Is It Cheaper to Do Your Own Wedding Invites? Smart Savings on Wedding Invitations

Sticker shock is real when you first see quotes for professionally printed wedding invitations. It's easy to see those gorgeous samples and immediately wonder, “Could I make something just as nice for less?” If you’re weighing the ‘do it yourself’ route against hiring a pro, you need to look past the obvious price tags.

Printing your own invites feels like a budget-friendly option, but the hidden costs can sneak up on you fast. Paper isn’t just paper—fancy envelopes, thicker card stock, and printing ink all add up. Even just running out to grab an extra pack of envelopes can blow your budget if you’re not careful.

Time is another huge factor. Sure, you can save some money, but are you ready to spend your evenings learning about printer settings, fixing smudges, and lining up RSVP cards? For some, the tradeoff is totally worth it. For others, it turns into a stressful, never-ending project. Knowing what you’re getting into helps you choose the smartest route for your sanity—and your wallet.

• The Real Price of Professional Invites
• What It Actually Costs to DIY
• Sneaky Extras That Blow Your Budget
• Money-Saving Tips for At-Home Invites
• When DIY Makes Sense (and When It Really Doesn’t)

The Real Price of Professional Invites

Let’s be honest: few things about wedding planning throw people off more than the price tag slapped on those invitation quotes. For a set of 100, it’s normal to see total costs go way over $400, even for styles on the simple side. That’s just for printing, envelopes, and maybe a reply card. Add in fancy paper, gold foil, ribbons, or a designer’s custom touch, and your bill can push past $1,000 faster than you think.

If you’re on Instagram drooling over hand-lettered invites or letterpress prints—expect to pay a premium. These extras shoot prices up because they take more time and skill to make. Here’s a look at some common pricing for wedding invitations when you skip DIY:

Not all professionals charge the same way, either. Some bundle everything, while others add “a la carte” fees for things like address printing or extra proof rounds. Shipping, as silly as it sounds, can also tack on $30 or more, since heavy invitations cost a lot to send safely. Turns out, every pretty detail—lined envelopes, pocket folds, double-thick cards—costs extra. And if you want your invitations mailed directly to your guests? Most companies make that a different (and sometimes expensive) fee too.

So, if you’re considering professional invites, make sure you get a clear, detailed quote. Ask for totals with all the bits you actually want, not just the base package. It’s super easy to underestimate how fast “little” upgrades balloon your real total.

What It Actually Costs to DIY

Let’s break down what you’re really spending on DIY wedding invitations. It’s not just about buying some cardstock and hitting print. When you pile up all those small items, the price tag quickly rises.

Here’s what you’ll probably have on your shopping list:

• Cardstock or specialty paper (usually sold in packs of 50 or 100)
• Envelopes—main outer ones, and sometimes RSVP envelopes
• Ink or toner for your printer (and this stuff gets pricey fast!)
• Cutting tools (paper trimmers or scissors)
• Glue sticks, double-sided tape, or adhesive for layers
• Optional: Ribbon, wax seals, stamps, or any extra decorative bits
• Postage stamps, which cost extra for oversized or square shapes

The average bride or groom spends about $1 to $4 per invitation set on materials alone when going the DIY route. But here’s a catch: if your printer can’t handle thicker cardstock or colors bleed, you might end up paying a local print shop $1–$2 per invite for printing help. That’s already pushing your *save money* goal.

Add it together for a set of 100 invites, and the "low-budget" DIY spend is about $111—if everything goes smoothly at home. Go for fancier details or end up at a copy shop? Costs climb fast, sometimes higher than cheap online vendors. If you want calligraphy or special designs, you’ll need to pay for a digital file, too, usually $15–$100 from sites like Etsy.

The biggest wild card: mistakes. Misprinted sheets, paper jams, or last-minute add-ons mean you should always order 10% more supplies than you think you need. That little bit of extra can save you huge headaches later. If your guest list is small, *DIY wedding invites* might be a bargain. For bigger weddings, you might find yourself spending more time and money than expected—so do the math before hitting "buy now" on all those supplies.

Sneaky Extras That Blow Your Budget

Sure, DIY wedding invitations might seem cheaper at first glance, but the little stuff can bite into your savings fast. Before you rush out to buy cute paper, check what’s hiding behind that price tag. Here are the main extras that almost everyone forgets when creating wedding invitations at home.

• Printer Ink: High-quality color ink can cost you anywhere from $20 to $80 per cartridge, and if you’re sending out 100 invites with colorful details, you’ll easily run through more than one.
• Paper Trimmers and Tools: If you want crisp, pro edges, you need more than scissors. A decent paper cutter adds $20–$40, while corner rounders, hole punches, and glue runners can tack on another $15–$25.
• Envelopes and Postage: Fancy envelopes? Anything with a lining or a non-standard shape will cost extra (sometimes double). Don’t forget, square invites cost more to mail—up to $0.99 each in the U.S. instead of the regular $0.68.
• Test Prints: You can’t just hit print and hope for the best. Even small misprints mean wasted paper and ink, and you may blow through a whole ream before you get it right.
• Assembly Supplies: Ribbons, wax seals, belly bands, tape—these small touches can run $15–$40 or more, especially if you want every invite to look consistent and polished.

For a clearer picture, check out this breakdown of common unexpected costs for DIY invites (for 100 invitations):

If you’ve got your heart set on upgrades like foil or letterpress, know that the cost to do these at home skyrockets—or you’ll end up paying a pro anyway. Bottom line: Budget at least 20–40% above your basic material costs to cover these extras, or you might end up spending the same as you would on a pro, just with a lot more effort.

Money-Saving Tips for At-Home Invites

DIY can be a lifesaver if you do it right, but you have to get smart about where and how you save. The first rule? Set a strict budget before you even open Pinterest or Etsy. Once you know your limit, stick to it like glue. Most people spend between $100 and $400 making their own wedding invites for around 100 guests, compared to the $500–$1,200 typical for pros. That’s a big difference—but only if you avoid common mistakes.

Here are some tips to keep your DIY project from ballooning into an expensive hassle:

• Find free or low-cost templates. Tons of awesome designers sell editable templates for $10–$20 on Etsy. Canva also has free template options you can personalize without paying a dime.
• Buy supplies in bulk. Big-box stores or online shops like Amazon and Paper Source offer bulk discounts on envelopes and card stock. Just double-check sizes before hitting “buy.”
• Keep it simple. Every extra layer, pocket, or fancy embellishment costs you more in both money and time. If you keep your design sleek and minimal, you’ll save across the board.
• Use a regular inkjet printer and test prints on plain paper. Don’t waste expensive card stock learning what orientation or color settings you need.
• Skip double envelopes. Honestly, one sturdy outer envelope is enough. That alone can cut $30–$50 off your total.
• Hand-address with a gel pen for a personal touch instead of hiring a calligrapher. If you’re not confident in your handwriting, print clear address labels.

Watch shipping costs. Bulky invites mean more postage. After you assemble one finished invite, take it to the post office and weigh it. Sometimes even a little ribbon bumps you into the next price tier. Stamps run about 68¢ per 1 oz letter in the US—don’t guess, or you could waste a lot on returned mail.

None of these tips matter if you don’t plan out your project. Break the process into steps, check supply lists, and give yourself extra time for mistakes. Not only does it save money, but it saves you those last-minute panics no bride or groom needs.

Looking for even more savings on wedding invitations? Skip the RSVP cards and collect responses online with a free website like The Knot or Zola. Many guests now expect digital options anyway.

When DIY Makes Sense (and When It Really Doesn’t)

Sometimes making your own wedding invitations is a real win, but other times, you might end up spending way more time, money, and energy than you expected. So, when should you go the DIY route? And when is it smarter to leave it to the pros?

If you have a creative streak, access to a decent home printer, and a small guest list (say under 50 people), DIY can be a real money-saver. You get total control over design, wording, even the paper finish. Plus, there’s the personal touch—your invites shout "us" louder than anything you could buy online. But here’s a catch: if you want things like foil stamping, embossed text, or elaborate shapes, home printers just won’t cut it. You’ll end up spending extra to use places like FedEx Office or local print shops, and that price adds up quick.

Here’s a quick comparison that sums it up:

Let’s break down when going DIY is a good move:

• You want simple, classic wedding invitations—nothing overly fancy.
• You already have good design skills or templates.
• Your guest list is short, so you’re not printing hundreds of invites.
• You enjoy crafty projects and don’t mind a little trial and error.
• You’ve got a bit of time—rushing through makes DIY a nightmare (if your wedding is in 6 weeks, maybe skip it).

On the other hand, DIY really doesn’t make sense if:

• You want detailed finishes or custom shapes that home printers can’t do.
• Your guest list tops 100 and you dread the idea of stuffing, labeling, and stamping for hours.
• Printing and assembly stress you out, or you already have a mile-long to-do list.
• You’d rather spend a bit extra for a stress-free, polished look.

If your head is spinning thinking about envelopes, scoring, cutting, and glue dots, that’s usually a sign to hand things over to a pro. Remember, DIY always costs time, and sometimes, if mistakes happen, it costs twice as much. Decide what matters most: saving some cash, or saving your sanity?