The average cost of wedding invitations is $5-$8 per guest, which equates to $500-$800 for a wedding stationery suite for 100 guests.
A wedding invitation helps set the stage for your big day. It’s guests’ first glimpse at whether you’re having a casual backyard BBQ, semiformal garden party, or black-tie affair in a hotel ballroom. It indicates the where and when and previews the look and feel of your wedding day — and a small style detail that can pack a big punch.
Before you start planning to send elaborate handcrafted invitations specially delivered by white doves, let’s first take a look at how much wedding invitations cost. Understanding the factors that can impact your final price and considering some ways to save will help you keep your wedding budget in check.
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Average Cost of Wedding Invitations
For a wedding with 100 guests, you can expect to spend an average of $500-$800 on your entire wedding stationery suite (before postage). That works out to a spend of $5-$8 per guest for invitations. These costs can fluctuate drastically depending on your preferred design, the materials it requires, and any add-ons you choose.
| Wedding stationery suite | Average cost for 100 guests | Average cost per guest |
| Budget | $250-$500 | $2.50-$5.00 |
| Traditional | $500-$800 | $5.00-$8.00 |
| Luxury | $800-$4,000+ | $8.00-$40.00 |
As the chart above reveals, your wedding invitations budget should align with your overall wedding budget. If your goal is for an over-the-top wedding extravaganza, then a luxury wedding stationery suite may be the perfect thing. Or, if you prefer keeping things down-to-earth, there are many ways to keep the invites on budget.
What’s included in a wedding stationery suite?
A wedding stationery suite is a coordinated set of paper goods and printed materials designed to create a consistent theme and style across your wedding. Couples often choose a consistent color palette, typography, and design elements to tie the entire stationery set together.
The suite typically includes essential information and instructions that your guests need to know during the wedding planning process, as well as on the actual wedding day. Common items featured in a wedding stationery suite include:
- Save-the-date cards: Sent out well in advance, these cards inform guests about the wedding date and location, allowing them to mark their calendars.
- Wedding invitations: The central piece of the suite, wedding invitations provide detailed information about the wedding ceremony and reception.
- Response cards: These RSVP cards accompany the invitations and allow guests to respond with their attendance status, dietary preferences, or other requested information.
- Enclosure cards: Additional cards that provide details about accommodation, transportation, dress code, or other relevant information for guests.
Some couples want to carry the design theme of their invitations through to the wedding day itself and beyond. To do so, optional add-on items include:
- Programs: Distributed at the ceremony, programs outline the order of events and introduce the wedding party.
- Menu cards: Placed at each table during the reception, menu cards detail the food and beverage options for the guests.
- Place Cards and table number signs: Used to designate seating arrangements at the reception, these cards help guide guests to their assigned tables.
- Thank you cards: Sent after the wedding, these cards express gratitude to guests for their attendance and any gifts received.
Tip: Order a sample of your finished design before you place your full order so you can see and feel the invitation.
Cost Factors to Consider
Knowing the potential cost factors influencing the total cost of your wedding stationery is critical to ensure that your dream invitations align seamlessly with your budget. Here’s a quick breakdown of key considerations:
Quantity
The number of invitations needed plays a significant role in determining the overall cost. Ordering in bulk often brings per-unit costs down, making it a cost-effective choice for larger guest lists.
Paper Materials
The type and quality of paper can add both charm and expense to your invitations. From standard cotton fiber paper to premium materials, your choice of paper contributes to the overall aesthetic and cost of your stationery.
Printing
The printing method chosen for your invitations can influence cost. Whether you opt for digital printing, letterpress, or another technique, each one carries its own price tag and contributes to the unique look of your invitations. We’ll explore these more below.
Design elements
Intricate design elements, such as calligraphy, embossing, or die-cutting, can elevate the visual aesthetics of your invitations but may also increase costs. These extra embellishments may also increase the production timeline, which could lead to a need for rush shipping to stay on schedule.
Postage
The often-overlooked aspect of postage is a crucial factor to consider for your wedding invites. Heavier, bulkier, or odd-shaped invitations may incur higher postage costs, impacting your overall budget.
Envelopes
Depending on the vendor you’re working with, matching envelopes may not be included in your stationery suite. Since they help create cohesion across your stationery, be sure to confirm if you’ll need to set aside some of your budget to include them.
Extra stationery to match
Additional stationery, like thank you cards, ceremony programs, or menu cards, can contribute to the overall cohesive visual look of your suite. But they also add to the final tally.
Popular Paper Options
Since paper is the base material for all stationery, the quality of the paper you choose for your wedding invitations is worthy of careful consideration. Take a look at these six options.
Matte paper
Standard matte is one of the most common paper types used for digital printing wedding invitation companies. The paper is coated to create a non-reflective, flat surface. It’s popular for printing DIY invitations at home, too — and the most cost-effective option.
Glossy paper
Glossy paper is the exact opposite of matte paper in that it has a slightly shiny reflective surface. The paper’s sheen helps create a sharp contrast of colors, making this another popular paper option for both wedding invitation companies and at-home printers.
Cotton fiber
This paper has a soft, cotton-like texture and absorbs color well. It’s usually couples’ preferred type of paper for specialty printing, such as letterpress, engraving, and thermography, but it often costs more than other types of paper.
Parchment
For an antique or old-fashioned look, parchment paper is an ideal choice. It’s highly textured but can still be easily rolled into a scroll if that suits your wedding style.
Vellum
This is a smooth paper you can see through. Vellum can be used as the actual invite itself or as a design element such as an invitation overlay. It’s also useful as a belly band on the invitation, which holds all the stationery together when removed from the envelope.
Recycled paper
The name basically says it all. Recycled paper is made from various recycled materials and plants. It’s a wonderful option for a couple planning an eco-friendly wedding.
Common Printing Methods
Selecting the right printing method sets the tone for the visceral experience your guests will have when they receive your wedding invitation. Here’s a brief guide to some common printing methods you may want to explore.
Digital
This is the most affordable type of printing method and usually the default for most online wedding invitation companies. Letters look flat and don’t require specialty paper for printing. However, upgrading the ink or paperweight may be a good idea for a more luxurious feel and richness of color.
Engraving
Engraving is a classic enhancement for wedding invitations. It’s the process of pressing the paper between an ink plate and an engraved metal plate to push the text upward. The letters look engraved, but are actually raised. It’s a high-end look that’s quite costly.
Thermography
If you want the formal, engraved look with a lower price tag, thermography may be the way to go. This process uses heat with special ink and powder that creates the raised effect at a budget-friendly price.
Letterpress
Another classic printing process, letterpress similar to engraving yet opposite as the lettering is indented on the front of the invite, not raised. Like engraving, letterpress is a time-consuming and expensive option but well worth the cost for a formal wedding.
Foil stamping
Metallic colors are always popular at weddings, so foil stamping is a sophisticated way to incorporate a metallic look into your invitations. The foil is pressed onto the paper, adding shine and dimension.
How to Save with DIY Wedding Invitations
If you have a small guest list and a small wedding budget, you can spend more per printed item because your total price tag ends up being affordable. But if you have a large guest list and a small wedding budget, affordability might become a challenge.
Why not tap into your creative side with DIY unique wedding invitations? It’s a fun, creative outlet and another way to put your personal spin on your wedding day. Here are four popular options:
1. Print at home
Craft stores like Michaels sell paper wedding invitation kits with 30-50 invitations, envelopes, and response cards for $19.99-$44.99. The paperweight is usually 80-lb cover stock, much thicker than the standard 20-lb weight multipurpose paper.
Michaels, some Etsy sellers, and freelance designers also offer downloadable templates you can customize and print at home. If you have questions about which paper to use, print a sample and take it with you to Michaels, Paper Source, or any local craft or paper store.
2. Your local print shop
If you design your own invitation or buy a downloadable design, you can use a print shop such as FedEx Office to save on ink costs and ensure a smudge-free appearance. You can have the company print and cut the invites or save money by doing the cutting yourself.
But be sure to explore pricing options first because this is not always cheaper than using a wedding invitation retailer that has a big online sale or offers a bulk discount.
3. Cricut machine
This is an option for artists, crafters, and people with patience. The Cricut Maker is a cutting machine that allows you to create invitations, signs, and decor for your wedding — and beyond.
While it’ll set you back $179-$429, plus supplies, it’s a crafter’s dream machine and worth the investment if you love DIY projects for home, holidays, and special events.
4. Go digital
Whether it’s to help the planet by saving paper or simply to help their budget, some couples opt to skip the printed versions and go with digital invites only. Joy offers a wide variety of free online wedding invitation templates that are stylish and easy to use. Since no postage is involved, you can’t beat the $0 price tag.
Now that you know how much wedding invitations cost on average, striking the right balance between style and budget is the goal. Be sure to explore various vendors, and don’t hesitate to take advantage of those offering free samples — it’s like a sneak peek into your wedding guest’s experience.
Wedding Invitations Cost FAQ
Aim to send them out 6 to 8 weeks before the big day. This gives guests plenty of time to RSVP and make the necessary arrangements. If you’re planning a destination wedding or have many out-of-town guests, consider sending save-the-date cards even earlier, around 4 to 6 months in advance, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to mark their calendars.
Yes, many couples embracing online RSVPs as an efficient and easy way to track attendance. You can include an RSVP link on your wedding website or in your invitation, making it simple for guests to respond with just a few clicks. This saves on paper and postage costs and streamlines the RSVP process.
Opt for standard sizes such as 5×7 inches for invitations and A7 envelopes. Doing so often proves to be the most cost-effective mailing option. These sizes typically meet postal regulations, making it easier to stay within budget when it comes to postage fees.
Your best bet for securely mailing an envelope sealed with wax is to place it inside a larger, protective envelope or use padded mailers. The extra layer of padding helps safeguard the wax seal during the mailing process, ensuring that your invitations arrive looking exactly the way you want.
Up Next:
Wedding Invitations with Online RSVP
Whether you send traditional paper invitations or go paperless, you can easily collect RSVPs online.
