There are many ways budget-conscious brides can save money on their wedding invitations.

Assembly

Instead of having your stationer assemble your invitations, gather your bridesmaidsto help you tie, stuff, and seal them at home. Use self-adhesive stamps and a sealer sponger or glue stick to seal the envelopes.

Calligraphy

Professional calligraphers will address your invitations, but the cost of this service quickly adds up. Instead, adderss them yourself or ask a friend with beautiful handwriting to help you out. Computer calligraphy is also an economical choice at $.75 to $1.25 an envelope.

Extra Envelopes

You should order 25 extra envelopes in the event there is an error while addressing so you don't have to rush a small order to your door.

Ink Colors

Go non-metallic: most invitation companies charge a standard fee for black, gray, and colored inks. Inks with hints of silver, gold and bronze are more expensive.

Printing Options

Engraving and letterpress are the most expensive printing options. Other, more economical, printing methods include thermography (raised lettering that gives the illusion of engraving), flat printing, offset printing, laser printing, and lithography.

Simplicity

Skip the engraved doves, hearts, and flowers, and show off your refined style with a clean border or beveled edge. Select the heaviest, most luxurious cardstock you can afford, and finish off your look with a simple typeface in black or gray ink.

Standard Sizes

If your wedding invitations are extra long, extra wide, extra thick, extra heavy, or extra small, make sure you have the post office determine the proper postage. Getting the postage wrong means invitations might be returned to the sender.