Invitations

What folded invitations are

A folded invitation is not a single card. It is one sheet printed on both sides and then folded down to the chosen format. That gives you a classic card with several surfaces to work with: the cover, the inside and the back.

The extra room lets you lay the information out calmly instead of squeezing everything onto one side. The front can carry the name of the event, a monogram or artwork, the inside the wording of the invitation, and the back a map, contact details or a QR code, for instance.

This form works wherever, besides the date and place, you also have to give guests the programme, how to confirm attendance, and information about travel, parking or accommodation.

Folding and creasing

Before the sheet is folded we crease it, that is prepare a precise line for the future fold in the paper.

That matters especially on the thick, stiff papers used for invitations. The crease means the board folds exactly where planned, keeps its proper shape and does not crack by accident along the fold. Without creasing, thicker paper could break unevenly or split along the fold line.

The design of a folded invitation has to allow for the outside and the inside, the position of the fold, the direction of folding and the order of the surfaces once the card is closed.

If you are not sure whether the file has been prepared correctly, you can choose the check by a designer.

For which occasions?

The folded form works both at private celebrations and at more formal events.

• Weddings - the cover can carry the couple's names or a monogram, the inside the wording of the invitation, and the back the RSVP details, a map or extra guidance for guests.
• Communions and christenings - the classic form with room for the wording, the date, the location and the details of the occasion.
• Birthdays, anniversaries and jubilees - decorative invitations for family and occasional gatherings.
• Company events - conferences, banquets, galas, product launches, venue openings, VIP meetings and other events that call for a more distinguished presentation.
• Occasional events - tasting dinners, events in restaurants, trade gatherings and other occasions with a fuller programme.

Folded invitations can also be part of a larger stationery set prepared in one style.

Fold formats

In the calculator the format is described as sheet before folding → format after folding.

Six versions are available:

• A5 → A6 - the classic A5 sheet folded in half down to A6. A versatile answer with a comfortable surface for the cover and the inside. It works on wedding, communion, company and occasional invitations.
• 2×A6 → A6 (landscape) - two A6 modules folded to a landscape A6. They suit wider illustrations, photographs and calm, panoramic compositions.
• 2×DL → DL (landscape) - an elongated sheet folded to a landscape DL. It is a slim, modern version suited to company, hotel, restaurant and more distinguished invitations.
• 2×DL → DL (portrait) - folded, the invitation keeps a slim vertical layout. It goes well with vertical typography, botanical motifs and longer text spread across the inside panels.
• 30×15 → 15×15 - a 30×15 cm sheet folded to a 15×15 cm square. A decorative format that suits centred compositions, monograms, weddings, anniversaries and gala occasions.
• 240×170 → 120×170 mm - a sheet folded in half down to a 120×170 mm card. The finished invitation is taller than it is wide, has more room than DL and still fits a typical envelope.

When choosing the format it helps to consider the amount of content, the style of the design and the envelope the invitation will be handed over or posted in.

Papers

We print folded invitations on three stiff papers:

• Coated 350 gsm - a smooth paper that reproduces colours, photographs and vivid backgrounds well. It suits graphic, floral and more colourful designs.
• DCP Satin 300 gsm - a paper with a subtle satin surface and a calm character. It works well on wedding, communion, company and banquet invitations, especially with more restrained designs.
• Invercote Creato 300 gsm - a stiff, distinguished board suited to company, hotel, gala and VIP invitations and other work with a more elegant character.

With vivid colours and artwork, coated 350 gsm is a good choice. If the design is calmer and more classic, you can choose DCP Satin 300 gsm. Invercote Creato 300 gsm works on the most distinguished pieces.

Double-sided printing

We print folded invitations always on both sides, in full colour.

There is no single-sided version here. That follows directly from the construction of the product. Once the sheet is folded, both its outer and inner surfaces are visible, so printing on both sides lets you use the cover, the inside and the back of the invitation.

When preparing the design, pay particular attention to the order of the pages. The elements have to end up in the right place once folded and face the right way for how the invitation opens.

Lamination

The invitation can be left without any extra finish or covered with film.

Your choices are:

• No finishing - the simple version, well suited to minimalist designs and to invitations you plan to write on by hand later.
• Gloss lamination - strengthens colours and contrast and adds a sheen to the surface. It works with photographs, vivid backgrounds and bolder artwork.
• Matte lamination - gives a calm, restrained, elegant effect. It suits wedding, communion, company and classic invitations.
• Soft-touch lamination - creates a soft surface that is pleasant to the touch. It goes well with elegant wedding invitations, galas, banquets and VIP events.

Film can be applied on one side or on both.

If you plan to write names, dates or other details in by hand later, bear in mind that a laminated surface can make writing with a pen harder. In that case you can leave off the film or use printed personalisation.

Personalising invitations

Folded invitations can be ordered with personalisation, that is with different details printed on each copy.

You can vary:

• the names of the people invited,
• forms of address,
• the table number,
• a marking for the guest, such as VIP,
• an individual invitation code,
• a QR code for the RSVP,
• a company name,
• a booking number,
• the attendee's details.

Personalisation is based on one piece of artwork and a prepared list of data. The layout of every invitation stays the same, but the fields you specify change from copy to copy, for instance the surname, the table number or the RSVP code.

The list is best sent as a tidy table. One row should be one invitation, and each column a separate field, for instance first name, surname, guest's companion, table number or RSVP code.

Before sending the data, check it carefully, including the spelling, capitalisation and double-barrelled surnames.

What to put on the invitation

The folded form lets you divide the content logically between several surfaces.

On the cover, these work well:

• the hosts' names,
• the name of the event,
• a monogram,
• a logo,
• a floral motif or another graphic element.

Inside you can put:

• the wording of the invitation,
• the date,
• the time,
• the place,
• the address,
• the programme,
• the dress code,
• the RSVP details,
• information about bringing a companion.

On the back you can have:

• contact details,
• a map,
• a QR code,
• information about parking,
• information about accommodation,
• the host's logo.

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

A wedding stationery set

A folded invitation can be one part of a larger wedding stationery set.

In the same style you can prepare:

• menus,
• place cards,
• a seating plan,
• table numbers,
• tags,
• RSVP cards,
• thank-yous for guests.

A consistent graphic motif ties the materials handed out before the occasion to those that appear later in the reception room.

How to prepare the file, and the check

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

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

The QR code should be a suitable size and have good contrast. Before sending the file, check that it scans properly.

When you place the order you choose one of three ways of preparing the design:

• 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 and colours. On folded invitations we also check the fold line, the preparation for creasing, the page layout and the direction of folding.
• Simple graphic design - if you have no artwork ready, send us the wording of the invitation, a logo or monogram, the date, the place, contact details, the guest list for personalisation and details of the style and colours you want. We will prepare a simple design matched to the format, the paper and the other parameters of the order.

The technical check does not cover the content. We do not check typos, whether names or dates are correct, or the guest list. The customer is responsible for the accuracy of that data.

The check is worth choosing especially if the design was made in Canva, an online generator or with AI tools.

You set the fold format, the paper, the finish and the personalisation directly in the online calculator, which shows the price of your configuration straight away.