Add Foil To Wedding Invites For A Luxurious Touch

Foil wedding invitations are a great way to add a touch of luxury and shine to your special day. Foil invitations have been a symbol of luxury and formality, but today, they are used for weddings of all styles and themes. Foil printing comes in a variety of colours, from classic gold and silver to modern rose gold and holographic. You can choose to foil stamp the entire invitation or just highlight certain elements, such as your names. Foil wedding invitations are typically more expensive than regular invitations due to the labour-intensive process and the cost of custom metal printing plates. However, there are ways to incorporate foil on a budget, such as adding foil to only one part of the invitation or using pre-designed cardstock with foil details.

Choosing the right paper

• Printer Compatibility: The type of printer you have will impact the paper you can use. Home printers, such as desktop inkjet or laser printers, have limitations on the thickness of paper they can handle. It's recommended to start with 80# cardstock and increase the weight gradually to find the maximum thickness your printer can handle without issues like smudging or jamming.
• Weight and Finish: Heavier cardstock, such as 100# or 110# cardstock, will give your invitations a more luxurious and professional look. Consider the finish you want as well—options like smooth matte, linen, eggshell, or metallic are some choices to choose from.
• Paper Type: There are several types of paper available, including solid white cardstock, linen cardstock, cotton cardstock, parchment, felt, kraft (recycled), vellum, and wood grain cardstock. Each type has a unique texture, feel, and price, so choose the one that best suits your preferences and budget.
• Trial and Error: Selecting the right paper may involve some trial and error. Experiment with different papers, weights, and finishes to find the combination that works best for your invitations.
• Eco-Friendliness: If sustainability is important to you, consider using recycled paper for your invitations. This can add a rustic or eco-friendly touch to your wedding theme.
• Professional Printing: If you're unsure about printing your own invitations or want a higher-quality result, consider using a professional printing service. They can provide guidance on paper choices and may have access to a wider range of paper options.

Printing methods

Foil wedding invitations are created using a printing process called foil stamping, also known as hot foil, foil pressed, or foiling. This process involves using pressure to transfer colour from a printing plate to paper, resulting in a shiny and luxurious finish. Here are the steps involved in foil stamping:

• Create a custom printing plate: Foil stamping requires a custom metal printing plate, known as a die, to be made for each colour of foil used in the design. The die is made out of magnesium and is heated prior to stamping.
• Prepare the foil: Sheets of thin metallic foil are used in foil stamping instead of ink. The foil is placed backside down on top of the paper, with the metallic side facing up.
• Apply pressure: The paper and foil are pressed together using a machine, transferring the colour from the foil to the paper. This step may need to be repeated for thicker cardstock or if the laminator is not hot enough.
• Peel back the foil: Once the foil has cooled, gently peel it back to reveal the shiny design.
• Add additional foil details: Foil stamping can be combined with other printing methods, such as letterpress or flat print, to add texture or create a unique design.

When designing your foil wedding invitations, keep in mind that foil works best with bold and simple fonts. Script or cursive fonts may be difficult to read, especially if they are small or intricate. Additionally, the foil can be added to any element of the invitation, including your names, to create a truly customised design.

Foil stamping is a labour-intensive process and can be more expensive than other printing methods. However, it is the only way to achieve a true shiny metallic finish, such as gold, silver, or rose gold, on your invitations. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, metallic gold silk screen printing can create a similar effect at a lower cost.

Foil colour options

Foil is a versatile printing material, with a range of colour options to choose from. The most popular choice is gold, but you can also opt for silver, glittery gold, glittery silver, ice blue, black, bronze, copper, rose gold, holographic, or even a combination of colours.

Gold foil has traditionally been used to adorn only the finest and most important documents, such as religious scripts and important historical records. Using gold or another metallic foil for your wedding invitations will elevate the design and make your stationery seem more luxurious.

Foil can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your wedding invitations. You can foil-print all or part of the text, add foil edging to thick card stock, create a foil jacket, or use a metallic card to place behind a translucent invitation. You can also get creative and use foil to enhance other design elements, such as flower petals or leaves for a whimsical touch.

The foil colour you choose can be tailored to the style of your wedding. For instance, if you're going for a classic and formal look, foil adds a layer of luxury. For a rustic wedding, foil in bronze or rose gold tones can complement design colours like burgundy, terra cotta, and forest green. If you want to make a modern statement, consider a monochromatic black-on-black invitation with foil accents.

When selecting your foil colour, it's also important to consider the paper type and colour. The paper is the foundation of your invitation and will affect the overall look and feel. Choose from options like signature, pearlescent, recycled, double-thick, or luxe museum board, each with its own unique characteristics.

DIY methods

Gold Foil Printing for Invitations and Envelope Liners

This method uses a laminating machine, a laser printer, and gold foil to create gold foil-printed invitations and envelope liners. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Print Design with Laser Jet: Create your desired design and print it onto cardstock or paper using a laser jet printer. The gold foil will only adhere to the ink from a laser jet, not an inkjet printer. If you don't have a laser jet printer, you can send your design to a printing center or photocopy it onto the paper.
• Laminate and Peel: Cut enough gold foil to cover your design. Place the foil backside down, with the gold facing up, on top of the printed page. Run it through a hot laminator according to the machine's instructions. Gently peel back the gold foil to reveal the transferred design.
• Envelope Liner: Print your design on plain paper and cut out envelope liners using an envelope template. Slide the liners into the envelopes, securing them with tape or glue.

Foil Stamping

Foil stamping is a luxury printing process that uses pressure to transfer color from a printing plate to paper. It requires special equipment and time. Here's an overview of the process:

• Create a Custom Die: Foil stamping uses a custom die (printing plate) made out of magnesium, which is heated prior to stamping. The heat seals the foil to the paper. A separate die is needed for each color of foil used in the design.
• Print Design: Foil stamping is typically done after any letterpress or flat print portion of the design. It can also be printed on top of letterpress for a textured effect.
• Add Foil: Foil stamping uses sheets of thin metallic foil instead of ink, resulting in a shiny finish. The heated die transfers the foil onto the paper, creating a pressed design.

Adding Metallic Accents with a Paint Pen

This method uses a paint pen to add gold or silver accents to your invitations. Here's how to do it:

• Print and Trim Invitations: Print your invitation design on 8.5" x 11" card stock. Trim the invitations along the dotted lines using a paper cutter or scissors.
• Test the Paint Pen: If your paint pen is new or hasn't been used in a while, get the paint flowing by dabbing the tip a few times on a scrap sheet of paper.
• Add Faux Foil: Decide where you want the gold accents and start tracing with the paint pen. You can trace along a scalloped border or add gold accents to a floral design.
• Let it Dry: Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before stuffing the invitations into envelopes and mailing them.

Cost-saving options

Foil wedding invitations can be expensive, but there are ways to reduce the cost. Here are some cost-saving options to consider:

• Choose affordable materials: Opt for affordable options like cardstock or digital printing. Cardstock is a budget-friendly type of paper that can be purchased at craft stores. Digital printing is also a cost-effective option, with prices starting at $500 for 100 invitations.
• Minimalist design: A simple design with a few select colors and fonts can keep costs down. Limiting your invitations to one or two colors and a single font will help you save money.
• Limit the guest list: The more guests you invite, the more invitations you'll need to print. Consider limiting the guest list to close family and friends to reduce the number of invitations required.
• Send electronic invitations: Electronic invitations are a cost-effective alternative to traditional paper invitations. Many websites offer customizable e-invites for weddings, giving you more design options such as animation and flexibility with shapes and sizes.
• DIY approach: If you're crafty, consider making your own invitations. You can purchase invitation kits at craft stores or design them yourself using software like Canva or Crello. This saves on the labor and equipment costs associated with creating invitations.
• Skip the extras: Focus on the essential elements of the invitation, such as the wording and design, and skip the extras like envelope liners, ribbons, or wax seals, which can add up quickly.
• Pre-designed cardstock: Look for pre-designed cardstock that includes a foil detail, such as a floral design or a foil edge, rather than going for a fully custom invitation. This can help you save money, as full foil lettering can be costly.
• Flat printing: Digital flat printing is more economical than letterpress printing, which uses a metal plate and is more expensive.
• Limit foil usage: Adding just a touch of foil here and there will be easier on your wallet than full foil lettering. You can still make an impact without covering the entire invitation in foil.
• Buy in bulk: Ordering a larger quantity of invitations can sometimes lead to volume discounts, so it's worth checking with the printer to see if this option is available.
• Compare prices: Shop around and compare prices from different vendors to find the best deal. Websites like Etsy offer a variety of options for foil wedding invitations at different price points.

Frequently asked questions