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autumn fall wedding guide paper stationery

Autumn Wedding Guide: Paper & Stationery

In Part 1 of our Autumn Wedding Guide, we explored our favorite fall wedding themes. Part 2 looked at autumn color palettes, ranging from traditional fall colors to alternative hues like navy, magenta, and purple. In Part 3, we take a closer look at fall-friendly wedding stationery.

Whether you’ve left your invitations a little late (no judgment!), are planning ahead for next year, or are looking for the perfect paper for your upcoming event, we’ve got you covered. Get started with these inspiring invitations.

All images used with permission.

Here are our paper and stationery suggestions:

Paper Finish

Paper finish describes the look and texture of a sheet of paper. It can range from super smooth to rough and toothy, including the popular linen texture, as well as luxurious metallic sheets and rustic Kraft paper. Paper finish may not seem as important as color or font when it comes to choosing your stationery, but it can go a long way to setting the tone for your event.

Here are our favorite paper finishes for autumn weddings:

Linen

Reminiscent of burlap, the understated linen texture adds a touch of rustic sophistication to your stationery and paper decor. It’s subtle enough to mix with other finishes (such as felt) – another design choice that’s perfect for fall.

Use linen paper for:

  • Invitations
  • Menus
  • Placecards
  • Programs

Check out these popular linen papers:

Shop our complete selection of linen paper.

Felt

Felt finish papers feature a texture similar to wool felt. Its soft, subtle texture is more tactile than visual, making this finish ideal for paper and stationery that your guests will hold in their hands. And with a feel that’s similar to the warm, cozy texture of fall flannel and the luxurious sheen of velvet, its perfect for Woodlands or Halloween-themed weddings.

  • Invitations
  • Envelopes
  • Menus
  • Programs

Kraft Paper

Kraft paper is absolutely perfect for fall. It’s a quiet neutral shade that can easily be dressed up or down depending on your color palette, font choice, and the overall look and feel of your event.

Use Kraft paper for:

Take a look at these Kraft papers:

Check out our complete selection of Kraft paper.

Get inspired! This sleek suite by Signature Nicole combines a gray Kraft paper with a clean and neutral ivory envelope and a bright royal blue punch – perfect for fall!

Metallic Paper

Metallic paper adds extra luxury to autumn weddings, which are often casual and rustic in line with the season. Plus, metallic paper is available in pretty much every color you can imagine, so you’re sure to find the perfect shade for your color palette.

Use metallic paper for:

  • DIY decorations
  • Matting your invitations, menus and placecards
  • Envelopes

Check out these popular autumn shades:

Shop our full selection of metallic paper.

Paper Weight

When it comes to wedding stationery, selecting the right paper weight is just as important as choosing a paper finish. Different paper weights are better suited for different uses; for example, a heavy card stock is perfect for placecards, but isn’t ideal for programs.

Not sure what weight to choose? Here are our suggestions.

Placecards

For placecards, opt for a heavier card stock with a bit of texture for added subtle flair. For hand-lettered placecards, try using a heavier stock like 80 or 100lb cover. Getting your placecards pre-cut can also help save you time and effort. If you’re printing your placecards, 80lb works best – any thicker and it may not be compatible with your home printer.

Programs

A lighter weight like 24lb writing is ideal for programs so they’re easy to print on and fold. Make your prep easier and save yourself some time by getting your paper cut, scored, or perforated.  

Menus

A lightweight card stock works well for menus. It can be tempting to choose a heavier stock to add extra heft, but heavier stocks often require special consideration when printing. A 65lb or 80lb card stock is perfect for printing at home.

These labels by Bilancia Designs feature a bright white stock embellished with acorns and pumpkins. If you aren’t having a buffet-style wedding, this design could also work for fall-themed placecards.

Invitations

When it comes to invitations, you’ll need a range of weights. We recommend printing your information on a lighter weight paper and backing it onto a heavier card stock mat for a bit of added luxury and durability. This will help keep the weight of your invite a bit lower, which will save you on postage costs.

Here are our favourite papers, card stocks, and envelopes for DIY wedding invitations:

Our paper finishing services make it easy to DIY your invitations and other wedding stationery. In addition to saving you valuable time prepping your paper, professional finishing services ensure that your homemade invites and paper goods look pristine and professional on your wedding day:

  • Cutting: Instead of measuring and cutting sheets of paper and cardstock down to size for menus or programs, simply buy sheets that are already cut down to the size you need.
  • Scoring: Scoring is especially important if you plan on folding card stock or heavier paper, which can crack or tear if not folded properly. Apply scoring services for DIY folded programs or invitations.
  • Perforating: Instead of cutting out each placecard by hand, get your sheet perforating and simply tear!

The Paper Mill Store also offers customized envelope printing services – that means you don’t have to worry about addressing all those envelopes!

Invitation Ensembles

Printing and preparing your invitations at home is a popular way to help reduce the cost of your wedding. But between the invitation itself, RSVP cards, inner and outer envelopes, and all the possible enclosures, creating your own DIY invitation suite can seem like more trouble that it’s worth. Pre-made invitation ensembles make it easy to create a simple and sophisticated invitation suite that includes everything you’ll need without requiring you to spend extra time folding your invites or cutting your RSVP cards.

The Paper Mill Store carries a wide selection of pre-made invitation ensembles in a number of colors, finishes, and styles, including flat cards, pocket invitations, and panel invitations. With colors ranging from basic white and soft ivory to rustic Kraft paper, subtle embossing, and even shimmering metallics, you’re sure the find the perfect invitation suite for your autumn wedding. Here are some of our favorite fall sets:

Find the perfect invitation ensemble for your autumn wedding at our Wedding Shop.

Extra Embellishments

There’s more to designing your wedding stationery than simply choosing a color and paper finish. Add a little something extra to your invitation suite with these autumn-inspired ideas:

  • Toss a few paper leaves into your envelopes. Instead of a guestbook, you could even have guests write well wishes on the leaves and drop them into a special box at your event.
  • Incorporate an autumnal theme by adorning your invites with a LetterPress or embossed acorn, pinecone, or leaf. If you love the look of LetterPress, check out our Lettra papers – they’re specifically designed for LetterPress printing!
  • Complement the sense of whimsy that comes along with the season using a calligraphic, hand-drawn typeface.

Get Ready for a Gorgeous Autumn Wedding

If you’re planning an autumn wedding for the upcoming season, it’s never too early to start working on your decor! We hope our autumn wedding guide provides seasonal inspiration your fall-themed event. If your event isn’t till next year, it’s also the perfect time to start thinking about your wedding stationery.

Check out our wedding shop and find the perfect invitation ensemble for your autumn wedding.

Take a look at our wedding category for more inspiration and great DIY ideas for your event.


Keep Reading the Autumn Wedding Guide

Read the rest of our Wedding Guide and get inspired with our favorite fall color palettes, as well as our expert paper and stationery suggestions!

autumn fall wedding guide themes

Themes

Highlight the season with four of our favorite fall themes and motifs.

KEEP READING

autumn fall wedding guide color palettes

Colors

Set the tone for your event with modern and traditional seasonal hues.

KEEP READING

autumn fall wedding guide stationery paper

Paper & Stationery

Get our expert tips for designing fall wedding stationery.

YOU’RE HERE!

Take a look at our wedding category for more inspiration and great DIY ideas for your event.

Steph Schinkel

Steph is an avid crafter, DIY enthusiast, and regular contributor to The Paper who loves to handmake all of her cards. Above all else, Steph is a die-hard foodie with a massive sweet tooth and a deep, soul-consuming love for chocolate.