Planning a wedding can be expensive, but your invitations don’t have to break the bank. Finding the cheapest way to create beautiful, personalised wedding invitations involves creativity, smart shopping, and a touch of DIY flair. Plenty of budget-friendly options exist whether you’re considering digital designs, bulk printing, or crafting them yourself.
From using free templates to taking advantage of online deals, you can create stunning invitations that reflect your style without overspending. Read this blog to learn more about affordable wedding invitation ideas and tips to save money while keeping your invites classy and elegant.
Let’s Get Straight To The Point
You can save on wedding invitations by blending creativity, smart shopping, and DIY ideas. Use free templates, seek online deals, or design your invites with budget-friendly materials like affordable cardstock and standard envelopes.
Simplify designs by skipping expensive features like engraving, opting for thermography, or going digital with email invitations.
- DIY & Collaboration: Use free templates or enlist a creative friend.
- Budget Printing: Buy cardstock in bulk and print locally.
- Postage Savings: Stick to standard-sized or postcard-style invites.
- Digital Options: Save costs with email or online invitations.
- Shop Smart: Compare deals from online platforms like Vistaprint.
With thoughtful planning and simple solutions, you can craft elegant, personalised wedding invitations that fit your style and budget.
1. Printing Options To Consider
Skip Engraving and Embossing
- Engraving Costs: While engraving offers an elegant look, it is one of the most expensive printing methods.
- Alternative: Opt for thermography, which mimics the appearance of engraving at a fraction of the cost.
Simplify Your Design
- Less Is More: Reduce unnecessary embellishments like tissue inserts, layered envelopes, and decorative wraps.
- Eco-Friendly: Choose minimalist designs that save money and reduce paper waste.
2. Budget-Friendly Envelope Tips
Choose Standard Envelopes
- Avoid Custom Sizes: Square or oversized envelopes often require extra postage. Stick to standard sizes to save money.
- Unlined Options: Use plain envelopes instead of lined ones to reduce costs further.
Send Postcards Instead
- Postage Savings: Postcards are cheaper to mail and can double as invitations or RSVP cards.
- Unique Option: Detachable postcard-style response cards are creative and cost-effective.
3. Online Resources For Affordable Invitations
Shop Around for Deals
- Online and Offline Options: Compare prices from local stores, online retailers, and wholesale warehouses like Costco.
- Discount Platforms: Websites like Vistaprint or Groupon often offer discounts on bulk orders.
Explore Digital Invitations
- Cost-Free Options: Use email invitations or platforms like Evite to create and send invitations online.
- Creative Touch: Include videos or photos of the couple to make the email more personal and engaging.
4. Creative Ways To Customise Invitations
Incorporate Photos
- Personalised Touch: Photo invitations double as keepsakes for your guests. Websites like Shutterfly make it easy to design and print photo cards.
- Affordability: Digital printing makes adding photos cost-effective.
Try Foil Stamping
- Affordable Glamour: Foil-stamped designs add an elegant shimmer to invitations without drastically increasing costs.
5. Essential Planning Tips For Invitations
Order Extras Upfront
- Avoid Reordering: Ordering 10-15% more invitations than you can prevent expensive last-minute reorders.
Proofread Carefully
- Double-check: Review all details on your invitations before printing to avoid costly reprints due to errors.
- Get Feedback: Have multiple people review your text for mistakes.
Start Early
- Timing Is Key: Search for invitations as soon as your wedding details are finalised. This allows you to find the best deals without rushing.
The Most Cheapest Ways For Making Wedding Invitations
Design Your Invitations
- Cost Savings: Designing your invitations is one of the easiest ways to save money. DIY invitation kits are widely available and include templates and tools to help you create professional-looking cards.
- Tips: Look for inspiration at craft stores or online platforms. You can find elegant design ideas at stores like Michael’s or websites that offer free templates.
Ask A Creative Friend For Help
- Collaboration: If designing isn’t your strength, enlist the help of a crafty friend or family member. Many people enjoy creative projects and may already have supplies on hand.
- Result: This approach saves money and adds a personal touch to your invitations.
Use Affordable Cardstock
- Bulk Buying: Purchase cardstock from discount stores or wholesalers and bring it to a printer. You can mix high-quality cardstock for the main invitation with less expensive options for supplementary cards.
- Customisation: This method gives you control over the quality and style while cutting costs.
The Costs Of Wedding Invitations
Average Costs
- The average couple spends between $400 and $650 on wedding invitations. Factors such as guest count, paper type, and design complexity influence these costs.
Breakdown Of Costs
- Paper Types:
- Cotton fibre: $29 per 100 sheets
- Recycled paper: $20 per 100 sheets
- Vellum: $17 per 100 sheets
- Handmade paper: $20 per 100 sheets
- Design Elements:
- Foil stamping: Adds a slight cost increase for an elegant touch.
- Photography: Digital printing makes adding personal photos affordable.
- Calligraphy: Costs $100-$300 if you hire a professional.
Maximising Savings On Wedding Invitations
DIY Templates
- Custom Designs: Use free online templates and bring them to a local printer to create professional-looking invitations at a fraction of the cost.
Simplify Delivery
- Digital Options: Consider email RSVPs or online response forms to save on postage and printing costs.
- Hand Delivery: Hand-delivering invitations can save on postage fees if your guests live nearby.
Conclusion
Your wedding invitations set the tone for your big day, and there’s no need to spend excessively to create something beautiful and memorable. You can significantly reduce costs using DIY methods, online resources, and creative solutions without compromising quality or style.
With thoughtful planning, you can have elegant invitations that fit your budget and reflect your unique personality.
Take these tips to heart, and you’ll find that affordable wedding invitations are well within your reach!
FAQs About Wedding Invitation
Digital invitations are usually the cheapest option. You can design and send them via email, or print them yourself at home using templates and DIY materials.
Yes, DIY invitations can be a cost-effective option. You can design them online, print them at home or through a local print shop, and assemble them yourself.
Yes, websites like Vistaprint, Canva, or Zazzle offer budget-friendly wedding invitation templates that you can customise and print at a lower cost than custom designs.
Opt for simple designs with fewer printing layers, or choose smaller invitation sizes. You can also print on affordable paper or skip costly embellishments like embossing.
Yes! Sending e-vites or creating a wedding website with all the details is an eco-friendly and inexpensive alternative to traditional printed invitations.