| There are a number of options that you can use when | | | | yourself, but, given the trickiness, it is probably best to |
| printing your wedding invitations, and before going to | | | | hire a professional. In general, I would not recommend |
| the printer it is good to be aware of them. In this article, | | | | this method because of how easy it is to go wrong, |
| I will discuss these various options in order of | | | | but if finances and time are both issues, it may be the |
| increasing cost. | | | | best option. |
| First, though, I will discuss the general issue of which | | | | The next least expensive is lithography. Lithography is |
| style of printing you should use as a matter of | | | | the cheapest form of printing that prints on your page |
| etiquette. The straightforward answer is that it doesn't | | | | using a single plate. It has the advantage that the |
| matter. It is not rude to use one form of printing over | | | | image will be crisp and unfaded, and, if you put them |
| another, and, strictly speaking, it is no less formal. In | | | | side-by-side, the lithograph will be noticeably clearer |
| fact, the more expensive printing options are simply | | | | and sharper than a laser printing. It keeps your invitation |
| outdated printing methods that are largely still used | | | | flat, so that none of the letters will be raised, something |
| because somehow the "expensive equals formal" | | | | that some couples may prefer. |
| mistake has kept them going, though laser printing is an | | | | The next least expensive is thermography. Unlike |
| exception to this rule. | | | | Lithography, thermography produces a raised text, so |
| The least expensive (though no less formal) way of | | | | that when you run your hand over the invitation, you |
| doing invitations isn't, strictly speaking, printing but is | | | | can feel the letters. However, the raising is only on one |
| worth mentioning. These are handwritten invitations. | | | | side, and there will be no corresponding indentation on |
| You can do this in one of two ways. You can either | | | | the other side. Note that it is more expensive than |
| do them yourselves, or you can hire a calligrapher (the | | | | using lithography but no sharper, so in effect, you will |
| latter is, of course, very expensive). Some friends of | | | | be paying for the raised text, which may or may not |
| ours with little money just hand-calligraphed their | | | | be your preference. |
| wedding invitations, and they were very beautiful. Be | | | | Finally, there is engraving, which is the most expensive |
| aware, though, that this can be very time consuming, | | | | form of printing. Engraving presses the letters into your |
| and it slows down the process of inviting back-up | | | | paper using a metal sheet, which has the effect that |
| invitees. | | | | you'll have both raised letters on one side and a |
| The next least expensive is laser printing. However, | | | | corresponding indentation on the other. It is very |
| you'll need to be very careful when doing this. If the | | | | expensive, much more so than any other form of |
| least thing goes wrong, laser printing looks a little faded, | | | | printing. What you are paying for, in effect, is the |
| making it look a little, well, laser printed. You may do this | | | | indentations on the back of your invitation. |