Wedding Times

Photo by Sarah Parrott

Your wedding invites will probably be one of the first costs that you will run into while wedding planning, as everything else will depend on who and how many people are attending. Fortunately, the invitations are also one of the easiest aspects to save money on. Here are twenty ways to do so.

1. Become a Comparison Shopper

So you’re excited about your wedding and can’t wait to purchase the invitations and start mailing them. Slow down. It’s very important to take the time to shop around to make sure that you get the best deal. Although you may never have thought before to check out office supply stores, visit them and see what beautiful invitations they have to offer! Also check bulk stores and mail-order catalogues.

2. Buy Discount

One of the easiest ways to buy discount wedding invitations is to see what online retailers have to offer. These retailers often offer many discounts due to the sheer number of retailers that are taking their product online.

3. Compare Printing Techniques

When it comes to stationery, different printing techniques come with different price tags. Engraved invitations are very nice for a formal affair but can be costly. Check out thermography and laser printing to give you a better deal.

4. Eliminate Embellishments

Many wedding invitations come with different embellishments. Whether its bows, three layers of paper, or ribbon. All of these embellishments cost money. The classic printed invitation on white paper will still make a great statement and costs less.

5. Look at Packages

It is often nice to be able to have all of the stationery that goes along with a wedding invitation customized. You can save hundreds of dollars by comparing different packages that include the invitation, response card, and envelopes.

6. Only One Envelope is Necessary

It’s tradition that a wedding invitation arrives in an envelope within an envelope. This is to make sure that the invitation doesn’t get damaged en route and that it will still look perfect when it arrives to the recipient. By keeping only the outer envelope, you will save money. The inner envelope is really unnecessary anyway.

7. Stick to Standard Sizes

Many people believe that if they keep the invitation light, it will not cost them more in postage. Most invitations cost more than the regulatory one ounce anyway. Even if you can manage to keep them light, if they are longer than standard sizes or include items that will make them incumbent, it will cost you more per invitation.

8. Leave Out the Reception Card

Even if you’re reception is not going to be held at the same location as the ceremony, there is no need for one more piece of paper and one more cost. At the bottom of the invitation, simply print, “Reception to follow” and then the location of your reception venue. If the reception is at the same location, simply print, “Reception to follow.”

9. Proofread

When a mistake is made not only will the invite need to be reordered but reordered with usually a rush delivery, quickly adding up the bucks. Give them to a friend or someone that hasn’t been directly involved in helping you create them and have them make sure all your information is correct.

10. Order More Envelopes Than Needed

Yes, spending more money initially will save you money in the long-run. Everybody makes mistakes when addressing envelopes for the invitations so again, avoid rush charges and reordering by ordering excess in the first place.

11. Change the RSVP

Most RSVP cards are just that – cards within another envelope that has been stamped (meaning, postage paid) by the couple. Change this formality to a simple postcard and save on postage.

12. Omit the RSVP

Better yet, get rid of the RSVP card altogether. Of course you need to know how many people are planning on attending the wedding but set up the RSVP through emails or phone calls.

13. Use Virtual Invitations

These invitations are available through online retailers. You will never give or receive printed invitations but instead a company will send them all out for you through email. They will also keep track of the RSVPs for you.

14. Hand Deliver

Save more money on postage by taking invitations to those that live close by or that are very good friends and family. This will be more personal anyway.

15. Create Your Own

Software and specialty paper make it easier than ever to boot up your own computer to create beautiful and elegant invitations. The money you spend will be entirely up to you as you can decide what you want to include and where you want to get supplies.

16. Seal N’ Send

This type of invitation is just one small piece of paper. It folds up and after a stamp is sealed onto it, it can be thrown in the mail.

17. Go Black and White

Printing in color is going to make the prices soar even higher. Black and white print is usually already included in the price and gives your invite an elegant traditional feel.

18. Enlist Your Friends

You will call upon those close to you throughout the entire wedding planning process so start with the invitations. Have a party and use this time to get them to help stuff, seal and stamp envelopes. It will save you the cost of hiring someone to do this.

19. No Calligraphy, Please

Hiring someone to write this beautiful script on your invitations is very pricey. Simply ask a friend with nice hand-writing to do the addressing for you or print the envelopes out yourself on your computer.

20. Invite Less, Save More

This may seem like an easy solution but it can be tricky. Decide whom you must have at your wedding and invite only those people. The less invites you send out, the more you save.