Wedding Invitation Printing Options

There are a number of options that you can use when printing your wedding invitations, and before going to the printer it is good to be aware of them. In this article, I will discuss these various options in order of increasing cost.

First, though, I will discuss the general issue of which style of printing you should use as a matter of etiquette. The straightforward answer is that it doesn't matter. It is not rude to use one form of printing over another, and, strictly speaking, it is no less formal. In fact, the more expensive printing options are simply outdated printing methods that are largely still used because somehow the "expensive equals formal" mistake has kept them going, though laser printing is an exception to this rule.

The least expensive (though no less formal) way of doing invitations isn't, strictly speaking, printing but is worth mentioning. These are handwritten invitations. You can do this in one of two ways. You can either do them yourselves, or you can hire a calligrapher (the latter is, of course, very expensive). Some friends of ours with little money just hand-calligraphed their wedding invitations, and they were very beautiful. Be aware, though, that this can be very time consuming, and it slows down the process of inviting back-up invitees.

The next least expensive is laser printing. However, you'll need to be very careful when doing this. If the least thing goes wrong, laser printing looks a little faded, making it look a little, well, laser printed. You may do this yourself, but, given the trickiness, it is probably best to hire a professional. In general, I would not recommend this method because of how easy it is to go wrong, but if finances and time are both issues, it may be the best option.

The next least expensive is lithography. Lithography is the cheapest form of printing that prints on your page using a single plate. It has the advantage that the image will be crisp and unfaded, and, if you put them side-by-side, the lithograph will be noticeably clearer and sharper than a laser printing. It keeps your invitation flat, so that none of the letters will be raised, something that some couples may prefer.

The next least expensive is thermography. Unlike Lithography, thermography produces a raised text, so that when you run your hand over the invitation, you can feel the letters. However, the raising is only on one side, and there will be no corresponding indentation on the other side. Note that it is more expensive than using lithography but no sharper, so in effect, you will be paying for the raised text, which may or may not be your preference.

Finally, there is engraving, which is the most expensive form of printing. Engraving presses the letters into your paper using a metal sheet, which has the effect that you'll have both raised letters on one side and a corresponding indentation on the other. It is very expensive, much more so than any other form of printing. What you are paying for, in effect, is the indentations on the back of your invitation.