Wedding Blog
They were printed on a Golding Jobber #6 from 1908! Judy has lovingly named her Esther (after synchronized swimmer Esther Williams for her sexy curvaceous legs). I’m told they know she is pre-1911 because she still has the S-spokes on the wheel.
Below is a photopolymer plate that is affixed to a base and then locked within the chase. The process is done on a marble block to ensure the base and furniture are smooth and level (ensuring an even print).
As the S-wheel turns, the rollers move down over the inked platen, pulling ink down across the photopolymer plate and tucking away so that the paper can rise up to be printed.
First, the text was printed, and then the wedding invitation borders.
Judy and Arnold are all about multitasking, so in their shop the type drawers do double duty and serve as drying racks for the printed invitations.
If you look closely you can catch a sneak peek at the Lemonade invites!
For the face of the RSVP envelope, they have to cut a form to make up for the layers of the envelope, which, folded & glued, have 3 layers!! The form, placed beneath the envelope, levels out all the layers so that the text prints smoothly and evenly. Without it, the letters would get thicker where the back flaps come together to form the envelope.
Many thanks to the talented and lovely Ms. Judy for the informative tutorial!!
How are your invites being printed?
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Share this post: You’re Invited: The Process
How neat!!!
Wow, so cool, still such a mystery to me though, I can’t wait to see your invites!!
Great behind-the-scenes tour! I love that letterpress printers often have a rich history.
Hopefully also on letterpress… we know a guy 
Thanks for the pics, I can’t wait to see the finished product!
Wow I didn’t realize it was so labor intensive. So amazing. I can’t wait to see how they all turned out!
Astounding. What a great and labor intensive process. The outcome is always amazing though.
I’m doing mine on letterpress too! I actually took a class and bought myself Kelsey 5×8 and am slowing collecting the type.
Thanks for posting this! It really makes me appreciate the final product more once I know all the time and effort that goes into it.
Letterpress, though I’m doing it with the studio owners.
One thing you should note is that the text is run through (like you mentioned), and if you have a second color (your border, for example), they have to do the invitations in 2 runs.
Run 1 = everything you outlined above (but add a few test prints before the actual prints begin, to make sure the polymer plate is lined up). Then they have to pull out your plate and the base, clean the plate, set the second polymer plate on the base, level it and run test prints to ensure even printing. Then mix the ink for the second color and run each invitation through a second time.
Phew.
Fun times!
This is such an informative post, and I love that you have the photos of your invitations being pressed!!
i love behind the scenes posts like this, thx for sharing the backstage pass!
I love this!! I can’t wait to see your invites. I have a C&P Table top press but I am too scared to use it. Maybe it is time to do something with it.
Can’t wait to see the finished product up close! You are going to share, aren’t you? That’d be cruel not to.
That’s so cool. I’ve always wondered what all goes into letterpress and now I know!
p.s. I know your invites will be stunning! We can hardly wait!
Mine are just regular print but thanks for the step by step on letterpress. In my mind it seemed like it should be so simple and now I know!
How neat to have photos of this process! I can’t believe how much time and effort goes into letterpress — the results are definitely worth it, though!
I really had no sense of the effort put forth in this process. Thanks so much for sharing! I’m anxious to see the finished product!
haha I signed up for a letterpress class in school just so I can letterpress my own invitations and not pay boatloads of money.
a bit superficial? probably 
I’m madly in love with letterpress besides though.
Sweet, sweet letterpress.. How I love thee. We’re letterpressing too!
I’m totally amazed by the process too! It’s so funny how technology moves forward, but nothing beats the tried and true handcrafted methods of yesteryear. Yes, I said yesteryear (lammmeeee)
Thanks for the letterpress break down. The process is sooo interesting. I love the look of letterpress, but my wallet doesn’t. Can’t wait to see the final product!
What a great process! Thanks for the pictures to go along with it! Great post!
OMG! Letterpress porn! Were you actually there? If so, I am so jealous! I’ve only ever been to a commercial print company, which was really neat, but not nearly as fascinating as this!!! Thanks for this post and pictures! I can’t wait to see your invites!
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Mrs. Lemonade, Austin/San Antonio
Age and Occupation: 28, Bureaucrat
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Music Management
Engagement Date: December 21, 2007
Wedding Date: April, 2009
Blogging Since: August 22, 2008
Venue: Country Club ceremony, ballroom reception
About Me: I’m a total wonkette who is lucky enough to be surrounded by her favorite things on a daily basis – awesome music, the great State of Texas and of course, Mr. Lemonade! I find any excuse I can to craft something and am completely infatuated with the 1950’s, all things Kennedy, and my furbaby Vida.
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