Best Printers For Wedding Invitations: A Comprehensive Guide

If you're looking to print wedding invitations, you'll want a printer with a knack for handling various paper types. The Canon Pixma Pro-100 is a popular choice for invitation designers, but other options include the Canon Pixma TR8620 All-in-one Printer, the Epson EcoTank ET-2750, and the Epson WorkForce WF-7210 Wide Format Printer. If you're printing on a budget, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is a good choice, offering high-quality printing at a low cost.

Canon Pixma Pro-100

The Canon Pixma Pro-100 is a great choice for printing wedding invitations. It is a wireless, professional-quality inkjet printer that can handle a variety of paper types, including cardstock, envelopes, and handmade paper with deckle edges.

• High-Quality Prints: With a maximum print resolution of up to 4800 x 2400 dpi, the Pixma Pro-100 delivers crisp and detailed prints, ensuring your wedding invitations look professional and elegant.
• Optimum Image Generating System: This technology logically selects the optimal ink combination and placement, reproducing colours accurately and creating rich, vibrant details.
• Wireless Connectivity: The built-in wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n) allows for fast data transfer and easy printing from mobile devices, making it convenient to print your wedding invitations from anywhere in your home or office.
• Multiple Print Sizes: The Pixma Pro-100 supports a range of print sizes, including 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", 11" x 17", 13" x 19", letter, and legal. This versatility ensures you can print wedding invitations and other stationery items in various sizes.
• CD/DVD Printing Tray: This printer includes a dedicated tray for printing directly onto CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs, allowing you to create custom designs for your wedding invitations or favours.
• Borderless Printing: With borderless printing, you won't need to worry about trimming your invitations after printing, saving you time and effort.
• Large Paper Capacity: The Pixma Pro-100 has two paper trays. The rear tray can handle a variety of fine art and glossy photo papers, while the manual slot accommodates thicker media, ensuring your wedding invitations look and feel luxurious.
• Mobile Device Printing: Easily print your wedding invitations directly from compatible mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets, without the need for a computer.
• Print Studio Pro Software: This software provides a simple and seamless photo printing workflow, making it user-friendly for designing and printing your wedding invitations.

While the Canon Pixma Pro-100 is an excellent choice for printing wedding invitations, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. The printer is quite large and heavy, so ensure you have sufficient space and a sturdy surface to place it on. Additionally, some users have reported that the ink can be expensive, so you may want to consider using compatible third-party ink options to save costs.

Epson EcoTank series

The Epson EcoTank series is a great option for printing wedding invitations. EcoTank printers are known for their low operating costs, as they use refillable ink tanks instead of traditional ink cartridges, saving you money on replacement ink. With EcoTank printers, you can print all you want without worrying about the high costs of ink cartridges or contributing to landfill waste.

The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is a good choice for printing wedding invitations. It delivers excellent print quality, with top-notch photo quality, halftones, and greyscale. While it has a slow print speed and lacks auto duplex, it can handle heavy paper, feeding up to 20 sheets at a time. It also comes with enough ink to print a few thousand invitations, making it a cost-effective option. The setup is straightforward, and Epson's print driver offers various colour management settings and adjustments to ensure you get the best results.

Another model worth considering is the Epson ET-16500, which offers faster print speeds and can handle printing on cardstock, handmade paper, and vellum. However, it may have some alignment issues with envelopes, so you might need to hold each envelope in place to keep it aligned.

Overall, the Epson EcoTank series provides high-quality printing, handles heavy paper well, and offers low operating costs, making it a great choice for printing wedding invitations.

Inkjet vs Laser

When it comes to printing wedding invitations, there are several factors to consider when deciding between an inkjet or laser printer. Here are some detailed insights to help you make an informed decision:

Inkjet Printers:

Inkjet printers offer superior results compared to laser printers when printing detailed images and intricate fonts. They are ideal for wedding invitations as they can handle a variety of paper types, including cardstock, envelopes, and specialty papers. Inkjet printers feed paper directly through the printer, making it easier to print on thicker papers. They are also suitable for printing on handmade paper and envelopes with flaps open, which laser printers typically struggle with. Additionally, inkjet printers provide a wider range of cartridge options, allowing for more prints per cartridge and cost-effective alternatives. However, they tend to be slower, less crisp in text designs, and generally more expensive per print than laser printers.

Laser Printers:

Laser printers, on the other hand, are known for their speed, crisp text output, and cost-effectiveness. They are less susceptible to smearing and can handle metallic papers and envelopes with ease. The colours produced by laser printers are typically more accurate and consistent than inkjet printers. Laser printers are also more compact, making them a convenient option for home use. However, one of their limitations is handling thicker papers. Laser printers have a hard time with papers above 100# or 250 GSM, as the paper needs to rotate around a drum for printing. This can result in paper jams, especially with larger invitation sizes.

In summary, if you prioritise image quality, paper compatibility, and customisation, an inkjet printer might be the better choice. On the other hand, if speed, text crispness, and cost-effectiveness are your main concerns, a laser printer could be more suitable. Ultimately, the decision depends on your specific needs and requirements for printing wedding invitations.

Outsourcing vs In-house printing

When it comes to printing wedding invitations, there are several options available, from printing at home to outsourcing to a professional printer. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of outsourcing vs in-house printing to help you decide which option is best for your needs.

In-House Printing

In-house printing offers several advantages, including complete control over the entire process, from design to shipping. This can be beneficial if you have specific requirements or need to match a particular colour or style. Additionally, if you have experienced staff and produce high-quality prints, the cost of in-house printing may be justifiable over time.

However, there are also several drawbacks to in-house printing. Firstly, the cost of hiring and training staff, purchasing equipment, and maintaining the printing process can be expensive. This option may not be suitable for low-volume prints, as the costs may not be justified. Innovation and design are also limited to the knowledge and resources of your in-house team.

Outsourcing Printing

Outsourcing printing to a professional company has several benefits. Experienced printers can offer a range of printing options, such as digital and offset printing, and can advise on the best method for your project. They often provide a variety of printing products, from invitations and envelopes to novelty items. Many companies also offer professional graphic design services, including concept development, branding, and logo design.

Outsourced printers may also have faster turnaround times, and on-demand printing services can save you from storing items on-site and paying cancellation fees for changes. Outsourcing can also free up your time and resources, allowing you to focus on other business activities or creative endeavours.

However, one potential disadvantage of outsourcing is that you may have less control over the production process. It is crucial to select a reputable and reliable printing company to ensure high-quality results. Additionally, if you have high-volume printing needs and the means to conduct in-house printing effectively, in-house printing could be a better investment in the long run.

Best Printers for Wedding Invitations

Whether you choose to outsource or print in-house, selecting the right printer is essential. Here are some recommended printers for wedding invitations:

• Canon Pixma Pro-100: This printer can handle 110 lb cardstock paper and has a rear loading feature to prevent paper creasing. It also prints borderless sheets ranging from 5 x 7 to 13 x 19 in size. However, it does not have scanning or copying capabilities, and the ink can be expensive.
• Canon Pixma TS9521: This printer produces high-quality prints and can handle various paper types, including vellum and cardstock. However, it can be costly in terms of ink usage.
• Canon ix6860: This printer offers fine print quality and is more affordable than the TS model, although it does not include scanning functionality.
• Epson EcoTank series: These printers are known for their reliability and ability to handle different paper types.
• Canon TS9565: This printer has scanning capabilities and can handle A3-sized paper.
• Epson ET: This printer is suitable for printing on cardstock, handmade paper, and vellum. It offers excellent print quality and customization options for scans. However, it can be tricky to use with envelopes, and there may be minor issues with large-scale printing.

Paper weight and thickness

The paper weight and thickness you choose for your wedding invitations will depend on several factors, including your printing process, invitation style, postage, and personal preference.

Printing Process

If you plan to print your wedding invitations at home, it is important to consider the paper weight capabilities of your home printer. Most consumer-grade home printers can handle 80lb (216gsm) to 100lb (270gsm) cardstock, but it is essential to check your printer manual for specific card stock printing information and recommendations. Start with a lower weight, such as 80lb cardstock, and gradually increase the weight until you encounter issues like smudging or jamming. Then move down a weight.

If you plan to use a professional print shop, it is crucial to select a shop that can accommodate your chosen paper's weight, thickness, and texture. It is recommended to bring samples to discuss with the print shop and determine their capabilities.

Invitation Style

The style of your wedding invitations will also influence your paper weight choice. If you opt for flat invitation cards, a heavier weight cardstock of 80lb cover or higher is recommended. On the other hand, folding invitation cards typically use lighter stock, usually ranging from 65lb to 100lb cover. For layered invitation cards, it is suggested to keep the top layer light (80lb cover or under) and attach it to a heavier card (80lb cover or higher).

Postage

Another consideration when choosing paper weight is the cost of postage. Invitations weighing over 1 ounce will require additional postage. If you want to keep postage costs down, opt for lighter-weight cardstock.

Personal Preference

Finally, personal preference plays a role in choosing paper weight and thickness. Some people prefer thick, heavy cardstock, while others prefer lighter, thinner stock. Ultimately, the best weight paper for your wedding invitations is the one that aligns with your design, budget, and personal taste.

Frequently asked questions