The average cost of wedding invitations is $5-$8 per guest, which equates to $500-$800 for a wedding stationery suite for 100 guests.
A wedding invitation helps set the stage for your big day. It’s guests’ first glimpse at whether you’re having a casual backyard BBQ, semiformal garden party, or black-tie affair in a hotel ballroom. It indicates the where and when and previews the look and feel of your wedding day — and a small style detail that can pack a big punch.
Before you start planning to send elaborate handcrafted invitations specially delivered by white doves, let’s first take a look at how much wedding invitations cost. Understanding the factors that can impact your final price and considering some ways to save will help you keep your wedding budget in check.
For a wedding with 100 guests, you can expect to spend an average of $500-$800 on your entire wedding stationery suite (before postage). That works out to a spend of $5-$8 per guest for invitations. These costs can fluctuate drastically depending on your preferred design, the materials it requires, and any add-ons you choose.
Wedding stationery suiteAverage cost for 100 guestsAverage cost per guestBudget$250-$500$2.50-$5.00Traditional$500-$800$5.00-$8.00Luxury$800-$4,000+$8.00-$40.00As the chart above reveals, your wedding invitations budget should align with your overall wedding budget. If your goal is for an over-the-top wedding extravaganza, then a luxury wedding stationery suite may be the perfect thing. Or, if you prefer keeping things down-to-earth, there are many ways to keep the invites on budget.
A wedding stationery suite is a coordinated set of paper goods and printed materials designed to create a consistent theme and style across your wedding. Couples often choose a consistent color palette, typography, and design elements to tie the entire stationery set together.
The suite typically includes essential information and instructions that your guests need to know during the wedding planning process, as well as on the actual wedding day. Common items featured in a wedding stationery suite include:
Some couples want to carry the design theme of their invitations through to the wedding day itself and beyond. To do so, optional add-on items include:
Tip: Order a sample of your finished design before you place your full order so you can see and feel the invitation.
Knowing the potential cost factors influencing the total cost of your wedding stationery is critical to ensure that your dream invitations align seamlessly with your budget. Here’s a quick breakdown of key considerations:
The number of invitations needed plays a significant role in determining the overall cost. Ordering in bulk often brings per-unit costs down, making it a cost-effective choice for larger guest lists.
The type and quality of paper can add both charm and expense to your invitations. From standard cotton fiber paper to premium materials, your choice of paper contributes to the overall aesthetic and cost of your stationery.
The printing method chosen for your invitations can influence cost. Whether you opt for digital printing, letterpress, or another technique, each one carries its own price tag and contributes to the unique look of your invitations. We’ll explore these more below.
Intricate design elements, such as calligraphy, embossing, or die-cutting, can elevate the visual aesthetics of your invitations but may also increase costs. These extra embellishments may also increase the production timeline, which could lead to a need for rush shipping to stay on schedule.
The often-overlooked aspect of postage is a crucial factor to consider for your wedding invites. Heavier, bulkier, or odd-shaped invitations may incur higher postage costs, impacting your overall budget.
Depending on the vendor you’re working with, matching envelopes may not be included in your stationery suite. Since they help create cohesion across your stationery, be sure to confirm if you’ll need to set aside some of your budget to include them.
Additional stationery, like thank you cards, ceremony programs, or menu cards, can contribute to the overall cohesive visual look of your suite. But they also add to the final tally.
Since paper is the base material for all stationery, the quality of the paper you choose for your wedding invitations is worthy of careful consideration. Take a look at these six options.
Standard matte is one of the most common paper types used for digital printing wedding invitation companies. The paper is coated to create a non-reflective, flat surface. It’s popular for printing DIY invitations at home, too — and the most cost-effective option.
Glossy paper is the exact opposite of matte paper in that it has a slightly shiny reflective surface. The paper’s sheen helps create a sharp contrast of colors, making this another popular paper option for both wedding invitation companies and at-home printers.
This paper has a soft, cotton-like texture and absorbs color well. It’s usually couples’ preferred type of paper for specialty printing, such as letterpress, engraving, and thermography, but it often costs more than other types of paper.
For an antique or old-fashioned look, parchment paper is an ideal choice. It’s highly textured but can still be easily rolled into a scroll if that suits your wedding style.
This is a smooth paper you can see through. Vellum can be used as the actual invite itself or as a design element such as an invitation overlay. It’s also useful as a belly band on the invitation, which holds all the stationery together when removed from the envelope.
The name basically says it all. Recycled paper is made from various recycled materials and plants. It’s a wonderful option for a couple planning an eco-friendly wedding.
Selecting the right printing method sets the tone for the visceral experience your guests will have when they receive your wedding invitation. Here’s a brief guide to some common printing methods you may want to explore.
This is the most affordable type of printing method and usually the default for most online wedding invitation companies. Letters look flat and don’t require specialty paper for printing. However, upgrading the ink or paperweight may be a good idea for a more luxurious feel and richness of color.
Engraving is a classic enhancement for wedding invitations. It’s the process of pressing the paper between an ink plate and an engraved metal plate to push the text upward. The letters look engraved, but are actually raised. It’s a high-end look that’s quite costly.
If you want the formal, engraved look with a lower price tag, thermography may be the way to go. This process uses heat with special ink and powder that creates the raised effect at a budget-friendly price.
Another classic printing process, letterpress similar to engraving yet opposite as the lettering is indented on the front of the invite, not raised. Like engraving, letterpress is a time-consuming and expensive option but well worth the cost for a formal wedding.
Metallic colors are always popular at weddings, so foil stamping is a sophisticated way to incorporate a metallic look into your invitations. The foil is pressed onto the paper, adding shine and dimension.
If you have a small guest list and a small wedding budget, you can spend more per printed item because your total price tag ends up being affordable. But if you have a large guest list and a small wedding budget, affordability might become a challenge.
Why not tap into your creative side with DIY unique wedding invitations? It’s a fun, creative outlet and another way to put your personal spin on your wedding day. Here are four popular options:
Craft stores like Michaels sell paper wedding invitation kits with 30-50 invitations, envelopes, and response cards for $19.99-$44.99. The paperweight is usually 80-lb cover stock, much thicker than the standard 20-lb weight multipurpose paper.
Michaels, some Etsy sellers, and freelance designers also offer downloadable templates you can customize and print at home. If you have questions about which paper to use, print a sample and take it with you to Michaels, Paper Source, or any local craft or paper store.
If you design your own invitation or buy a downloadable design, you can use a print shop such as FedEx Office to save on ink costs and ensure a smudge-free appearance. You can have the company print and cut the invites or save money by doing the cutting yourself.
But be sure to explore pricing options first because this is not always cheaper than using a wedding invitation retailer that has a big online sale or offers a bulk discount.
This is an option for artists, crafters, and people with patience. The Cricut Maker is a cutting machine that allows you to create invitations, signs, and decor for your wedding — and beyond.
While it’ll set you back $179-$429, plus supplies, it’s a crafter’s dream machine and worth the investment if you love DIY projects for home, holidays, and special events.
Whether it’s to help the planet by saving paper or simply to help their budget, some couples opt to skip the printed versions and go with digital invites only. Joy offers a wide variety of free online wedding invitation templates that are stylish and easy to use. Since no postage is involved, you can’t beat the $0 price tag.
Now that you know how much wedding invitations cost on average, striking the right balance between style and budget is the goal. Be sure to explore various vendors, and don’t hesitate to take advantage of those offering free samples — it’s like a sneak peek into your wedding guest’s experience.
Aim to send them out 6 to 8 weeks before the big day. This gives guests plenty of time to RSVP and make the necessary arrangements. If you’re planning a destination wedding or have many out-of-town guests, consider sending save-the-date cards even earlier, around 4 to 6 months in advance, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to mark their calendars.
Can I ask guests to RSVP online?Yes, many couples embracing online RSVPs as an efficient and easy way to track attendance. You can include an RSVP link on your wedding website or in your invitation, making it simple for guests to respond with just a few clicks. This saves on paper and postage costs and streamlines the RSVP process.
What size invitation and envelope will cost the least to mail?Opt for standard sizes such as 5×7 inches for invitations and A7 envelopes. Doing so often proves to be the most cost-effective mailing option. These sizes typically meet postal regulations, making it easier to stay within budget when it comes to postage fees.
Can I safely mail an envelope sealed with wax?Your best bet for securely mailing an envelope sealed with wax is to place it inside a larger, protective envelope or use padded mailers. The extra layer of padding helps safeguard the wax seal during the mailing process, ensuring that your invitations arrive looking exactly the way you want.
Whether you send traditional paper invitations or go paperless, you can easily collect RSVPs online.
If you’re shopping for wedding invitations and feel like you’ve been hit with sticker shock, you’ve come to the right place. We firmly believe you do not have you spend hundreds of dollars on wedding invitations to get a beautiful look you absolutely love. Our affordable wedding invitations have the same look as those higher-priced brands, but cost a fraction of their extra-high price tags.
The most popular inexpensive wedding invitations we sell are our sets – they come with free RSVP cards and are available in tons of themes and styles. They might be cheap, but they sure don’t look cheap. Our elegant invites include designs adorned with watercolor flowers or romantic sayings and quotes. One of our most popular styles is rustic – if you’re searching for rustic wedding invitations with a country theme, we’re positive you’ll discover a look that you totally love!
We know that ordering your wedding invites feels like a huge (and exciting!) step in your wedding planning process. If you have questions, our team of experts is here to help answer any questions you have.
These are a few of the most popular questions couples have while shopping for the right wedding invitation:
Trust us, we hear you! If you’ve looked through the pages of wedding magazines, you’ve probably seen some couples spending thousands of dollars on their invitations. Isn’t that crazy? Often, these invitations feature extra-fancy paper stocks or even hand-calligraphy.
While those invitations are gorgeous, we all know where your invitation will eventually end up. So why spend so much?
First, you’ve come the right place! All of our wedding invites are just 99¢ and most include free response cards. We promise that you won’t find a better deal on wedding stationery.
Other ways to save on your invites is to use the standard paper stock, which comes included for the price. Don’t worry about it being too thin; the quality is excellent! If you’d like to upgrade your paper, we have a heavier weight option as well as beautiful shimmer paper and unique textured paper.
If you’ve priced out wedding invitations, you’ve probably been shocked to see that the cost of wedding enclosure cards, like RSVP cards, can nearly double the cost of your invitation suite. While it’s customary to send wedding RSVP cards with your wedding invitation, so that your guests can accept or decline your invitation, there are ways to save money on RSVP cards. First, you can opt for an online RSVP. Simply include your wedding website on the back of your invitations and ask guests to respond there. Or, order an Invitation with a Free RSVP card to stick with tradition, but spend less.
Another way to save money on your invitations is to make sure your invitation set can be mailed with a standard stamp. All of our sets can be! Of course, it’s always a good idea to take a full invite suite to the post office and have it weighed before sending.
On average, couples spend close to $600 on their wedding stationery. If that number has you feeling light-headed, not to worry. Here, you’ll spend around a dollar per invitation suite, and remember, that can include your RSVP cards. And, our pricing doesn’t change depending on your quantity. Whether you need 25 or 250 invitations, the price per invite doesn’t fluctuate.
Your wedding invitation is the first glimpse your guests will have of your day. Set the tone by making sure your invite matches the overall style, colors and general theme of your wedding.
The most popular invitation styles are classic, elegant looks with traditional fonts and colors. But, rustic themed invitations are a close second. Affordable floral wedding invitations splashed with sunflowers are a forever favorite and other watercolor floral and boho styles have been hugely popular in recent years.
Simple wedding invitations that feature formal-looking font layouts are popular with couples who want a modern styled invitation that looks custom, but is still affordable. These unique looks can be enhanced with a photo to create an absolutely one-of-a-kind invite.
And of course, themed invitations based on seasons and locations are always popular as well. From fall wedding invitations featuring autumn leaves to snowflake themed invitations that are perfect for a winter or Christmas wedding, these seasonal invites are really fun. And if you’re getting married on a beach, a destination wedding invitation is a must!
The sweet spot for sending your invites is right between 4-8 weeks before your wedding. But, if you’re having a destination wedding, or holding your wedding on a holiday weekend, you can mail them up to 3 months in advance.
If you’re worried about your guests holding the date, make sure to send a Save the Date card 6-9 months before your wedding.
While Emily Post will tell you that when it comes to wedding invitations, things like grammar, addressing and formality are all very important. But, these days, you can throw some wedding invitation etiquette out the window.
If you’re hosting a traditional wedding, the wording on your wedding invitations should be formal. The names of the bride(s) and/or groom(s) should be written in full. The details like date, time, and location of the wedding, should also be spelled out, without any abbreviations used. On your envelopes, make sure to use the correct titles (such as Mr., Mrs., or Dr.) and addresses for your guests.
If you’re not hosting a traditional wedding, you can bend the etiquette rules. Be creative with your wedding invitation wording! The only etiquette rule you really should follow, is to include your parent(s) on the invitation if they are contributing financially to your wedding.
And finally, the formality of your wedding should be reflected in the design and wording of your invitations. A formal wedding will require more traditional, formal invitations, while a casual wedding can have more relaxed and informal invitations.
2024 wedding season is here, and if you’re getting married this year, there are lots of great trends to fall in love with.
Popular wedding invitations for 2024 include classic styles with a modern twist. Think pretty text-only layouts with sweeping fonts and traditional colors. Invitations with gold accents are really popular styles for 2024 too. And our gold wedding designs are more affordable than any others!
Wedding invitations with flowers are forever popular and in 2024, you’ll see lots of ethereal designs in monochromatic color palettes. Flowers in shades of blue, purple and mauve are trending and you may also be drawn to white and cream combinations. Greenery continues to be a strong trend as well and shades of hunter to sage will be popular throughout the year.