Empire Raised Ink Wedding Invitation

Raised ink is a clever effect that is produced by adding an extra step into the traditional printing press process.  Rather than let the ink dry on to the card or insert the freshly printed material is fed through a machine that sprinkles fine powder on to the wet ink.  Excess powder is shaken off and then the cards are then fed through a heater that fuses the powder granules with the ink to create a raised effect to the text. Raised ink wedding invitations are cheaper than letterpress wedding invitations because the latter involves producing a special impression plate and a more skilled printing operation.   Many of our customers even prefer raised printing over letterpress because the cards have a luxurious feel afterwards.  The raised ink is silky smooth and is a joy to touch as well as admire. 

Sorrento Raised Wedding Invitation

Whilst we have taken time to categorise designs that are printed in raised ink as standard it is worth pointing out that many of our other designs can also be printed in raised ink as an optional extra.  This is true of many of the designs in the CCA Occasions selection.  When applicable the cost is only an extra £15 and is well worth the extra.  The finish is something that simply cannot be achieved in even the most expensive laser or inkjet printers so you can be sure that your wedding invitations will have a truly professional look.

This wedding stationery range reminds me of a regal looking dinner service, pretty, yet classic and sophisticated at the same time.  The invitation card is a classic flat card, with silver foil detailing and a powder blue border which makes it perfect for a spring wedding, and for that added touch of elegance you can choose raised ink.  It is called the Empire Blue range from CCA, and is available from Olivia Samuel with a fantastic 20% discount, the cost for 50 cards is £106.40, with an additional cost of £15 if you choose to have raised ink.  If you spend over £150 on CCA wedding stationery you will also get a free keepsake box, perfect to keep all your mementos in!

This Taupe Gatefold Invitation from Vera Wang is the epitome of simple, minimalist elegance.   It features a taupe shimmer gatefold card with the opening offset to the right which is beautifully tied with ribbon, inside is a square of oyster white paper with the wedding details.  There is a design to suit most tastes from traditional to contemporary and I personally love this Red invitation with its gold ink for an opulent Christmas wedding.
  

The Vera Wang wedding stationery is available from just a few outlets in the UK including Harrods.

Letterpress wedding invitations has been the mainstay of the US wedding stationery market for so long but for some reason it has taken a lot longer for the beauty of this age old printing technique to take a grip of the UK wedding stationery market.  For better or worse it is fair to say that most trends from over the pond eventually hit our shores in some shape or form.  Well this is one fashion that I welcome with open arms.  As a result of this revival the number of Letterpress outlets in the UK has increased substantially over the last 18 months or so.

It must have been some 8 years ago now that I fell in love with the simple designs offered by The Letterpress of Cirencester and Piccolo Press in Scotland.  Aside from these two there were few other companies that offered letterpress wedding stationery until very recently.  What is interesting is that the new companies that have emerged have done so not out of a commercial drive to explore a new gap in the market but out of a love of the art of fine print.  This is good news for the consumer because the quality of letterpress printing is determined not by investing heavily in factory plant and resources (factors that typify the success of a modern print shop) but for a love of restoration and a passion for design and innovation.  Most letterpress invitations are printed on machines that are a generation or two old and the skill required to operate them can only be achieved by individuals who have patience and a true love for that work.  It is no surprise that when I read the history behind new suppliers that have started in the last 5 or 6 years they have begun in very humble surroundings such as a garden shed or garage.  Many have been introduced to letterpress by a relative in the old printing trade and have learnt their skills in a hands on apprenticeship and turned their hobbies into successful wedding stationery businesses.  Sounds like a dream job to me.

Have a look at some of the new entrants to the world of letterpress wedding stationery to see what gets them buzzing and see if you too fall under the letterpress charm for your choice of wedding invitation.

• Willow Wood
• Cardlab
• Whites Letterpress
• Hello Lucky

Blossom from Olive Wedding Stationery

Japonica from The Letter Press of Cirencester

I actually have a sample of the Japonica design on my desk and the quality is superb.  The card is an impression board and the printing method is the traditional letterpress technique which means the print has a tactile feel from where the raised printing plate is literally hammered onto the card.  Now, since I do not have a sample of the Blossom design from Olive then I cannot make an informed decision as to which design I would choose but my better judgement would suggest that on this occasion you do get what you pay for.  If this style of card is to your liking then I’ll let you make your own decision as to which design represents best value for money or indeed whether the cost is even a deciding factor.

This Monogram Swirl wedding invitation from Bee Happy Designs is simple and sophisticated.  I personally like simple invitations in just one or two colours as they tend to look quite classy.   The card is created with two colours (which you can choose) with your names swirled into a monogram and the wedding date printed at the bottom of the card.  The day and evening invitation costs £2.50 and there is a range of matching items available including place cards with guests names printed for £1.10 which is not only good value for money, but it will give a coherent look to have them printed in the same style as the rest of the stationery.If you’re looking to send out save the date cards, you might want to think about save the date fridge magnets which are also available for £1.50.  You can be sure your guests won’t lose your invite in that ‘pile of stuff to sort’ as it will be a constant reminder in their kitchen.
 

With the return to all things vintage, the traditional letterpress invitation is making a real comeback.  The picture above looks like an opening scene from Four Weddings and a Funeral, giving a real air of English sophistication.  The Tate design from Cardlab is printed on heavy board which is available in soft ivory or pure white and the ribbon detail gives just a hint of colour.  There are over 40 ribbon colours to choose from and you can also buy extra ribbon to coordinate your venue items such as favours.  Prices for the Tate range start from £141 for 20. 

I love the striking simplicity of the Love Birds design from Announce It!.  A couple of love birds grace the cover of a card which can be printed on either a Ribbed or Hammered board.  I think the clean lines of the ribbed board work better and the crisp print of the Trajan typeface is perfect for this card.  Both options are shown on the site and see what you think.

The Trajan typeface has always been a favourite of mine since I first encounted it on the Capitol range from the Letterpress of Cirencester.  As with all Roman type it is easy to read and not in the slightest bit flouncy which suits designs that are simple and contemporary.

I love the Pink Love Birds design above but if pink doesnt suit your colour scheme then you have another 8 colours from which to choose.  You can take the customisation a stage further by choosing typeface and board type as well.  The design is also perfect for civil partnerships.