Flat invitations

Single-card invitations - a simple, elegant form

A single-card invitation is one stiff card, with no creasing or folding. You put all the content on one side or divide it between the front and the back. The form is legible and convenient and suits both sparing, modern designs and more decorative work.

The card can carry all the key information: who is inviting, what the event is, where and when it takes place, and how to confirm attendance. The design can be minimalist, built on typography alone, or fuller, with a photograph, an illustration, a monogram, a floral motif or elements of a company's visual identity.

You choose all the parameters of the order - the format, the paper, the printing, the finish, the personalisation and the run size - directly in the online calculator.

For which occasions?

Single-card invitations are versatile and can be used both at private celebrations and at business events. They are easy to hand over in person, send by post or pair with other stationery.

They are most often ordered as:

• wedding invitations,
• invitations to a communion, christening, birthday, jubilee or anniversary,
• invitations to a banquet, gala or family party,
• company invitations to conferences, business meetings and trade fairs,
• invitations to product launches, venue openings and promotional events,
• VIP, hotel and restaurant invitations,
• elegant occasional cards.

Formats available

In the calculator you can choose one of five formats:

• A6 (105×148 mm) - a small, convenient format for shorter content. It works on simple invitations and fits a standard envelope.
• A5 (148×210 mm) - a larger card with plenty of room for text, artwork, extra information or a QR code. A good choice for fuller designs.
• DL (99×210 mm) - a slim, elegant format that looks particularly good in vertical, modern compositions. It suits hotel, company and more distinguished invitations.
• 120×170 mm - larger than A6 but still convenient and well proportioned. It is often chosen for wedding and occasional invitations.
• 150×150 mm - a square card with a decorative character. It goes well with a centred composition, a monogram or a botanical motif.

Papers

We print the invitations on two stiff papers:

• Coated 350 gsm - a smooth, stiff paper that reproduces vivid colours, photographs and fuller artwork well. It works on floral and photographic designs and on those with stronger colour.
• Invercote Creato 300 gsm - a high quality board with a more distinguished character and good detail reproduction. It suits wedding, company, gala and hotel invitations and other designs where an elegant form matters.

If the design is built on vivid colours, photographs and artwork, coated 350 gsm is a good choice. Invercote Creato 300 gsm is worth considering for more distinguished, calmer work.

Single or double-sided printing

There are two printing options:

• Single-sided - all the information is on one side of the card. You can put the name of the event, the hosts' names, the date, the time, the place, a logo, artwork or a QR code there.
• Double-sided - lets you lay out a larger amount of content more comfortably. The front can be the showcase side, with an illustration, a monogram, a photograph or the main line, while the back takes the address, the schedule, the RSVP, a map, the dress code, contact details or a second language version.

Whichever version you choose, the key information - the names, the date, the time, the place and how to get in touch - should stay clearly visible and easy to read.

Finishing the invitations

You can leave the card without any extra finish or go for lamination.

Available options:

• No finishing - the classic paper surface with no extra coating. It works on simple designs, larger runs and invitations that will be filled in by hand later.
• Gloss lamination - brings out colours and contrast. It suits photographs, bold artwork and vivid backgrounds.
• Matte lamination - gives a calmer, more restrained look. It goes well with wedding, company, gala and minimalist invitations.
• Soft-touch lamination - creates a soft surface that is pleasant to the touch. It works on VIP invitations, galas, banquets and more representative wedding designs.

Lamination can be on one side or on both.

If you plan to write names, surnames, dates or other details on the invitations by hand, remember that film can make writing with a pen harder. In that case a version without film, or personalisation printed directly, may be the better answer.

Personalisation - different details on each invitation

Single-card invitations can be ordered with personalisation, that is with variable data printed on individual copies.

Within one design you can vary:

• the names of the people invited,
• forms of address,
• a note about a companion,
• a company name,
• the table number,
• a booking number,
• an individual invitation code,
• a VIP marking,
• a QR code for the RSVP,
• a passage of the wording matched to a particular guest,
• the language version.

The whole run is produced from one piece of artwork and a tidy 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.

You switch personalisation on in the calculator by choosing the Yes option. The calculator then allows for the relevant surcharge.

What to put on the invitation

One card can hold all the key information about the event:

• the hosts' names,
• the name of the event,
• the date and time,
• the place and address,
• a map,
• contact details,
• the RSVP,
• a QR code,
• the schedule,
• the dress code,
• a logo,
• a monogram.

On private invitations the names, the date and the place of the occasion usually come first. On company designs the logo, consistency with the visual identity and legible practical information matter more.

A single-card invitation can also be part of a larger wedding stationery set. In a similar style you can prepare place cards, menus, a seating plan and thank-yous for guests, creating a consistent setting for the whole event.

How to prepare the file, and the check

The design is best prepared as a PDF that follows 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 whole design prepared in CMYK.

If a background, a photograph or another element runs to the edge, add the right amount of bleed. Move names, the date, the logo, a QR code and other important information away from the cutting line. On a double-sided design, also check that the front and back are the right way round.

When you place the order you choose one of three 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, image quality and colours. On invitations we also check the legibility of small text, the layout of the front and back, and the space set aside for personalisation.
• Simple graphic design - if you have no design ready, send us the wording of the invitation, a logo or monogram, the date, the place, contact details, the guest list and your guidelines on style and colours. We will prepare a simple design matched to the format and the other parameters you chose.

The check is worth choosing 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 space for personalisation adjusted.

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

If the order includes personalisation, check the spelling, capitalisation, double-barrelled surnames and table numbers carefully before sending the list.

The QR code should be a suitable size, have clear contrast and be tested before the design is sent to print.