What is ecru paper?

I had never encountered the word ecru before working for The Occasions Group (TOG). When I first started here as a copywriter years ago, one of my main responsibilities was writing product descriptions. I have written 1000s upon 1000s of wedding invitation descriptions and, if you’re familiar with the industry, you know the cream-colored paper used for wedding invitations is often called ecru.

Ecru describes cream-colored paper.

Ecru paper is often used for wedding invitations and other forms of stationery. The term is not commonly used except in certain industries like the art and design industries where specific color names are needed to indicate precise shades. The word itself has French origins and means raw or unbleached. The cream color of ecru paper offers a warm finish and an elegant aesthetic to invitations, greeting cards, note cards, etc.

You have likely noticed we offer a white and ecru option for most of our wholesale flat cards and folded cards. You may not find “ecru” on newer stationery or custom print sites. Instead, they may use the word “ivory” or “cream” to describe a similar paper color. The Occasions Group began more than 75 years ago as a company called Carlson Letter Service, which printed fine stationery like wedding invitations. So TOG.ink has history in the industry and has retained some of the more formal language used. Check out our story!

We recommend testing a few designs on both ecru and white papers to see the difference it can make. Textured ecru paper is one of our favorites! You might find it to be just the right fit for capturing the mood of an upcoming event or the vibe of your next greeting card line.