The Stationers Guild

Only a few printing techniques can match the caliber of an engraved wedding invitation. While engraving was typically utilized to print wedding stationery, baby announcements and business cards for your parent’s and grandparent’s generations, present day printing processes are much more efficient but don’t have the level of quality and vigor of engraving.

Lately, the leading stationery retail stores throughout the United States report that wedding couples are now rediscovering the innate beauty of engraving. Despite its higher cost, engraved wedding invitations bring back the heritage and elegance of times past.

As the industry has chosen cheaper and much more productive forms of printing, many engraving firms have closed down and the craft of engraving is perilously near disappearing. While the resilient Heidelberg presses still exist in abundance, the production of metal engraving dies from submerging light-sensitive copper plates in to a tub of acid is far beyond the financial abilities and knowledge of many autonomous printers.

With its “true” colors and exceptional 3D print quality, engraved invitations are experiencing a renaissance among engaged couples who treasure a well-designed wedding invitation. Among the key firms which provide different types of printing methods, Crane & Co. and William Arthur provide the best printing and design options.

If the engraved invitation is beyond your budget, go for printing in thermograph inks. Applying thermograph inks mimics engraving by imprinting a resin-based composite on the paper to make the raised surface you find in engraving. Thermograph inks tend to be shinier unless the printer provides a matte finish, but printing using this method will provide great cost savings.

Like all fine stationery, engraved invitations should be seen in person to appreciate paper and print quality. Colors are opaque and richer, particularly if evaluated side-by-side with other types of printing. In all probability, you can find knowledgeable stationers in cities across the United States who can deliver assistance in helping to craft wonderful wedding invitations.

Richard W. May, a founding member of the Stationers Guild, writes frequently about NYC wedding invitations and wedding invitation trends across the United States.

At the National Stationery Show this May, I had the opportunity to meet the talented President and Creative Director of Arabella Papers, Sugandha Rosenhaft.  At an off site meeting to introduce Arabella’s new Bar Mitzvah album (the subject of an upcoming news Blog), I was pleased to see two elaborately decorated tables incorporating Arabella’s impeccable taste in menu cards, place cards, seating cards and table cards.

Arabella Papers Table Cards, Menu Cards

While many bridal couples focus on save-the-date invitations and their wedding invitation, there are many other “paper” moments at the rehearsal dinner to tie in color themes and/or reinforce design motifs that characterize the occasion.   The Stationers Guild website refers bridal couples to the “paper trail” and “timeline” to help organize your event.

If color, design and stunning presentation is your cup of tea, Arabella Papers using their innovative bellpress printing technique might be the right choice for you.