Wedding Invitations Budget Checklist
8 Easy, Money-Saving Tips
According to a recent poll, 75% of brides-to-be are worried about staying within their
means when it comes to wedding costs. It goes without saying that wedding expenses can
really add up, even for the most discerning of brides. We believe that it's particularly
important to budget appropriately for your wedding invitations, as they will likely be one
of your first purchases, and will set the tone for your entire event.
This checklist is intended to help you stay on track toward staying within your wedding
budget. Without a plan, you may run the risk of paying more than you intended, or end
up with "cheap" invitations you're far from crazy about. Your wedding invitations will not
only set the mood for your entire wedding; they will also be important mementos of this special
day for years to come, so it's important that they strike the right balance between "sensible"
and "stylish." This wedding invitation checklist will help you to explore all your
money-saving options and stay within your budget...without sacrificing quality or style.
1. Begin With A Budget
Especially if you are just getting started with the planning process, it's crucial that
you come up with a wedding budget before making any major decisions or purchases. The next
step is to allocate a percentage of that budget to be spent on each element of the wedding,
including invitations. This simple process will allow you to shop for and consider only the
wedding invitations that fall within your price range. Of course, a wedding budget is very
personal, and the specifics will be different for every bride, but by creating an overall
budget and a list of priorities, you'll be headed in the direction of creating a dream
wedding on a realistic budget. Are the flowers more important than your dress? Are your
wedding invitations more important than the flowers? Creating your own list of priorities
will help ensure that you spend your money where you want to spend it. As a rule of thumb,
the majority of brides can expect to spend between 2-5% of their total wedding budgets on
wedding invitations. If you really want to set the tone with over-the-top wedding invitations,
you will want to increase the wedding invitation allocation of your budget, and reduce expenses
elsewhere.
Click here for more information on budgeting for your wedding invitations.
2. Consider DIY!
For all you creative, courageous brides out there, creating your own wedding invitations
yourself can be a fun and extremely rewarding practice in creativity and thriftiness! It's
never been easier to create a custom wedding invitation that is truly your own. MyGatbsy
offers comprehensive, quality DIY wedding invitation kits. They come complete with all the
basics - blank stock invitations, invitation outer envelopes and enclosure cards with
envelopes. So, with seemingly endless color combinations, design options, and price points,
stylish and sensible wedding invitations are literally at your fingertips. Follow these
steps for flawless DIY invitations:
- Step 1: Pick your favorite wedding invitation format (rectangles, squares, layered,
paneled, etc.)
- Step 2: Create your own color combination (choose from 90 cardstock colors)
- Step 3: Select your quantity (DIY kits include everything you'll need to print your
invitations yourself - all you need to tell us is the number you need!)
Money saving bonus: when you go the DIY route, you'll be free to use the coordinating
panel enclosure card as a response card, reception card, direction card or thank you note.
Get started with your DIY wedding invitations here.
3. Place A Comprehensive Wedding Invitation Order
As you make a decision about your wedding invitations, we encourage you to think
about the event as a whole, and consider all the elements of stationery that you will
want and need. Using the same stationer for all your wedding stationery needs will
ensure consistency, give you one point-of-contact for all your printed items, and
potentially save you money with bulk-orders and single shipping costs. Of course, if
you are trying to save money, you may want to cut back on any "extras." One the other
hand, if you put some forethought into these items, you may be surprised at how easily
these beautiful additions fit into your budget. Here are just a few examples of the many
elements you will likely want or need:
Click here for a
comprehensive guide to these wedding stationery elements.
4. Be a Discerning Shopper
When it comes to your wedding invitations, you should be much more than a bargain
shopper. You need to consider quality, style, and ease of ordering in addition to cost.
Start by browsing local shops and online stationers to see what appeals to you, and be
sure to compare more than just styles and prices. Don't forget to look at
clearance
sections and low-cost options
offered by each stationer! Ask questions about the company,
its return and proofing policies, turn-around time, and more. Look at examples of their
previous work, and ask for of styles that you like. Ordering samples
allows you to determine the quality, weight, and feel of the wedding invitations before
making a final decision - a process that will possibly save you the time, money, and
heartbreak that can come with making a less-informed decision.
Click here to start browsing! Save your picks to your MyGatsby folder.
5. Think Outside The Box
Now is a great time to consider creative and unique options for making your wedding
invitations your own. Even if your budget restricts you from designing completely customized
invitations or embellishing 'till your heart's content, you can still make them meaningful
and memorable. Even an otherwise plain or boring invitation can come alive when marked with
your monogram, lucky numbers, meaningful colors, or even printed with lines from a favorite
poem or quote. Consider all these unconventional ways to craft truly one-of-a-kind invitations
without paying the price for a completely custom design. Bear in mind that the
printing method
and the cardstock options
you select will be a major factor in the cost of your custom printing.
Do your research to determine which printing method and paper quality suits your style and
your budget.
6. Don't Delay With The Logistics
Getting organized today will save you time, money, and a lot of hassle later on.
The most important details to gather for your wedding invitations as soon as possible
are (1) the wedding day details, and (2) the guest list! Be aware that any last
minute additions to your invitations can be costly and detrimental to the style you've
worked so hard to achieve. Secure the following specifics now so your invitations can be
printed without delay...and without the possibility of difficult and expensive edits later:
- Date and time of ceremony
- Name and address of ceremony location
- Time of reception
- Name and address of reception location
- Directions between ceremony and reception
- Correct spelling of all names to be listed on invitation
- RSVP date
Do not place an order until all these details are completely set in stone. Once you get
these details finalized, it's important to request a
wedding invitation proof. Spend a few
days sharing the proof with friends, family, and others, and ask them to check for spelling
errors or gaps in information. The next step is to get all your final edits to the printer
before the entire project goes to print.
For information and advice on Wedding Invitation Wording, click here.
7. Get the Guest List Finalized
It's also imperative that you finalize the guest list in order to determine how many
invitations you'll need to order. It's much more affordable to order any extras now than
to wait and order a small number of extras at a later date. As a guideline, you will need
to order one invitation for each of the following on your guest list:
- Each couple (married or living together)
- Each single guest
- Each person in the wedding party
- Any child over the age of 18 (even if they still live with their parents)
- Extras: Mistakes happen, guest lists can change, and you'll want a few as keepsakes! A good rule of thumb is to order at least 20 to 25 beyond what your guest list requires.
Click here for more information on calculating how many invitations to order.
8. Cut Corners Without Sacrificing Style
Once you realize what you simply can't live without, you can look for creative opportunities
to cut costs where they won't be missed. Additional embellishments and exciting extras may seem
like "must-haves," but think about the money you'll save if you don't let it all these little
extras add up:
- Calligraphy (consider enlisting the help of friends to address inner and outer envelopes.
You can get a similar look at significant savings)
- Postage (odd-shaped and heavy envelopes are more costly to send)
- Embellishments (remove the ribbon or rhinestone and see if the look still "shines"... for less!)
- Envelope Lining (it looks rich and adds luxury...with a matching price tag.)
- Printing Process (be sure to research the costs and differences between your various
printing options)
- Cardstock quality (believe it or not, there are plenty of
paper options at a variety
of price points.)
For more money-saving advice on wedding invitations, click here.
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