Weddings are expensive affairs, and the costs can quickly rack up, so why not consider some money saving wedding options for the lower priority necessities? Invitations are (obviously) incredibly important, but they aren’t meant for long term use, and it’s unlikely your guests will hang onto them past the big day. This makes them an ideal item to save money on, and there are loads of creative and quality ways you can still share the look and feel of the event.
Here are some expensive-looking and cost-saving invitation ideas
What are wedding invitations for?
Back in the day, press and written mail were the only ways to communicate, so invitations were necessary to get in contact with your potential guests. These days there are many more ways to invite people, but invitations remain a common part of wedding planning as they add to the look, feel and momentous nature of a wedding. They’re special, and they give the recipients valuable information as well as an idea of the theme and feel of the wedding.
What is the average cost of wedding invitations?
According to Fash, you can expect to pay between $3 and $8 per invite, including all the necessary extras. The overall cost will vary with your guest count, but they can add up to several hundred dollars in total.
How can you save money on your wedding invitations?
There are plenty of ways to save money on your invites:
- You could choose an online stationery company that allows you to pick and choose the cards and extras you’ll need. These typically start around $1.20 per card, and then there are the extras like menu cards, RSVPs, etc.
- Alternatively, you could explore sites like Etsy, though the costs start at around $3 for a wedding kit there. The most cost-effective solution is to do them yourself, though this will cost you time instead.
DIY Wedding Invitation Ideas
Print at home options
If you’re not very creatively inclined, there are plenty of printable invites you can purchase online. There is usually a small (<$10) fee you will need to pay, and you will be sent a printable. This editable template usually includes the invite, RSVP cards, thank you cards, detail cards and more, all in the same design. Then all you need to do is create your guest variations, choose your card stock, find a local printer, and send them out.
Design the templates yourself
If you have a more creative side, then it’s not too difficult to design the templates yourself using sites like Canva or software like Photoshop or Illustrator. Just look at other invites online for inspiration and check out sites like Unsplash for any copyright-free images or drawings to include.
Once your designs are complete, prep all the variations for your guests and choose a printer.
DIY with stamps
If you’d prefer to avoid professional printing altogether, then stamps are the way to go – especially considering there is a stamp for everything these days – including customisable wedding stamps. So, why not invest in a wedding stamp kit and do it all yourself? All you need is some thick card stock in the right size, a stamp customised with your names and the wedding date and/or location, some ink and a nice calligraphic pen for any non-stamp additions.
You can increase the quality with things like:
- Watercolour images
- Intricate cutouts with special hole punchers
- Dried flowers glued in place
- Gold leaf additions
- Textures like ribbon and twine.
Using stamps like this can increase consistency and avoid spelling errors with hand calligraphy.
Try your hand at calligraphy
If you’re into your arts and crafts, you may want to try your hand at calligraphy and write out your invites yourself. This can be a risky endeavour if you’re not well-practised, and it only takes one spelling mistake or smudge to ruin an invite. So, if you do choose this method, here are some things to remember:
- Practise, practise, practise.
- Keep away from wet areas.
- Consider a heat gun to remove the moisture.
- Be patient and take your time.
- Choose the right cardstock and paper – smooth and thick is best.
- Think about lightly drawing out your design in pencil first to minimise mistakes – once it’s all dry, you can erase the template.
Finish them off with wax seals
If you use a printable or make them yourself, one sure-fire way to make your invites feel more luxurious and high-quality is to invest in a wax seal to close the envelopes. This old-fashioned method instantly boosts the credibility and professional feel, so it’s worth considering. What’s more, you can purchase customisable wax seals from amazon and complete kits for around $20 including the wax and melting methods.
If wedding is planned and prepared correctly, any one of these methods is likely to save you money which you can use in your flower arrangements, table settings, décor, or even more guests. So, don’t be afraid of the wedding DIY – if done right and well, then they can still have the necessary impact and convey your wedding look and feel easily.
