Weddings requires months of preparations, be it selecting the wedding dress, booking a venue, or planning a honeymoon. Also, there are multiple pre-wedding traditions like bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal showers, bridesmaid luncheons, and rehearsal dinners.
One of the most important parts of the ceremony is wedding invitations. A wedding invitation is crucial for the fact that it helps the guests to discover the date of the wedding, the venue, and even the required attire for the event, if any.
With the widespread use of the internet, wedding invites are usually sent through electronic media. However, before the internet became a common household requirement, the printed form of wedding invitations was hugely popular.
Even today, many brides and grooms send printed wedding invitations to get the traditional experience. Although physical wedding invitation cards cost more than online invitations, it is considered to be a small cost for a supposedly once-in-a-lifetime event.
There are several Wedding Etiquettes To Follow while sending an invitation. The process of sending wedding invitations starts with the save-the-dates card. It is an informal card used to notify the guest about the wedding date so that they can clear their schedules for the big event. Although not officially a part of the wedding invitation, these cards are considered a significant part of wedding stationery.
The second stage of the process is sending wedding invites and RSVP cards. Similarly, other parts of wedding stationery like menus, place cards, and program cards can also be sent with the wedding invitation or at a later date.
How Much Do Wedding Invitations Cost?
Average cost of wedding invitations is estimated to be around $510. This includes the cost of wedding stationeries like invitation cards, save-the-dates, RSVP cards, reception cards, and more.
While you can purchase all-in-one cards to save cost, couples looking for a traditional wedding will follow all the necessary steps. In general cases, save-the-dates cards are first sent to the bride and groom’s potential guests. Save-the-dates is sent to potential guests for signing and RSVPing their decisions as to whether or not to attend the weddings.
According to The Knot, the cost of save-the-dates cards for around 100 people is $150. Similarly, the price of the invites and RSVP cards for the same number of guests is around $230. At the same time, the cost of miscellaneous expenses like menus, place cards, and so is estimated to be $130.
In total, the cost of sending invites for a couple adds up to $510. However, it is only a rough estimate and could differ on various facts like the company printing the cards, the quality of materials used, and the number of people getting the invitation.
Similarly, the expenses for wedding invites are also greatly affected by the state where the couple resides. The Mid-Atlantic region has the highest estimated cost of wedding stationery at $610, whereas the Western region is the cheapest with an average cost of $460.
Vistaprint Wedding Invitations
Vistaprint wedding invitations cost start from $9.99 for 10 people. The printing company has an existing offer of a 50% discount on its wedding invitation cards.
The invites had an original price of $19.99 for 10 pieces. However, after the discount, the budget for purchasing cards for 100 people will amount to $99.99.
The Massachusetts-based company with headquarters in Venlo, Netherlands offers invitations printed on flat paper with a default size of 4.6″ x 7.2″. The invites also come in different colors, including white, pink, gray, tan, dark blue, and more.
| Item | Cost (10 Pieces) |
| 1. Wedding Invitations | $9.99 |
| 2. RSVP Cards | $7.84 |
| 3. Thank You Cards | $7.99 |
| 4. Enclosure Cards | $7.85 |
| 5. Custom Envelopes | $5.59 |
Minted Wedding Invitations Cost
Minted wedding invitations are considered relatively costlier than the products sold by its competitors. However, their printing and material qualities are worth the higher price.
On average, minted wedding invitations along with an envelope cost around $2.34 per invite, nearly twice the price listed by its rivals.
Minted has a wide variety of invites available for buyers with a minimum order size of 15 pieces. The per-piece cost of the invitation decreases with the increase in number of copies ordered. You can save hundreds of dollars by ordering at least 100 pieces at a time.
For example, you can order 15 pieces of the floral arch wedding invites for $79, which amounts to $5.27 per card. At the same time, the cost of ordering 100 pieces is $220. You can save $3.07 per card by simply placing a higher order. This offer exists in every product sold by the company.
Custom Wedding Invitations
Custom-made wedding invitations can have an over-the-top budget or a minimal cost depending upon whether you want to create from scratch or use a pre-made format.
According to North Carolina artist Ashley Triggiano, the cost of custom-made invitations includes expenses like design fees, paper costs, and printing expenses. The total cost for standard custom wedding invitations ranges from $2800 to $3900.
At the same time, you can save a significant amount of money by using a semi-custom design. Under this package, you will have to work with a pre-designed template and modify it according to your needs.
Sites like Canva.com have provided hundreds of templates for couples looking to design their own wedding invitation.
While you’re at it, check out the Average Cost of Wedding Flowers in 2023.
Cheap Wedding Invitations
Cheapest wedding invitations can cost between $1 to $2. The cheap options are suitable for couples on a limited budget.
There are several companies operating in the US that specialize in saving costs instead of using overpriced materials. Brands like Zazzle, Ann’s Bridal Bargains, Stacey Meacham, and Phrosne Ras Design vow to provide budget-friendly products without compromising quality.
Additionally, there are also several ways to reduce the cost of wedding invitations. You can save a significant amount of money by avoiding calligraphy, lowering the number of decorative elements, reducing the invitation layers, innovating DIY wherever possible, and more.
Here are some of the affordable brands and designs you can use to reduce the cost of wedding invites.
Wedding Invitations Designs
Wedding invitation designs include pre-created templates and custom designs prepared by the bride or groom. Custom designs are more expensive than templates as they require more time and resources.
Brands like Etsy, Minted, and Canva offer printable templates where clients can fill in the required details before printing on a paper of their choosing. Using a pre-designed template can be ideal for couples looking to save money. On the other hand, custom designs are suitable for couples looking for a vintage experience.
Here are some basic designs and their samples best suited to cater to first-time brides and grooms.
1. Alluring Florals
- Size: 5″ x 7″
- Paper Design: Luxe Velvet, Double Thick, Premium Shimmer, Smooth Coated, Signature Matte
- Cost: $1-$2.99 Per Card
2. Forever Classical
- Size: 5″ x 7″
- Paper Options: Standard Smooth Cardstock, Signature Smooth Cardstock, Pearl Shimmer Cardstock, Luxe Double-Thick Cardstock
- Cost: $2.15 Per Card
3. Modern Rose Gold and Black Overlay
- Size: 5″ x 7″
- Paper Options: Uncoated Matte Finish, Semi-Gloss Finish, Felt Ecru, Soft Cotton Texture
- Cost: $2.38 Per Card
4. Boheme Savvy All-In-One
- Size: 5.76″ X 12.03″
- Paper Options: Standard Cover, Value Cover
- Printing Option: Foil-Pressed
- Cost: $6.80 Per Card
5. Modern Minimalist Casual Design
- Size: 5″ x 7″
- Paper Options: Uncoated Matte Finish, Semi-Gloss Finish, Felt Ecru, Soft Cotton Texture
- Cost: $2.49
How To Address Wedding Invitations?
Wedding invitations should be addressed based on the couple’s relationship with the guest, their professional titles, and marital status. The outer and inner envelopes are also addressed differently.
Once you are delivered the wedding invitations by your wedding contractor/designer, they should be addressed properly before sending. The inner and outer envelopes have distinct etiquette standards. The outer envelope should be addressed formally using proper titles and full names. On the other hand, the inner envelope can be addressed informally by omitting the first name, last name, and/or title.
You can also add the gender titles like Mr, Ms, Mrs, and Ms to address the guest. Alternatively, you can use the gender-neutral term “Mx” if you have a non-binary person on your guest list.
1. Addressing A Single Person
Use a title if the person on your guest list has a preferred title. Or, you can simply skip the title if you are not sure and don’t want to offend the person.
Similarly, if the person is bringing a plus one, it’s best to mention the names of both individuals. In case you are not sure of the plus one, use “and Guest” to address them on the inner envelope.
2. Addressing A Family
If you have a family with minors coming to the wedding, insert the name of the parents on the outer envelope.
Girls below the age of 18 can be addressed as “Miss.” Similarly, boys below 16 don’t need an official title. If the boys are 16 or older, use “Mr.” Excluding the names of kids implies that they are not invited to the wedding.
Likewise, children above the age of 18 should receive their own invitations as they are considered adults with respect to weddings.
3. Addressing A Married Couple
While sending wedding invites to a married couple, don’t forget to use the titles “Mr.” and “Mrs.” before their names. On the inner envelope, however, you can skip the titles.
If the couple uses the same last name, you can use the last name after including the first names of both the husband and wife. However, if the couple uses different last names, you’ll have to address them using their full names and/or titles.