Invitation Printing Guide: Sizes, Card Stock and When to Order

An invitation is the first physical thing a guest receives. If it feels like a flyer, the event will feel like a flyer. If it has weight, a clean layout and a clear date, people put it on the mantelpiece. That is true for a fortieth birthday in Lisburn, a corporate dinner in Belfast, or a community celebration anywhere in Northern Ireland.

This guide is for party, corporate and community invitations. Wedding suites — save the dates, RSVPs, order of service and on-the-day stationery — have their own timeline and matching set; see our wedding stationery guide if that is the job.

Choose a size that fits the occasion

A6 is the compact standard: it fits a small envelope, costs less to post, and works for parties and informal events. DL is the slim, rack-friendly format that also drops into a standard envelope — useful for dinners, launches and anything that should feel a little more formal. A5 gives you room for a map, schedule or longer wording. Square cards stand out on a doormat because they are not the usual rectangle; they often need a matching square envelope, so budget for that.

• A6 — compact, economical, everyday celebrations
• DL — slim, envelope-friendly, dinners and launches
• A5 — more room for maps, programmes and detail
• Square — distinctive; plan the envelope as well as the card

Card stock and finish

Invitations should feel like card, not paper. 300–400gsm is the range that reads as an occasion. Silk is smooth and slightly muted, good for photography and modern layouts. Uncoated takes handwriting well if guests need to fill in a reply. Gloss is punchy for bold colour but can glare under indoor lighting. Double-sided print is almost always worth it: the reverse can carry the map, parking note, dress code or RSVP without crowding the front.

Artwork and timing

Set the file up at the finished size with 3mm bleed, keep names and dates well inside the trim, and supply a PDF. Check spelling twice — invitation reprints are rarely anyone’s favourite job. Standard turnaround from our Lisburn press is a few working days after artwork is approved. Add postage time on top. For a Saturday event, do not treat the previous Wednesday as a comfortable order date.

Order early enough that a proof and a reprint still leave time to post. The card is only useful if it arrives.

We print invitations from 10 or 25 copies depending on the product, with collection in Lisburn or delivery across Belfast and Northern Ireland. If the event is a wedding, start with the wedding stationery guide so invitations, RSVPs and on-the-day pieces can match.