Fine Stationery and Invitations
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Wedding

High Quality Formal Invitations and Accessories

Printing Types

You can choose among Engraving, Embossing, Letterpress, Foil-stamping, Thermography, Lithography or Digital printing for you ensembles. Each process has it's own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.

Letterpress or Foil-stamping

Think Gutenberg; his printing press was a letterpress. Letterpress is produced by creating a plate with the text raised. Similar to engraving, this plate is fastened to a press. Ink is applied to the plate and then the plate is stamped onto the waiting paper. The pressure of the press forces the inked letters into the paper. Each plate is run separately, every piece of paper is fed individually into the press and then set aside to dry, which creates a time-consuming process similar to engraving.

Thermography or Lithography

Thermography and Lithography (flat printing), unlike the other processes, are produced on a high-speed offset press - the same kind of press used to produce newspapers, magazines, flyers and other printed items. The two processes differ after the press puts ink on the paper. Flat printed pieces are complete at that point. Thermographed items, on the other hand, are then sprinkled with powdered resin which sticks to the wet ink. The excess resin is then vacuumed off the paper and the stationery proceeds through a heated tunnel. The high temperature causes the ink and resin mixture to boil and results in the raised effect you can feel on the completed stationery. The finished piece has an appearance similar to engraving but without the bruising on the reverse, and the text typically takes on a slightly shiny appearance.

Traditional Invitations

A traditional invitation is typically a simple invitation with a single font or a combination of fonts.

If you would like your invitation to reflect a certain format or layout from a sample on our website, please write the sample number listed in the description on the order form. Each section on all pages will list the sample numbers beginning with 1. For example, You would write the following on your order form: Website Wedding Invitation 1 or Website Reception Card 3.

Click the samples to enlarge them for better viewing.

60ELC

TS 43S & TS 60

Gold Foil & Gold Ink

TS 43S Monogram

Sample 1

60WREC

TS 43S & TS 60

Midnight

Victorian SH Duogram

Sample 2

30 PLC

TS 8

Black

Sample 4

60ELC

TS 9

Black

Custom Crest

Sample 3

60ELC

TS 32 & 32W

Black

Sample 5

30PLC+

TS 93 & TS 60

Gold Foil Stamping

Sample 6

60ELC

TS43S & TS 52

Midnight & Sage

TL333 motif Taupe

Sample 7

61ELC

TS 43S & TS 51

Black

Sample 8

61ELC

TS 7

TS 43 embossed duogram

Black

Sample 10

30PLC

TS 43S & 52

Palm 364 & RBO3 Motif

Slate

Sample 9

60ELC

TS43R & TS 51

Slate

Sample 11

60WREC

TS 93 & TS 5

Midnight & Thistle

Custom double embossed border

RC09 motif

Sample 13

30PLC+

TS 43S & TS 60

Slate

Sample 18

60ELC

TS 5

Black

Sample 20

30PLC+

TS 43S & TS 5

Black

TS 2 Classic Monogram

Sample 19

61ELC

TS 51 & TS 43R

Black

Sample 21

60ELC

TS 32 & 32W

Mocha

TL169 motif screened in background

Sample 24

60ELC

TS 32W

Gold

Custom Duogram

Sample 27

60 ELC

TS 7 & TS 43S

Wedgewood & Gray Ink

Custom monogram

Thick-thin border

Sample 29

60ELC

TS 43S & TS 32W

Motif RP1 with Bleed

Slate & Burgundy ink

Sample 30

60 ELC

TS 43S & TS 52

Bleed Motif RHB2

Slate & Blush Ink

Sample 32

60WREC

TS 43S & TS 60

Thick-thin border

Midnight & Silver Ink

Sample 12

60ELC

TS 51 & TS 43S

TS 12 Monogram

Black & Gold Foil

Double line border

Sample 14

60ELC

TS 46

Midnight

RAF motif with Monogram

Sample 16

61ELC

TS 46 & TS 61

Slate & Sage

DCRI motif

Embossed border

Sample 15

60ELC

TS 43S & TS 6

Black

TL169 motif

Sample 17

60ELC

TS 43S & TS 32W

Black

Custom Artwork

If you are interested in using this beautiful Oak Tree, please contact us.We will quote price based on quantity after quote from artist.

Sample 22

60WREC

Custom Set

Rose Gold & Black

Sample 23

120GE

TS93 & TS50B

Gold Foil Stamping

Gold Beveled Edge

Sample 25

80PLC+

Hand Calligraphy

Gold Foil

Sample 26

64 ELC

TS 6

Black Ink

Sample 28

60ELC

TS 43S & 60

Horizontal Layout

Gold Ink

Sample 31

60ELC

TS 43S & TS 60

Custom Wreath Design

Gold Foil and Midnight Ink

Sample 33

60WREC

TS 41 & TS 35

Two Languages

Midnight & Gold Ink

Sample 34

60WREC

TS 60

Gold Ink and Claret Ink

Text at angle & Bleed Charge

Sample 35

Accessory Cards (Reception and Response Cards)

Once the invitation is selected, any accessory items generally take their inspiration from the invitations. We'll match the paper, printing process and design ideas (unless you tell us otherwise) to coordinate all the other items you include in the ensemble.

You do not have to order exactly what is on the examples. Examples are just some suggestions. Each invitation and accessory/reply card can be fully customized to suit your tastes.

All accessory cards are 4 7/8" x 3 1/2"

Response Cards

To respond by website. This will probably work for most of your guests but keep in mind that not all guests are computer friendly.

TS 93 & 32W

Slate

Sample 1

The Basics

TS 43S & 32W

Black

Sample 3

If you need a number of guests attending and which hotel they have reservations.

TS 43S & 61

Black

Sample 4

Entrée choices included as well as line for dietary restrictions. Remember this is a small card, full names of entrées may not fit.

TS 43S & 60

Black

Sample 6

If you want to add a bit of fun to your reception!

TS 43 & 60

Black

Sample 7

An eye catching response card with motif.

TS 32 and 32W

Mocha

Sample 9

For when you want your guests to write a personal message

EL

TS 93

Midnight

Sample 2

This is handy when you are providing transportation for your guests

TS 43R

Black

Sample 5

This text is on our order forms, the most clear and concise text for getting a count on guests.

TS 6 & 93

Black

Sample 8

For a less formal entrée selection, Reaves has the artwork on file for the symbols

EL

TS 43S & 7

Breeze

Sample 10

Reception Cards

If serving dinner, nice gesture to alert guests.

TS 43S and 60

Gold

Sample 1

If dress code is needed, Black tie is listed in lower right corner

TS 46

Black

Sample 2

The time is used when there is a two hour or more difference between ceremony and reception. Cited state is used when different from location of ceremony.

TS 5

Black

Sample 3

TS 6

Jet Black Ink

Sample 5

TS 60

Jet Black Ink

Sample 4

TS 32W & TS 93

Black

Sample 6

Accessory/accommodation Cards

Reaves has these symbols on file, just send us your timeline and refer to this sample on your order.

TS 43S & 61

Black

Sample 1

A neat, simple style to list your basic information

TS 43S and 30

Silver

Sample 3

Additional Basic Information Structure. The layout largely depends on how much information is wanted.

TS 43S and 60

Black

Sample 2

Basic Directions and Accommodations

TS Century Gothic

Black

Sample 4

Engraving or Embossing

Genuine Engraving is produced by etching the text of your stationery into a metal plate. The plate is then fastened into an engraving press. Ink is applied to the plate and the face of the plate is wiped so that ink remains only in the etched portions of the plate. The plate is then stamped onto the stationery using tremendous pressure which forces part of the paper into the etched portion of the plate. This process produces the clean-cut, delicately scrolled, elegant letters for which engraving is known. The “trademarks” of engraving are the “bruises” or indentations on the back of the stationery--the products of the pressure necessary to press the paper into the etched portions of the engraving plate. Engraving is a time-consuming process: each plate must be prepared individually with portions of the work being done by hand; each piece of paper must be fed separately into the engraving press and then placed on a drying rack.

Embossing is the same process except that no ink is used.

Digital

Digital presses today apply ink in a single pass from a single ink head, similar to inkjet printers found in homes and offices. This process allows for full color printing where the other printing processes apply ink one color at a time.