Cut Down On Card Inserts
Extra inserts like RSVP cards, reception cards, and more can increase the price. If youre on a tight wedding budget, try to keep all of the information on one card so that theres less to print.
If youre worried about guests getting all of the information you need, include your wedding website URL on the invitation! That way, guests can navigate to the website to find all the details they would have found on insert cards, like hotel and transportation information, RSVP details, and more.
How Can I Save Money
Do it yourself invitations are definitely the cheapest option. It is possible to find some really great deals on printed invitations by shopping around online, especially if you are buying more than the average number of invitations. However, if you dont know what youre doing, the costs could add up, according to womangettingmarried.com.
Some people choose to save on wedding invitation cost by having people RSVP to an email address or phone number rather than sending a reply. This saves on the cost of the actual invitation as well as on the stamp.
Consider going to shops such as Kinkos or Costco. These type of places may have templates for those who want to create the invitations on their own. There are also various catalogs and Internet sites that can offer a deal as well.
If you want to design your invites online, VistaPrint.com is a great option to consider too.
Browse Etsy sellers to see if you can find a lower cost alternative.
Consider skipping the reception or direction cards to save $1 to $2 per card.
Standard sized invitation cards will cost less than stock paper with an odd design.
Sending out postcards for your save the date cards can save you money since postage will be cheaper.
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Wedding Invitation Graphic Design Cost
Many couples work with a graphic designer before their invitations are sent to a print shop. Hiring a designer ensures that their wedding invitations are personalized precisely as they envisioned. Depending on who you work with, this cost could be as much as $600 especially when working with a highly experienced calligrapher or designer.
However, most often, you can expect to pay an hourly rate when seeking a custom invitation design. For example, one designer may charge $45 an hour, whereas another may charge a set rate for a package, including x-number of invitations + a custom design + print and delivery for x-amount.
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Wedding Invitation Design Type
The level of design help you want is, in my opinion, the largest factor in how much your wedding stationery will cost. There are 4 main types of wedding invitation design:
What Is The Average Cost Of Wedding Invitations
On average, a couple spends between $300 and $700 for 100 wedding invitations and response cards, according to the Wedding Report. Trying to pinpoint the average cost of wedding invitations is like trying to determine how much it costs to go out to dinner: there are tons of factors that can influence the price. From where youre buying your invitations, to the materials and designs youve chosen, to how many invitations you need to order, many small decisions can add up to a big difference in total costs. The amount that one couple spends on their invitation suite can double or even triple when compared to another couples spending.
Curious to know how that wide range of pricing breaks down across different invitation shopping options? Check out these approximate starting-point costs for a set of 100 invitations, envelopes, and response cards at the following types of sellers:
Graphic Design Studio: $1,000+
For totally custom wedding invitations created by a design studio, expect to pay a premium price tag. Invitations designed just for you might include a custom logo, monogram, illustration, hand- calligraphy, or other graphic element, and will generally come with a design consultation followed by a series of proofs for you to approve .
Stationery Shop: $700+
Online Shop: $350+
DIY/Print At Home: $150+
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Woman Getting Married Says:
As you can see, the costs add up quickly! My recommendation for brides is to figure out how much you can allote to wedding invitations and choose the type of wedding invitation you want based on that. If your budget is $1,500+ I would start off talking to bespoke wedding invitation designers you like and let them know what your budget is and see what they can do. If youre more in the $500-$800 range I would definitely check out sites like Etsy, Minted, Basic Invite, Artifact Uprising and Vista Printthey have some great options! For you $300 and under gals I would also go on Etsy but look for invitation suites that you can purchase and print yourself at home or at your local printer. Before you do any of that, however, be sure to check out my easy ways to save, below. One or two of these tips might help you get your dream wedding invitations!
Average Wedding Cost By State
Wedding budgets often boil down to location. States like Kentucky and Utah can offer gorgeous venues without a hefty price tag. If youâre set on getting married somewhere where real estate can come at a premium â like New York or New Jersey â the cost of your venue will be much higher.If you do choose your small hometown for the big event, you may want to consider the cost of transportation for your friends and family.
| State |
|---|
| $19,800 |
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Average Cost Of Letterpress Wedding Invitations
Letterpress may also require significant manual labor, especially with custom designs. For 100 letter-pressed invitations, expect to pay around $1,500 on the low end of the spectrum. Most often, you will be charged a base rate and then depending on how many colors you choose, additional costs will be added onto the initial base price.
For example, printing-only letterpress costs may be as low as $700 per 100 cards or as high as $1,500+. If you decide to opt for custom designed letterpress invitations, you’ll be looking between $900 and $3,000.
Something For Every Taste
Todays weddings truly encompass the gamut of possibilities that exist. You can find anything from intimate home affairs for a small guest list of friends to week long parties with several hundred guests to formal sit-down dinners dripping in elegance with all of the trappings of a royal event. With such an array of possibilities from which to select, the assortment of wedding invitations is equally endless. For instance, you might consider very formal engraved cards on the finest quality, heavy weight paper, or you may prefer an elegant wedding invitation with hand-pressed flowers, scrollwork or other special detailing to reflect the special tone of your big day. Many couples are also turning to Do-It-Yourself kits, which offer all of the pieces you will need to print your own wedding invitations at home and put them together yourself. While the price for this more creative approach is often comparable to some of the more basic professionally printed cards, by going it alone you can greatly up the quality of the materials you select without spending more than you can afford.
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Cost Determined By Quantity
It probably goes without saying that invitations are charged on a per-piece basis, meaning you pay for every invite you order. The more you ask for, the higher your bill. But there is a sort-of exception to that rule. Some stationery stores lower the per-piece price as you increase the number of invitations you order. For instance, if you buy 20 invitations, that might cost you up to $10.20 for each invite. Order 200 invitations and the cost for each invitation drops to just $3.64.
Bear in mind that youll likely want to buy extras. In addition to those youll be ordering for each invited guest, get copies as backups as well as copies for framing or to tuck in your scrapbook.
How To Cut Your Wedding Invitation Budget
We find that a typical wedding invitation set for couples on a budget includes the wedding invitation, response card and an information card. Heres a pricing breakdown for those 3 pieces:
- Wedding Invitations = 99¢ each
- RSVP Cards = FREE
- Information Cards = 49¢ each
Add 99¢ + 49¢ for a very low $1.48 per suitesweet! Now you might be tempted to multiply that number by your number of guests but remember, youre only sending one wedding invitation suite per household, not guest. So if youre inviting 100 people and they all happen to be couples, youre only sending 50 wedding invitations. Now lets do a little math again:
- 50 Invitation Sets and Information cards = $74
- 100 Invitation Sets and Information cards = $148
- 100 Invitation Sets and Information cards = $148
Remember to factor in additional wedding stationery you may need because that also counts toward your 2%. Other wedding stationery needs might include:
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Price Per Printing Style
mainly affect wedding invitations’ cost. So, how much does it cost to print wedding invitations? Here are the printing types and their prices:
|
Printing Styles |
|
$1,500 to $2,200 |
Digital Printing
If you are looking for a budget-friendly, less hassle, and colorful option to print your invites, digital printing is a great choice. Digital photos are opened and edited on the computer and eventually printed on the invite. You do not need to mix ink or use multiple materials for such.
You can now use your attractive digital photos and incorporate them into your wedding invitations at a reasonable price. It’s a great way to share the couple’s excitement and beautiful pictures with the guests.
Thermography and Offset Printing
Offset printing involves mixing of inks and transfer of design to your wedding invitation through a press. You get a high quality, color-specific print similar to digital print. Thermography is somewhat identical to offset print but with a powder-added ink to add an embossed texture on the paper.
Letterpress Print
Do you still have the means to stretch your budget for a classic, elaborate invite? Use letterpress to do that classy effect to your wedding invitations.
Engraving
Do you want to make your invitations stand out or have that elegant feel in them? If you have more budget for your invites, you can use engraving or lettering to do that trick. Engraving gives a formal, embossed feel to your invitations, at a pricey amount stated above.
Factors In Wedding Invitations Costs
If youre trying to stick to your wedding invitation budget , you should understand which factors will affect your overall invitation costs. While the average cost of wedding invitations is between $300 and $700, consider these things that affect the bottom line when making your invitation selections.
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Wedding Invitation Designer Costs
On the printing front, you’ll pay about twice as much for engraved wedding invitations as opposed to non-engraved invites.
Also, be prepared to pay for a minimum amount of wedding invitations, especially if you’re hiring a designer. Chances are, they won’t take the job if you’re having a smaller ceremony with 10 or 20 people. If they do take a small wedding gig, a designer may charge you a special premium for the trouble of designing a high-quality wedding invitation for a wedding with minimal guests.
Overall, wedding designers who’ll actually create your invite and steer it through the printing process may charge an entire process cost of, say, $750 for a wedding with 100 guests. They may also opt to charge by the hour , or charge per guest at a rate around $6-to-$8 to do the job for you.
Make sure you know going in how a designer wants to be paid and understand how that fee adds to your overall wedding invitation costs.
Tips On Saving Money On Wedding Invitation
The easiest way to bring your expenses lower than the average wedding invitation cost is to choose as few options as possible, as well as the least expensive from the options you dont have a choice to choose from.
If youre looking for a little more insight than that, consider the DIY route. We should warn you, however, to plan the entire project before you get started.
- The cost of ink
- The cost of design software if you cant find something free
- Wax and a seal price
- The cost of paper and liners
Those costs are fixed and easily calculated. Whats a little less predictable is the cost of your own time and the cost of screwing up. Add at least 20% to account for mishaps and practice runs.
If the DYI cost is approaching the cost of having your wedding invitations professionally designed and printed, its probably best that you leave it up to the experts and avoid a potential disaster. Nothing costs more than having to do it twice.
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Online Vs Printed Wedding Invitations
Online wedding invitations
Online wedding invitations are the most flexible when it comes to pricing and can work for almost any wedding budget. With a seemingly endless variety of designs, digital wedding invitations are easily customizable and are quick and convenient to send out to your guests.
With Paperless Post, not only is the process of designing and sending invitations easy and efficient, but it also saves you money in the long run. With a variety of beautifully curated and exclusive designsâincludingrustic wedding invitations and templates from partners like Rifle Paper Co.âyou can customize your own personal wedding invitation and send them out to loved ones without breaking the bank. The price of our online wedding invitations will help you stay within your wedding budget while being friendlier to the earth, too.Another benefit of using online wedding invitations from Paperless Post is free RSVP tracking and guest messaging. Instead of waiting to get RSVPs in the mail, guests can tell you whether theyâll be attendingâand what their meal choice isâinstantly. Youâll also see if any of your invitations were undeliverable as soon as you send them. No more return-to-senders trickling in one week before the wedding.
However, if youâre interested in having your wedding invitation framed as a keepsake, using printed wedding invitations may be the right choice for you.
How Much Should Wedding Invitations Cost
Luckily, the online customisation tool on Paperlust goes a long way to answering this. It provides the price upfront and can be adjusted to take into account all quantities of invites and different print and paper options. The ability to scroll through the pricing difference for various papers can be especially illuminating as we live in an increasingly paperless world, the cost of paper itself may be one that most people dont spend a lot of time thinking about. They may often be surprised to see the relatively higher costs associated with the premium card stocks preferred for wedding invitations compared to more commonly used printer papers. Paper weight and texture is often the first impression guests will have of the upcoming event and becomes important in setting the tone. Average wedding invitation costs are nearly always dictated by the paper chosen.
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Determine Your Wedding Invitation Priorities
Take time to carefully think about your wedding invitation budget and the level of hands-on work youre willing to do. Todays couples have countless options, so determine your priorities to make your budget stretch while getting an invitation suite that reflects your wedding day and personal style. And when youre ready to design yours, explore our for a simple outline with examples and inspiration.
Wedding Invitation Price Factors
Selecting your invitations and other stationary materials is the first step of all the wedding planning to come after you choose a wedding date. When purchasing wedding invitations, there are a vast number of variables involved which impacts your final price tag.
From the experience of the designer to the style of the invitation itself, the average cost can dramatically shift from one taste and budget to the next. Also, are your just purchasing invitations and RSVP cards, or the whole wedding invitations suite?
Wedding Invitations Suite Cost
| $330 $975 |
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Save Money On Wedding Invites
So if your goal is to cut costs on wedding invites, here are some of my favorite suggestions!
