6 Steps to Saving [nearly] $500 on Wedding Invitations.

My GORGEOUS wedding invitations and response cards
personally designed by Emily at One Red Balloon.

Choosing wedding invitations seemed like a seriously daunting task, especially when trying to not spend a ridiculous amount of money. The wedding industry is insane, and if the word "wedding" is attached to anything, it seems to cost three times what it should. 

I also hated how BORING all the wedding invitations were that I found. So in the spirit of saving money, having an invitation that "looked" like Adam & I, and supporting my artist friends, the WIN WIN WIN way was born. 

1. Find an Etsy designer (I used Emily at One Red Balloon) to design custom invites for you. Words like "designer" and "custom" may sound expensive to you, but this will be cheaper than buying cookie cutter ones from a boutique or a printing site. I promise. Plus, it will be super personal AND you will be supporting an artist. WIN (financially), WIN (personally), WIN (supporting artists)! Yay. Make sure designer is selling you THE DESIGN (the electronic file) not the prints.

2. Work with your designer to create the look you want for your big day. Perusing other wedding invite websites for ideas and sending them along to your designer might be helpful.

3. Be watching Groupon and Living Social for Vistaprint deals. They have them every few months. Buy them. Have other people buy them for you. Look around on Vistaprint for the size you want for your invitations. I went with 5" x 7". Give your designer the specifications for the bleed and trim. These can be found by clicking "full upload specifications."

4. Once you have finalized, approved your design, and have the files from your designer. WAIT. Check Vistaprint EVERYDAY (or you may see an ad so you don't have to be constantly checking) until you find a percent-off deal. They will often do 10%, 25% or even 50% off certain items (like stationary).

5. Get everything printed in incremental orders so you can use all your Groupon and/or Living Social deals. Vistaprint will also sometimes throw in free shipping if you spend $50 above your Living Social deal.

6. At the same time, you can also order return address labels and business cards (to put your wedding website or registry information). You will also get FREE envelopes with your invitations.

COST BREAKDOWN THE "WIN WIN WIN" WAY
(figures from my personal experience)

Living Social Deals
$100 in Vistaprint product..................................$20

200 invitations w/ envelopes
(printed on premium linen stock)
Custom Design...................................................$25
Printed on Vistaprint...........................................$102

200 response cards w/ envelopes
Custom Design...................................................$25
Printed on Vistaprint...........................................$54.24

280 return address labels
Stock Design/Printed on Vistaprint....................$8.12

250 business cards (for guest information)
Plain design/blank reverse..................................$2.01

Shipping.............................................................free

total....................................................................$211.37

COST BREAKDOWN BOUTIQUE WAY

(figures from The Invitations Boutique)

200 invitations w/ envelopes
(printed on plain white stock)
Stock Design......................................................$300.70

200 response cards w/ envelopes
Stock Design......................................................$161.50

275 return address labels
Stock Design......................................................$68.50

250 business cards (for guest information)
Plain design/blank reverse..................................$176.10

Shipping.............................................................free

total....................................................................$706.80

TOTAL SAVINGS $495.43