Creating Dreamy Wedding Invites: Vellum Overlay Guide

Creating wedding invitations with vellum overlay is a great way to add a unique and luxurious touch to your special day. Vellum is a smooth, translucent paper that creates a rich, layered look when paired with fine stationery. In this guide, we will discuss the steps to make elegant wedding invitations using vellum overlay, from choosing the right materials to assembling the final product. We will also explore different design options, such as textual overlays, image-heavy overlays, and custom creations, to help you personalize your invitations and wow your guests.

Using vellum to create a luxurious layered look

Vellum is a unique material that can add a touch of luxury and elegance to your wedding invitations. In this guide, we will show you how to use vellum to create a layered look that will impress your guests and set the tone for your special day.

Vellum is a smooth, translucent paper that has a rich history dating back to the beginning of paper-making. Originally, "vellum" referred to a high-quality parchment paper made from calfskin. Today, modern vellum is made from plasticized cotton or cellulose fibres from plants and trees, making it environmentally friendly and 100% recyclable. This translucent paper is the perfect choice for adding a luxurious and elegant touch to your wedding invitations.

When creating a layered look with vellum, you can choose between a textual overlay or an image-heavy overlay. A textual overlay is perfect for adding key information or a sweet note to your guests, while an image-heavy overlay can showcase your favourite photo from your engagement shoot. You can also get creative and experiment with text-on-text overlays, combining different font styles and colours to create a truly unique and modern design.

To attach the vellum overlay to your invitation, you can use a crystal jewel brad, a decorative brad, or a sheer chiffon ribbon. This will create a beautiful, layered effect that will wow your guests. The standard size for vellum overlays is 7" x 5", and you can choose between a landscape or portrait orientation. The minimum order quantity is usually 25 overlays, and the price per overlay decreases as the order quantity increases.

In addition to the vellum overlay, you will need to purchase the underlying cardstock wedding invitation separately. You can choose from a variety of colours, weights, and textures to create a unique and personalised invitation suite. Don't forget to add your own creative touches, such as coloured envelopes, custom stamps, and wax seals to complete the look.

By following these simple steps and using vellum overlays, you can create elegant and luxurious wedding invitations that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Combining vellum with fine stationery

Vellum paper exists in a variety of colours, weights, textures, brands, and levels of transparency, and it is smooth to the touch. Its ethereal surface and translucent appearance make it a popular choice for wedding invitations. The combination of a translucent element layered on top of colourful cardstock can be personalised in many artistic ways to create a luxurious invitation.

There are a few design options to consider when combining vellum with fine stationery. Firstly, a textual overlay can be used to provide more room for key details or a sweet note to guests. This can be done without diluting the imagery behind by using small paragraphs and instead layering in important information. Secondly, an image-heavy overlay can be used if you want to showcase a favourite photo or balance a text-heavy invitation. Lastly, a text-on-text overlay can be used for a modern or bold design, playing with the art of typography by using different font styles and colours.

Vellum overlays are usually sold separately from the actual cardstock wedding invitation, and they can be ordered in different sizes and orientations. The standard minimum order size is 25 overlays, and the price per overlay decreases as the order quantity increases.

Translucent vellum paper types

Translucent vellum paper is a versatile material that can be used for a range of crafting, creative, and professional projects. It is known for its smooth texture, delicate appearance, and versatility in terms of colours, sizes, and styles. Here is a detailed look at the different types of translucent vellum paper:

Clear Translucent Vellum Paper

Clear translucent vellum paper is the most common type and it creates an ethereal, delicate, and timelessly elegant effect. It is perfect for layering and overlays, adding depth and dimension to your wedding invitations. The clear translucent sheets act as a subtle veil, allowing light to shine through and enhancing the overall design.

Coloured Translucent Vellum Paper

Vellum paper is available in a variety of colours, including blue and red. Coloured vellum adds a splash of colour to your projects, creating a unique and captivating look. For example, blue translucent vellum paper offers elegance and tranquility, making it ideal for nautical-themed invitations or professional presentations.

Printed Vellum Paper

Translucent vellum paper can be printed on, allowing you to add text, designs, or patterns. Printing on vellum paper can be delicate, so it is recommended to use professional printing services or be cautious when printing at home. Printed vellum paper is a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding invitations, such as including a photo or custom message.

Vellum Paper Weights and Sizes

Vellum paper comes in various thicknesses, typically ranging from 17 to 48 lb, with weights affecting durability and how well it holds up to folding and cutting. It is available in different sizes, such as 8 1/2 x 11, 5 x 7, 11 x 17, and 13 x 19 inches, allowing you to choose the perfect fit for your invitations.

Attaching vellum to the background card

There are several ways to attach vellum to the background card of your wedding invitation. You can use a crystal jewel brad, a decorative brad, or a sheer chiffon ribbon. These options will give your invitations a luxurious layered look and feel.

If you're looking for a more glamorous option, consider using a crystal jewel brad. These brads come in a variety of colours and add a touch of sparkle to your invitations. Decorative brads are another option and come in a range of designs, from silver sand dollars to gold Irish claddaghs.

For a softer, more romantic look, consider using a sheer chiffon ribbon to attach the vellum to the background card. This option will give your invitations a delicate and elegant feel.

When creating your vellum wedding invitations, it's important to choose a high-quality background card. You can select from bold floral prints, vintage designs, or even handmade petal paper, which contains real flower petals embedded in 100% recycled cotton.

Remember to consider the overall design and colour arrangement of your invitations when choosing an attachment method. You can also edit the text, adjust colour arrangements, add imagery, and select paper quality to further personalise your invitations.

Customising vellum with text and images

When customising vellum for wedding invitations, you can choose to include text, images, or a combination of both. If you want to include text, you can either write on the vellum by hand or use a printer. If you choose to handwrite your text, you can do a test run on two pieces of vellum, marking one as 'front' and the other as 'back', to see which side the ink dries better on.

Printing on vellum can be tricky because it is a type of plastic, and ink and plastic don't always mix. The quality of the vellum and the type of printer you use are important factors to consider. For home printers, it is recommended to use 30# vellum (a thinner, lightweight option), while 48# vellum (a heavy-weight option) is better for professional printers. If you are using an inkjet printer, which most people have at home, you can play around with the settings to find the perfect fit. It is recommended to use the 'regular' or 'draft' print mode and lessen the amount of ink in other ways, such as by choosing a shorter dry time. You can also try selecting different paper types, such as "fine art", "transparency", or "glossy photo paper". If you are using a laser printer, you can adjust the paper thickness setting to prevent jams, wrinkles, and stray ink flakes.

In terms of images, you can choose to print patterns or designs on the vellum or use it as an overlay for your invitations. If you want to include photos, you can upload them and lay them over your invitation or save the date. You can also layer vellum over images or artwork to add interest and create a soft, modern look.

Frequently asked questions