Printing Your Own Wedding Invites: Cost-Effective Or Not?

Wedding invitations can be expensive, so it's worth considering making your own. Professionally printed invitations can cost at least $3 each, but you can make your own for a fraction of the cost. The price of 100 wedding invitations is around $250 to $400, but there are ways to save money. For example, you could use a basic inkjet or laser printer to print your own invitations at home. You can also buy pre-cut cards at craft stores for a cost-effective price. If you're willing to invest time and energy into DIYing your wedding invites, you can save a lot of money.

DIY wedding invitations can be more affordable than outsourcing

Designing and printing your own wedding invitations can be a great way to save money, especially if you're planning a wedding on a budget. Professionally printed invitations can cost at least $3 each, plus postage, but you can create DIY wedding invitations for a fraction of the cost. Here are some tips to help you save money by making your own invitations:

• Choose the right paper: Opt for uncoated cardstock, which has a high-quality, luxurious look and durable feel. You can also find pre-cut cards at craft stores for a cost-effective price.
• Shop online for supplies: Craft stores and other retail outlets offer a variety of specialized cardstock and paper options. Shopping online can help you find great deals and coupons that may not be available in stores.
• Utilize a paper cutter: A good paper cutter will make it easier to cut your invitations and any additional insert cards to the right size. You can usually find paper cutters available for use at copy shops, or you can purchase one at your local craft store.
• Print at home: You can easily print your DIY wedding invitations at home using a basic inkjet or laser printer. Just make sure you have enough ink!
• Flat printed invitations are more affordable: If you're looking for different printing methods, flat printed invitations will be more affordable than options like letterpress or engraving.
• Digital printing is budget-friendly: According to stationery expert Kristen Bozzone Armstrong, digital printing is the most budget-friendly option. It involves setting up a file on the computer and printing, and it offers a wide range of colors.
• Save on RSVP cards: Instead of including RSVP cards in your invitations, consider setting up a free wedding website where guests can RSVP online. Alternatively, you can provide an RSVP phone number or email address.
• Compare printing services: There are various printing services available, such as Vistaprint, Staples, Canva, and local print shops. Compare prices, quality, and turnaround times to find the best option for your needs.
• Use templates: Online companies like Minted, Shutterfly, Zazzle, and Etsy offer customizable templates at affordable prices. You can also find free templates on websites like Greetingsisland.com.
• Buy in bulk: Ordering a larger quantity of invitations can often result in discounts or lower prices per invitation.

DIY invites offer more personalisation and can be tailored to your wedding style

If you're looking to add a personal touch to your wedding invitations, DIY is definitely the way to go. By designing the invitations yourself, you can include meaningful symbols, colours, and illustrations that capture the spirit of your partnership and celebration. Whether you're having a rustic barn wedding or a glamorous city affair, you can choose design elements that hint at your venue and aesthetic.

In addition to custom visuals, DIY invites also allow you to incorporate handwritten messages or even a custom crest that symbolises your relationship. This level of personalisation is difficult to achieve with store-bought or pre-made invitations.

Another advantage of DIY invites is the ability to work with different textures and finishes. You can elevate your invitations with embellishments such as ribbons, wax seals, or envelope liners, choosing elements that match your wedding theme and style. Whether you're going for glamorous, romantic, or garden-inspired nuptials, the possibilities for customisation are endless.

Furthermore, DIY invites give you the flexibility to choose the paper type that best suits your needs. You can opt for uncoated cardstock, which offers a high-quality, luxurious look and durable feel, or go for a more textured option like paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish. By selecting the paper yourself, you can ensure that it aligns with your printer capabilities and the overall aesthetic you envision.

Overall, DIY wedding invitations provide a unique opportunity to create personalised invites that truly reflect your wedding style and love story. With custom visuals, meaningful symbols, and tailored paper choices, you can design invitations that are not only beautiful but also indicative of the celebration to come.

DIY wedding invites are quicker to make than professional ones

To make your own wedding invites, you will need to accumulate all the necessary materials. You will need a digital application to craft your designs. For professional-level designs, you can use designer software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign. For beginner-friendly options, Canva and Microsoft Word will also do the trick.

If you would rather purchase pre-made templates, online companies like Minted, Shutterfly, and Zazzle offer stunning templates at affordable prices. Etsy also has many talented designers who will customise templates for you.

There are many different types of paper to choose from for your DIY wedding invitations. Uncoated cardstock is the most popular choice, with its high-quality, luxurious look and durable feel. For a more textured look, you can opt for paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish.

You will also need a compatible printer. You can use a regular printer to print out your DIY wedding invitations, but make sure it can handle the weight and size of your paper. Most standard printers can accommodate cardstock up to 80 pounds. If you don’t have a printer at home, you can send your file to a larger printer at Costco or Office Depot, or a nearby printing shop.

If you’re printing your designs at home and you didn’t purchase pre-cut paper, using a paper cutter will help you acquire straight edges quickly. A craft knife with a metal ruler is also a good alternative.

To elevate your invitations, consider adding embellishments like ribbons, wax seals, or envelope liners. Finally, you’ll need envelopes to stuff each element of your suite into. You can buy pre-made envelopes in a coordinating colour, or make your own using envelope templates.

You can buy pre-made templates online at affordable prices

If you're looking to save money on your wedding invitations, you can buy pre-made templates online at affordable prices. For example, Greetings Island offers a range of free and premium invitation templates with custom options for fonts, colours, stickers, and photos. They also offer a premium membership that unlocks over 5000 designs across all categories for $3.49 per month or $26.99 per year. Canva also offers free, printable wedding invitation templates that are easy to personalise and can be printed and delivered to your door within days.

If you're looking for something more premium, you can check out Anthology Print, which offers custom design services for $30 per hour when you print with them. If you're looking for something more eco-friendly, Joy offers free online invitations with powerful and personalised RSVP features.

You can print your own invites at home or use a printing service

If you're looking to save money, you can print your own wedding invitations at home. Professionally printed invitations can cost at least $3 each plus postage, but you can make your own for a fraction of the cost. You can print your DIY wedding invitations at home using a basic inkjet or laser printer. Just make sure you have plenty of ink!

There are many different approaches to DIY wedding invitations. You can create your entire stationery suite from scratch, personalise a certain aspect of your invites, or download an online template for a minimal fee and customise it to your liking.

Before you get started on your DIY wedding stationery, you’ll need to accumulate all of the necessary materials. You’ll need to craft your designs on a digital application. For professional-level designs, you can use designer software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign. For a beginner-friendly option, Canva and Microsoft Word will also suffice.

There are many different types of paper to choose from for your DIY wedding invitations. Uncoated cardstock—with a high-quality, luxurious look and durable feel—is the most popular choice. For a more textured look, you can opt for paper with a cotton, linen, or felt finish.

If you don’t have a printer at home, you can send your file to a larger printer at Costco, Office Depot, or a nearby printing shop. Remember to have enough ink, too.

If you’re printing your designs at home and you didn’t purchase pre-cut paper, using a paper cutter to acquire straight edges quickly is recommended. Plus, you can use this device to cut smaller pieces of paper for your insert cards.

To elevate your invitations, consider adding embellishments such as ribbons, wax seals, or envelope liners. Finally, you’ll need envelopes to stuff each element of your suite into. You can buy pre-made envelopes in a coordinating colour or make your own using envelope templates.

Frequently asked questions