Georgina Clatworthy

By Georgina Clatworthy



With stationery costing a significant amount of the wedding budget finding budget wedding invitations could help you to make significant savings. And buying budget does not mean you have to compromise on quality, it is simply about shopping around and not letting your heart rule your head.

The biggest problem for brides is the sheer amount of choice when it comes to wedding invitations and matching suites of stationery. Unfortunately much of this comes with a big price tag attached and most can expect to pay upwards of $300 for a full stationary package with printing. If you are having a big wedding then the costs can rise significantly and if you consider that an invitation only needs to tell your guests who, when and where, budget wedding invitations would seem to make more sense (especially when you can put the savings towards your wedding dress!).

So what are the options?

Simple flat cards without any printed graphics or additional decorative elements are probably the cheapest option and if you choose digital printing they will be a good budget option. However, plain, printed cards are a bit boring and do not really give your guests an insight into your wedding style. A good tip is to have them printed up and add some embellishments of your own such as flat backed crystals or a simple ribbon bow at the top or side.

Look at pre-printed invitations which leave blank spaces for you to fill out by hand. Although not as neat looking as professionally printed invitations, they are very budget friendly and come in many different designs.

Being a DIY bride is a massive trend for 2011 and making your own wedding invitations is not as difficult as it may seem. Unless you are a graphic design genius you will find it difficult to reproduce some of the designs you see in magazines and online, so stick within your creative comfort zone and keep it simple – you will be surprised at the results. You can purchase everything you need from craft stores and online and if you use printed inserts run off your home computer you can make some very professional looking invitations without breaking your budget!

Another alternative is to use an online printing company and order invitations from one of their ready made designs. Many of these printers allow you to edit their designs and some will let you create your own using their library of images and a WYSIWYG interface. It is simple and easy and you get professionally printed invitations at a price you can afford. Don’t expect too many choices in terms of sizes and finishes though.