Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing

nvelez28

I have created our stationary--invites, response cards, thank yous, etc.--and I need to decide where to have them printed.  It's worth saying the stationary isn't super important to me, still, I did spend time on it and I'd like it to not feel cheap.

Have you had experience with 123Print, Zazzle, VistaPrint and the like?  What would you say about the quality of their paper?

I'm not versed in 'paper speak,' so when I have an option of 100 lb paper versus 110 lb I have no idea if I'd be able to perceive the difference.

Additionally, do you have any tips/advice about using one of the sites mentioned above over the othes?

Thanks!

mjeanc09

How many are you printing? Is there a Kinko's near you? It's a FedEx company, they'll do printing. High quality paper for a decent price! We use them for our advertising and marketing projects at my school.

daria24

:::Listening in:::

I'm curious as well, we are designing everything ourselves and then ordering the prints.

I've heard that catprint is better quality than Zazzle, VP, etc. Would you notice the difference between 100 and 110? Definitely. Standard copier paper is 96lb and card stock is 110. If you are gluing the invitations to something else, I would just do 100lb. Otherwise I personally prefer something closer to card stock.

As far as advice, make sure you download their templates or match their sizing EXACTLY on your jpeg/psd/etc, and pay attention to whether you need "bleed" (ie, is your design just text in the middle of the invitation, or is there design that extends to the edges of your paper?).  Also, see if they offer to send a sample before you make the entire order. I've heard that VP is extremely easy to work with, if there are errors it's pretty easy to get them to reprint, etc. 

daria24

Also try cardsandpockets.com-you can order one of their designs, or print your own design on most of their papers.

nvelez28

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_paper-quality-invitation-suite-printing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:07efd5ab-0f77-407a-abbf-a1400ee4e8b9Post:9e688f72-07eb-4c9d-be8d-e6f52556edff">Re: Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing</a>:
[QUOTE]:::Listening in::: I'm curious as well, we are designing everything ourselves and then ordering the prints. I've heard that catprint is better quality than Zazzle, <strong>VP, etc. Would you notice the difference between 100 and 110? Definitely. Standard copier paper is 96lb and card stock is 110. If you are gluing the invitations to something else, I would just do 100lb. Otherwise I personally prefer something closer to card stock. </strong>As far as advice, make sure you download their templates or match their sizing EXACTLY on your jpeg/psd/etc, and pay attention to whether you need "bleed" (ie, is your design just text in the middle of the invitation, or is there design that extends to the edges of your paper?).  Also, see if they offer to send a sample before you make the entire order. I've heard that VP is extremely easy to work with, if there are errors it's pretty easy to get them to reprint, etc. 
Posted by daria24[/QUOTE]
This is super helpful.  Thanks!

Sarah0335

I used VP for my STDs and was very happy with them.

I just ordered my invitations from them two days ago, so I don't have them yet.  I ordered my invitations with the linen finish though.  It was only a couple dollars more and thought it would give them a nice look.

I can post on my VP invitations after I get them in the mail in a week or so.

nvelez28

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_paper-quality-invitation-suite-printing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:07efd5ab-0f77-407a-abbf-a1400ee4e8b9Post:277ee392-4f58-4ad6-8a89-c0f1d9d8fbf2">Re: Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing</a>:
[QUOTE] I can post on my VP invitations after I get them in the mail in a week or so.
Posted by Sarah0335[/QUOTE]
Please do!

Zimsgirl

I'm printing mine myself with C&P supplies. They look good to me and I'm picky

MMRoberts11

VP has a TON of options.  I'd recommend looking into their wedding packet.  I forget exactly what they call it but it comes with samples of all their different types of paper products so you can feel it and decide for yourself what you like best.

I will be getting all my paper items from them because of the price.  With free coupons you just have to pay shipping and that price is very difficult to beat. 

Cassandra999

I was very happy with our STDs from Vistaprint.  Mine were on the 100lb Matte recycled paper.  It did not feel flimsy to me.

There is a wedding sample packet they send out.  I got one, it had samples of all the sizes & paper weights. 

Here is the link:VP <--click

I am doing my invitations from mixbook because I have some groupons to use there. Just as a reference, they offer 100# (12pt), 111# (14pt) & 130# (16pt)

Kfudge0714

I am using 123print for my invites which will be in the linen paper... I order a free sample so I could see the paper and the linen is really very elegant

nvelez28

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_paper-quality-invitation-suite-printing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:07efd5ab-0f77-407a-abbf-a1400ee4e8b9Post:52598136-b0e6-4576-b47a-6a30e7751f53">Re: Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing</a>:
[QUOTE]I was very happy with our STDs from Vistaprint.  Mine were on the 100lb Matte recycled paper.  It did not feel flimsy to me. There is a wedding sample packet they send out.  I got one, it had samples of all the sizes & paper weights.  Here is the link: VP  <--click I am doing my invitations from mixbook because I have some groupons to use there. <strong>Just as a reference, they offer 100# (12pt), 111# (14pt) & 130# (16pt)</strong>
Posted by Cassandra999[/QUOTE]
Can you explain what this means?  Is 100 just regular paper?

nvelez28

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_paper-quality-invitation-suite-printing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:07efd5ab-0f77-407a-abbf-a1400ee4e8b9Post:5b5937df-be7d-4123-9e4c-a733d2cb554a">Re: Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing</a>:
[QUOTE]VP has a TON of options.  I'd recommend looking into their wedding packet.  I forget exactly what they call it but it comes with samples of all their different types of paper products so you can feel it and decide for yourself what you like best. I will be getting all my paper items from them because of the price.  With free coupons you just have to pay shipping and that price is very difficult to beat. 
Posted by MMRoberts11[/QUOTE]
Thank you!  I just ordered the sample wedding packet.

Cassandra999

<div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_paper-quality-invitation-suite-printing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:07efd5ab-0f77-407a-abbf-a1400ee4e8b9Post:fff88800-e33e-4bfa-b39f-0e2acb786456">Re: Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Paper Quality & Invitation Suite Printing : Can you explain what this means?  Is 100 just regular paper?
Posted by nvelez28[/QUOTE]

<div>Sure, regular copier paper is about 20# or about 3.8pt.  10pt would be like a typical greeting card (I just picked up a xmas card off my desk and it measured about 10pt)</div><div><span style="background-color:initial;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;">Paper is really  confusing.  The only reason I know any of this is because I went to school for packaging</span></div></div>