to the touch. It has a colored core, with options including black, red, and blue. Select whichever color best matches your design.
Opaque Smooth White
You need high-quality envelopes to protect your custom wedding invitations. The standard envelope paper has a 70 lb. thickness, which will hold up throughout the mailing process. The envelope material features a smooth white surface, which you can customize with your own design.
Want to feel GotPrint’s paper options before you commit to a cardstock? Order a Free Sample Kit to test all our material options. These wedding samples will allow you to find the perfect paper for your invitations.
How to Make Wedding Invites
The wedding invite design process begins with your theme. Vintage, boho, modern, beachy, or whimsical weddings will all have invites that look different. You’ll also need to set a date, location, and time. When all this information is set, you can start designing.
Choose a Size and Shape
Most wedding invitations are 5” x 7”. However, you can order unique wedding invitations in different sizes as well. Consider a square postcard or a half circle, which has a rounded side. For a simple yet sophisticated touch, you can order postcards with rounded corners. Whichever postcard shape you select, the postcard dimensions will guide your wedding invitation layout.
Choose an Art Style
There are multiple style options for your invite cards. Some people are minimalists and only include text. Others incorporate simple graphic design elements; wedding invites with floral artwork are the most popular option. You can even design a custom wedding monogram, which presents your initials in a formal design that can be used across several different wedding prints. Alternatively, you can use photo invites for a personal touch. Many people will work with professional graphic designers. But you can also design wedding invitations with GotPrint’s design tools.
Wedding Invitation Theme
Before you get started, you should have a good idea of your design style. One option is to use your venue and the season as a visual guide. If you’re getting married on the beach, you can use tropical flowers or an ocean design. If you’re planning a sleek black-tie wedding, you can use elegant scripts and gold foil accents. If your event is in the winter, you might lean into the snow and cold weather. Your invitations are also an opportunity to share your engagement photos. Send photo wedding invitations with text that clearly stands out against the background.
Fonts for Wedding Invitations
Elegant script fonts are the most popular option for wedding invitations. The flowing style suggests a formal, romantic event. Typically, your names will be the largest font in this cursive font. Popular script fonts include Lucida Calligraphy and Vivaldi. Using the design visual hierarchy, the date will be the next largest font, and the venue, dress code, and any other information will be slightly smaller in size. You can mix and match fonts within the same font family. These details will often be in a sans serif font underneath the larger script font, as you want to ensure they are clearly readable. A common pairing is Bickham Script for the heading and Garamond for the body.
Browse Pre-Made Wedding Invitation Templates
Not everyone is a design expert. You can handle the important wedding planning, and we’ll handle the designs. GotPrint’s wedding invitation templates are easy to customize, which allows you to make the design completely unique to your style. Edit the text boxes to include your date, location, RSVP information, and any other details. You can even upload photos, move design elements, and add graphics. This allows you to make design templates that are completely unique to your special day.
Half Arch Design
This modern vintage wedding invitation takes classic designs and gives them a fresh twist. The colorful designs are eye-catching without being over the top. The simple layout makes it easy for all your guests to clearly read the important event details. This template is available in green, brown, and blue color palettes. The colors on this template will print well on both matte and glossy paper stocks.
Tropical Vintage
This floral wedding invitation template features an elegant flower design with a geometric pattern. The gold lines create a stylish border around your customizable text boxes. The design is available in green, blue, brown, and purple.
Painted Leaves (Wedding)
This photo invitation template uses your engagement pictures as the full background. You can use our online design tool to upload your photos to the invitation maker. Add your names to the top of the layout and use the text boxes on the back to include more details. Use a glossy paper to make sure your photo shines.
Flowers in Jar
If your wedding is going to be laid back, you can use rustic wedding invites. This customizable free template features delicate string lights over a cream background. A simple mason jar with a bouquet adds more color to the design. Browse all GotPrint’s rustic wedding invitation templates here. You can print these designs on matte or glossy cardstock.
Complete Your Wedding Stationery Suite
With your invites ready to go, you want to make sure you have a completely custom wedding stationery suite. Have save the dates, RSVP cards, and thank you cards ready to go. For the day off, you can print wedding programs, wedding dinner place cards, and wedding dinner menus. Creating matching designs will ensure every small detail, from the place settings to the envelopes, all create a cohesive aesthetic experience for your guests.