Frequently Asked Questions

Product Information

Purchasing

Custom Orders

Making an Impact

Printing Terms and Definitions

An antique letterpress

Paper thickness scale

Frequently Asked Questions

Product Information

What is the difference between thermography and letterpress?

Letterpress printing makes stunning and unique wedding stationery. Letterpress printing has an evident style; deep impressions, crisp lines, and subtle variations in color as no two letterpressed pieces are the same. Letterpressed stationery is treasured for its noticeably artistic feel, making each invitation a delightful piece of art.

We use a two-step printing process for our thermography cards. First, all the graphics are printed with an offset printer. Offset printing is the standard in modern printing, leaving crisp lines and even color, but no noticeable imprint- somewhat similar to an inkjet printed card. Next, we print the text with a thermography printer. Thermography mimics engraving, so that your text will have a noticeablely raised surface. Our thermography cards have a very crisp, elegant feel but are more cost effective.

Is the color on my computer monitor the same as the stationery?

No. The colors on your monitor can be changed towards your preference, guaranteeing that the color you see on your monitor is not the exact color of the invitation- though it is likely to be very similar. Please order a sample invitation to see exactly how the colors will look on the printed stationery piece.

What papers do you use?

We use Crane’s 100% cotton paper that has been specifically designed for letterpress printing. These papers are 100% cotton, a renewable resource and earth-friendly paper, that features a rich, velvety texture. This paper is celebrated for its ability to make exquisite letterpress impressions. We use a thicker paper (four) for letterpress invitations and a thinner, more pliable version (three) of the paper for all other stationery pieces including our thermography printed invitations. Our fabulous letterpress papers are available in Pearl-White or Ecru.

How does your paper thickness scale translate?

We created our scale from one to five, five being the thickest. We use five for thick coasters, four for invitations and postcards, three for all other stationery, two for envelopes, one for tissue envelopes liners.

Why can’t you match color swatches I send you to the exact, precise color?

We are glad to match your colors through the Color Matching Proof product or you may create a Custom design. When you send us your sample swatches of color we will do our best to match the color in hue and feeling. Letterpress printing is an art and not a science. Therefore, we won’t be able to precisely match your swatch for one reason: the letterpress translates color differently than every other method of printing. Some reasons behind this: the paper will show through the ink and slightly shift the color, letterpresses uses light applications of ink and therefore it will appear less “full” than ink used for books, magazines, etc. Also, during the printing process, ink is continually added to the press, creating a slight variation throughout all your stationery. These are the same very elements that create the charm of letterpress, making each piece of your stationery a unique piece of art.

Can I use other languages besides English?

Yes. We are able to use Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic or other languages if you are able to send us the text in the native language. Invitations can be designed with bilingual text as space permits and you may find that creating a custom invitation with Smitten Invitations may be the best option for bilingual wedding stationery. Please contact us before placing your order so we can collect your text, as it cannot be added through the Design Center process.

How long in advance should I order my invitations?: We recommend ordering your invitations three to six months in advance from your wedding date. It will take approximately two to four weeks to receive your invitations after you have ordered them, depending on the time of year. Custom invitation orders can take up three months to receive.
We recommend mailing the invitations to your guest six to eight weeks before your wedding. Remember to give yourself enough time to address them all, especially if you are using a professional calligrapher. Save the Date cards can be mailed six to nine months in advance if you have out of town guests.
How many invitations should I order?: The general rule of thumb is that your invitation order should be a little more than half of your guest list. If you are inviting 200 guests to your wedding, you should order about 125 invitations. And be careful to order enough the first time, as it is costly to order a smaller quantity at a later time.
What if I’d prefer to purchase with a check than credit card?: Call a Smitten Invitation representative. We can take your check over the phone or send you an order form if you’d prefer to purchase by mail.
What is your return policy?: Please see our return policy for more information.
Do I need to pay sales tax?: California Residents must pay 7.75% State Sales Tax
Do you give discounts?: Yes, with proper documentation we offer a 10% off discount to brides and grooms who currently work full time in the military or a non-profit business. Please call a Smitten Invitation representative for more information.
Will you reprint my stationery to sell as samples?: Yes, but only with your permission. We only distribute extra prints of your invitation after your wedding has occurred. If you'd prefer that we do not reprint your invitations, you can alert us on the digital proof you receive, or you can contact us toll-free at 1.877.705.1277.

Custom Orders
What is a custom wedding stationery order?: Custom wedding stationery allows the engaged couple to be the art director. Working together with a Smitten Invitations designer, the engaged couple will have the opportunity to pick colors, designs, papers, ribbons- you name it- to make sure their wedding stationery fits their wedding like a glove. It’s an exciting process that concludes with memorable, one of a kind wedding stationery. You can see other couples who have designed custom wedding stationery with Smitten Invitations here.
How much do custom orders cost?: Custom designed wedding stationery costs are as diverse as the couples who create them. Typically, a custom designed invitation can begin at $10 a card.
How long do custom orders take to create?: It depends on the complexity of the design chosen by the engaged couple. If you are considering custom designed wedding stationery, please contact us at least four to six months before your wedding.
Can I use custom or handmade papers with my Custom Wedding Invitations?: We’d be glad to use any paper that can stand up to the letter pressing process. Handmade papers and imported papers typically take 10 to 15 business days to arrive. Some handmade papers can take up to six weeks for delivery. Be prepared to contact us about paper selections well in advance of your final product mailing date.
Handmade papers can also feature small imperfections, such as a piece of dust or pulp that is roughly filtered; these imperfections, when letterpressed, can cause unexpected changes and variety within your stationery. This is also the value of specialty papers. The imperfections make each piece of stationery unique and individual.
Will you resell my custom designed stationery?: Yes, and we’ll name them after your wedding’s location! We would love to feature you in our Custom Design section on our website, starring you and your beautiful day. We will resell your designs one year after your wedding through our Smitten Invitations website. We may use your design “as is” or redesign it as needed.

Making an Impact
Who benefits from Smitten Invitation's charitable contributions?: We find organizations that work primarily with women and children, such as homeless shelters, safe houses and work therapy groups. Currently our list includes Hope Gardens, S.O.S. of Mailbu and World Vision. A 10% contribution is given from Smitten Invitation profits once a month. Please feel free to click the links to learn more about these responsible non-profit groups.
What is Smitten Invitation's impact on the environment?: Smitten Invitations is always on the lookout for new methods of printing that are earth-friendly and we incorporate these methods as much as possible. We use treeless papers, such as our 100% cotton wedding stationery paper (which is a renewable resource) and we also acid free washes for our printing plates.
Currently the paper and printing industry are making advances to become environmentally friendly. However, many alternative printing methods and inks still do not achieve the high quality results Smitten Invitation demands. Options such as 100% recycled papers are available upon request for an additional fee. Please contact a Smitten Invitations representative to discuss your options.

Printing Terms and Definitions

Bleed: An image or printed color that runs off the edge of the paper. Bleeding increases the amount of paper needed, which may increase the production cost of the job. Bleeds are created by trimming the page to size after the printing is completed.
Cold press Paper: A method of paper making that does not require heat to finish the papermaking process. Cold press papers have a "tooth" finish of varying degrees and are ideal for deep letterpress impressions.
Die Cutting: The use of a sharp, formed piece of metal to cut out specific shapes in a piece of paper.
Digital Printing: New printing technology in which electronic files are used in a professional grade digital printer. Typically used for short-run printing. Digital printing does not leave an indent or noticeable texture.
Ecru, the color: A cream/beige/off-white color that is the natural un-bleached color of the paper.
Embossing: The creation of a raised image or text by pressing a shape into a sheet of paper with a metal or plastic die. Embossed printing leaves an indent on the front.
Engraving: A printing process using recessed metal plates. Ink sits in the recessed wells of the plate, and when immense pressure is applied, raised letters and images appear on the front of the paper.
Foiling: A small amount of metallic foil is pressed onto a printed document in a special process, leaving a thin amount of foil in a shape or text as desired.
Ghost Hit: An impression made with letterpress, embossed, or engraved printing. Ink is not used, leaving a deep yet elegant indent of a shape or text as desired.
Halftone: A stylistic process that changes an image into miniscule dots of various sizes that visually mimic a continuous layer of ink. Halftone is typically used when offset printing an image or photograph in a four color process.
Hot press Paper: A method of paper making that uses heat and pressure to finish the paper making process. Hot press papers have a smooth finish and are ideal for light letterpress impressions or engraving.
Laser Printer: Often used in homes and small business, laser printers use toner, not ink, as opposed to inkjet printers. Thin papers must be used and toner can often flake off thick papers. Laser printers do not leave a noticeable indent or texture.
Letterpress Printing: A form of printing in which a raised image or type is inked and then impressed directly onto the printing surface. Colors are added in layers, each layer taking an additional run through the machine. Once the typical method of printing, it is now considered more of a fine art. Letterpress printing leaves a light to deep indent and crisp lines but may have difficulty printing large blocks of solid color.
Inkjet Printer: Often used in homes, inkjet printers use ink, not toner, as opposed to a laser printer. Inkjet printers can handle thicker papers, however the ink is easily smudged, especially when wet. Inkjet printers do not leave a noticeable indent or texture but are able to create large areas of even, solid color.
Offset Printing: An indirect printing process whereby ink is transferred to the paper by a blanket that carries an impression from the printing plate, rather than directly from the plate itself. This is the most common method of commercial printing at this time. Offset printing does not leave a noticeable indent or texture but is able to create large areas of even, solid color.
Proof: A method of checking for errors prior to printing an order. Proofs are not the final product but are meant to be an exact and final representation of what the product will be. Proofs can be a physical sample or sent digitally.
Run: Printer jargon for how many pieces of paper go through the printer. A small run is typically a minimum of a thousand pieces; a large run could be over hundred-thousand pieces.
Silkscreen: A process of making a print during which an image is imposed on a screen of silk. Ink is then forced through the mesh onto the paper surface. Silkscreen does not leave a noticeable indent, but is valued for its stylistic un-crisp lines and semi-transparent effect.
Thermography: A finishing technique applied after printing that raises the ink and gives the effect of engraved printing without the high costs.
Tooth: Tooth is the surface texture of paper. The more tooth a paper has the rougher it feels to the touch.