Forty years ago, the folks at Kern Stationers discovered some of their clients were turning to U.S. companies for high-end invitations. So they opened Invitation House, one of Toronto’s first upscale stationery outfits. Today, designer Terry Kirshenbaum ensures the quality remains high, using cotton, linen and brocade paper, and paying great attention to detail; special touches include deckle edging, foil stamping, copperplate engraving, offset printing, calligraphy and custom die-cutting. Computer printing is verboten; Kirshenbaum is loyal to the tactile charm of letterpress. Count on wit amid the splendour: Kirshenbaum once made an invitation from a cocktail napkin, then tucked it inside a box of two miniature Absolut Vodka bottles; for a “Gone Platinum”–themed party, invites were made to look like platinum albums.