How to Save Money on Your Wedding Invitations

When it comes to your wedding invitations, you probably have an idea of how much you intend to spend on them.  If you could save a few dollars without sacrificing style and quality, that money could be kept in your pocket or spent elsewhere in your wedding planning.

Steps to saving money on your wedding invitations can be simple and still cost effective.  In fact, sometimes just planning ahead can save you both dollars and stress.

Of course, the biggest step would be to trim down your guest list resulting in fewer invitations ordered but that is not always practical when you have lots of family and friends with whom to celebrate your special day. 

Beyond the guest list, there are also many other ways to ease your wedding invitation budget. 

• Give yourself plenty of time to shop around to find that perfect style that fits your budget.  The Internet provides an abundance of companies that print wedding invitations and offer online shopping.  It is so convenient to shop from your computer when it fits your schedule.
• Place your order early to prevent paying more for expedited shipping methods.  Having plenty of time to assemble and address your invitations will also eliminate last-minute pressure. 
• Be sure to purchase some extra invitations to allow for last-minute guests and to be kept as keepsakes.  It’s definitely cheaper to order more the first time around than to place an order for only a few invitations later.  Typically, the more invitations you order, the lower the per-piece price.
• Select a simple wedding invitation style such as a classic single-panel card which tends to cost less per invitation, especially when ordered in quantity.
• Choose a seal n send wedding invitation.  This economical all-in-one design folds and seals into its own self-mailing piece.  Without the double mailing envelopes, this style tends to cost less per invitation and eliminates the extra cost of response cards with return envelopes.  Instead, a response postcard is attached to the invitation and is included in the price.  It is easily removed and mailed back by your guests with the benefit of postage savings since they are mailing back a postcard. 
• Be cautious of designs that consist of multiple layers or include bulky embellishments.  They may weigh more which could increase the amount of required mailing postage.  Larger invitation sizes may also require more postage.
• When offered ink color choices, select black ink which is normally included in the invitation price.  There is an additional colored ink charge for each category of insert piece ordered.  This means an additional ink charge for the invitations, response cards, reception cards, printed return address, etc., which can add up.
• Pass on the option of having a colored lining on your inner envelopes which costs extra.  It can be a nice touch but most guests will be paying more attention to the invitation itself.
• Include your reception information right on your invitation to eliminate a separate reception card (having less weight in the envelope might even save you from affixing extra postage).   If space allows, your dinner and reception details can be added on as extra lines aligned with the rest of your verse printing.  Some invitation styles even allow the option of a corner copy for those details – 3-4 lines that appear in the bottom left or right corner usually in a smaller sized font for a small fee.  Corner copy is not recommended for narrow or tea length style invitations. 
• Handwrite your own return address on the back flap of the mailing envelopes.  Having your mailing envelopes printed with the return address costs extra, especially if you choose a colored ink.

I hope you find some of these suggestions helpful if you are looking for ways to save a little money on your wedding invitations since every little bit helps.  Everyone has their own idea of how their invitations will look and only you know what you are willing to compromise on in fulfilling your dream.  Just remember that your invitations will provide your guests with their first glimpse of your wedding day.