Prestige flat invitations

Prestige single-card invitations - the paper plays the lead

A Prestige single-card invitation is one stiff card, with no creasing or unfolding. All the content sits on one side or is divided between the front and the back.

The biggest difference from classic invitations is the paper. It can be pearlescent, metallic, felt-marked, ribbed, linen-textured, cream, gold or silver. Its colour and texture are part of the design, so elaborate artwork is often unnecessary. Well chosen typography, a monogram, a logo or a small ornament can be quite enough.

It is the answer for people and companies who want a more distinguished setting for an invitation while keeping the simple form of a single card.

Which occasions do Prestige invitations suit?

Prestige single-card invitations can be used at private, family and company celebrations.

They work well as:

• wedding invitations - classic, glamour, minimalist, botanical and more decorative,
• invitations to family celebrations - communions, christenings, birthdays, jubilees, anniversaries and parties,
• company invitations - to conferences, galas, banquets, product launches, venue openings and VIP meetings,
• presentation cards - invitations to restaurants, tasting dinners, meetings for business partners or other events of a more formal character.

An invitation can also be part of a larger stationery set with envelopes, place cards, menus, a seating plan or thank-yous.

With Prestige papers, a consistent and fairly sparing style works well, one where the typography, the colour of the stock and single details play the leading part.

Formats available

In the calculator you can choose one of five formats:

• A6 (105×148 mm) - a compact, elegant card suited to shorter content, simple invitations and VIP cards.
• A5 (148×210 mm) - a larger format with room for fuller text, a schedule, a map, the RSVP or a QR code. It works well on wedding and company invitations.
• DL (99×210 mm) - a slim, elongated format suited to modern, hotel and restaurant designs, especially in a vertical layout.
• 120×170 mm - a well proportioned in-between format, larger than A6 but still convenient. It suits wedding, jubilee and company invitations.
• 150×150 mm - a square, more decorative form. It looks good with a centred composition featuring a monogram, a logo, initials or a small illustration.

Families of decorative paper

Prestige papers differ in colour, sheen, texture and weight. Those qualities are what decide the character of the finished invitation.

You will see the full list of versions available in the calculator. Below are the main paper families.

ICEBLINK cream linen 250 gsm

A warm cream paper with a pronounced linen-like structure.

It has a calm, classic character and suits wedding, communion and family invitations, especially with delicate typography and sparing artwork.

STARDREAM 285 gsm

The family of pearlescent and metallic papers:

• STARDREAM OPAL - a subtle pearl sheen,
• STARDREAM SILVER - a cooler, metallic effect,
• STARDREAM CRYSTAL - a light, elegant stock with a subtler character,
• STARDREAM GOLD - a strong, decorative effect that suits galas, banquets, festive designs and more ceremonial work.

STARDREAM is worth choosing when the sheen of the paper is meant to be one of the main elements of the invitation.

RIVES Shetland Natural 250 gsm and 350 gsm

A paper with a natural, decorative structure.

The 250 gsm version is lighter, while 350 gsm gives a stiffer, more solid card. RIVES goes well with minimalist, wedding and more natural designs.

DALI 285 gsm

A paper with a distinctive texture of fine, regular ribs.

The shades available include:

• perla - beige,
• candido - white,
• camoscio - light corn,
• Ghaccio - light grey,
• verde pino - green.

The lighter shades suit formal, classic and wedding invitations, while verde pino works on botanical, natural and bolder designs.

MODIGLIANI 260 gsm

A paper with a soft, felt-marked surface.

The candido, bianco, perla and camoscio shades are available. The structure of the stock gives the design a warmer, softer character and goes well with wedding, family, artistic and more decorative invitations.

CHAGALL Bianco 260 gsm

A light paper with a felt-marked surface.

It works on classic wedding, communion, family and company invitations. The light stock is versatile, but the texture you can feel sets it clearly apart from smooth coated paper.

Single or double-sided printing

Prestige invitations can be printed on one side or on both.

• Single-sided printing - all the key information sits on one surface: the names, the name of the event, the date, the time, the place, a logo, a monogram or a QR code.
• Double-sided printing - gives more room for content. The front can be the showcase side, with a monogram, artwork or a logo, while the back can be used for the address, a map, the RSVP, the schedule, the dress code, a QR code or a second language version.

With decorative papers, remember that the colour and structure of the stock affect the print. The colours can look different than on white coated paper, especially on pearlescent, metallic, coloured and more strongly textured stocks.

So designs with legible typography, the right contrast and a sensible amount of fine detail work best.

The Prestige effect without lamination

We do not laminate Prestige invitations.

In this category that is not a missing finish but a deliberate way of leaving the qualities of the paper visible. The pearl quality, metallic sheen, ribs, felt-marked surface or linen structure show best when no extra layer covers them.

Film would smooth the surface, partly hide the texture and change the way it reflects light. It would also affect how the paper feels in the hand.

So we build the look of Prestige invitations with the paper itself, the typography, the colour and well chosen details.

Personalisation - different details on each invitation

Prestige invitations can be ordered with personalisation.

It lets you produce a run of cards based on one design but carrying different details on individual copies.

The personalised elements can include:

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

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

The look of every card stays consistent; only the details you specify change. For that reason the personalisation list has to be checked carefully before it is sent.

What to put on the invitation

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

• the hosts' names,
• the name of the event,
• a short line,
• the date and time,
• the place and address,
• a map,
• the RSVP,
• a QR code leading to a form, a map or the event page,
• the schedule,
• the dress code,
• contact details,
• a company logo,
• a monogram,
• initials,
• a delicate illustration.

On private invitations the names, the date and the place of the occasion usually matter most. On company invitations the logo, consistency with the visual identity and a clear way of confirming attendance play a bigger part.

How to match the paper to the design

Much of an invitation's character can be built by the choice of stock alone.

• Weddings, communions and family celebrations - light papers work well: ICEBLINK cream linen, STARDREAM OPAL, STARDREAM CRYSTAL, RIVES Shetland Natural, DALI candido, MODIGLIANI candido and bianco, and CHAGALL Bianco.
• Galas, banquets and VIP events - you can use the metallic STARDREAM GOLD, STARDREAM SILVER or STARDREAM CRYSTAL stocks.
• Artistic, botanical and boutique designs - these go well with DALI perla, camoscio and verde pino, MODIGLIANI camoscio and perla, and RIVES Shetland Natural.

On darker, coloured and metallic papers, good contrast matters especially. Small text, thin lines and subtle light elements can be less legible than on a white, smooth stock.

How to prepare the file, and the check

The design is best sent as a PDF prepared to our specification. We also accept good quality JPG and PNG files.

Photographs and artwork should be at 300 dpi at 1:1 scale, and the design prepared in CMYK.

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

With double-sided printing, also check that the front and back are the right way round. The QR code should be a suitable size and have good contrast, and before sending the design it is worth checking that it scans properly.

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

• No file check - for agencies, designers and anyone confident the file is technically correct. The design goes straight into production.
• File check by a designer - we check the format, bleed, safe distances, colours and image quality. On Prestige invitations we also look at the contrast of the design on the decorative paper chosen.
• Simple graphic design - if you have no artwork ready, send us a logo or monogram, the wording of the invitation, the date, the place, contact details and your basic guidelines. We will prepare a simple design matched to the format, paper, printing and personalisation.

The technical check does not cover the content. We do not check names, surnames, dates, the guest list or whether the QR codes are correct. Those are the customer's responsibility.

The check is worth considering especially if the design was prepared in Canva, an online generator or with AI tools. Files like these may need the format, bleed, CMYK, resolution or the contrast on the decorative paper chosen adjusted.