Raise the Bhar
Letterpress Wedding Invitations and Custom Invitation Printing in Indianapolis
When you’re planning a wedding, gala, or celebration, the first impression happens in the mailbox. Your invitations set the tone for the whole event and tell your guests that you’ve thought about every detail. At Bhar Printing, we specialize in creating beautiful custom invitations that make people want to say yes.
We print invitations for weddings, corporate events, galas, fundraisers, and personal celebrations of all kinds. Whether you want letterpress invitations with deep impressions and elegant texture, foil stamping for shimmer and shine, embossing for subtle sophistication, or combinations of multiple techniques, we can bring your vision to life. Each invitation is printed on the cardstock you choose, finished exactly how you want it, and ready to go in your guests’ hands.
Custom invitations aren’t one-size-fits-all. A wedding invitation reads completely differently than a corporate gala invitation, which feels different from a baby shower announcement. We tailor every project to match the event, the audience, and the tone you’re trying to set. Whether your celebration is formal and traditional or modern and bold, we can execute it.
Wedding Invitations
Letterpress wedding invitations are one of our most requested services. The process creates an unmistakable look and feel that guests notice the moment they open their mail. Letterpress presses your design into premium cardstock under controlled pressure, leaving a beautiful raised impression on the front and a subtle debossed indent on the back. The result is tactile, luxurious, and timeless. Many couples choose letterpress specifically because of that tactile quality. When someone opens an envelope with a letterpress invitation, they feel the care and the expense immediately. It sets an elegant tone for the whole event.
Beyond letterpress, we offer wedding invitations with foil stamping for metallic accents, embossing for raised designs without the press, and combinations of all three. Foil adds shimmer that photographs beautifully. Embossing creates dimension without the dramatic press of letterpress, which some couples prefer. Many invitations combine two or three techniques to create depth and visual interest.
If you have a design in mind, we can refine it. If you’re starting from scratch, our graphic design team can help you create something perfect. We can customize colors, fonts, and layouts to match your wedding theme exactly.
Our wedding invitations are printed on premium papers. These aren’t lightweight card stocks that bend easily or feel cheap. They’re substantial, beautiful materials that feel expensive in your guests’ hands because they are. Heavy cardstock conveys quality before anyone reads a single word. We can suggest papers based on your color palette, the printing technique you’ve chosen, and the overall look you want to achieve. A bright white with letterpress reads completely differently than an ivory or an off-white. The paper choice is as important as the design itself.
Event and Gala Invitations
Corporate events, galas, fundraisers, and business celebrations demand invitations that reflect the professionalism and impact of the event itself. We print invitations for nonprofits, museums, chambers of commerce, and companies of all sizes. The same techniques available for weddings work beautifully for formal events: foil stamping for corporate logos, embossing for sophisticated designs, and specialty finishes that make your invitation stand out.
We can help you think through the details. Should your logo be in foil? Would a two-color design read better than one color? Do you want a photo on the invitation or a graphic element? We can print to your specifications, and if you need design guidance, we can point you in the right direction.
Announcements and Special Occasions
Announcement printing covers graduations, new baby announcements, business announcements, moving cards, and milestone celebrations. These don’t require the same formality as wedding or gala invitations, but they still deserve to be beautiful. A graduation announcement on quality cardstock with your school colors feels celebratory and honors the achievement. A birth announcement with a family photo feels personal and warm. A business announcement or moving card can be as simple as your name and new information, or as detailed as you’d like it to be.
Announcement cards create opportunities to connect with people in your life. A physical card in someone’s mailbox feels more personal and memorable than social media. We print custom announcement cards in single or double sided formats.
You can include a photo, a text layout, or a design that matches your style. Baby shower invitations, graduation announcements, anniversary announcements, and retirement cards all fall into this category. Many people order quantities that let them send one to everyone who’s important to them.
Matching Pieces and Coordinated Sets
Invitations often work best as part of a larger set. Save the date cards let people know the event is coming before the formal invitation arrives, giving them plenty of notice to clear their calendar. RSVP cards give guests an easy way to respond without fumbling through email or making a phone call. Envelopes with printed addresses finish the look professionally and save you hours of handwriting. For receptions, we print programs, menu cards, and place cards that coordinate with your invitations.
These matching pieces extend your design theme throughout the event. They also make life easier for you. Instead of handwriting dozens of addresses, you can order them printed. Instead of scrambling to create response cards, you have them ready to go. We can print all pieces together so they feel like one cohesive package.
Coordinated sets are especially popular for weddings, where couples want consistency across every touchpoint. The invitation, save the date, RSVP card, and program can all share the same design elements, color palette, and finishing techniques. Galas and corporate events also benefit from coordinated stationery that reinforces your organization’s branding.
Paper, Finishes, and Cardstock Choices
Choosing the right cardstock matters more than most people realize. It affects how your invitation feels in someone’s hand, how the colors look in different light, and how the design is perceived before anyone reads a single word. We work with a range of premium papers. Some are bright white and crisp, reading as modern and clean. Others have texture, warmth, or a subtle sheen that adds sophistication. Some are heavier and more substantial than others, which affects how they feel and how they travel through the mail.
Paper weight matters too. Heavier cardstock feels more valuable and luxurious. Lighter cardstock is more economical but still high quality. We can talk through the options based on your budget and your vision. If you want your invitations to feel truly premium, we recommend the heavier weights. The difference in cost is small, but the difference in perception is significant.
Finishes include letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, and combinations of these. Letterpress creates a tactile raised impression. Foil stamping adds metallic shine that catches light. Embossing creates raised dimension without the press. You can combine two techniques on the same card, such as embossing for a border and foil for a logo.
We can show you samples of papers and finishes so you can see and feel what’s possible before you commit. Seeing papers in person and feeling the weight and texture helps you understand your choices. The combination of paper choice and finish choice creates your invitation’s entire personality.
Quantities and Production Timelines
We recommend ordering quantities that account for extras. Extras give you flexibility for last minute invitations, framing one for your memory, or backups if you make an addressing mistake. It’s better to have extras on hand than to come up short before your event.
Start the invitation process early. Letterpress and foil stamping take time because they’re precision work. These techniques can’t be rushed without sacrificing the quality that makes them special. If your event is several months away, you have plenty of time to experiment with designs, select papers, and enjoy the process. If your event is coming up quickly, let us know your timeline. We do our best to accommodate rush timelines, but we won’t sacrifice quality to make a deadline. We’d rather print it right than print it fast and regret the results.
The invitation process involves design approval, paper and finish selection, proof approval, and then production and shipping. Each step matters because it affects the final quality. We’ll keep you updated and make sure you’re happy before anything goes to print. If something doesn’t look right, we’ll fix it.
Design Help and Graphic Design Services
If you’re not sure exactly what you want, that’s okay. Our team can discuss your vision and suggest approaches that work with letterpress, foil, embossing, or other techniques. If you need more help, our graphic design team knows invitation design inside and out. We can also help you refine a design you already have.
Many people come to us with Pinterest inspiration, color swatches, or ideas about style and tone. We help translate those visual cues into a design direction. Some bring finished designs from designers they’ve worked with. Either way, our job is to make sure your invitations reflect what you’re trying to communicate.
We also offer graphic design services for clients who need help with their invitations or other printing projects. If you need a full design package including business cards, signage, or marketing materials, we can help coordinate everything to feel cohesive and professional.
Ready to get started? Request a quote or call us at 317.899.1020. You can also stop by our studio and look at paper samples and past work. We’re at 1527 Milburn Street in Indianapolis, open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Questions We Hear Often
How far in advance should I order my wedding invitations?
Starting several months before your event is ideal. This gives you time for design, paper selection, proofs, and production without feeling rushed. If you already have a design ready and know exactly what you want, you can move faster. If you’re still thinking through the look and feel, start early and enjoy the process.
What is letterpress printing and why do people choose it for wedding invitations?
Letterpress is a printing technique where your design is pressed into the cardstock under pressure. This creates a visible and tactile impression on the front and back of the card. The result is a luxurious, vintage look and feel that’s hard to achieve any other way. Many people choose letterpress because it’s substantial, tactile, and creates an impression that guests remember. It’s a premium option that reads as high quality immediately.
Can you print envelope addresses for my invitations?
Yes. We can print addresses directly on your envelopes, which saves you the work of handwriting them. You provide the address list and we handle the rest. Your envelopes arrive ready to mail.
Do you offer design templates or can I upload my own design?
We can work from designs you bring to us, and we can also discuss your ideas and make recommendations. If you need help creating a design from scratch, our graphic design team can build one with you. For most custom printing, working with a designer ensures your invitations look exactly how you envision them.
Can I see samples of your work before I order?
Yes. We encourage you to come see our portfolio and look at paper samples in person. Seeing cardstock and finishes in real life, in natural and artificial light, makes a huge difference in your decision. You can also call us to ask questions about specific styles or techniques. We’re happy to show you what’s possible.
Ready to talk about your print job?
Call 317.899.1020, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.