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Letterpress wedding invitations press ink deep into thick cotton paper, creating a tactile impression no other printing technique replicates. Starting at $500, they're the most distinctive printed invitation available — available in one or two colors, with optional metallic foil stamping and matching envelopes.
Letterpress wedding invitations are the most tactile, visually distinctive printed option available. The process presses ink into thick cotton or bamboo paper, creating a debossed impression that guests can feel when they hold the card. No two pieces come out identically, which is part of what makes them worth the cost.
Browse all wedding invitation styles or keep reading to find your letterpress design.
At Bliss & Bone, letterpress invitations start at $527.50 for 25 A7 cards with one ink color. Additional colors add $415 or more per hue, since each requires a separate plate. Metallic foil starts at $655 for 25 cards.
White cotton card stock is the standard for letterpress. It's thick enough to hold the impression cleanly and provides the contrast you need for ink colors to read clearly. Darker ink on lighter paper always works better than the reverse, since letterpress ink is slightly translucent.
If you want a subtler effect, blind deboss skips the ink entirely. The impression is still pressed into the paper, creating a tone-on-tone look that reads as refined and restrained rather than decorative.
For couples who want more surface drama, metallic foil stamping uses a heat-stamp process rather than traditional ink. Gold, silver, and rose gold are the most common choices. Foil can cover the full design or serve as an accent on specific elements like names or monograms.
Digital printing is the most affordable option and the easiest to execute for multi-color designs. It produces clean, uniform results but lacks the tactile dimension of letterpress.
Engraving creates raised lettering by pressing a plate into the paper from the back. It's the most expensive printing style, starting around $2,200 for 100 invites, and predates letterpress as the traditional choice for formal stationery.
Thermography mimics the raised look of engraving using heat-set powder over flat ink. It costs less than engraving but doesn't have the same depth or feel as letterpress.
Embossing raises the design up from the paper surface rather than pressing into it — the opposite of letterpress. The two techniques are sometimes combined on the same piece.
If printed invitations aren't the right fit, our online wedding invitations use designs built to replicate the dimensional look of letterpress on screen.
Minimalist letterpress. A single ink color on white cotton stock, clean serif or script typography, no additional embellishment. Works for almost any wedding aesthetic and keeps costs lower by limiting the design to one plate.
Blind deboss. No ink. The impression appears as a subtle shadow across the paper surface. Particularly effective for monograms and botanical motifs.
Foil and letterpress combined. Couples use letterpress for the body text and foil stamping for names, initials, or a wedding logo. The two processes require separate production runs, which increases cost, but the result is striking.
Multi-color letterpress. Each color requires its own plate and press run. Two colors are common; three or more push costs significantly. Most designers recommend keeping letterpress to one or two colors for readability and budget control.
Letterpress with a monogram or logo. A custom wedding monogram or wedding logo at the top of the card is one of the most popular add-ons for letterpress suites. The combination of a custom mark and pressed type gives the invitation a completed, cohesive feel.
Letterpress is a formal printing style, and the wording typically reflects that. The most traditional format opens with the hosts' names and titles, names the couple, and spells out the date and time in full. "Mr. and Mrs. John Michael Smith request the honor of your presence" is standard for religious ceremonies; "the pleasure of your company" is correct for all other venues.
For couples hosting their own wedding, the invitation opens with the couple's names directly. Informal versions use first names only and write the date numerically rather than spelled out.
Attire, RSVP instructions, and reception details are typically handled on separate insert cards rather than on the invitation itself. Given the cost per plate in letterpress, keeping the main card focused on essential details makes both design and budget sense.
For a full breakdown of what to include and how to address each envelope, see our wedding invitation etiquette guide and how to address a wedding invitation.
Letterpress takes longer than digital printing. Factor in design consultation, proofing rounds, production, and shipping before setting your send date. Invitations should reach guests six to eight weeks before the wedding; destination weddings should push that to ten to twelve weeks.
Standard: First proof in three business days. Production is 12–15 days after approval. Ground shipping adds three to five days.
Rush: First proof in two business days. Production is 10 days. 25% upcharge.
Lightning: First proof in one business day. Production is seven days. 50% upcharge.
Hand calligraphy on envelopes adds two to three business days to any timeline. For guidance on timing your full invitation send, see when to send wedding invitations.
Letterpress works across the full stationery set. Coordinating items include reply cards, envelope liners, belly bands, and wedding save the dates. If you're adding a cash registry or directing guests to your wedding website for RSVPs, insert cards are the standard way to handle that.
Couples who want the most formally coordinated result typically match their rehearsal dinner invitations to the letterpress design as well.
For additional premium invitation styles, browse luxury wedding invitations, formal wedding invitations, and designer wedding invitations. If price is a consideration, our full collection of printed wedding invitations includes options across all price ranges.
At Bliss & Bone, letterpress starts at $527.50 for 25 A7 cards with one color. Each additional ink color adds $415 or more. Metallic foil starts at $655 for 25 cards.
White or off-white cotton card stock. It's thick enough to hold the impression cleanly and provides the right surface for ink to read clearly.
Yes. Foil stamping and letterpress are separate processes that can be combined on the same card. The foil is heat-stamped; the letterpress is ink-pressed. Each requires its own production run.
Standard production is 12–15 business days after proof approval, plus shipping. Rush and Lightning options are available with upcharges.
Letterpress is a premium process but it doesn't require formal wording. Blind deboss and single-color minimalist designs work well for relaxed or outdoor weddings.
