Wedding stationery comes with its own vocabulary, its own timeline, and more decisions than most couples expect. This guide breaks it all down — printing methods, terminology, timing, and pricing across the full spectrum — so you can walk into the process feeling prepared rather than overwhelmed.

wedding invitation terms you should know

Wedding Suite

Your invitations in their entirety. At minimum, a suite includes a main invitation and envelope, but most couples add RSVP cards, details cards, envelope liners, wax seals, and more. Everything together makes up your suite.

Handmade Paper

Paper crafted by hand, one sheet at a time. The process produces minimal waste and gives each sheet its signature deckled edges — those soft, organic borders that no machine can fully replicate. Slight variations in thickness and texture are natural and intentional. Some handmade papers are even embedded with wildflower seeds, so guests can plant their invitation after the wedding — a beautiful, eco-friendly alternative to the trash.

Letterpress

A printing method where your design is pressed directly into the paper, leaving a tactile impression you can see and feel. The ink has a matte finish and the result feels substantial in a way digital printing simply can’t match. Every sheet is fed through the press by hand.

Foil Printing

Similar to letterpress, but instead of matte ink, a metallic or reflective foil is applied under heat and pressure. The result is luminous and striking.

Digital Printing

Designs are printed directly onto the paper’s surface without any impression. No texture, no depth — it’s the most common and most affordable printing method, and it’s a perfectly fine choice depending on your priorities and budget.

Vintage Stamps

Postage stamps that are no longer sold at the post office but are still fully valid for mailing. They add a layer of personality and beauty to your envelopes that a standard Forever stamp can’t touch.

---

when to order wedding invitations

The short answer: as early as possible. The longer answer is below.

Most couples mail their invitations 6–8 weeks before the wedding — but that’s really the minimum, not the goal. In recent years, it’s become increasingly common to mail 10–12 weeks out, giving guests more time to make travel arrangements and you more breathing room if anything needs to be adjusted.

To work backward from there, plan to place your order at least 4–5 months before your wedding date. Most orders take 4-6 weeks from start to finish, but that timeline depends on how quickly you can provide feedback, guest addresses, and approvals. The earlier you start, the more relaxed the whole process feels — for both of us.

If you’re working with a shorter runway, rush options are often available. But the couples who enjoy the process most are almost always the ones who started earlier than they thought they needed to.

---

how much do wedding invitations cost?

The range across the wedding invitation industry is genuinely wide, and the price differences reflect real differences in materials, process, and what you’re actually getting. Here’s an honest breakdown:

Big-box digital printing: $100–$600

Platforms like Minted and Zola fall here. You’re choosing from a large template library, customizing colors and text, and receiving digitally printed invitations on standard cardstock. No impression, no texture — but a perfectly clean result for couples who want something simple and affordable.

Custom digital printing: $1,000–$3,000

A step up from big-box — here you’re working with a designer or boutique print studio to create something more tailored, still digitally printed. You get more creative collaboration and a more personal result, but the printing method itself is the same as the tier above.

Letterpress printing, semi-custom: $1,950–$4,500

This is where Terra sits. The invitations are printed by hand on an antique letterpress or foil press, and on handmade paper with natural deckled edges. The materials and process are the same as fully custom letterpress studios, but because I work from a collection of refined, pre-designed suites rather than building each one from scratch, I’m able to offer that level of craft at a significantly more accessible price. You’re not compromising on quality — you’re getting the heirloom product without the six-month timeline and five-figure price tag.

Fully custom letterpress: $5,000–$10,000+

A designer creates your suite entirely from scratch — original artwork, custom typefaces, bespoke layouts built around your specific vision. The process can take months, and the investment reflects that. For most couples, this level of customization isn’t necessary to get something truly extraordinary.

---

wedding invitation tips from a letterpress printer

On quantity: One invitation per household, not per guest. Most couples end up ordering for about 60–75% of their total guest count. I always recommend adding 10–15 extras for keepsakes, last-minute additions, and the occasional mailing mishap.

On stamps: If the current USPS offerings feel uninspiring, vintage stamps are worth considering. They’re unused, fully valid for postage, and a beautiful way to carry your suite’s aesthetic all the way to the envelope.

On wording: There are no rules here anymore. Formal, warm, playful, unconventional — your invitations should sound like you. I’m happy to help with wording if you’re not sure where to start.

On RSVPs: More and more couples are opting for online RSVPs, either in place of or alongside a physical card. It simplifies tracking responses and can reduce the overall cost of your suite.

On eco-friendly choices: If sustainability matters to you, it’s worth asking about paper sourcing and printing processes before you order anywhere. Handmade paper, plant-based inks, and seeded paper options all exist — and they don’t require compromising on quality or beauty.

---

ready to start?

If you have questions or you’re ready to talk through your order, I’d love to hear from you. Browse the designs here or reach out directly through my inquiry form here — I’ll put together a custom quote based on exactly what you’re looking for.

---