Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, but if you want to celebrate in style, you’re going to have to be smart about planning your budget. The average wedding cost in Australia is a whopping $53,168, but the average income is only $82,436 per year. That’s a large chunk of your annual earnings!
When you need to consider the big-ticket things like the reception and the honeymoon, the cost of a traditional wedding starts to skyrocket. However, many smaller items go unnoticed, and the total cost of all the ‘little things’ can really add up! If you want to save money on your wedding, you might need to get a little bit crafty with some of the smaller wedding expenses like wedding invitations.
It’s only natural that you want to have an amazing invitation for your wedding. It’s a special day, and the invitation will let your guests know just how special it is. Invitations can get quite expensive though, with the average Australian couple shelling out around $800 just for invitations.
The pressure to have a fancy wedding – and the cost of holding one – can put a lot of stress on couples, especially when you still have to deal with daily expenses like rent and groceries. A budget wedding can still be an unforgettable event; it’s just about knowing where to save.
If you can save on your invitations, it can make a large difference to your overall budget. Here, we offer some ideas for lovely invitations that won’t break the bank.
Here, are eight ways you can cut costs on wedding invitations, and still master a chic wedding.
1. Consider The Invitation Upgrades You Really Want
One of the biggest reasons why invitations are so pricey is that couples can’t resist going all out for the extras. Yes, that wax seal may add a lovely vintage touch, but do you want that more than the dried flowers or the custom ink? A few, well-placed details are better than putting on all the bells and whistles. Stick to your non-negotiable extra details and don’t be tempted to go all-out!
2. Print Extra Invitations Ahead Of Time
If you suddenly run out of invitations, a rush job will end up costing you a lot more. Save yourself the stress and the money by ordering additional invitations ahead of time.
3. Digitally Print Your Invitations Instead Of Having Them Engraved Or Pressed
Letterpress, calligraphy, and engraving can get pretty expensive. Well-designed prints with lovely art are inexpensive and can be every bit as elegant!
4. Make Your Own Personalised Wedding Invitations
This is most feasible for weddings with a small number of guests. If you really want to add a personal touch to your invites, you can DIY your invitations. Download a free invitation template or some fancy fonts, then design and print the invitations out yourself.
DIY invitations have their own special charm. Get creative and look at sample invitations on the Internet; you can use watercolour, washi tape, or special craft punchers to add flourishes to your invitations without spending too much.
5. Take Advantage Of Technology To Save Money
Need guests to RSVP? Want to include a map to the venue? Make an online response form or venue map, then indicate the URL at the bottom of your invitation. It will save you the cost of printing extra cards, and it’s super convenient for your guests!
6. Cut Costs By Choosing The Right Paper
Imported, glossy, or custom-textured paper can get pretty expensive. Using partially recycled paper for your invitations is cheaper and a lot more environment-friendly. Recycled paper comes in so many colours and styles that you can choose from, so your invitation sets will still look amazing!
7. Choose Standard Dimensions For Your Invitations
Weird but true; square or rolled scroll invitations will result in additional postage charges. Save yourself the extra fees by having invitations made in standard dimensions. Check with your local post office to find out how much they charge!
8. Look For Affordable Wedding Invitation Packages
If you’re not the arts and crafts type, you can check out a good designer package and customise it according to your budget. There are many options for inexpensive invitation sets that you can look at. Lilykiss, The Daydream Creative Design Studio, and Paperlust offer brilliant, affordable options to choose from.
You don’t have to go to traditional invitation houses and fork over a ton of cash. Browse Etsy, or check out Instagram to get a feel of the kind of work these companies do. You just might find your dream invitation package!
