Wedding invitations are a key part of any wedding. They announce your big day and provide important details to your guests. But wedding invitations can also be a significant expense. The average cost of wedding invitations is $408 for 125 invitations. With careful planning and budgeting, you can find affordable wedding invitations that still reflect your style.
Set Your Wedding Invitation Budget
The first step is deciding how much you want to spend. As a general guideline, plan to spend 3-5% of your total wedding budget on invitations. But feel free to adjust up or down based on your priorities. Factors to consider include:
- Your total wedding budget
- Number of guests
- Level of formality
- Quantity and types of invitations needed (save-the-dates, invites, RSVP cards, etc)
- Any extras like lined envelopes or fancy printing techniques
Be sure to get quotes first before setting a firm budget. Prices can vary widely based on your design, printing method and quantity.
Choose Your Wedding Invitation Suite
Your wedding invitation suite refers to all the paper items that go out with your invitation. This typically includes:
- Invitations
- Response cards
- Reception cards
- Accommodation cards
- Menu cards
- Thank you cards
- Envelope liners or pockets
You don’t necessarily need to include all these pieces. Focus on what’s most important for your wedding details. For a budget-friendly option, send invite and response card together in one envelope.
Decide on Wedding Invitation Wording
Once you decide what pieces to include, it’s time to figure out the text. Your invitation wording should include:
- Names of the hosts
- Couple getting married
- Location
- Date
- Time
- RSVP instructions
You can personalize the wording to reflect your relationship and style. Just keep it short and informative. Your stationer can help with proper wedding invitation etiquette.
Select Your Wedding Invitation Design
With your budget set and text decided, it’s time for the fun part – picking the design! When selecting wedding invitation designs:
- Choose a style you love but also works with your formality and venue
- Make sure colors and fonts coordinate
- Add unique details like ribbons, pressed flowers or foil stamping
- Use high quality paper and printing for best results
If hiring a stationer, they can walk you through design options. Or browse online for affordable templates and DIY supplies if making them yourself.
Find Affordable Wedding Invitations
Looking to trim invitation costs? Consider these budget-friendly options:
- Print your own – Using your home printer is the most affordable option. Works best for simple, text-focused invites.
- DIY invitations – Buy supplies like paper, stamps, ink and embellishments then assemble invitations yourself.
- Order online – Many paper shops offer instant downloads of DIY templates or custom designs at affordable prices.
- Choose eco-friendly invitations – Options like recycled paper, plantable paper and paperless post are easy ways to cut costs.
- Buy in bulk – You can often save up to 50% on invitation suites by buying in larger quantities.
Shop sales, buy only what you need and use coupon codes to maximize your budget.
Find Affordable Envelopes
Envelopes are one of the biggest invitation expenses. Here are tips for affordable options:
- Buy plain white envelopes in bulk and print addresses yourself.
- Use kraft paper or other lightweight envelopes.
- Skip lining envelopes.
- Reuse envelopes from junk mail or older wedding invites.
- Opt for digital invitations to avoid envelope costs.
Talk to your stationer about ways to pare down envelope costs. Things like printing return addresses and skipping inner envelopes can trim your budget.
Reduce Wedding Invitation Postage Costs
Postage and shipping can really add up, especially if you have a lot of out of town guests. Ways to save on postage include:
- Weigh invitation suites and use correct postage.
- Group invitations by location for lowest shipping.
- Ship invitations close to the RSVP date.
- Buy bulk stamps online for 5-10% savings.
- Use online postage sites for discounts.
- Choose lightweight envelopes and paper.
Talk to your local post office about the most economical shipping options for your needs. Keeping things compact and lightweight is key.
Order Wedding Invitations Early
To maximize savings, order your wedding invitations well in advance. This allows time to:
- Take advantage of sales, promos and coupons.
- Buy supplies in bulk for lower per-unit costs.
- Spread costs over a longer period.
- Allow for shipping time and any errors.
- Send out save-the-dates first if having a long engagement.
For engraved, letterpress or heavily customized designs, plan to order at least 4-6 months before your wedding. More standard invites can be ordered 2-3 months out.
Create a Timeline
To keep your wedding invitations on schedule and budget, create a detailed timeline including:
- Shopping for invitations and ordering
- Receiving and reviewing proof
- Time for any corrections
- Printing and assembly
- Mailing deadlines
Build in a buffer of a few weeks in case anything runs late. Send out save-the-dates 8-12 months in advance if having a long engagement.
Compare Wedding Invitation Packages
Many stationers offer different wedding invitation packages at different price points. Entry level packages often include:
| Invitation | Response card |
| 1 or 2 envelope options | Basic printing and fonts |
Higher level packages may offer items like ribbon, lined envelopes, RSVP postcards, upgraded papers and envelope printing. Know what’s included in each so you can choose what makes sense for your budget.
Trim the Guest List
The simplest way to lower invitation costs is to have fewer of them! Look closely at your guest list and see where you can cut back. Ask yourself:
- Are all the guests a “must invite” or just “nice to invite”?
- Are there any plus ones you can eliminate?
- Can you trim coworkers, distant relatives or casual friends?
Prune your list as much as you can while still having those most important to you there. You can always add more later if budget allows.
Prioritize Your Wedding Invitation Expenses
If after trimming your guest list your budget is still tight, look for any extra invitation items to cut. Prioritize like this:
- Invitations – The bare minimum needed to relay your wedding details.
- Response cards – Essential for tracking RSVPs.
- Envelopes – Cheaper to cut corners here with recycling, lightweight paper, etc.
- Enclosure cards – Accommodation details and directions can be put on a wedding website instead.
- Liners and pockets – Purely decorative elements.
Figure out what’s really needed versus just nice to have. Focus your dollars where it counts most.
Consider Electronic Invitations
Sending online invitations is the most budget-friendly option. Pros are:
- Typically free or only a few dollars per invitation
- No printing or postage costs
- Lots of customizable templates
- Eco-friendly
- Easy to track RSVPs
The biggest downside is losing that personal touch of paper. But try using electronic invites for long distance or casual guests and paper for locals. Or use electronic save-the-dates then paper invites.
Conclusion
With some careful planning, prioritizing and creative cost-cutting, you can have beautiful and budget-friendly wedding invitations. Focus on what matters most – joyfully sharing your big day with loved ones!
