Invitation Tips from Melinda Morris

Cost-cutting tips for your invitations.

By Vané Broussard

Melinda Morris runs the wildly popular Brooklyn stationery store, Lion in the Sun, and is a wealth of information about invitation etiquette and advice.  Invitations are the first glimpse your guests get of your wedding, so while they're important, they can potentially cost a pretty good chunk of cash.  This week I asked Melinda to share some cost-cutting tips for brides when it comes to invitations...its this economy, every little bit counts, right?



Your invitations are an important first impression. There are many cost saving tips to keep printing prices down but I like to think of paper like fabric,  you kinda get what you pay for... (which doesn't mean you cant find something awesome on a H&M budget!) but  don't forget this is THE MOST TANGIBLE ELEMENT OF YOUR WEDDING for your guests is the invitation! Other than photos your invitation is all that is left for generations. Count: Be sure to count invitations -- not invited guests! Remember, many guests are invited as couples or as a family. If you have 150 total invited guests, you may only need 100 invitations. Add approximately 10 to 15 extras for last minute guest-list additions. Extra envelopes can always be ordered at a minimal charge. Count carefully! If you have to reprint additional invitations after the order is completed, the printing company will treat it as a new order and it can be very costly. It is always safer (and much less expensive in the long run) to have a few left over!

Thermography: Thermography is a modern alternative for attaining the raised printed effect of engraving and is generally half the price. This is achieved with a heat process which causes powdered ink to expand, resulting in a raised letter with a beautiful sheen.

Flat Printing: Flat or off-set or digital printing is a photo process resulting in a modern, sleek look. Generally this process is about the same the price as thermography but with digital printing you can print multiple colors at no additional coast. For those looking for a more matte or contemporary feel, flat-printing may be the alternative you are looking for. It also works well for reproducing photograph half-tones, sketches and maps.

Think Ahead: Consider all of your components when ordering your invitations work with your stationer to maximize your $$. for instance if your are ordering from a larger printer we recommend ordering announcements, maps, thank you notes and even placecards at the same time if you can. You save money on proofs because all parts are included in each proof and then you also save on one time shipping for all parts.

Save on reply cards: Reply postcards are really popular and great way to save money. They can be really cute with a vintage emblem to look like a old postcard or leave the back blank for your guests to decorate and with a note to send back a "Creative Reply"

Another great way to save money is tri-fold invite with perforated reply card, that your guest rip off and send back. Your invitation can then have one continuous detailed design and lots of information across three panels on each side, but because you are only printing one piece it cuts down on your price for all those component pieces.

Finally email or web replies: although I don't recommend this for larger wedding because it can be complicated to track, it is an increasingly popular option for smaller weddings to print a small separate card with the couples email address a phone number and mailing address which gives their guests an option if they are not web savvy, or would prefer to go with the more traditional hand written note.

Check out Lion in the Sun for more great advice!  Thanks Melinda!