If you’re in the midst of planning a wedding, sending out invitations and figuring out how much they cost are probably top of mind. So, how much do wedding invitations cost? Factors such as paper types and printing methods can influence costs, while special finishes and enclosed extras can cause them to escalate.
We’ve got the lowdown on the average cost of wedding invitations, what you can expect to spend and where you can save. So, whether you’re dreaming of a lavish affair or keeping things intimate, we’ll outline the areas where unexpected costs can creep up and provide savvy tips for saving. Whatever your budget, this guide will help you navigate the world of wedding invitations without breaking a sweat — or the bank.
Source: Floral wedding invitation via VistaPrint
Table of contents:
- The average cost of wedding invitations
- Factors that influence wedding invitation costs
- How much do wedding invitations cost?
- How much of your wedding budget should go toward invitations?
- Tips for saving money on wedding invitations
- Ready to create the perfect affordable wedding invitations?
The average cost of wedding invitations
When it comes to wedding invitations, the price tag can vary wildly. Everything from the size of your guest list to the type of paper or printing method can affect costs. But if you’re looking for a ballpark figure, couples spend an average of $240 on invitations alone, with the total cost reaching around $530 when you factor in additional stationery.
A 2023 wedding study puts the average cost of 100 to 150 invites somewhere between $256 and $312. On VistaPrint, invitations for a guest list of 100 to 150 will cost between $82 and $210. For couples on a tighter budget, at-home printing or DIY solutions are solid alternatives.
Factors that influence wedding invitation costs
The cost of wedding invitations all boils down to the choices you make — every detail, big or small, can nudge the price up or down. So, let’s take a closer look at what drives the cost of those special pieces of wedding stationery.
Source: Modern wedding invitation via VistaPrint
Paper type and quality
When it comes to wedding invitations, the type of paper you choose sets the tone — and the price. Whether you’re going for matte and modern or timeless and textured, your paper choice can make or break your stationery budget. We’ve listed the paper types available in order of most to least expensive, so you can choose the one best suited to your budget.
- Cardstock: This is the most commonly used paper for wedding invites. It’s sturdy and versatile, offering a professional look at a relatively affordable price, starting from around $1 to $2 per invitation. Cardstock keeps costs down while still giving you a quality finish. On VistaPrint, you can choose between standard matte or premium matte cardstock, depending on the desired thickness and quality. Alternatively, pearl and glossy finishes can add a polished look and sleek feel.
- Linen and cotton paper: Woven from cotton paper, linen gives your invitations a more refined, elegant look and textured feel. Costing only $0.08 more per invitation on VistaPrint, it’s slightly pricier than standard cardstock, but offers a touch of sophistication without a big price jump. Cotton paper is a more expensive option due to its durability and high-end feel.
- Recycled paper: For eco-friendly couples, recycled paper is a great choice. It often costs around the same as cardstock or slightly more, depending on the quality, with costs going up to around $2.50 per invitation. It’s a conscious choice that doesn’t drastically increase your budget.
- Textured paper: Textured papers, such as felt or vellum, add a unique tactile element to your invites. These premium types of paper usually increase the cost to at least $4 per invitation.
- Handmade paper: Costing around $7 to $10 per invitation, handmade paper is a luxury choice that adds unique character to each invitation. The uneven texture gives invitations a rustic feel. Handmade paper is typically more expensive due to the labor-intensive process.
Source: Rustic wedding invitation via VistaPrint
Printing method
It’s not just the paper stock you choose for your wedding invitations that impacts the cost of the final product, but also the printing method. Here are the most popular wedding invitation printing options and how their costs compare:
- Digital printing: A popular choice among couples who want quality on a budget, digital printing gives a professional look without breaking the bank. A set of 100 invitation suites will cost between $500 and $800. This printing method is affordable, quick to produce and delivers vibrant crisp colors.
- Offset printing and thermography: Costing between $800 and $1,800 for a set of 100 invitations, offset printing or thermography offers a more refined and elegant finish. Offset printing offers a similar look to digital printing but with higher precision and more vibrancy, while thermography adds texture by blending powder with ink, giving the print a raised feel.
- Letterpress printing: Known for its distinctive pressed-in look, letterpress wedding invitations start at $1,500 for 100 suites, making it a pricier option. The process involves creating custom presses for each design. Adding more colors will increase the cost by about 25% per color.
- Embossing: The most extravagant option, embossing (or engraving) involves pressing the design into the paper for a raised tactile effect. With a starting cost of $2,000 for 100 invitations, it’s the most labor-intensive and luxurious option, ideal for couples who want to go all out on their invites.
Custom design vs. templates
Depending on how much you’re willing to spend on your wedding invitations, you can choose between hiring a professional to create a completely unique design or going down the template route.
- Hiring a designer to create custom invites means you’re guaranteed uniqueness, but it comes at a price. Costs can range anywhere from $500 to $2,000, depending on experience and design complexity. Platforms like 99designs by Vista offer cost-effective design services, starting around $299 for a basic design package.
- Pre-made design templates offer an affordable and flexible option. VistaPrint provides customizable wedding invitation templates that let you add your own style while keeping costs low. And if you’re looking for even more options, graphic design tool VistaCreate offers a library of free wedding invitation templates that you can customize to match your wedding theme and style.
Source: Wedding invitation templates via VistaPrint
Additional extras and finishes
Making your wedding invitations pop is all about those extra touches — envelope liners, foil accents, embossing, wax seals and custom trims. These will elevate your invitations but also nudge the price up.
For example, embossed foil accents will make each invitation, on average, $0.50 pricier. If you’re eyeing a rounded or scalloped trim, that’ll add about $8 per 100 invites. Small details like wax seals and custom edges bring a high-end feel but come with added costs, so it’s important to balance your design with your budget.
Source: Wedding invitation with gold foil accents via VistaPrint
Each piece of the wedding invitation suite — RSVP cards, save-the-dates and enclosure cards — all add to your overall spend. So when allocating your invitation budget, make sure you include all of the stationery you plan to print! Use our complete wedding stationery checklist to check off each piece as you go.
How much do wedding invitations cost?
Now that we’ve covered all the factors that affect wedding invitation costs, let’s talk numbers. Whether you’re looking to keep things simple and budget-friendly or aiming for full-blown luxury, there’s a price range for every wedding budget. So, let’s dive into the pricing tiers from DIY templates to high-end custom designs and see what fits your wedding vision!
Budget-friendly wedding invitation options
For couples on a budget, simple yet elegant invitations are well within reach, from as little at $0.82 per invite. Digital printing and free customizable templates allow you to stay stylish without overspending. To keep things affordable, choose standard matte paper stock, standard trim and no extras like foil embossing. Read our ultimate guide to wedding invitation design for inspirational wedding invitation ideas.
Source: Elegant wedding invitation suite via VistaPrint
Source: Handwritten wedding invitation suite via VistaPrint
If you’ve got a little extra room in your budget, you can upgrade to premium options like a glitter foil finish, pearl paper stock or a scalloped trim for a few extra cents, making your invites feel a bit more custom while remaining affordable. Custom trim options give your invitations a distinctive touch for as little as $0.08, whereas foil finishes cost only $1 extra per invite.
Source: Gold foil wedding invitation via VistaPrint
Source: A wedding invitation with foil embossing via VistaPrint
Source: Glitter foil wedding invitation via VistaPrint
Mid-range wedding invitation options
For couples wanting to step up from the basics but stay within a mid-range budget, there are plenty of stylish options that offer more customization and premium features. In the price range of upwards of $4 per invite, you can expect better paper quality, creative finishes and a more polished custom look.
Popular upgrades include:
- Higher-quality paper like linen or cotton, adding texture and a luxurious feel to invitations.
- Special finishes that add a touch of elegance, making the text or design elements pop.
In this range, couples often opt for semi-custom designs, where they can tweak elements like colors, fonts and trims while keeping some of the standard templates intact. This allows for personalization without the higher cost of a fully custom design.
Luxury invitations
If you want to go all out with your invites, luxury wedding invitations are where custom designs meet the finest materials and intricate details. At this level, you’re not just sending an invite — you’re making a statement. High-end invitations start at around $15 per invite and can easily go much higher, depending on the level of customization.
Luxury invitations are often created with the help of professional designers, offering completely custom designs that reflect your unique wedding style. Hand-drawn illustrations, such as couple portraits or venue sketches, give invitations a more personal and artistic touch, while appealing to one of the hottest wedding trends.
These costly wedding invitations use premium materials, such as cotton, handmade paper, vellum overlays and even acrylic, providing elegance and durability, but coming with a luxury price tag.
Luxury invitation options also include:
- Laser-cut detailing
- Letterpress or embossing for added texture and depth
- Wax seals for a vintage feel
- Envelope liners with custom patterns or metallic finishes
- Hand-calligraphed addressing
Source: Custom watercolor wedding invitation by Nabeel via 99designs by Vista
Source: Custom hand-drawn wedding invitation by tetiana.syvokin via 99designs by Vista
How much of your wedding budget should go toward invitations?
When planning a wedding, a good rule of thumb is to allocate 2-5% of the overall budget to invitations and stationery. While it may seem like a small slice of the pie, this percentage allows room for quality paper, customizations and any extras you might want to include.
Here’s a quick look at the average costs of other key wedding stationery items:
| Stationery Item | Average Cost | Notes |
| Save the dates | $150 | Save the date cards are optional pieces of wedding stationery sent out before the invite. |
| RSVP cards | $240 (with invites) | Often purchased as part of the invitation suite, making it more cost-effective. |
| Day-of essentials | $140 | Includes programs, menus and place cards. Coordinating with your wedding theme is key. |
| Thank you cards | $100–$200 | Essential post-wedding etiquette. Typically priced similarly to save the dates. |
Tips for saving money on wedding invitations
DIY invitations
Why it saves: Designing your own wedding invitations avoids the costs of hiring a designer or buying pre-made invites.
How to do it: Use VistaPrint’s easy-to-use design tools to create your own DIY invitations. Start with a free template and customize it with your colors, text and images. Once you’re happy with your design, print it directly through VistaPrint and add any DIY touches like ribbon, string or custom envelope seals.
Order early
Why it saves: Ordering invitations early helps to avoid rush fees and ensures you have enough time to make any necessary edits without the last-minute price tag.
How to do it: Start working on your invitation design as soon as the guest list is finalized. Give yourself a two month window before you need to send them out and put your order in as soon as you’re happy with the design.
Choose bundled packages
Why it saves: Bundling your wedding invitations with other stationery pieces, like RSVP cards, thank-you notes and place cards, can reduce the overall cost.
How to do it: Rather than printing each piece of wedding stationery separately, order the full wedding suite together in one go. This also ensures a cohesive look.
Source: Vintage wedding invitation suite via VistaPrint
Order slightly more than you need
Why it saves: It may seem counterintuitive, but ordering a few extra invitations can save you money in the long run, ensuring you won’t have to deal with expensive last-minute reorders (rush printing or shipping) if your guest list grows unexpectedly.
How to do it: Add 10% more invitations to your order than your estimated guest count.
Explore alternative RSVP options
Why it saves: Postcards and digital RSVPs are cheaper than traditional RSVP cards with envelopes.
How to do it: Use simple RSVP postcards, eliminating the need for an extra envelope. Or encourage guests to RSVP through your wedding website by including the link or QR code on your invitation.
A custom stamp goes a long way
Why it saves: Investing as little as $10.72 in a custom stamp can be the personal touch your stationery needs without having to buy custom envelopes.
How to do it: Order a custom stamp with your wedding monogram or wedding logo and stamp all of your invitation envelopes with it!
Order a free sample kit
Why it saves: Testing out paper types, sizes and design elements before placing a full order ensures you won’t waste money on materials or styles that don’t work for you.
How to do it: VistaPrint offers a free wedding sample kit. Order samples to check out paper types, finishes and sizes, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Source: Wedding invitation sample kit via VistaPrint
Ready to create the perfect affordable wedding invitations?
So, how much do wedding invitations cost? As we’ve explored, it really depends on your preferences and budget. Invitations can range from as low as $1 per invite for budget-friendly options up to $15 or more for luxurious custom designs. Factors like paper type, printing methods and extra finishes all play a role in determining the final price.
But here’s the good news — no matter your budget, your dream wedding invitation is within reach. Whether you go for a simple DIY design or splurge on premium materials, there are always ways to make your wedding stationery unique. All it takes is a bit of creativity and a reliable printing service like VistaPrint to bring your vision to life. So, go ahead and create wedding invites that are as special as your big day, without breaking the bank!
