Eco flat invitations

EKO single-card invitations - a natural card with no folding

An EKO single-card invitation is one flat card, with no creasing or unfolding. All the content sits on one side or is divided between the front and the back. The form stays simple, and the paper plays the largest part: its shade, its structure and the way it feels in the hand.

It is a good alternative to classic invitations printed on smooth white stocks. Natural paper means that even a sparing design with typography, a monogram or a small botanical motif has a character of its own.

EKO invitations go well with a boho, rustic, botanical and minimalist style. They can also be used on more formal work, though, such as company, hotel or restaurant invitations.

In the calculator you choose the format, the particular EKO paper, the printing, the personalisation and the run size. The price of your configuration appears straight away.

When EKO invitations work

Natural single-card invitations can be used both at private celebrations and at business events.

They are most often ordered as:

• wedding invitations, including boho, rustic and slow wedding styles,
• invitations to a communion, christening, birthday, jubilee or anniversary,
• invitations to family parties and gatherings in restaurants,
• company invitations to conferences, galas, banquets, product launches or venue openings,
• invitations to trade events, VIP meetings and promotional occasions,
• information cards and elegant occasional cards.

An invitation can also be part of a larger stationery set. In the same style you can prepare envelopes, menus, place cards, a seating plan, table numbers or thank-yous for guests. Natural paper helps keep the whole set consistent in character.

Formats available

The calculator offers five formats:

• A6 (105×148 mm) - compact and practical. It works with shorter content, simple invitations and company cards.
• A5 (148×210 mm) - a larger card with more room for text, artwork, a schedule or a QR code. Often chosen for weddings, communions and company events.
• DL (99×210 mm) - a slim, elegant format suited to vertical, modern and minimalist compositions.
• 120×170 mm - an in-between format, larger than A6 but still handy. It suits wedding invitations and other occasional work.
• 150×150 mm - a square card with a decorative character. It looks good with a central monogram, names, an illustration or a delicate botanical motif.

When choosing the format it is worth considering above all the amount of content, the layout of the design and the kind of envelope.

EKO papers and their character

In this category it is largely the paper that decides how the finished invitation looks. Each stock has its own colour, texture and weight, and each affects the printed colours slightly differently.

Eight papers are available:

Kraftliner 300 gsm

Kraftliner 300 gsm is a brown, bold paper with a strong kraft character.

It suits rustic, boho, woodland and craft designs. Simple compositions, legible typography and printing with the right contrast look best on it.

Kazan ecru 250 gsm with grass fibre

A warm ecru paper with visible flecks of grass. It has a natural, organic look and goes well with wedding, communion and family invitations.

Kazan ecru 300 gsm with grass fibre

It keeps the distinctive look of Kazan paper but is stiffer than the 250 gsm version.

It works where a natural character should go with a more solid, distinguished card.

Flora Avorio 240 gsm

A light, delicate paper in a calm, elegant shade.

A good choice for subtle, minimalist and botanical designs, where the invitation should look natural but light.

Flora Giglio 240 gsm and 350 gsm

Light, neutral stocks with a natural character.

Flora Giglio 240 gsm gives a lighter card, while the 350 gsm version is noticeably stiffer and more solid. Both work well when you want a natural paper but a light, legible background for the design.

Flora Tabacco 240 gsm and 350 gsm

Darker, more decisive papers suited to autumnal, boutique, rustic and bolder designs.

On these stocks strong contrast matters especially. Very small text, thin lines and subtle colours can be less legible. The 350 gsm version also gives a stiffer, more solid card.

Single or double-sided printing

EKO invitations can be ordered printed on one side or on both.

• Single-sided printing - all the information is on one side. You can put the names, the name of the event, the date, the time, the place, the wording of the invitation, a monogram, a logo, artwork or a QR code there.
• Double-sided printing - gives more room and lets you divide the roles of the two surfaces. The front can be the showcase side, with artwork, a monogram or the names, and the back carry the address, the schedule, the RSVP, a map, the dress code, contact details or a second language version.

The natural colour of the paper affects the look of the print. The colours can be warmer, calmer and less intense than on white coated stock. That is why it is worth using legible fonts and clear contrast when designing, and avoiding very fine details.

A natural effect instead of film

We do not laminate EKO single-card invitations and use no extra finishes in this version.

That is a deliberate choice. The most important quality of these papers is their own surface, colour, texture and the way they feel in the hand. Film would change those properties and cover part of the natural character of the stock.

So the look of the invitation is built here above all with the paper, the typography and well chosen artwork.

This form goes well with boho, rustic, botanical and minimalist designs, but it can also be used on calm, elegant company invitations.

On the darker papers, contrast matters especially. It is worth avoiding very thin lines, small text and small QR codes. The design should be prepared with the particular shade of stock in mind.

Personalisation - different details on each copy

EKO single-card invitations can be ordered with personalisation.

One piece of artwork can then carry different details on individual cards. There is no need to write each surname or table number in by hand afterwards.

Personalisation can cover:

• the names of the people invited,
• individual forms of address,
• a note about a companion,
• the name of a company or institution,
• the table number,
• a VIP marking,
• a booking number,
• an individual invitation code,
• a QR code,
• the chosen language version.

You prepare one design and a tidy list of data. Each row of the table is one invitation, and the columns hold the particular fields, for instance first name, surname, companion, table number or RSVP code.

Every card keeps the same graphic layout; only the details you specify change. For that reason it is very important to check the list carefully before sending it into production.

What to put on the invitation

A single card can hold all the basic information about the event.

Most often that is:

• the hosts' names,
• the name of the event,
• the date and time,
• the place,
• the exact address,
• a map,
• the wording of the invitation,
• a short welcome,
• the RSVP,
• a QR code leading to a form, a map or the event page,
• the schedule,
• the dress code,
• a logo,
• a monogram,
• initials,
• delicate botanical artwork,
• the host's contact details.

At private celebrations the names, the date, the place and the character of the event usually matter most. On company invitations the logo, consistency with the visual identity, precise practical information and a clear way of confirming attendance play a bigger part.

How to prepare the file, and the check

The design is best prepared as a PDF that follows our specification, in CMYK and with artwork at 300 dpi at 1:1 scale.

If a background, a photograph or artwork runs to the edge, add the right amount of bleed. Move names, text, the logo, a QR code and other important elements away from the cutting line.

With double-sided printing you also have to check that the front and back are the right way round and match.

When you place the order you choose one of three file preparation options:

• No file check - for agencies, designers and anyone confident the design is technically correct. The file goes straight into production.
• File check by a designer - we check the format, bleed, safe distances, colours, the legibility of the text and the contrast on the EKO paper chosen. We also check the layout of the front and back and how the space for personalisation is prepared.
• Simple graphic design - if you have no file ready, send us the wording of the invitation, a logo or monogram, the date, the place, contact details, the guest list and details of the style and colours. On that basis we will prepare a simple design matched to the format, paper and printing you chose.

The technical check is worth considering especially if the design was made in Canva, an online generator or with AI tools. Files like these may need the format, bleed, CMYK, resolution, the contrast on natural paper or the orientation of the pages adjusted.

The check does not cover the content. We do not check whether names, surnames, the guest list, dates or links are correct. The customer is responsible for that information.

On personalised orders, check the spelling of names carefully, the capitalisation and the other details to be printed.

If the invitation carries a QR code, it should be a suitable size with good contrast. Before sending the file, check that it scans properly.