By Judy J. Thompson

Not many people give paper a second thought, but when ordering or creating your own wedding invitations, suddenly paper becomes an important issue and decision.

Do you want heavy card stock or handmade paper?  The first step is deciding what type of style is the wedding?  Once this decision on theme or style is established, it will be easier to choose the paper for your invitation ensemble.

Handmade papers are a thick, fibrous paper made from natural vegetable substances.  They are usually made in smaller quantities and are more expensive but come in larger sheets with a price range of $3.00 - $8.00 per sheet.  Handmade paper is very popular with a wide array of designs and textures.

Hemp paper is a thinner and softer type of paper while Crane paper is a heavyweight cotton paper, which offers borders.

Flocked paper has a soft, raised pattern and resembles flocked wallpaper once seen in Victorian homes, while Marble paper has a marble look to it.

Solar image paper is unique by lying a design e.g. leaves on top of the paper and allowing the sun to bleach the paper.  The paper underneath the design, which gets no sunshine at all, will be darker.

Paper is available with Droplets, which is a raised gold drops designed in a pattern.  Glitter paper is glitter glued onto the paper in a specific design.  Some papers even offer a stitched design for a homespun look or flowers and seeds pressed into the paper.

This may not be what the couple had in mind?  Maybe Metallic paper is more suited to their personalities or taste.  Metallic paper has a shiny metallic finish and some are available with a pearl finish.

Watercolour paper has a thick, fibrous texture.  It is soft and comes in a variety of lovely pastel shades with a deckle (rough) edge or a plain edge.

Vellum paper is popular too.  This smooth, translucent paper can come in various colours and designs such as flecks, leaves, swirls, stripes or butterflies and flowers.  Vellum Finished paper is smooth but not translucent.  The word ‘Vellum’ means smooth.  Vellum is available in sizes 8 ½ x 11 and 12 x 12.

So don’t settle for just plain paper when there are so many options to be had.  The couple can even go with a handmade paper and vellum combo!  Your choice in paper gives the guests a sneak peak to your wedding theme and a hint about your style as a soon to be married couple.