I know you’ve heard it before, but it’s so very true: your invite sets the tone for your event, so you want to send the right message. When you first sit down to flip through invitation books or talk about a custom design with your stationer, though, it’s easy to get sucked in and overspend. Paper is pretty, and there are SO many options. So how can you send a beautiful wedding invitation that perfectly announces your special day without breaking the bank?

Start by getting a quote for your dream invitation. See if everything that you want is within your budget, then use some or all of these 5 tips to bring the cost down if it’s not:

1) Omit the directions card.

Seriously, when was the last time you followed directions off a card instead of your smart phone or in-car navigation? It’s a nice-to-have for older guests, but it’s really not a necessity that 100% of your guests receive it.

2) Send a rectangular card instead of square.

Square invites are really cool, and definitely make a statement in mailboxes full of sales circulars, but they often cost more to make and always cost more to mail.

3) Have a stuffing party.

Have you heard the rule of platinum vs. white gold for your rings? If not, here it goes: If upgrading to platinum does not affect the size of your diamond, they say go for it. If you’d have to have a smaller diamond to afford platinum, most jewelers say stick to white gold. I like that analogy for your wedding invitations. If you are super busy and simply don’t have the time to mail your own invitations, having your stationer do it for you can be a worthwhile investment as long as it doesn’t cut in to your overall stationery budget. If you’d have to sacrifice a pocket-fold for a flat invite, or omit the rhinestones you love, it’s not worth it! Gather your bridal party or your mom(s) and make a fun night of stamping, stuffing, sealing, and mailing your invitations. A bottle of wine never hurt at one of these events.

4) Use a response postcard.

The response cards are all coming back to you, and are therefore not a keepsake for your guests. Save money on the card itself by using a postcard rather than card & printed envelope. You’ll also save on postage because the postcard rate is less than the First Class stamp you’d normally use.

5) Use fewer ink colors for letterpress invitations.

Those beautiful letterpress impressions are made one color at a time. For each color on your invitation, a separate plate is made, coated with a single color, then pressed into the paper. If letterpress is a must-have for you (and why wouldn’t it be, it’s gorgeous!), you can save significantly if you cut down on the number of colors you use. Want to leave the invite as beautiful as the sample? Do it! You can save this way on your inserts and envelopes. Every time you cut down on a color, you are saving both a custom plate and a run through the press…this adds up quickly and your guests will never miss it!

Use these 5 tips as a starting point, then let your professional stationer help to create a perfect package that suits your vision and budget.

Happy Wedding Planning!