Philadelphia wedding stationery design can be a jargon-heavy industry. I realized that neophytes might need a glossary of commonly-used terms to help them get up to speed:
Printing
I explained a few commonly used printing techniques in a previous post. Here are a few more terms that you might hear thrown around:
– Die: An etched metal plate used to create engraved or embossed images and type.
– Embossing: A printing process that uses two die to raise letters and images on the paper’s surface.
– Laser Cutting: A printing process that uses a laser to cut out words or design details on invitations.
Typeface
I posted a quick introduction to typefaces and fonts here, but for more of an in-depth discussion, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
– Font: This term is often used interchangeably with “typeface”, but in actuality it refers to one weight, width, and style of a typeface.
– Initial Cap: Also known as a “drop cap”, this term refers to the oversize first letter of a word you sometimes see used in a decorative typeface.
– Typeface: Often referred to as the “font”, this term refers to the style and appearance of a character or letter.
Paper
– Backer: Usually made of cardstock, the backer is the colored piece of paper that your invitation is displayed on top of .
– Stock: A term used to describe the thickness of paper.
– Tooth: This term refers to the texture of paper. The more tooth a paper has, the rougher it is to the touch.
Presentation
Most invitations are presented in envelopes, although for a more luxe presentation, you might opt for a boxed invitation. Other options include:
– Bifold: This presentation is more commonly used for greeting cards, but it works for wedding invitations, too.
– Gatefold: An invitation with two panels that meet in the center.
– Trifold: An invitation that is folded into three panels, brochure or accordion style.
– Pocketfold: A folded invitation with pockets on the inside to hold response cards and other enclosures.
Design Treatment
I’ve referenced the following in plenty of posts, but for a
– Belly Band: A ribbon, piece of paper, or piece of lace that wraps around the invitation to hold all the components together.
– Monogram: Many couples use a custom-designed monogram using their new initials as a wedding motif.
– Motif: A recurring theme used throughout a wedding’s details, including your invitations and other wedding paper.
Photo by Ashley Bartoletti Photography.