Your invitations set the scene for your upcoming event, which makes them the perfect canvas for sharing your wintery visions. Whether you opt for an evergreen, snow, ski lodge, or holiday theme (or eschew a theme altogether!), we can help you find the perfect paper and stationery for your upcoming winter wedding.
Get started with these inspiring invitations:
Paper Finish
When you’re creating your stationery suite, paper color or font choice might be your first consideration, but paper finish is just as important in setting the tone for your winter wedding.
Paper finish describes the look and feel of a sheet of paper, ranging from super smooth to tactile and textured.
Here are our favorite paper finishes for winter weddings:Incorporating a textured paper adds dimension to your invitation and stationery suite, as well as a subtle hint of luxury that will make your invites stand out from the rest.
Felt
This smooth texture is reminiscent of warm woolen coats and cozy flannel blankets. Its smooth enough to print on, and subtle enough to mix with other textures, including linen, Kraft, or translucent vellum.
Use felt paper for:
- Invitations
- Menus
- Placecards
- Programs
Check out these popular felt papers:
Shop our complete selection of felt paper.
Metallic
With a shimmery texture just like a freshly fallen layer of snow, metallic paper is the perfect way to add some wintery glam to your wedding paper suite. Try using a metallic envelope, or matting your invitations, programs, or menus onto metallic card stock.
Use metallic paper for:
- Envelopes
- DIY decorations
- Matting invitations, menus, and placecards
Check out these popular winter shades:
Shop our full selection of metallic paper.
Kraft
Kraft paper’s rustic look and feel is a popular for wedding stationery or DIY decorations. It’s a lovely, quiet neutral that can be dressed up or down, and it also complements just about any color palette. Gray Kraft paper is a little cooler, while brown Kraft paper can add some warmth to a cool color scheme. This suite by Amanda Michelle combines a light sage green with Kraft paper RSVP envelopes and a cute wintery floral motif:
Use Kraft paper for:
- DIY decorations—check out our favorite homemade Kraft paper decor!
- Envelopes
- Matting your menus and placecards
- Pocket invitations
Take a look at these Kraft papers:
Check out our complete selection of Kraft paper.
Translucent
Translucent vellum paper mimics the look of frosted glass, lending your paper and stationery suite an understated by undoubtedly winter feel. It’s also easy to print on, so it’s a great choice for your invitations, programs, or menus. Get inspired by these translucent menus by Laurel and Marie:
Use translucent paper for:
- Layering over your invitations or photographs
- Adding dimension to invitations
- Programs
- Menus
Take a look at these translucent sheets:
Shop our selection of translucent vellum paper.
Translucent envelopes are also an unexpected way to use paper to incorporate dimension into your invitation suite. Try sliding your invites into a translucent envelope before putting them in your outer envelope. Check out these translucent envelopes:
Weights
Your wedding paper suite is comprised of a number of different elements, each with a different purpose, and each with its own ideal paper weight. The weight you choose for your placecards may not be ideal for your programs, but without a little guidance, choosing the perfect weight can feel just as tough as finding your perfect dress. But before we jump in, it helps to know what paper weight really is.
Paper weight essentially describes the thickness of a sheet of paper. There are many different measurements of paper weight, but basis weight is the most common.
Basis Weight: The weight of 500 sheets of paper at its basic size (the size of the sheet before it’s cut down into the size that you purchase).
To make matters even more complicated, basis weight varies depending on paper grade. You know how standard printer paper is lighter and thinner than a pack of nice scrapbooking card stock? That’s because the standard printer paper is a different paper grade than the card stock. Each paper grade has its own basic size, and will therefore have a different basis weight—that’s why an 80lb cover stock and an 80lb text paper may weigh the same, but be totally different thicknesses.
The most common paper grades for wedding stationery are writing, which is thinner, and cover stock, which is a bit thicker. Still confused? Here are our suggestions.
Placecards
For your placecards or table numbers, you’ll want a heavier cover stock, such as 80 or 100 lb. cover. These durable stocks will stand up to being moved and shifted throughout your event, and they’ll also be strong enough to stand up on their own without requiring a frame. Try adding a hint of subtle flair by using a textured cover stock like linen or felt.
DIY TIP: If you’re planning to print your own placecards or table numbers, opt for an 80lb cover stock. Any heavier and it might not be compatible with your home printer. into the size that you purchase).
If you’re planning to hand letter your placecards, save time and effort by getting your placecards pre-cut.
Here are some of our favorite stocks for winter:
Programs
Lighter weights like 24lb writing are ideal for programs because they’re easier to print on and fold. For a slightly heavier feel, opt for a 28 lb writing paper. If you’re planning to print folded programs, make sure you get a crisp crease by having your paper professionally scored.
Menus
For your menus, you’ll want something a little thicker and more durable than your programs, but not necessarily something as thick as your placecards. A 65 lb. cover stock is perfect for menus—it’s easy to print on and heavy enough to stand up to the bustle of a busy table without the added price tag of a heavier stock. For a bit of added weight, opt for 80 lb. cover stock.
Invitations
Your invitation suite is a little more complicated. You’ll need a range of weights to accommodate all the separate elements like your save the dates, RSVP cards, and the proper invitation.
If you want a matted look, try printing your save the dates and invitations onto a lighter weight paper such as 24 lb writing, then backing them into a cover stock like 65 lb cover. For a simpler, less-layered appearance, you can use a heavier stock like 80 lb cover.
Take a look at our wedding shop to find the perfect paper, card stock, and envelopes for your stationery suite:
If you’re DIY-ing your invitation suite, our paper finishing services can help you achieve a sleek and professional look:
- Cutting: Dreading the thought of measuring and cutting out your invites, menus, and programs? Get your paper pre-cut and save yourself some time and effort.
- Scoring: If you’re folding your invites or programs, scoring your sheet can help you create a crisp crease. Scoring is especially important for thicker paper like 65 lb cover or heavier.
The Paper Mill Store also offers customized envelope printing services, including variable address printing, so you don’t need to worry about addressing all those envelopes by hand!
Learn more about our paper finishing services.
Extra Embellishments
A few added details and embellishments can take your stationery suite—DIY or otherwise—to the next level. Try these special additions:
- Your envelopes are a great opportunity to play around with color and drama. Try using a dark jewel tone, or opt for a glittery metallic.
- Hand-drawn typefaces (or ones that look hand lettered) add a touch of warmth and personality in an otherwise cool season. Check out these colorful invites by Jenn Saslow:
- Lined envelopes add a hint (or more!) of shimmer. Try using subtle pearl-lined envelopes for an understated look, or opt for a brighter metallic liner for a little more pop.
- Incorporate on-theme wintery motifs into your printed designs, such as wreaths, sleighs, holly, or even Letterpress designs for some added luxury.
- Satin is quintessentially winter, and adds tactile luxury to your invitation suite. Try tying your invites, RSVP cards, and other enclosures in satin ribbon before sliding them into your outer envelope, like these invites by DK Wedding Designs:
Winter Wonderful
If you’re planning a winter wedding, we hope our WInter Wedding Guide helped inspire you with seasonal accents, color palettes, and stationery suggestions.
Take a look at our wedding category for more inspiration and great DIY ideas for your event.
Keep Reading the Winter Wedding Guide
Read the rest of our Wedding Guide and get inspired with our favorite winter color palettes, as well as our expert paper and stationery suggestions!
Highlight the season with four of our favorite winter themes and motifs.
Set the tone for your event with modern and traditional seasonal hues.
Get our expert tips for designing winter wedding stationery.
Take a look at our wedding category for more inspiration and great DIY ideas for your event.
