Planning your dream wedding involves making countless decisions, and among them, choosing the perfect wedding invitations is a top priority. But fear not, thrifty couples! You don’t have to sacrifice style and elegance to stay within your budget. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the best tips for saving money on your wedding invitations, ensuring that your love story is celebrated without breaking the bank.
Start Early:
Time is your ally when it comes to saving money on wedding invitations. Start the design and ordering process well in advance. Not sure when to order? Ask your stationer or download a free planning tool like THIS ONE.
Remember, waiting too long can limit what’s available to you in terms of customizing your invitations but it can also skyrocket the costs. Rush orders can come with extra fees and added shipping costs, so plan ahead to avoid these unnecessary expenses.
To illustrate this for you, here at Raspberry Creative, a rush order is any wedding invitation package with a delivery date under four weeks. Our rush fee is 25% of the order total so on average, that’s an additional $500 – $600!
Simplify the Design
While intricate designs and elaborate finishes can be captivating, they also come with a higher price tag. Consider opting for a clean and minimalist design that exudes elegance without the added cost. Sometimes, less is truly more.
Simple doesn’t have to be boring either. An experienced wedding stationer will know great ways to help you put together an invitation suite that still feels really special even while being mindful of costs. Things like skipping the pocket-fold and opting for a belly band or ribbon instead still helps keep your invitations organized while saving money.
Choose Affordable Printing Methods
Selecting a cost-effective printing method can make a significant difference in your invitation expenses. Digital printing is often more budget-friendly than letterpress or foil stamping. Digital printing offers excellent quality while being gentle on your wallet.
Selecting a cost-effective printing method can make a significant difference in your invitation expenses. Digital printing is often more budget-friendly than letterpress or foil stamping. Digital printing offers excellent quality while being gentle on your wallet.
Opt for Standard Sizes
Custom sizes or non-standard shapes can increase production costs. Choosing standard sizes for your wedding invitations and envelopes can help you save money on both printing and postage.
Did you know? Square envelopes are considered an irregular size so they can cost over $0.20/invitation more to mail just for the size alone. That doesn’t factor in added postage for weight or thickness which can add even more.
Don't by Stingy with Quantity
When trying to keep costs under control, it’s easy to think that ordering exactly the quantity you need for yoru guest list plus one or two extras makes the most sense so you aren’t paying for invitations you wont use. The problem here is that so many couples skip ordering extras and then realize they’ve added people at the last minute or forgot someone and need to order more invitations closer to the wedding.
Many stationers have a minimum order even for additional quantities which for some couples, can mean to get more they have to order the minimum which could be more than they need costing more money. These smaller quantities often cost quite a bit more per piece and additional rush fees and expedited shipping can also significantly add to the costs.
To avoid this, we always recommend ordering 5-10 more than you think you’ll need; 10 being the most ideal. Even if you don’t use them, this will give you extras for keepsakes for yourself or your parents, for scrapbooks, etc. In my 20 years as a wedding stationer, I’ve never had a couple come back and tell me the extras they ordered were a waste.
Limit the Number of Enclosures
While additional enclosures such as information cards or map inserts can be helpful, remember that each extra piece adds to the cost. This can be especially true if you plan to have a custom map drawn or painted to use on your invites. These are lovely details but can add hundreds of dollars to an invitation suite.
If you are looking for ways to save, make use of a free wedding website from the Knot or another wedding service site and provide the bulk of your wedding details there. It takes a little time to set up but can be a really valuable resource for your wedding guests and save you money on your invitations too!
Your wedding invitations set the tone for your special day, but you don’t have to overspend to achieve elegance. By implementing these practical tips for saving money on your wedding invitations, you can create beautiful stationery that reflects your love story without straining your budget.
Remember, your wedding is a celebration of your love and commitment. With careful planning and thoughtful decision-making, you can craft invitations that are a true representation of your unique journey while staying within your means. Cheers to celebrating love in style without the financial stress!
