How much do DIY wedding invitations cost? 

Wedding invitations – they’re a big deal. It’s your chance to make that big first impression, to set the tone for your big day. But they’re not free. 

Just like every element of your wedding, a quality invitation – one that reflects your aesthetic – will cost you money. But how much, exactly, can you expect them to set you back? 

Today, we’ll run through exactly how much you can expect to pay for your DIY wedding invitations, what the main factors contributing to the cost are, and how you can keep your budget down. Let’s dive in. 

Why spend money on your DIY wedding invitations at all? 

We live in a day of instant messages and WhatsApp, email and Facebook Messenger. If you want to send a message to a friend, or even invite them to your wedding, you can do it in a split second. So why would you opt to carefully craft your own beautiful wedding invitations? Well, it’s because they serve a few key purposes: 

• It’s the very first impression of your big day 

• It sets the tone and aesthetic of your celebration 

• It shares key information with your invitees 

• It’s a chance for you to get some key information back 

Wedding invitations aren’t really as simple as sending out a text message and hoping people turn up. Your DIY wedding invitations, and all of your wedding stationery, from card to envelopes, are an important part of your big day. 

What do wedding invitations cost? 

Weddings are expensive. In fact, the average UK wedding costs around a whopping £25,000. Of course, this number does depend on who you are, where you are, and just how big your celebration is – but from the venue to the order of service cards, the dress to the food, there’s a lot to think about and a lot to pay out. 

But despite the mounting costs, couples are still paying anything from £300 to £1,000 – and that’s not including design fees – to create wedding stationery. While this does include the whole package – from RSVP cards to printing – it does add up. 

If you’re looking to create your own wedding stationery, or just trying to keep costs down, then DIY wedding invitations are a great way to go. 

Factors that influence the cost of your wedding invitations 

Design 

If you’re not careful, it’s in the design stage that you’ll end up spending a large portion of your wedding invitation budget. Designers are skilled workers, and it’s taken years to acquire and hone those skills, which is why they’re not cheap. 

If you’ve budgeted for this cost, then that’s great. You can collaborate with the designer to create a bespoke wedding invitation, or simply leave them to work their magic. Alternatively, many designers may reduce their rates if you choose from an existing design. These will still usually be amazing designs, but you may not get that bespoke feeling you’re after. 

By far the most cost-effective – and often the most personal – option is to design your own DIY wedding invitation. Now, it’s not easy – designers have an eye for detail and beauty – but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. 

Try looking at examples online, put together a mood board, and create some mock-ups. With this research, you should be able to create – either by hand or on a computer – a good initial idea. Of course, this will take some refining, but that’s half the fun. 

Materials 

When it comes to wedding invitations, materials matter – not just for the look and feel, but for the overall impression your invite makes. You could have a stunning design, but if it’s printed on flimsy paper or the envelope tears before it even reaches your guests, it won’t quite hit the mark. 

Of course, like everything else when it comes to weddings, materials – like card or ribbon – aren’t free, but quality is truly worth investing in. Even someone who knows nothing about designing wedding invites or paper can usually tell when the materials aren’t up to scratch. 

When you’re working with a designer, or someone creating your invites, they may do a great job – but they also come at a cost. When it comes to sourcing materials, they’ll often include a markup which, along with their services, can significantly influence the overall cost of your wedding invitations. Where possible, save money by sourcing your own materials – by doing the research and understanding exactly what you want and need. 

Printing 

Printing is by far the quickest and most popular way of creating wedding invitations, but it’s also a significant contributing factor to the overall cost. Printing can often cost anywhere from £1.50 to £3.50 per invitation, but again, this depends on the design, materials and quantity. 

One of the major factors that will increase the cost of your wedding invitations is the method of printing: 

• Digital printing: a cheap and cheerful method, but it may not achieve the completely polished look you’re after. 

• Offset printing: often used for more detailed designs and colours, and also quite cost-effective. 

• Letterpress: a traditional, but time-consuming method of printing. This gives the invitation card an air of quality and elegance. 

• Embossing: this method creates a raised impression in the card (or other material), adding a tactile feel. It’s often used for design elements or monograms. 

There are many more methods of printing, but these are just a few of the basics that can influence your budget. Of course, many who make their own DIY wedding invitations can save money by organising the printing themselves – whether that’s using a home printer, creating a lino cut or trying another crafting hands-on approach. This can also add a layer of personalisation to the card which, after all, should be all about you. 

Extra touches 

When it comes to weddings, it’s the little things that add up. You might know the cost of the venue, but did you factor in the place cards? You paid the band, but did you remember the morning drinks? It’s exactly the same when it comes to designing wedding invitations and stationery – it’s easy to forget to account for the smaller details. 

Even if your invitations themselves are budget-friendly, the finishing touches can quickly push up the price. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of: 

• Wax seals: an elegant and timeless finishing touch. 

• String or ribbon: a beautiful way to tie your suite together. 

• Envelopes: there’s a lot to choose from – coloured, textured, recycled and more. 

• Postage: the one that everyone forgets. 

• Calligraphy: handwritten or stylised addressing or content. 

While none of these extras are absolutely necessary, they will certainly elevate the aesthetic of your wedding invitations. 

How much do wedding invitations cost 

As we’ve mentioned, not only does creating DIY wedding invitations give you complete control over your design and aesthetic, but it can help you save those pennies. But how much do DIY wedding invitations actually cost? Well, let’s assume you’re inviting 100 guests: 

100 A6 Postcard Blanks, Recycled Ivory Fleck & Kraft Envelopes: £13.90 
These high-quality blank invites and envelopes are a popular choice for couples. Their texture gives a premium feel to the invite, and you can sleep easy knowing they contain 80% recycled fibres and 20% ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) virgin fibres. 

100 Mini RSVP A7 Postcard Blanks, Recycled Ivory Fleck & Kraft Envelopes: £11.71 
These miniature RSVP cards are perfect to pop in with an invitation and even match the A6 postcard invites we’ve picked out. 

5x 3m Hessian Jute String: £2.50 
Continuing with our rustic theme, we’ll add hessian string to the invites as some extra decoration and sealing. 

There you have it – a base package of quality materials for 100 invites that comes in at £28.11. Now, it’s important to note that this doesn’t include your design, your inks and printing or any added extras – but it is a great place at which to start. You know that for under £30 you should be able to source premium materials with which to create your own DIY wedding invitations. 

Start creating your own DIY wedding invitations 

As with all wedding planning, creating your own DIY wedding invitations is about balance. Begin the process by understanding your non-negotiables – what do you need from your wedding invites, and what can you leave out? If you would like a wax seal but you know ribbon is a non-negotiable and you don’t have the budget for both, then your decision is made. When you strike that balance, you can create beautiful, memorable, and affordable DIY wedding invitations. 

At Paperbox, we love helping people find the right materials to bring their dream wedding stationery suite to life. If you need a hand sourcing your crafting materials, or just need some advice on how to get going, get in touch. We love to help.