ABCs of Wedding Stationery

When you are passionate about a topic, sometimes you think that everyone already has the same baseline of information that you do. When it comes to wedding stationery and invitation etiquette, I would be considered a “subject matter expert” - I’m pulling the term from my professional life as a contracts administrator. I understand that not everyone knows this area of stationery the way that I do, I wanted to share with you some frequently used terms to help you when you talk paper.

A7 (or A9) - stationery paper sizing typically (not always) is measured with an A#. A7 would be a 5” x 7” invitation where as an A9 would be 8.5” x 5.5”

Blind Embossing - when the image is raised out of the paper surface.

Calligraphy - loosely translated as “beautiful letters”, calligraphy is the art of decorative, ornate writing. It is structured and guided by rules to achieve uniformity and takes years to master.

Deckled Edges - the irregular, feathered, or torn-looking edge associated with handmade papers.

Envelope Liner - a decorative paper cut to fit the inside of an envelope

Flourishes - the ornate, formal details and scrollwork attached to calligraphy letters.

Gum Arabic - a liquid solution that can be added to calligraphy ink to make it water- and smudge-proof.

Handmade Papers - made from natural materials including cotton, rag, hemp and plant fibers. They generally have an uneven or rough surface texture.

Inner Envelopes - tucked inside the outer envelope, inner envelopes informally address your guests and contain the rest of your wedding invitation suite.

Letterpress - type of printing that involves making a plate of a design which is then pressed into paper. It can be done with or without ink.

Monogram - graphic logo using a person’s or couple’s initials.

Outer Envelope - the outward-most envelope that has the guest’s address written on it.

Pound - the thickness of paper is measured in pounds, akin to sheet thread counts, with the high the paper poundage the thicker the paper is. It becomes important when working with calligraphy.

RSVP - derived from French, it kindly requests a reply as to whether or not a guest will attend an event.

Suite - in terms of wedding stationery, your invitation suite consists of all the papers associated with (and including) your invitations: invitations, details cards, reply cards, etc.

Twine - European fine twine, used to wrap an invitation suite together.

Vellum - paper made from a cotton blend with a translucent, frosted appearance and smooth finish. Traditionally it was required to keep invitation ink from smudging, but modern couples incorporate it in a more decorative manner.

Wax Seal - decorative melted wax with image impressed into it.