Wedding invitation paper: types, weight and how to choose
The best wedding invitation paper is usually a card stock of between 250 and 300 g/m². Opaline is the most versatile, laid paper the most classic, watercolour or cotton paper the most special and kraft the most rustic. Here is what each type is like, which paper weight to ask for, how much your invitation will weigh and a detail few people mention: how each paper behaves when you add a QR code.
Which wedding invitation paper to choose, at a glance
| Paper | What it is like | Approximate weight | Works well with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opaline | Smooth white or cream card, very stiff | 250-300 g/m² | Almost any design, including full colour |
| Laid | Fine raised lines, classic feel | 250-300 g/m² | Formal weddings and elegant typefaces |
| Coated or gloss art | Smooth, matt or glossy, vivid colours | 250-350 g/m² | Invitations with photos |
| Watercolour | Visible grain and a handmade look | 185-300 g/m² | Illustrations and deckled edges |
| Cotton | Thick and soft, with real presence | 300 g/m² or more | Letterpress and luxury weddings |
| Kraft | Brown, matt and natural | Varies by maker | Rustic weddings, with black or white ink |
| Vellum | Translucent and thin | 90-200 g/m² | Top layer over another card |
| Recycled or seeded | Uneven texture and visible fibres | Varies | Sustainable weddings |
These figures are a guide, because they change by manufacturer. Before you decide, ask the printer for a sample pack. Many offer one, and you cannot choose paper well on a screen.
Types of wedding invitation paper
Opaline paper: the most versatile
It is a very stiff card with a clean white, smooth or lightly textured. It handles full-colour designs well, which is why printers use it so often. If you have no firm idea, it is the safest choice and usually gives good quality for the price.
Laid paper: the classic
You can spot it by the fine raised lines you feel when you run a finger over it. It comes in off-white, cream or ivory, and it carries tradition without trying. It takes digital printing, and at around 300 g/m² it feels very good in the hand. It is the usual choice for the most formal wedding invitations.
Coated paper: best for photos
It has a coating that leaves it very smooth, with a matt, satin or gloss finish, and colours come out vivid. It reproduces a photograph better than any other. The gloss version reflects light, so if your invitation has a lot of text, matt will serve you better.
Watercolour paper: the handmade look
It has a grain you can see at a glance and the look of handmade work. It suits illustrations, landscapes and torn edges, which are typical of countryside weddings. The grain takes away some printing precision, so avoid very thin, small lettering.
Cotton paper: the most special
Made from cotton fibre, it is thick, soft and has real body. It is the traditional partner of letterpress, the printing that leaves letters pressed into the paper. It is also one of the most expensive, so some couples keep it for the main card and use another paper for the rest.
Kraft paper: the rustic one
It is brown, matt and reminds you of wrapping paper. It goes very well with countryside weddings, and works best with black or white ink. Full-colour designs rarely look good, because the brown background alters the tones.
Vellum and onionskin: the translucent ones
Both let light through and give that veil effect so popular on wedding invitations. They are usually laid over a card and held with a ribbon, a wax seal or an envelope. They are similar but not the same: vellum has more body and prints more reliably, while onionskin is much thinner and more delicate. Ink behaves differently on both, so use an experienced printer and ask for a proof before the full order.
Recycled or seeded paper: the sustainable one
Recycled paper has visible fibres and a less even tone. Seeded paper goes a step further: guests can plant it after the wedding. Keep in mind its surface is uneven, so a simple, large typeface will read best.
What paper weight to use for wedding invitations
Paper weight, also called gsm (grams per square metre), tells you how much one square metre of that paper weighs. For reference, a normal sheet of office paper is 80 g/m². An invitation needs a lot more:
- Under 200 g/m²: it bends easily. Good for inner sheets or small loose cards.
- Between 200 and 300 g/m²: the usual range. At 250 g/m² it already feels firm, and at 300 g/m² it feels high quality.
- Over 300 g/m²: an invitation with real presence, and also a dearer one. Check first that the printer can print that thickness.
How much your invitation weighs
If you plan to post them, this calculation matters. We multiplied the area of each size by its paper weight, so this is the weight of a single card, without the envelope:
| Paper weight | A6 (10.5 × 14.8 cm) | A5 (14.8 × 21 cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 250 g/m² | 3.9 g | 7.8 g |
| 300 g/m² | 4.7 g | 9.3 g |
| 350 g/m² | 5.4 g | 10.9 g |
On top of that comes the envelope and anything else you put inside, such as cards, vellum or ribbons. Assemble one complete invitation and weigh it before you buy stamps, because postage changes with weight. The standard envelope for A6 is C6 (11.4 × 16.2 cm) and for A5 it is C5 (16.2 × 22.9 cm).
Wedding invitation paper and printing: what goes with what
Choosing the paper and the printing method go together, because not everything prints on everything:
- Digital printing: the most common and the cheapest for small runs. It works well with opaline, coated paper and many laid papers.
- Letterpress: it presses the letters into the paper, so it needs thick, soft papers such as cotton.
- Foil stamping: it leaves a metallic finish. It looks best on smooth papers, because on heavily textured ones the line is less crisp.
- Screen printing: the answer for printing white on dark papers or kraft, which a normal printer cannot do.
Printing wedding invitations at home
You can, but check your printer’s maximum paper weight first, because many home printers jam on thick card. Use the manual feed tray if it has one, and test with a single sheet. If you are not happy with the result, many print shops will print small runs on paper you bring.
Best paper for wedding invitations with a QR code
More and more couples add a QR code so guests can RSVP from their phones. For it to work, the paper needs some thought, and it is worth checking before you print the whole run:
- Opaline, laid and matt coated: the safest. A dark QR code on a light background scans first time.
- Glossy coated: it can create glare under the phone’s light. Matt is better if the QR code is the star.
- Watercolour and recycled: the grain can break up the smallest squares. Make it a little bigger and print a test.
- Kraft: it loses contrast, so print the QR code in black and, if you can, on a light panel.
- Vellum and onionskin: better not to put it there, because the background shows through. Move it to the card underneath.
Whatever paper you choose, the QR code should measure at least 2 × 2 cm with a white margin around it. Before ordering, test it with two different phones on a printed sheet. We explain it step by step in our guide to QR code wedding invitations.
We’re getting married
Marta & Pablo
12 June 2027
RSVP here
Where to buy wedding invitation paper
There are three routes, depending on how much you want to do yourselves:
- A printer or a wedding stationer: they advise you, show samples and handle everything. It is the easiest way if you want special finishes.
- An online printer: you upload the design, pick the paper from a list and it arrives at your door. Ask for the sample pack if they have one, as it is usually free or very cheap.
- Paper and art supply shops: the choice for anyone printing or doing calligraphy at home. Buy a few extra sheets, because some always go wrong.
Also think about how many you need, which is fewer than it seems: one per couple or family, not one per guest. Add a margin of around 10% for envelope mistakes, last-minute additions and the odd keepsake. If you do not have your text yet, here is some wedding invitation wording ready to copy.
What if you decide against paper
A middle route is to print just a few for grandparents and traditional relatives, and send everyone else a digital wedding invitation by WhatsApp. For ideas before you decide, take a look at these unique wedding invitation ideas on paper and online.
Frequently asked questions
What type of paper is used for wedding invitations?
The most common are opaline, laid and coated paper, usually between 250 and 300 g/m². For special finishes, couples use cotton paper, watercolour paper, kraft and, as a translucent layer, vellum.
What is the best paper for wedding invitations?
There is no single best paper. The one printers are asked for most is opaline card, for its stiffness and clean white. Laid paper has the raised lines, and vellum is the translucent one that goes on top.
What paper weight is best for a wedding invitation?
Between 250 and 300 g/m² is the most recommended. Below 200 g/m² it bends easily, and above 300 g/m² you should confirm that the printer can handle it.
What is the difference between vellum and onionskin paper?
Both are translucent, but vellum has more body and holds print better, while onionskin is much thinner and more delicate. They are usually laid over the invitation as a top layer.
Can you put a QR code on any paper?
Almost any, but it does not scan the same on all of them. On opaline or laid paper it works very well. On grainy papers or kraft, make it bigger and test it first, and on vellum or onionskin move it to the card underneath.
Can you print wedding invitations at home?
Yes, if your printer accepts the paper weight. Check the maximum in its specifications, use the manual tray and test a single sheet before printing the rest.
