Weddings can be fabulously expensive events. Even a reasonably priced wedding may represent a difficult financial stretch for many families or couples. Wedding invitations usually average about two to five percent of the total wedding budget. If you're looking for a way to shave a few dollars off the total price of your wedding, you have a few options with the wedding invitations.
You should rest assured from the beginning that cheap wedding invitations don't necessarily have to be tacky wedding invitations. There is a huge amount of competition among printers and invitation specialists. Many of them are positively desperate for your business (although they will never admit it). Printing your invitations is like an opportunity for them to send out business cards to your list of guests, many of whom may be in the market themselves for printed invitations. So your first step in lowering the wedding invitation bill is to negotiate with several invitation suppliers and see what sort of prices and freebies you can come up with.
If your local printers aren't able to hit your target price, then your next step is to visit the web pages of some traditional wedding invitation suppliers. Many of them offer "web-only" specials. These discount wedding invitations direct from the manufacturer can often be had for 25 to 50 percent off the normal retail price. You can even preview your invitation online (make sure you spelled your future mother-in-law's name right). Putting together discount wedding invitations online also gives you the chance to choose lower cost options for ink and printing that might not be available at your local printer.
For still lower cost wedding invitations, look for websites that offer free printable wedding invitations. These sites usually offer downloadable templates for popular word processors. They're already formatted, so all you have to do is edit the information to match your wedding details. You can download fancy wedding fonts and modify the colors to match your personality exactly. Pick up some good quality paper and you're ready to go into the printable wedding invitation business. This option also has the flexibility of printing extras if you left someone special off the guest list.
Just because you're opting for lower cost wedding invitations doesn't mean you have to give up having unique wedding invitations. When you are making your own invitations, there's really no limit to your ideas. Some couples have created CD or DVD invitations with music and video. With photo montages, maps, and artwork, it's a complete invitation package ready to mail. You can also make unique wedding invitations by using a photo and special paper with decorations. A professional portrait invitation will probably be framed by the guests as a keepsake. Other ideas for unique wedding invitations include handmade paper, pressed flowers, rose petals, or confetti.
In today's digital world, if you're really strapped for cash, it's theoretically possible to invite all your guests via email or cell phone SMS. There's no telling how the etiquette of that option plays out. Regardless of what you choose, your guests will be most impressed with your wedding invitations if they're an accurate reflection of your style and personality.
Even discount wedding invitations can be beautiful and unique
