Choosing The Perfect Vellum Paper For Wedding Invitations

Vellum wedding invitations are a popular choice for couples who want to achieve a soft, dreamy, and translucent aesthetic. Vellum paper is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways, such as overlays, wraps, jackets, sleeves, and gatefolds. It is also offered in a range of colours, sizes, and weights, allowing for customisation and creativity in designing wedding invitations. When choosing the right vellum paper for wedding invites, it's important to consider the desired look, feel, and functionality, as well as the printing method and printer capabilities.

Vellum paper weight and thickness

Vellum paper is available in a range of weights, from light to heavyweight, and each weight is suited to different purposes. The weight of the vellum paper you choose for your wedding invitations will depend on the desired look and feel, as well as your printing requirements.

Lightweight Vellum

Lightweight vellum is typically around 17lb and is very thin, delicate, and flexible. It is comparable to high-quality gift-wrapping tissue. This weight is often used for unprinted invitation overlays, delicate invitation wraps, and invitation inserts as a substitute for traditional tissue. It is also suitable for printing on some inkjet printers.

Medium-Weight Vellum

Medium-weight vellum ranges from 21lb to 30lb. It is similar to lightweight vellum but with a bit more substance and flexibility. It is comparable to wax paper in terms of thickness and malleability. This weight is often used for invitation overlays (blank or printed), printed invitation bands, and envelope liners. It can be printed on, but it is important to test your printer's compatibility with the chosen vellum weight.

Heavyweight Vellum

Heavyweight vellum is typically around 48lb. It feels like lightweight card stock and is moderately heavy and rigid. It should be scored before folding to avoid cracking. This weight is often used for printed invitation top layers, heavyweight vellum gatefolds/wraps, and printed invitation inserts or supplements. As with medium-weight vellum, it is important to test your printer's compatibility before printing on heavyweight vellum.

Thickness and Translucency

The thickness and weight of vellum paper are inversely related to its translucency. Lightweight vellum is highly translucent, while heavyweight vellum is less so. If you are looking for a soft, dreamy, and super chic look for your wedding invitations, a lightweight or medium-weight vellum would be a good choice.

Vellum printing techniques

Vellum is a modern paper with a translucent, waxy finish. It is often used as an overlay or wrap for wedding invitations, complementing the invitation or save-the-date card.

Printer Settings

First, get familiar with your printer. All printers are different, so it's important to understand how yours works with other papers. Experiment with different paper trays, paper types, and weight settings. For example, changing the paper type from plain paper to photo paper or fine art paper may improve the printing results. Similarly, adjusting the weight setting to a lighter one may help with print coverage and prevent issues like paper jamming and wrinkling.

Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers are more likely to smudge than laser printers due to the use of wet ink. To prevent smudging, try using a different quality mode, such as draft or quick, which uses less ink. You can also let the ink dry completely by laying the vellum flat after printing.

Laser Printers

Laser printers use heat and a fusing unit to adhere dry toner to the paper. Most laser printers allow you to adjust weight or thickness settings, which control the speed at which the paper is fed through the printer, as well as the amount of heat and pressure applied. Adjusting the weight setting to a lighter one can help improve print coverage and prevent paper jams and wrinkling.

Paper Direction

The way you insert the vellum into the printer can also affect the printing results. Try turning the vellum 90 degrees and feeding it through the printer in a different direction. Similarly, try printing on both sides of the vellum, as some vellum brands may be more compatible with printing on one side.

Vellum Brands and Weights

If you're having trouble printing on one type of vellum, try experimenting with different brands and weights. Not all vellum papers are the same, and some may be more compatible with your printer than others.

Vellum colour options

Vellum paper is offered in a variety of colours, including pearl gold, pearl silver, pearl beige, dark blue, scarlet, orange, light blue, light green, and light pink. You can also find vellum paper in black, dusty blue, grey, white, and cream.

If you are looking for something more colourful, you can find vellum paper in pink, yellow, blue, green, gold, and burgundy. There are also options with floral prints, such as wildflowers, cherry blossoms, and English botanical gardens.

For a more elegant and luxurious look, consider vellum paper with gold foil, which can be found in colours such as dusty blue, gold, and pink.

With so many colour options available, you can easily find the perfect vellum paper to match your wedding theme and create elegant and stylish invitations.

Vellum invitation overlays

When creating vellum invitation overlays, it's important to consider the size and shape of the invitations. Vellum can be cut to custom sizes, ensuring a perfect fit for your invitations. It's also important to choose a design or print that complements the overall theme and style of your wedding.

Vellum invitation jackets

Types of Vellum Paper

Vellum paper is available in a variety of colours and sizes, and can be printed with custom text and designs. It is a thin, delicate, and translucent paper with a soft, dreamy, and transparent appearance.

Advantages of Vellum Invitation Jackets

Sizing and Assembly

Where to Buy

Customer Reviews

Customers generally appreciate the quality, appearance, and value of vellum invitation jackets. They mention that it elevates the look of the invite, saves time, and makes the assembly process smooth. However, some customers have noted issues with sizing and creases in the vellum paper.

Frequently asked questions