How to Buy Wedding Invitations with a $200 Budget
Do you think buying wedding invitations with a $200 budget is impossible?
We wanted to explore what is available in the stationery market. We did a bit of digging, and came up with this article to show you how to buy pretty wedding invites for a meager $200.
Our research indicates that on average 136 guests will attend a wedding. We assume that one invite per couple will be mailed out, which means about 140 guests to invite and approximately 70 wedding invitations to procure.
It is easy to get lost in a sea of wedding invitation designs and even more easy to get carried away spending a fortune. Depending on paper type, embellishments, and other add-ons, your $200 stationery budget can quickly balloon to a $400+ budget.
We want to keep you close to that $200 budget!
A Word on Postage
One thing couples may not consider when putting together a wedding budget is postage. Don’t forget to include pesky shipping costs to receive the invitations that you purchased, as well as postage (One-Ounce 49¢ / Two-Ounce 71¢) to mail the invitations to your guests.
We assume that those couples planning a wedding with more than the average amount of guests will end up spending $200 on postage alone. Therefore, don’t rely on this article if you plan to invite more than the average. We are aware that traditional Indian or Chinese wedding parties have upwards of 1,000 guests! I can only imagine the stationery budget for that number of guests.
Our $200 stationery roundup includes postage and chosen invitations that work for a strict budget.
Budget Break Down
Postage: $0.49 * 70 = $34.30
Shipping: Most online invitation companies offer free shipping over a certain dollar amount
RSVP Stamps: $0 (see below)
Budget Remaining for Invitations: $165.70 ($2.36 per invite)
Top Design Picks
Rustic
Vintage
Whimsical & Floral
Formal & Elegant
Modern & Typography
Shopping Tips
- It is tempting to upgrade to a pearl shimmer invite finish or a certain trim, especially when it is only 20 cents per invite more! All these little extras quickly add up. Stick to the basic papers that the company is offering free of change and say no to any add-ons.
- RSVP cards are supposed to be stamped when they are sent to guests, save money by asking guests to send their RSVP response via your free wedding website.
- Forget direction or reception cards. Guests will most likely loose them, and the cards will cost an additional $1+ per card. Instead, put a line at the bottom of your wedding invitation directing guests to your wedding website for any additional information.
- Don’t get caught paying extra postage with oddly shaped or over-sized cards.
- If you buy paper, choose standard wedding invitation sizes such as 5″ by 7″ or A7.
- When in doubt, send a postcard. They are less traditional, but will save you money on envelopes and postage.