Wedding Stationery Terms

We’re back with another one of our expert wedding vendors to talk about stationery! As with any profession, there are always a few terms that you may not be familiar with or come across in your day to day life. The world of stationery is no exception and Brittany of Switfly Scripted is here to explain her top 5 terms that will help you when it comes time to consult with a stationer for your wedding.

Stationery
Don’t confuse stationary with stationery. Have you ever noticed the slight difference? Stationary with an A is often used by mistake and it actually means something completely different.
 Stationery with an A has to do with movement. It’s when an object or person is not moving or is in a fixed position.
Stationery with an E has to do with all your paper materials, such as paper, pens, ink, and invites. So when you are inquiring about stationery, make sure to check your spelling!

Escort Cards & Place Cards
Beautifully created escort cards and place cards are a wonderful way to show your guests to their seats at your wedding. Although these terms are often interchangeable they have different uses. So what’s the difference?
Escort Cards typically have a guest’s name and a table number on them. They are often displayed all together where guests can easily find their name and which table they should sit at. Escort cards are often used in a less formal setting where guests have the opportunity to choose their seat at the table they’ve been directed to.
Place cards are found at the individual tables and are used at each place setting on a table to indicate exactly where a guest should sit. These are great for any sit-down events or receptions you may have and are considered to be more formal.
Both escort cards and place cards can contain both first and last names or just first names only. Be mindful of those with the same first name when choosing to use first names only. In those instances, using the last initial can help to clear up any confusion.

Suite
A wedding suite or invitation suite consists of all the pieces sent with the invitation itself. Depending on your stationery designer this suite could include any combination of the following items:  The main invitation , RSVP card,  details/accommodations card, a map , weekend events and/or an itinerary card as well as corresponding envelopes .
Often a designer has a set package for their suite such as: Invite, RSVP and corresponding envelopes. Clarifying and having clear communication as to what each designer includes verses what you are looking to include will help keep things simple and easy for you. Each couple may want or need different things which of course can always be changed. Knowing what you want or what your options are will help you make a better decision when creating your invitation suite.

Letterpress
Letterpress refers to an old-world style of printing, that has been around for a couple of hundred years. Different from traditional digital printing, letterpress printing is a type of relief printing. A raised surface, or plate, is inked and then pressed into a pillowy, thick often cotton paper creating an impression on the paper that you can both see and feel.
This technique allows you to produce exact copies of the plates your designer has created. However, as each colour used in a design requires its own specific plate, it can get expensive. However, a more simple design can really shine with the letterpress technique and makes a beautiful addition to your suite.
Monogram
For the last year or so I have noticed monograms becoming more popular. It’s a wonderful way to add a unique bit of personalization to your suite. Monograms combine two or more letters or graphics to create a unique symbol. They can be seen all over in our daily life such as with sports teams or fashion logos.
A wedding monogram is creating your own unique wedding brand. It typically uses the initials of the couple and combines them into a decorative design. You can get as creative as you want with them, choosing different fonts or decorative elements to best reflect who you are as a couple.