How to Save on Wedding Invitations
Wedding Invitations and wedding stationery can get expensive really fast. There are a ton of add-ons and up-sells in the wedding invitation world. If you don’t want to break the bank on paper here are some ways to save money on wedding invitations.
1. Keep It Simple
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| Simple Damask Wedding Invitation |
Choose a simple design that doesn’t have bulky embellishments or fancy adornments. Heavy invitations cost you more to mail and you may have to pay a non-machinable surcharge if they are too thick or have protruding elements. The simpler the design the more affordable it should be.
2. Use Standard Size Envelopes
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| Fall Leaves Wedding Invitation |
The most common envelope size for invitations is an A7 5 1/4 inches x 7 1/4. This means your invitation would be 5×7 inches. Other common sizes are A6 or A9 (half a sheet of standard letter sized copy paper). Stay away from square envelopes. They cost .20 more in postage per envelope. It may not seem like much but consider you are mailing on average 100 wedding invitations. That equals $20 just in additional postage.
3. Use Postcards
Postcard postage is a lot cheaper than a regular 1st Class stamp. You can use postcards for your R.S.V.P.s instead of having to buy another envelope to help save money on wedding invitations. Just print your return address on the backside and if you plan to put postage on ahead of time for your guests you’ll save yourself a chunk of change.
4. DIY Wedding Invitations
This is probably my favorite way to save on wedding invitations. I designed and made my own wedding invitations. When you DIY your wedding invites you will have full control over the cost of the materials. If you have crafty friends or family you could enlist them to lend a helping hand. Another benefit to handmade invitations is you can make them really unique. So if you can’t find that perfect invitation and are looking for ways to save on wedding invitations this may be your best option.
Visit one of our favorite sites for DIY Invitation supplies. Cards and Pockets.com
5. Create a Wedding Website
TheKnot.com offers free wedding websites. You can put all your additional info on the website and forgo the need to have additional cards in your invitation suite and can keep your main invite from being cluttered with extra info. They allow you to customize your site. You can collect R.S.V.P.s without R.S.V.P. cards and it makes it super easy to keep track of everything. You can also add your registry info, hotel info, reception details, and any other important info.
6. Email or Text R.S.V.P.s
In years past it’s been deemed tacky to email or text whether or not you’re attending a formal event but in this day and age it’s considered the norm. It will make it easy for your guests to let you know if they’re coming without having to remember to drop a card in the mail. You can even set up a designated email address for just wedding R.S.V.P.s to keep everything organized and easily accessible.
7. Photo Invitations
Photo Wedding invitations are printed on photo paper. Photo Wedding Invitations can be really adorable and affordable. Wal-mart, Zazzle, Vistaprint, Walgreens, and other photo printing sites all offer templates that you just upload your info into. You can choose a template that has photos of you and the groom or choose a template that is just a pretty design. The finished invitations look professional and cost less than traditional wedding invitations
8. Digital Invitations
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| Purple Watercolor Floral Wedding Invitation |
Digital Invitations are becoming more popular. You can choose from lots of different digital wedding invitation patterns. You will most likely receive them in a PDF format and then you can either print them yourself or simply text, email, or message your friends and family the digital invitation. If you’re on a tight budget this can save you hundreds of dollars.
9. Order Extras
Always order a few extra wedding invitations. There are always people you miss when making your list or people you want to invite last minute. If you have to go back and order more invitations after the initial run you will be charged more. You get a discount for ordering larger quantities but small orders cost the most per invite. Ordering a few extra now will save you money in the long run.
10. Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.
Proofread your invitation thoroughly. Then have a trusted friend read over the invitations too. One of the most costly mistakes is having to reprint wedding invitations if there was an error on the first batch. Make sure everything is spelled correctly, check the time and date, verify the venue’s address, and look for any layout issues.
This will save you a world of heartache. You don’t want to get your invitations and realize your marrying “Dan” instead of “Dave.”
11. Create your own Design
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| Poppy Wedding Invitation |
If you find an invitation you love but it’s too expensive, try simplifying it. Multiple layers of paper can get expensive and can be time-consuming if you’re making them yourself. Try printing a border to achieve the same result. Swap out expensive high-end papers for a more wallet-friendly version.
12. Skip Embossing and Foil Printing
These printing techniques can quickly add to your wedding invitation bill without really adding any extra value. Sure they’re pretty but are they worth the extra expense? In my opinion, you can use cheaper printing methods and still have a luxurious look for less.
13. Address Your Own Envelopes
Calligraphers and printing services that offer envelope addressing can be pricey because it does take a bit of time to address individual envelopes. If you’re not crunched for time this can be a big savings.
Create an Amazon Wedding Registry
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