Cheap Wedding Invitations: Creative Ways To Save Money

Planning a wedding can be expensive, and the cost of invitations can quickly add up. The average Australian couple spends $800 on invites alone, but there are ways to reduce this expense. From DIY kits to online vendors, there are many options for creating elegant and affordable wedding invitations. Whether you choose to design your own or opt for budget-friendly alternatives, you can impress your guests without breaking the bank. This guide will explore cost-effective ways to create stylish wedding invitations, ensuring that your special day starts on a positive note.

All-in-one invitations

Seal and Send Invitations

Seal and send invitations are a unique and affordable option that is becoming increasingly popular. These invitations are long and fold up into a self-mailing format, eliminating the need for envelopes. There are two main types of seal and send formats:

• Seal and Sends with an RSVP Postcard: This option includes a detachable RSVP postcard that guests can fill out and mail back. It's a traditional way to collect RSVPs and is attached below the invitation wording.
• Seal and Send without an RSVP Postcard: If you prefer to collect RSVPs through your wedding website, text, or phone, choose this style. These invitations have a pointed flap, creating a polished look when mailed.

Seal and send invitations are not only budget-friendly but also easy to mail. You can simply fold, seal, and send them without the hassle of licking envelopes. They are designed to use space more efficiently, making printing more cost-effective.

All-in-One Invitation Designs

When creating your all-in-one invitations, consider including the following information:

• Wedding ceremony details
• Reception information
• RSVP card
• Perforated response postcard for easy mailing
• Return address printing
• Matching envelopes

By combining all the necessary information into one invitation suite, you can save money and create a cohesive and elegant design.

Eco-Friendly Options

If you want to make your all-in-one invitations more eco-friendly, consider including a link to your wedding website for RSVP information instead of requesting a response card by mail. This reduces paper waste and conserves resources.

Cost-Effective Ideas

To further reduce costs, here are some additional ideas:

• Compare prices online and in physical stores, including warehouse merchants like Costco.
• Look for discounts and deals from printing services like Vistaprint or Invitation Consultants.
• Start your search for invitations early to take advantage of daily bargains and group-buying sites.
• Consider sending postcard invitations or response cards to save on postage costs.
• Use a common, unlined envelope to avoid extra postage fees and weight.

With these ideas and tips, you can create elegant and budget-friendly all-in-one wedding invitations that will impress your guests and keep your costs down.

DIY kits

If you're looking to save some money on your wedding invitations, you might want to consider a DIY kit. These kits provide you with the materials and resources needed to create beautiful, personalised invitations at a lower cost. Here are some tips and options for putting together your DIY wedding invitation kits:

Finding a Template

Before you start assembling your kits, you'll need to decide on a template for your invitations. You can find thousands of printable wedding invitation templates online, with some sources offering free templates. Etsy, for instance, offers a wide range of templates starting at $10. Other sources for templates include Download & Print, Tempoola, Canva, Shutterfly, Wedding Chicks, Greetings Island, and Paper Source.

When selecting a template, consider the style you want. Do you prefer a simple and elegant design, or something bold and colourful? Creating a Pinterest board as a mood board can help you identify your style and find designers who utilise elements that appeal to you. Keep in mind that designs with more white space and lighter colour backgrounds tend to work better with home printers and can help you save on ink.

Customisation

Customisation is an important aspect of DIY wedding invitation kits. Some templates allow you to customise the design yourself, changing elements like fonts and colours. Others may require you to have the designer make these changes for you. Customising the template yourself gives you more flexibility but may limit your ability to change certain design elements. If you want to modify the design beyond the customisation options provided, you can usually request the designer to make these changes for you for a semi-custom invitation.

Paper Selection

The choice of paper is crucial for your invitations. While regular printer paper is an option, thicker cardstock, such as a 120 lb. uncoated cardstock, will give your invitations a more luxurious feel. You can also consider paper with texture, such as linen or felt texture, for added sophistication. To find the right paper, visit specialty stationery stores or print shops, and don't be afraid to ask for samples to test on your home printer.

Envelopes and Embellishments

Don't forget to select envelopes that complement your invitations. Choose envelopes that are slightly larger than your invitations to allow for easy insertion. If you want to add a pop of colour, select an envelope in a light shade that still ensures the address is visible. Envelope liners are also a great way to enhance the presentation of your invitations.

To add a personal touch, consider applying embellishments like twine, ribbon, wax seals, paper sashes, or envelope liners created from affordable wrapping paper. These details can elevate your invitations without significantly increasing the cost.

Printing and Assembly

Printing your DIY wedding invitations at home can be a cost-effective option if you have a decent printer and are confident in your ability to produce high-quality prints. Both inkjet and laser printers can handle the job, but be sure to use the highest-quality print settings. Black ink on coloured paper is a budget-friendly option if you want to avoid the expense of coloured ink.

If you're concerned about your printer's capabilities or want to avoid the hassle of printing, you can outsource the printing to a professional print shop or use online printing services. This option may cost a bit more but can provide added peace of mind and ensure consistent print quality.

Assembly is the final step. Using a paper cutter with a sharp blade will give you clean cuts for your invitations. For attaching layers or adding envelope liners, glue dots or double-stick tape are recommended over traditional glue for a neater finish.

Cost Considerations

When budgeting for your DIY wedding invitation kits, remember to factor in the costs of paper, envelopes, ink, and any embellishments you plan to use. If you're printing at home, consider the price of replacement ink cartridges or toner, as printing a large number of invitations can deplete your ink supply. Additionally, if you're including RSVP cards and other enclosures, flat printing these components can help reduce costs compared to letterpress printing.

By carefully selecting your materials, customising your design, and taking advantage of online templates and printing options, you can create elegant and unique wedding invitations that fit within your budget.

Online invites

If you want to send electronic invitations, you can create online invites with services like Evite. 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.

You can also send out a wedding invitation email, which could include a video of the happy couple, as well as photos and details about where guests can stay.

If you want to send physical invitations but save on postage and handling, you can include an email address on the invitations for RSVPs instead of a response card.

Another option is to have guests respond via a passcode form field on your wedding website.

Comparison shop

Zola

Zola is a one-stop shop for wedding planning with an extensive collection of invitation designs. They offer over 1,000 options ranging from classic and formal to fun and whimsical, including designs with photos. Zola provides five free samples, free envelopes and addressing, and digital RSVP management if you create your wedding website through them. The cost for 50 invitations starts at $99.50.

Minted

Minted is a popular website for wedding invitations, offering a wide range of designs and customisation options. They have independent designers who can help with requests and wedding invitation wording and etiquette. Minted provides free consultations, digital monogram creation, complimentary paper and letter samples, and bespoke design services. Their classic invitations start at $175 for 50, and they also offer "all-in-one" invites starting at $185 for 50, which include an envelope and RSVP postcard.

Basic Invite

Basic Invite is another great resource for affordable wedding invitations, offering a range of paper products such as invitations, thank you cards, and programs. They also provide specialty invitations on materials like acrylic or wood at competitive prices. The cost for 100 5x7 invitations starts at $1.89 each, with the price per piece lowering for higher quantities.

Ann's Bridal Bargains

Ann's Bridal Bargains offers high-quality wedding invitations at affordable prices, with all their invitations priced at just 99 cents each, including an RSVP card regardless of quantity. They have a variety of designs and themes to choose from, and their website also provides helpful tips and answers to common questions about wedding invitations.

Shutterfly

Shutterfly is a popular choice for affordable wedding invitations due to their wide range of styles and frequent sales. They offer various customisation options, such as die-cut corners and foil stamping, and coordinating items to ensure a cohesive look. Shutterfly's products are known for their fantastic quality, and the cost for 100 5x7 invitations starts at $2.79 each, with the price per piece decreasing for larger volumes.

Zazzle

Zazzle is another excellent option for affordable wedding invitations, with a vast assortment of designers and styles to choose from. Their independent shop owners regularly add and update designs, ensuring a fresh selection of invitation templates. Zazzle often runs incredible sales, with discounts of up to 70% off. The cost for 100 5x7 invitations starts at $2.20 per invite.

Vistaprint

Vistaprint is a well-known website for custom printing, and they offer a range of cheap wedding invitations, save-the-dates, thank you cards, and other printed materials. They provide easy-to-use customisation tools and templates, making it convenient to design and order your invitations. The cost for 50 invitations with envelopes starts at $50.

Etsy

Etsy is a large online marketplace with a wide variety of cheap wedding invitations, including fully designed and printed pieces, as well as editable templates that you can print yourself. You can find local artists, designers, and creators offering unique, handmade invitation options. Prices vary depending on the seller, but you can find inexpensive digital downloads or printed custom invites within your budget.

Skip the extras

One of the best ways to save money on your wedding invitations is to skip the extra inserts like RSVP cards, directions, and maps. Instead, include all of the necessary information on your wedding website and save money on printing and postage.

If you're looking for a more traditional approach, you can still save money by opting for an all-in-one invitation. These invitations include the wording, RSVP card, and other details printed on a single sheet of paper or cardstock. They also include a detachable RSVP postcard, eliminating the need for a separate card and envelope. This option can save you money on printing, assembly, and postage costs.

Another way to save money is to choose standard paper stock, which is usually included in the price. You don't need to worry about it being too thin, as the quality is often excellent. However, if you're looking for something a little more luxurious, you can upgrade to a heavier weight paper or choose a unique textured paper.

Additionally, you can skip the foil details on your invitations. Removing foil can reduce the cost per card by up to 30%. Foil details often come with an additional charge, so selecting a non-foil colour option can help you save money.

By skipping the extras and making thoughtful choices, you can significantly reduce the cost of your wedding invitations without sacrificing style and quality.

Frequently asked questions