6 ways to save money on your invitations

If you're a budget-savvy couple, you're probably looking to save money wherever you can. One area you might not have thought of is your wedding invitations. Don't think you need to buy flimsy paper or discounted blurry printing. You can still have an elegant but cheap wedding invitation.


Here are 6 easy ways of saving money on invitations:

1. Digital Save the Date
E-mail an eye-catching Save the Date to your guests (one year to 6 months prior to your wedding) .  This will allow your guests to indicate whether they are able to attend, therfore reduce the number of printed invitations you need to order.

2. Different Printing Techniques
An embossed invitation is a beautiful – but an expensive one. But there are alternatives. Laser printing (the same kind used for magazines, postcards, etc.) is perfectly appropriate and flawless quality.

3. The Little Extras
Intricate invitations with jackets, bows, multiple layers of paper and other embellishments are very popular these days. But those little extra details can really add up. Not only will you pay for their cost, but there might be hidden assembly fees (or extra work for you), as well as additional postage costs. Instead go for the classic look of a simple invitation printed on a high-quality paper.

4. Standard Size Invitations
Some people mistakenly think that as long as their invites weigh less than one ounce, they can use a regular first class stamp. Not only is this not true, but most invitations weigh more than an ounce.

Postage will be more if:
· It is a square letter
· It contains very rigid items such as wood or metal
· It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices
· It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter
· It contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven

5. Proofread
A no-brainer, perhaps, but you'd be surprised how many people find errors on their invitations and have to re-order with extra rush charges. Get a couple of trusted friends or colleagues to look over the invitation for extra insurance. Make sure you've got all the details of names, date, time, location, and RSVP correct!

6. Order extra invitations and envelopes

This might seem counterintuitive, but since almost every couple remembers someone that they HAVE to invite at the last minute, you'll want to have a few extra wedding invitations. And since it's likely that you'll make a few goofs while addressing them, order extra envelopes as well. It will cost you a little extra now, but save you lots of reprinting and rush charges later.