By Jeana DiGuiseppe Koerber, owner of JDK Invitations

Many times couples think they cannot afford to have the wedding they really want to have… BUT, it’s really not the case. With tight wedding budgets, couples need to become more creative on how they spend their money. When it comes to your wedding invitations, you want to make them stand out. After all, they are the first glimpse that your guests have of your wedding. Build anticipation AND save money at the same time. Here are some of my favorite tips I like to share with my customers that will help your wallet and create and event that is unforgettable at the same time.

Bring in a photos from magazines or online. If you have your heart set on a specific element or style from a photo, let your stationer know! This will help to save money in the long run because your stationer will not have to guess at what you like. You won’t have to go through many rounds of samples (could be $10-$25 a sample). However, don’t expect your stationer to copy a photo exactly, which is stealing someone else’s work. Use the photo as inspiration.

Think about assembling your invitations yourself. Most stationers give the option for you to buy DIY invitations (do-it-yourself). By eliminating most of your stationer’s labor, you can save some major money. By doing this, you can probably add more of the elements you want (envelope liners, ribbon, etc.) Have a DIY party – invite your wedding party and set up an assembly line. Serve some snacks, but save the alcohol for AFTER the assembly! You don’t want crooked invitations!

Don’t choose a square invitation. The USPS requires an envelope to be rectangular to meet standard first class pricing guidelines. The square shape makes the envelope difficult to process through their sorting machines. It could also add $0.13 per envelope (you could be using that money elsewhere!). In addition, don’t tie a ribbon or use anything bulky on the outside of your invitation. The post office will charge you more per envelope for the same reason.

ALWAYS order more invitations than you need. There are many reasons for this, such as last minute guests you forgot to invite (yikes!), a guest who’s invitation got lost in the mail (yikes again!), keepsakes. Plus, if you order a small number of invitations at a later time, it is a lot more expensive.

Forego the inner envelope. The inner envelope was an element used when mail had more of a journey to go through (think messengers on horses). These days, they are not needed with all of the advances of the USPS. Do, however, make sure to take your finished invitations to the post office and ask the clerk to “hand cancel” them to eliminate the need of running them through the mail sorter.

Use an RSVP postcard instead of an RSVP card with an envelope. This will save you money in 2 ways: First, you don’t have to pay for an envelope. Second, the postage is cheaper. Postcard stamps are $0.28 each versus a first class stamp for an envelope, $0.44 each. By the way, postcards are very “in” right now.

Have an open mind. If you like a certain printing process, but it’s just not in your budget, ask your stationer what other options there are. Your stationer will be able to tell you what other beautiful and stylish options are out there. For example, if you really like embossed invitations, ask about using thermography instead. Thermography gives your printing a raised effect without the high cost of embossing.

To reach Jeana or to schedule a consultation, email her at sales@jdkinvitations.com, or visit www.jdkinvitations.com.

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