DIY Wedding Invitations vs.
Ordering From A Stationer
Wedding invitations set the tone for your big day and give people an idea of what to expect. Guests depend on the invitation to tell them where to be, what time to be there, and what to wear. That means the invitation is one of the most important steps in planning a wedding. Your invitations not only help your guests show up to the right place at the right time in the right attire, but they also help you know which guests to expect and who your guests are bringing with them.
With so much importance placed on the invitation, it’s easy to see why many couples hire professionals to design and print their invitations for them. However, this professional service does not come cheap. Most professionally designed wedding invitations cost between $5–$10 per invitation set. For couples on a budget, making your own invitations is a great way to keep costs down. If done right, your guests will never know that they were homemade. Below are some Pros and Cons of DIY wedding invitations vs. ordering your invitations from a pro.
Do It Yourself Invitations: The Pros
-Lower Costs – you’ll save between $3-$8 per invitation set on average
-More control – you control which materials you use, and you can create your own custom design
-If you’re artsy/crafty, doing your own wedding invitations can be a lot of fun
Do It Yourself Invitations: The Cons
-Time – You have to dedicate a good deal of time to printing and assembling the invitations. With a busy schedule, many couples simply don’t have the time to DIY
-Capabilities – You may not be able to create the type of invitation you want. There aren’t many brides who have a letterpress machine in their basement, so if you’re looking for an engraved or letterpress invitation, ordering from a pro is a must
-Skills – If you lack the skills or the patience for making your own invitations, you may end up with a sub-par result
-You’ll need to do your own research as far as how to word the invitation, how to hand cancel them, and answer any etiquette questions you have
Ordering Your Invitations: The Pros
-Professional Invitations Designers/Stationers are usually very skilled and can help guide you through the process of wording your invitation and answer any etiquette questions you may have.
-The stationer does most of the work so you can devote your time to other projects/plans
-If you’re under a deadline, the stationer can probably turn your order around quickly
Ordering Your Invitations: The Cons
-You’ll pay a lot more for a professional stationer
-You have to choose a particular style and have less control over design elements
There bottom line is consider your budget and the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to your invitations. If you're willing to put in the work, you can have a gorgeous DIY invitation for a fraction of the cost. However, in my experience a professional is usually worth what they charge.
