When it comes to wedding invitations, there are several types of folds that you may come across while shopping for your style. Here are explanations of some of the more common folds.

An invitation folder has one fold down the center of the paper. The fold can appear either at the top or on the side making it a folder. Your wording may appear either on the front of the folder or inside as shown here.

A french-fold means the paper is folded in half twice creating a four-paneled invitation. This fold is most commonly used with parchment invitations.

Gate-folds can be fashioned with either three or four panels where the two outside panels fold inward to meet in the center. In an open gate fold, there are three panels, with the bottom panel being twice the size of each folded panel. In a closed gatefold, there are four panels of roughly equal size where the outer panels are folded inward together. In some cases, the folded panels are uniquely designed to interlock together as pictured here.

Tri-fold occurs when the paper is folded twice either vertically or horizontally to form a three-panel invitation. Both outside panels are folded inward so they cover the middle panel.

A z-fold is created in accordion fashion when the paper is folded twice in opposite directions creating an invitation with three panels.

Of course not all wedding invitations have folds, but now you will be familiar with the various types of folded styles you may happen to see.