From invitations to thank you cards, each piece seems to come with a hefty price tag. However, with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, it's possible to slash those expenses without compromising on quality or style.
When it came to my own wedding, I was determined to find a budget-friendly solution for our stationery needs. Little did I know that my DIY journey would not only save us over $2000 but also result in a personalized touch that reflected our unique style and personalities.
The Plan: We needed the following stationery for 150 guests.
90 each of:
-Save the dates, envelopes
-Invitations, envelopes
-Details cards, venue maps (included in our invitation envelope package)
-RSVP cards, return envelopes (included in our invitation envelope package)
-Thank you cards, envelopes
When it comes to wedding invitations, etiquette suggests that each adult guest or couple should receive their own separate invitation. This ensures that each guest feels individually valued and respected. Additionally, if a guest is in a committed relationship but not married, it's courteous to address the invitation to both individuals by name. This thoughtful approach ensures clarity and inclusivity, making every guest feel welcomed to celebrate your special day with you.
Instead of outsourcing this task to a professional, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
The Tools: I started by investing in the right tools. A reliable printer was essential, so I opted for the Epson Expression Photo HD XP-1500, priced at $379.00 on Amazon. This printer proved to be a workhorse, producing crisp, high-quality prints every time. To achieve that elegant deckled edge look, I purchased a deckled edge ruler for $13.99 on Amazon, adding a sophisticated touch to our stationery.
The Materials: For paper and other materials, Michaels craft store, and Amazon were my go-to destinations. I sourced premium quality cardstock and envelopes at a fraction of the cost compared to specialty wedding stationery vendors. The total cost for paper came to $493.22, including $39.96 each for save the date cards with envelopes, RSVP cards with envelopes, thank you cards with envelopes, and $373.34 for invitation paper, maps, details cards, and envelopes.
The Personal Touch: To add a touch of luxury and customization, I opted for custom-made wax seals from Etsy, featuring our initials stamped into the wax. These exquisite seals were priced at $103.49 for 300 seals, and added a touch of old-world charm to our invitations. Be careful if you plan to DIY the wax seals because they have to be thin enough to fit through the letter slot size at Canada Post which is why I didn’t take a chance making my own. I also took a sample invitation in to Canada Post before creating all of my invitation packages to ensure I knew the size was good enough to send as a letter and not as a package due to cost.
The Postage Puzzle: Postage costs can quickly add up, especially when mailing out dozens of invitations. I strategized to minimize these expenses by purchasing stamps in bulk and selecting the most cost-effective options. For our Canadian guests, I purchased 320 stamps for $294.40, covering save the dates, invitations with RSVP cards and return stamps, and thank you cards. Canada Post has since increased their rates. I also purchased American stamps for $1.30 each for a total of $31.20 and international stamps for our Italian family, costing $16.26.
The Savings: By taking a hands-on approach and leveraging online resources, I managed to significantly reduce our stationery expenses. While a custom stationary package could have set us back over $2000+ tax and postage, our total expenditure amounted to just $1,331.56.
Comparisons: I priced out basic, plain invitation suites on a popular online printing service site, and the total came to $1,295.75 plus tax, not including postage. This included:
-Save the date cards, envelopes
-Invitations with two information cards, envelopes
-Thank you cards, envelopes
-Sticker seals
I also priced custom stationary suites from a local professional, and my quote was over $3600 plus tax for basic paper and design, not including postage.
The Results: The end result exceeded our expectations. Our DIY stationery exuded elegance and sophistication, and many of our guests were amazed to learn that we had created it ourselves. Not only did we save a substantial amount of money, but we also added a personal touch that made our wedding invitations truly memorable.
Conclusion: DIY wedding stationery might seem like a daunting task, but with careful planning and the right tools, it's a rewarding endeavour that can yield substantial savings. By thinking outside the box and tapping into online resources, you can create beautiful, personalized stationery that reflects your unique style, all while staying within your budget. So, if you're preparing to tie the knot, consider taking the DIY route for your stationery needs—you'll be glad you did.
Side notes:
Minimizing Waste and Maximizing Efficiency: However, utilizing these templates efficiently meant optimizing the use of paper. Printing each piece of stationery on a separate sheet of card stock seemed wasteful, but it was a necessary step to ensure precision and quality. Armed with my trusty deckled edge ruler, I meticulously trimmed each printed piece down to size, adding that desired touch of elegance.
Choosing Practicality Over Convenience: While it may have been tempting to purchase pre-deckled edge paper for convenience, my research revealed a potential downside. Edges on specialty paper can sometimes lead to printing problems and even damage to the printer due to the cotton fibers. To avoid these issues, I opted to print first and then deckle edge, ensuring both flawless printing and a professional finish.
Frame your work: We decided to frame our custom DIY stationary in an elegant glass frame, with some of the florals we dried from our wedding!
Happy DIY!
Melissa Bonaventura
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