Wedding Invitation Ideas

What Is The Cheapest Way To Do Wedding Invitations?

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    If you want to have a fancy wedding on one of the most memorable days of your life, you'll need to set realistic financial goals in advance. While the average Australian annual salary is $82,436, the average cost of a wedding there is a stunning $53,168. That's a significant portion of your yearly income!

    Costs for a traditional wedding quickly escalate after you factor in the reception and honeymoon. But the sum of the 'little things,' which sometimes go unnoticed, can add up to a significant amount! Some of the lesser wedding expenses, such as wedding invitations, may require some ingenuity on your part if you want to keep costs down.

    To expect anything less than a masterpiece from your wedding invitation is unreasonable. This is a momentous occasion, and your invitations should reflect that. The typical Australian couple spends $800 on invites alone.

    Having a big wedding is a common fantasy, but the financial commitment it requires can be overwhelming for couples who are also responsible for paying for essentials like rent and food. Knowing where to cut costs may make even a modest wedding spectacular.

    A small amount saved on invitations can have a major impact on the final cost. We hope that the invitation ideas presented here will help you plan a beautiful event without breaking the wallet.

    Honestly, We had no idea that paper was that expensive. But paper isn't the only expense; there are also envelopes, second envelopes, answer cards, response card envelopes, tissue paper, and stamps to consider. The time and effort put into the invitation's layout and design, as well as the cost of printing, are additional expenses.

    But why must things go this way? Invitations are another area where a couple can easily cut costs without sacrificing quality in preparation for their wedding. Find out the 16 ways you may save money on wedding invitations (by an average of $650).

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    Cheap Options For Wedding Invitations

    Create Your Own

    The most obvious technique to cut costs on invitations, this is frequently disregarded. Some couples worry that if they produce their own invitations, they will appear professionally. They have too much on their plates already, and they don't want to deal with the extra work involved in producing them. Yet, as more and more engaged couples search for ways to cut costs, a growing variety of simple do-it-yourself invitation kits have entered the market. There are some lovely invitation samples available at Michael's if you're in need of some ideas.

    Enlist A Crafty Friend

    Don't be afraid to enlist the aid of a creative friend (or even an aunt!) if you're still not confident in your invitation-making abilities. In addition to saving you money, some people like doing projects that enable them to express their creativity and may already have many of the essential supplies on hand.

    Attach Your Own Cardstock

    Printing is often sold separately from paper at stationery and invitation shops. Thus, you are under no need to purchase the material from them. You can save money on the invitation's paper by purchasing card stock at a bargain store and bringing it with you to the printer. You can use the printer's cardstock, which is of higher quality, or you can use your own cardstock for the answer cards and any additional cards you'd like to send with the invitation.

    Wedding Invitation Ideas

    Avoid Embossing And Engraving

    Engraving is the most expensive and time-consuming method of printing. Thermography is a cheaper alternative to engraving that achieves a similarly elegant and formal aesthetic. Avoid using embossed accents as they are an unnecessary extra expense.

    Simplify

    The process of sending out formal wedding invites, with all the accompanying envelopes and tissue paper, can be somewhat laborious. Despite the many layers and protocols inherent in traditional wedding invites, many couples are bypassing tradition in favour of more eco-friendly designs (i.e. less paper waste). To keep costs down, just provide the fundamentals in the invitation.

    Use A Common Envelope.

    Envelope decoration that goes over the top ends up costing more. Despite their visual appeal, square envelopes incur more postage fees. Choose unlined envelopes instead than lined ones because the latter add more weight and hence cost. Keep in mind that envelopes serve no purpose other than to be swiftly ripped open upon receipt.

    Go Shopping

    Internet searches are always the first port of call when looking for a new product to buy. However, if you want to save money on wedding invitations in particular, it is wise to comparison shop both online and in physical places. You may not immediately think of Costco or other warehouse merchants as potential sources for wedding invitations, but you should give them a try. In any case, wedding invitations are typically purchased in large quantities.

    Wedding invitations and save-the-date cards may often be had at a discount from printing services like Vistaprint or Invitation Consultants.

    Prices for wedding invitations begin at.61 cents apiece.

    Not sure how you want your wedding stationery to look? Check out our list of 28 Wedding Invitation Ideas to help you choose. 

    Start Looking For A Deal Early.

    According to traditional wedding timelines, invitations should be selected four months prior to the wedding. We recommend beginning your search for cheap invites as soon as you've decided on the wedding specifics. Even if you won't be sending them out until two months before the wedding, you can still place your order now. Be sure to sign up for and often check daily bargains and group buying sites like Groupon.

    Photo Invitations Should Be Sent

    Photographic wedding invitations are now as common as photographic holiday cards and photographic birth announcements. Not only is it easy to make on sites like Shutterfly, but it also makes a great keepsake for the guests.

    Write Cards

    You can save money in two ways by sending a postcard invitation: on the invitation itself and on the postage. Make the response cards postcards instead of the complete invitation if you choose. Recently, We were invited to a wedding and included on the invitation was a postcard-style response card that could be detached and used separately. How original!

    Send An Email

    In this day and age of electronic communication and online social networks, an electronic invitation is totally appropriate. A wedding invitation email could include a video of the happy couple, as well as photos and details about where guests can stay. A resourceful couple might make excellent use of this plan.

    Make An Email Reply

    You can save money on postage and handling by providing your guests with an email address instead of a response card to be addressed back to you if you send out traditional invitations in the mail. Because of this, you may collect everyone's email accounts as well. After trying this approach, We would attest to its efficacy. Alternately, you can have guests respond via a passcode form field on your wedding website.

    Deliver Invites Via The Online

    Create online invites with services like Evite if you want to send electronic invitations but don't feel like coming up with your own. Creating an invitation using them is simple, as is getting a response from your invitees. Most notably, there is no charge for this service. If you need more advanced capabilities, you can try out the premium service.

    Purchase 10% More Than What You Believe You Will Need

    It might not seem like a money-saver at first, but you'll wind up sending out more invitations than you originally planned. You might realise now that a crucial guest wasn't invited. Maybe you need to send out another invitation since the first one got misplaced in the mail. When ordering extras, it's much more convenient and economical to do so at the time of the primary order rather than afterwards.

    Always Proofread.

    And look for mistakes. Then, have some friends check it over for you. Avoid the hassle of having to reprint and resend invites because of erroneous information by double checking everything before hitting send.

    Create Your Own Invitation

    While searching online for a wedding invitation template, we came across a design We really adored. It was a bit out of our price range, so We didn't even bother looking at it. Therefore, We borrowed the idea for the design and used it for their own wedding invitation. We brought the concept and some cardstock to a stationary company, and they made me a custom wedding invitation that was perfect for us. We were able to save money by coming up with an alternative to a more costly design.

    Wedding Invitation Selection Guide

    There are a few things to take care of when settling on wedding invitations:

    • Make sure you have a list of everyone who is invited.  The number of guests to be invited to a wedding should be determined before any invitations are purchased. The reason for this is that many internet businesses provide discounts for purchasing in bulk, making it more cost-effective to order a larger quantity of invitations.
    • Comparison of costs:  Wedding invitations may be found just about anywhere these days, from Etsy vendors selling handcrafted cards to major retailers selling mass-produced cards. Always be on the lookout and open to new options; you never know where you might find the ideal document at the right price.
    • Examine critiques:  Despite the fact that the invites in question all appeared lovely in the photographs, We noticed that several of them had received negative ratings in the reviews. This may have been because the seller wasn't responsive when issues arose, or because the paper quality wasn't fantastic.
    • Try it out:  Throughout our opinion, this is the single most crucial piece of advice we could give. You don't want to order 200 invites to find out that you don't like the colour up close, that you can't read the text, or that you misspelt your own name — even if we are showcasing affordable wedding invitations from top-rated and reputable providers below. Make sure you enjoy the look and feel by ordering a little sample first.

    To get more idea about your wedding invitations, check out our post on What is a traditional wedding invitation?

    How Much Are Wedding Invitations?

    Most couples spend between $ 400 and $ 650 on wedding invitations. There are a number of variables that can have a huge impact on these prices. The cost of a wedding depends on a number of factors, the most significant of which are the number of people invited, the style of the event, and the availability of necessary supplies. Here, we'll provide a cost breakdown so you can plan your perfect wedding invitations.

    Costs To Consider For Wedding Invitations

    Your wedding invites, whether they're printed on simple cardboard or a photo-filled tri-fold, should reflect your individuality. You may customise the look and feel of your cards by adjusting details like paper, style, envelopes, and invitation extras. Here's how to put it all together:

    Paper Types

    The wide selection of wedding invitation paper is often overlooked. In the event that you're looking for traditional glassine overlays or brightly coloured invitations for a spring wedding, we've got you covered.

    • Cotton Fiber:The use of a letterpress for personalisation is now possible with this paper. Because of this, the price of cotton fibre is high, coming in at $29 for 100 sheets.
    •  Recycled Paper: As an alternative to handmade paper, this is a fairly close substitute. The utilisation of natural elements and recyclable materials contribute to its widespread appeal.
    • Felt Cardstock: This heavier variety of paper will set you back $22 for a hundred sheets, which is more than the going rate for card stock.
    • Parchment:You can easily add a vellum layer on top of this standard, and it just costs $15.
    • Vellum: Typically selling for $17 for a pack of 100 sheets, this see-through fabric is ideal for creating a layered look.
    • Glassine:Similar in appearance and cost to Vellum paper, but with a waxier finish. 
    • Matte: The cost of this option is reasonable, and seems spotless and new. It is a widely accepted paper benchmark for digitally distributed labels.
    • Handmade paper:It's environmentally friendly, on-trend, and inexpensive at only $20 for a hundred sheets.
    • Glossy:It's quite similar to matte, but with a higher sheen. Because of its low cost, glossy paper is another popular option.
    • Linen: For couples on a tight budget who don't want to skimp on quality, this paper is a great option. The typical cost for 100 sheets is $17.

    Design Elements

    To put it another way, this is what gives your cards that special touch of you. Your wedding's aesthetic will signal to visitors whether it will be a low-key affair or a spectacular celebration.

    • Photography:Have you taken any particularly memorable engagement photos that you can't wait to show off at your reception? Today's wedding invitations can include photographs at a reasonable cost because of digital printing technology. As an added bonus, it's a fantastic method of publicising the newlyweds' joy!
    • Foil Stamped: Invitations that have been foil stamped will reflect light in a manner that standard printing methods cannot. You can choose from a rainbow of foil stamp colours to give your cards a unique look. Furthermore, the extra costs they incur are typically rather small.
    • Engraved Design:The cost of invitations will rise if you opt to have designs or text engraved into them. However, it's a fantastic option for lavishly wealthy couples or anyone else who wants their invitations to stand out.
    • Colour: Invite guests to your wedding with style by using colour. It also has the capability of introducing your guests to the major aspects of your theme immediately. Colours can either add hundreds to your budget if you select the wrong palette, or they can be completely free if you use the right one.
    • Glitter: Invitations can be made to shine with the addition of glitter. To the total cost of your card, glitter will add about 10%.
    • Calligraphy:Inviting guests to a wedding can be a lot of work, so some couples choose to hire a calligrapher to do the job for them. This is typically offered in a bundled, more expensive package. The price of certain bundles might reach into the thousands. The cost of hiring a calligrapher to add a personal touch to your cards is usually between $100 and $300.
    • Letter Pressed: Using a letterpress is an elegant method to give your invites a timeless aesthetic, but it will increase your design budget.

    When you're ready to send out your invitation, place everything in an envelope and take it to the post office to be weighed. Just keep in mind that the envelope's form factor will have an effect on your final bill. In an effort to prevent any rips or tears, you are hoping for a hand cancellation. If you require any special handling while calculating postage, make sure to let the postal worker know (such as printing "Hand Cancel, Please" on each envelope).

    Your wedding invitations are the first step in setting the tone for your big day, so it's important to put a lot of thought into how each element will complement the others and your overall theme. Customising and personalising your wedding invitations with just a few details will impress your guests and get them in the mood for the big day. The most memorable wedding invitations are ones that feature thoughtful details that are hard to miss. But don't worry; it's not necessary to go into debt over it.

    Conclusion

    To the tune of $53,168, that's how much the typical Australian wedding costs. A couple can simply save money without compromising quality by sending postcards instead of invitations. Our infographic will show you 16 ways to cut costs on wedding invites (by an average of $650). Sending out formal wedding invitations can be a time-consuming affair. A increasing number of simple do-it-yourself invitation kits have joined the market as engaged couples look for ways to minimise expenditures.

    Creative outlets are appealing to some people, therefore they seek out activities that provide them with such opportunities. Using a printing firm like Vistaprint or Invitation Consultants to make your wedding invitations and save the dates can save you a lot of money. Sending a postcard invitation is cost-effective for two reasons: the postcard itself is inexpensive, and so is the postage. The most notable aspect of this service is that it is free of charge. The premium service is where you'll find more bells and whistles.

    The typical cost of wedding invitations is between $ 400 and $ 650. The most important aspects that affect how much money you'll need to spend on a wedding are the guest list, the theme, and the accessibility of necessary materials. Here, we break down those costs so you can design the perfect wedding invites for less than $500. Foil-stamped invitations will shine brightly in a way that regular paper invitations won't. The invitation is the first impression your guests will have of your special day, so it's crucial to put some consideration into how each detail will go together. In order to make their cards truly unique, some couples decide to engage a calligrapher.

    Content Summary

    1. You need to plan ahead and save up if you want to have a lavish wedding on one of the most important days of your life.
    2. Though $82,436 is the average yearly wage in Australia, the shocking average cost of a wedding there is $53,168.
    3. You just forked up a big chunk of your annual salary!
    4. If you're looking to save money on the smaller details of your wedding, like the invites, you may need to get creative.
    5. Your invitations should reflect the importance of this event.
    6. It costs the average Australian couple $800 just for invitations.
    7. Identifying strategic places to save money could turn a more affordable wedding into a grand event.
    8. Even a modest savings on invitations might have a substantial effect on the budget.
    9. Learn the 16 ways you may cut the cost of wedding invitations by $650 on average.
    10. Optional, Low-Cost Wedding Invitations Make Up Your Own This is the most obvious way to save money on invitations, but many people still overlook it.
    11. A increasing number of simple do-it-yourself invitation kits have joined the market as engaged couples look for ways to minimise expenditures.
    12. Recruit Your Most Resourceful Pal If you're still unsure of your invitation-making skills, don't be reluctant to request the help of a creative friend (or even an aunt!).
    13. Getting the card stock for the invitations at a discount store and taking it with you to the printer will help you save money.
    14. The answer cards and any extra cards you'd like to send with the invitation can be printed on the printer's cardstock, which is of superior quality, or on your own cardstock.
    15. Simplify Sending out traditional wedding invitations, with their corresponding envelopes and tissue paper, may be a time-consuming operation.
    16. Don't go overboard with the invitation's details if you're trying to save money.
    17. Make use of a generic envelope.
    18. Don't know how you want your wedding stationery to look?
    19. Begin your search for a bargain right away.
    20. Invites should be chosen no later than four months before the wedding, as recommended by conventional wedding timetables.
    21. You can still place your purchase now, even if you won't be mailing them out until two months before the wedding.
    22. If you'd rather not send out a full invitation, you can make the response cards into postcards instead.
    23. Reply to the Email If you want to send physical invitations to your guests, you can save money on postage and handling by including an email address on the invitations rather than a response card.
    24. It's a good idea to buy 10% more than you think you'll need. At first glance, this may not appear to be the most cost-effective option; nonetheless, you will likely end up inviting more people than anticipated.
    25. How to Pick the Perfect Wedding Invites When choosing wedding invitations, it is important to pay attention to the following details: Get a list of everyone who will be attending.
    26. It's important to nail down the wedding guest list before buying invites.
    27. The reason behind this is that when ordering invites online, many businesses provide discounts for bulk purchases, making it more cost-effective to acquire a greater quantity.
    28. A small sample can be ordered to ensure your satisfaction with the look and feel.
    29. Check out our post "What is a conventional wedding invitation?" for more information and inspiration as you plan your wedding invitations.
    30. The typical cost of wedding invitations is between $ 400 and $ 650.
    31. Number of guests, wedding theme, and accessibility to essentials are the three biggest determinants of wedding budget.
    32. If you're looking for a breakdown of costs to help you budget for the perfect wedding invites, you've come to the right place.
    33. You can change the overall feel of the invitations by modifying the paper, design, envelopes, and any additional materials you choose to include.
    34. At under $20 for a hundred sheets, handmade paper is not only trendy but also good for the environment and the wallet.
    35. Glamorous paper is also often used because of its low price.
    36. Linen: This paper is a terrific choice for couples on a tight budget who don't want to sacrifice quality.
    37. Photos on modern wedding invitations can be printed digitally for a low price.
    38. Numerous foil stamp hues allow you to personalise the look of your cards.
    39. Having designs or text etched into invitations will increase their price.
    40. Use colour to elegantly invite visitors to your wedding.
    41. Adding glitter to your invitations is a great way to make them sparkle.
    42. You should expect to pay an additional 10% for using glitter on your card.
    43. Calligraphers can add a special touch to your cards for a fee of $100 to $300.
    44. Inviting guests to your event using letterpressed invitations is a classy way to get a classic look, but it will cost more than other printing methods.
    45. Put everything in an envelope and get it weighed at the post office when you're ready to deliver the invitations.
    46. The small efforts you make to make your wedding invites unique and special will go a long way towards making your guests feel special and getting them in the celebratory mood.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The average cost of wedding invitations sits between $400 to $1000 according to recent surveys. The final price depends on the type of invitations and the size of your guest list. From $0.35 – $2.00 per invite (digital printing) to $15 - $20 per invite (Engraving).

    Yes, custom invitations cost more money, but the price of DIY invites can skyrocket quickly if you need to buy a lot of embellishments and accessories. Everybody has a budget.

    One expert from the graphic design industry puts the average cost of wedding invitations between $5,000 and $8,000 for 100 sets.

    For a colleague or acquaintance, $50 to $75 is acceptable. You can work within that range at your discretion. For family or someone close to you, $75 to $100 and even as high as $150 is perfect. Then if you're going as a couple, it's routine to double the amount or keep it at $200.

    Having a wedding isn't as simple as saying “I do” — and it's a lot more expensive. The average cost of a wedding in 2020 was $19,000 (including the ceremony and reception), according to The Knot's 2020 Real Weddings Study.

    Save the date cards can be sent out as early as a year from your wedding date. Invitations should be sent to your guests six to eight weeks in advance of your wedding. Invitations for destination weddings should be sent to your guests three months in advance of your wedding.

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