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Party Invitations
Marketing Products

Party Invitations

Party invitations built around the actual event, not a fixed template. Size, shape and finish flex from a casual backyard get-together to a fully themed celebration. Available flat or folded, in any quantity a guest list needs.

Starting at $160
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Marketing Products
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Overview

Party Invitations

Quick quote≈ 30 seconds

A named estimator replies within one business day, with stock options and a schedule. No account, no card.

Or use the full spec form for artwork upload and finishing.

"Party" covers a wide range. A casual backyard cookout and a themed costume party call for genuinely different invitations, and the print should match. A relaxed gathering does fine on a standard card stock with a clean, simple layout; a themed or milestone event earns a shaped die-cut, a bolder color story, or a heavier stock that signals the occasion is worth planning around.

Size is worth deciding early. A standard card (roughly postcard-sized) keeps costs down and mails easily; a larger format gives more room for a theme, a photo, or event details, at a modest cost increase. Folded cards work well when there's more to say (directions, a theme description, a dress code) than a flat card comfortably holds.

Finish affects how the card is actually used as much as how it looks. A gloss or laminate finish resists smudging if it's handled a lot or displayed on a fridge; an uncoated matte stock takes a personal handwritten note better if that's part of the plan.

What to Have Ready

Guest count, preferred size, and any theme or color scheme to build around are the main inputs. If it's a recurring event (an annual party, a standing tradition), keeping the same base specification on file makes future reorders faster.

The anatomy (exploded build)

Take the invitation apart.
Every layer is a decision.

Click a layer (or explode the whole build)
Layer 01

Card stock

An invitation is judged in the hand before it is read, and weight is most of that judgment. Anything below about 250gsm reads as a flyer no matter what is printed on it. From 300gsm upward the card has a stiffness that registers as an occasion. Textured and cotton stocks add a second signal (a surface that is visibly not office paper) which is why they persist for formal invitations despite costing more.

250gsm 300gsm (most ordered) 350gsm+ heavy Cotton / textured

How heavy is heavy enough? 300gsm is where a card stops flexing when held at one corner. That single physical test is what most people are unconsciously performing.

Layer 02

Print method

Full-color digital and offset cover the majority of invitations and handle photographs and color without difficulty. Two traditional methods do something printing cannot: letterpress presses the type physically into a soft stock so you can feel the impression, and foil lays metal onto the surface. Both are chosen for texture rather than for color, and both work best with restrained type-led designs.

Full color Foil stamping Letterpress impression + PMS spot color

Is letterpress worth it? On a soft cotton stock with type-led artwork, it is the most tactile option available. On a coated stock with a photograph, it does nothing you can feel.

Layer 03

Edge and finish

The edge is the one surface most invitations ignore and the one guests handle constantly. A deckle edge (torn rather than cut) reads as traditional and handmade. A painted edge in a contrasting color is contemporary and unmissable. Rounded corners soften the whole card and survive handling better. None of these change what the invitation says; all of them change how it feels to hold.

Clean cut Rounded corners Deckle edge Painted edge

Which edge suits a formal invitation? Deckle for traditional, painted for contemporary, clean cut when the type is doing all the work already.

Layer 04

Envelope and enclosures

The envelope is the first thing the recipient sees, so it is part of the invitation rather than packaging for it. A matched or lined envelope signals the contents before it is opened, which is the whole reason invitations survive in an era of email. Enclosures (a reply card, a details card, a map) are ordered with the main card so stock and finish match across the set.

Matching envelope Lined envelope Reply card Details card

Should I order envelopes with the invitations? Yes. Matching them afterwards is difficult and the mismatch is obvious. Order the set together.

Layer 05

Format follows the event

Nothing here is fixed, which is the point. A casual gathering is well served by a single flat card on a mid-weight stock; a themed celebration might want a shaped cut, a bold color or a folded format that reveals in stages. The specification flexes across a wide range because the events do, and the only real rule is that the invitation should look like the party it is inviting people to.

Flat or folded Shaped cut Any stock and color

Flat card or folded? Flat if the details fit on two sides. Folded if there is a reveal worth building, or genuinely more content than a card holds.

Specifications

What we need
on the job ticket

Artwork
  • Press-ready PDF/X-1a preferred
  • 0.125″ bleed on all four sides
  • 0.125″ safe margin inside trim
  • 300 dpi minimum at final size
  • Fonts outlined or embedded
  • CMYK, no RGB unless specified
Print
  • Digital for short runs
  • Sheet-fed offset at volume
  • PMS spot color on offset runs
  • G7-aligned color target
  • Free proof before production
  • Nothing runs until you approve
Delivery
  • Counted, banded and boxed
  • Split shipping to multiple addresses
  • USA & Canada ground
  • Expedited air on request
  • Tracking on every shipment
  • Reprint file held for 24 months
Materials & stock

Every stock
behaves
differently

Ask for samples before committing. An invitation is judged by weight and surface in the hand, and neither survives a screen.

StockWeightSurfaceBest for
Smooth card250gsmCoated or uncoatedCasual and volume invitations
Smooth card, heavy300gsmCoated or uncoatedThe everyday invitation standard
Extra heavy350gsm+UncoatedFormal occasions, letterpress
Cotton300-600gsmSoft uncoatedLetterpress and blind emboss
Linen textured270-350gsmCross-hatchTraditional and ceremonial
Pearlescent250-300gsmShimmerCatching light in the hand
Finishing options

Where an invitation stops
looking printed

01

Foil stamping

Metal pressed into the stock under heat. On an invitation it works hardest on a name, a date or a monogram rather than across an area. A single foil element against uncoated stock is the most reliable formal treatment there is.

02

Letterpress

Type pressed physically into a soft stock, leaving an impression you can feel with a fingertip. It needs a thick, soft sheet to bite into and type-led artwork to be worth it; on coated card it does almost nothing.

03

Emboss and deboss

The card raised or recessed into relief with no ink at all. Blind embossing is the quietest premium finish available, which is exactly why it suits occasions where restraint is the tone.

04

Edge treatment

Deckle edges, painted edges, rounded corners. The edge is handled constantly and noticed unconsciously, and it is the cheapest place to make a standard rectangle feel considered.

Turnaround & shipping

Six stages,
start to
doorstep

The clock starts when you approve the proof, not when you place the order. Scroll through the production sequence.

Stage 01

Artwork and wording

We check the artwork, the bleed and (on a suite) that names, dates and times agree across every piece. Wording errors caught here cost nothing; caught after printing they cost the whole run, and invitations carry dates that cannot be corrected later.

Stage 02

Proof

A digital proof of every piece in the set, with foil, emboss and letterpress areas marked as separate layers. On textured or cotton stock we will tell you how the finish will behave, because those surfaces do not proof accurately on screen.

Stage 03

Print

Full color, spot colors, or letterpress on a separate press. Uncoated and cotton stocks absorb more ink and read slightly softer than the same file on coated card: expected, and accounted for in the proof.

Stage 04

Foil, emboss and letterpress

Applied in sequence after printing, each keyed to the surface below it. Letterpress and blind embossing are pressure operations, so they are done on the flat sheet before any trimming or folding.

Stage 05

Trim, edge and fold

Cards are cut to size, then deckled, edge-painted or corner-rounded where specified. Edge painting happens on the cut stack, so it needs the full quantity trimmed before it can begin.

Stage 06

Pack and ship

Cards and envelopes packed together, interleaved so foil and embossed surfaces cannot rub in transit. We ship tracked, and the tracking number reaches you the day it leaves.

Deadline-driven?

Tell us the date first. We'll build the spec around it.

Quote to a deadline
Compare

Every invitation we make,
side by side

Same family, genuinely different jobs. Your current selection is highlighted.

InvitationFromCharacterOrder it when
Wedding Invitations$160A suite (card, reply, details)Several pieces must match exactly
Business Invitations$170Heavy stock, restrained finishGuests must read the formality correctly
Religious Invitations$160Textured stock, minimal paletteTone matters more than detail
Birthday Invitations$170Distinct stock and finishIt has to survive the post-sorting glance
Party Invitations$160Flat, folded or shapedThe format should suit the party
Political Invitations$160Fast turnaround, late changesThe date may move before it prints
FAQ (Party Invitations)

Asked about
this product,
specifically

Flat card or folded?

Flat if the details fit comfortably on two sides. Most parties do. Folded if there is genuinely more content, or if you want a reveal: something on the outside that makes opening it worthwhile.

Can I get an unusual shape?

Yes, via a die cut. Bear in mind that a shaped card needs an envelope it actually fits, and that unusual proportions can attract postal surcharges. Worth confirming both before the die is made.

What stock for a casual party?

A mid weight around 250 to 300gsm is plenty. Heavier stock signals formality, which for a backyard gathering sends slightly the wrong message as well as costing more.

How far ahead should they go out?

Far enough that people can commit, which for anything requiring a babysitter or travel is further than most hosts plan for. Order with proofing time in mind, not just posting time.

How much do party invitations cost?

Pricing for party invitations starts at $160 and moves with quantity, size, material and finish rather than sitting on a fixed list. Setup is shared across the run, so the per-unit price drops steeply as the quantity rises: the gap between a few hundred and a few thousand is usually the significant one. Send the size, quantity and what it has to do and you get a firm figure back, not a range.

What is the minimum order for party invitations?

There is a practical minimum rather than a hard one. Every run carries artwork checks, a proof and a press setup, so a very small quantity of party invitations prices poorly per unit even though we will still make it. If you are ordering a small batch, ask for pricing at two or three quantities at once: the curve usually shows that a modest increase costs very little more in total.

How long do party invitations take to print?

The clock starts when you approve the proof, not when the order is placed, which is the part most people are surprised by. You get a proof first: a digital proof of every piece in the set, with foil, emboss and letterpress areas marked as separate layers. On textured or cotton stock we will tell you how the finish will behave, because those surfaces do not proof accurately on screen. Turnaround after approval depends on the finish: anything laminated, foiled or die-cut adds a stage that cannot be compressed without causing problems later. Tell us the date you actually need them and we will work backwards from it rather than quoting a generic lead time.

What artwork do you need to print party invitations?

Print-ready artwork with bleed and a safe margin, supplied as a PDF, AI or EPS. Photographic elements should be supplied at the resolution the finished size needs, not the resolution that looks sharp on screen. If your file is not print-ready, say so when you order. We would rather fix it before the proof than after the run.

Can I order party invitations in a custom size or shape?

Yes. Format follows the event is the standard build, and the dimensions around it are yours to set. A size that sits efficiently on the press sheet often costs no more than a standard one, while an awkward proportion that wastes half the sheet does. Ask before you commit and we will tell you whether a small change to the dimensions saves a disproportionate amount.

What is the difference between party invitations and custom party invitations?

In most cases they are the same product under a different name: the trade uses several terms for it depending on the region and the supplier. What actually defines this one is the build: flat, folded or shaped. Order it when the format should suit the party. If you have seen it called party invitations printing elsewhere, describe what it has to do rather than which name you found, and we will match the specification.

Can I get a sample of your party invitations before ordering?

Yes. We provide free samples, and on party invitations it is worth asking for one, because the difference between smooth card and smooth card, heavy is obvious in the hand and invisible on a screen. Most orders run on smooth card, heavy, but ask for whichever you are weighing up. You also get a free design proof before anything goes to press, so nothing is printed that you have not seen.

What finishing options are available for party invitations?

The usual choices are foil stamping, letterpress, emboss and deboss. Finish is not decoration on this product so much as a decision about how long it survives and how it reads in the hand, so it is worth choosing against the job rather than the budget. Tell us where the finished piece ends up and we will say which finish is doing real work and which is only adding cost.

Can I print party invitations with my own logo and branding?

Yes, and that is what almost every order here is. Nothing in this catalogue is a stock item: party invitations are manufactured to the specification you give us, with your artwork on them. Send your logo as vector artwork where you have it, since that scales to any size without softening. If all you have is a low-resolution file, tell us and we will say what it needs before it reaches the press.

Can I reorder the same party invitations later?

Yes, and a repeat run is simpler than the first one. We keep your approved specification on file, so a reorder skips the setup decisions and goes straight to production. If nothing about the artwork or the specification has changed, there is nothing to re-approve. Tell us the previous order and we will match it rather than starting the specification again.

Do you ship party invitations across the US and Canada?

Yes. Regalo Print has been producing custom commercial print for businesses across the USA and Canada since 2008, and every order ships tracked. The tracking number reaches you the day the job leaves, not the day it arrives. If you are working to a fixed date, say so when you order so the production schedule is built around the delivery date rather than the other way round.