And which one is right for your wedding stationery?
If you’ve been scrolling Pinterest or Insta for wedding stationery inspo, you’ve probably come across words like letterpress and embossing. They both add beautiful texture and depth to your invitations, but they’re actually very different print techniques and knowing the difference can really help when you’re choosing the right finish for your suite.
So let’s break it down in a simple, non-techy way.
What is Letterpress?
Letterpress is that luxurious, tactile printing style that gives your stationery a soft, pressed-in impression. Think deep, pillowy text or shapes pressed into the cardstock.
There are three types of letterpress, and each creates a different look:
Blind Press
No ink, no foil, just a clean impression pressed into the paper.
It’s subtle, minimal and extra chic. Perfect if you love a modern, understated vibe.
Ink Press
This is traditional letterpress using coloured ink.
Your design is pressed and printed at the same time, creating that beautiful textured look with a soft ink finish.
Foil Press
A metal plate is heated and pressed into the cardstock with foil. This creates the deepest impression and gives you that luxe, shiny finish everyone swoons over.
All types of letterpress involve something being pressed into the paper, which gives it that gorgeous depth wedding couples love.
What is Embossing?
Embossing is often confused with blind letterpress because it’s also a no-ink technique, but it works in the opposite direction. Instead of pressing your design into the paper, embossing raises it up from the surface using a special two-part die. So if letterpress gives you an “indented” look, embossing creates a raised, sculptural detail.
A few things to know about embossing:
- Embossing is always blind (no ink or foil).
- It can be used on its own as a clean, textural feature.
- Or it can be paired with digital printing, like having your names printed normally then a raised monogram or pattern added as a decorative element.
- It’s beautiful for subtle motifs, florals, crests, borders or anything you want to stand out.
It’s a really elegant way to add interest without adding colour.
Which One Should You Choose?
It really comes down to the vibe you want:
- Choose letterpress if you love that deep, luxe indentation, want colour or foil options, or want your text itself to feel tactile.
- Choose embossing if you prefer raised details, subtle texture, or want to add a decorative element that complements your digital print.
Both are premium printing techniques and they pair beautifully with the thick, textured cardstocks I use in my studio.
If you’re not sure which finish suits your suite best, I’m always happy to chat through ideas and show you samples so you can feel the difference for yourself.