Save the date cards

When you want your special day’s first message to show care and real feeling, picking letterpress save the date cards is one way to make sure people notice, since these offer an experience—both visual and through touch—that no digital method or regular print can quite match. Because the press makes a raised area you can actually feel, these cards build more interest and excitement before the day even gets here. Certain styles, such as Caleania, Weyers, Kalispell, Verona, and Arthur, also let you present your personality or theme right from the start.

Frequently, couples ask what makes the letterpress process so different, or how it can give cards such a clear look and rich feel. In most studios, a printer puts a custom metal plate into a special heavy press, then pushes it into thick, top-grade cotton paper so every letter and line stands out. Custom-mixed ink gets rolled onto the upper part of the plate, and then, with careful pressure, it's sent to each card one at a time. It’s this step-by-step method—and the fact that each card has slight differences—that gives every piece its own quality and charm, which you rarely get with any mass-produced item.

For your specific need, picking the paper is almost as important as the design itself, because not every sheet will hold up well under the force of the press. Typically, shops turn to 100% cotton in weights like 110-220lb, which lets them make the deepest marks without risk of a tear. Many people also like handmade sheets with soft, unfinished edges when they want a special natural style, and others go for eco-friendly recycled cotton, which is an option if you hope for a lower-impact event and/or want to help the environment. In the end, these picks make sure the result keeps its signature look and feel.

How can you keep your plans running on time and avoid last-minute issues? For letterpress projects, it’s usually wise to start eight to ten months ahead. That leaves time for you to focus on design, get your message just right, and see your proof before printing begins. The usual path takes two or three weeks for final choice and customizing, one week for proof checks, three or four weeks for print, and one or two weeks for naming and/or sending each card. If you begin sooner, you get more choices and less worry.

Are you searching for ideas or want to see what most couples prefer? Portrait layouts now lead the field, with about forty percent choosing vertical cards. Designs that use frames are next, followed by simple wreaths—a choice that fits about one in ten people at present. Many go with only basic lettering, either classic block or modern clean styles, sometimes adding a special frame, line art flowers, or quiet letter accents. You’ll also notice that photos are mostly left out, since couples often let the beauty of the raised print and careful text speak for itself.

Is it possible to have a classic style and keep to your budget at the same time? Often, the answer is yes. If you try a single-color design (instead of many shades), you may save at least $2-4 for each card, without giving up the look people like. Standard sizes such as 5×7 or 4×6 also use less paper waste, which can lower your price. If you select a template or semi-custom style and adapt it as is, you get nearly the same outcome—a custom feel for less. When you see all the options, letterpress stands out for giving both tradition and personal touch, making your first card as lasting as the day itself.