- Metallic Sheen One exquisite option is paper that has a metallic sheen. This paper choice is a top pick among brides. Make sure the paper you choose is guaranteed to be printable, and be aware: this is a somewhat more expensive choice. Metallic sheen paper colors typically include silver, gold and copper. You may also be able to find color variations, such as purples, blues and reds, to match your wedding and reception colors.
- Metallic paper is also highly sought after in the scrapbooking market, making it ideal for your wedding scrapbook. A search of a quality scrapbooking website will provide you with information and pricing on metallic paper (and many other options for creating your invitations, as well).
- Vellum At one time, parchment, or tissue-thin, transparent animal skin, was placed between printed wedding materials to keep the ink from bleeding through. Today's couples still have the option of choosing parchment paper, but vellum, a non-animal source, is considered more desirable by most couples. Today's inks have improved, too, making both parchment and vellum technically unnecessary -- but the soft, tissue-like paper adds an elegant touch. Print your invitations directly onto it or place it in cut-to-size squares or rectangles between your wedding invitations and RSVP cards.
- Handmade Paper Handmade paper provides a shabby-chic style that has become a wedding trend. The term "handmade paper" includes not only hand-created but hand-embellished materials, with additions such as dried flowers, rubber stamps, watercolors, and any other designs. A gorgeous way to use handmade paper is to place it behind the card stock the invitations are printed on. The handmade paper becomes a border, or frame, for the invitation. If it fits your budget, try another, additional layer, with two different handmade papers behind the cardstock. The more layering, the more elegance.
Designing Your Invitations
For a beautiful look, try printing a picture on a plain piece of card stock and covering it with a sheet of vellum that has your invitation details printed on it. Use a ribbon and punch holes in the cardstock and vellum to attach. This creates a nice and simple invitation that is easy to make, but looks intricate, fancy, and professional.Visit a print shop, scrapbooking store or a craft shop browse the papers available. Some of the most popular, traditional choices for paper and card stock include recycled, cotton and linen. Recycled paper is the least expensive, and available in many colors. If you are shopping online, it still pays to visit a store so you can get a good look and feel for the type of paper you're choosing before selecting it.
Your paper will partially depend upon type of invitation you are creating. If you are designing them on the computer using clip art, you will want to make sure the paper used for printing on will fit through your printer and that the ink will adhere without bleeding. Cotton or recycled paper or thin card stock is good for this process. Linen or parchment paper, or thick card stock, may not work as well.
Envelopes: The Icing On the Cake
Envelopes are another important decision. Primarily, you want to make sure the color and materials match the paper on the invitation as best as possible. Often, you can get a matching color, but with added flair, such as a foil lining. This option adds elegance and also makes the envelope sturdier and allows for added protection during mailing.Remember to order enough paper and envelopes to make extra invitations, in preparation for last minute invites and to add to your wedding album or scrapbook. More paper also means more chances for creativity as you try out various designs. Have fun with it -- designing your own elegant invitations and envelopes can be one of the most rewarding parts of the wedding preparation process!
