A few notes for when you start planning your paper goods budget
Pricing Tip for Stationery #1: Decide what you need
Our first tip for budgeting your stationery: Not every couple will have the same stationery needs. For example, some couples might skip the save the dates if their guest list is small and everyone already knows the wedding date, or if their date is approaching soon. Each couple’s list of items will vary depending on individual preferences and venue requirements. Some caterers might include menus in their package, so you wouldn’t need to account for menus in the stationery budget.
Make a list of stationery items that are “wants” and “needs.” This will help determine a budget for save the dates, invitations and day-of stationery. There will be some items that are non-negotiable, such as invitations and escort cards. There are also stationery items that might be optional: for example, you could do without programs if the ceremony is very brief. When working with a tight budget, couples might need to skip some of the extras outside the allotted cost.
Couples should be realistic with expectations and do some research to learn exactly what their budget can get them, especially if they are not familiar with current wedding stationery costs.
Pricing Tip for Stationery #2: Simple, or custom?
There is a vast wedding stationery market to choose from, but to help narrow things down, couples will need to decide whether to order semi-custom stationery or if they would like to go fully custom.
Semi-custom wedding stationery is usually more budget friendly and time-saving, however the designs are as-is with minimal customization. While fully custom stationery is higher in price and requires more lead time, couples end up with a design that is made to their specifications. As alternatives, some couples hoping to keep costs low might try to DIY their stationery, or send digital invitations instead of paper ones.
Semi-custom pricing can be fairly straightforward. Ordering is typically point-and-click on a website, and total costs will populate based on selections and quantity. However, when working with custom stationery designers (like Momental!) pricing will vary a lot since it is based on your specific selections. Custom artwork creation, printing method, paper quality, presentation and embellishments will all impact the cost. Even the postage needed to mail save the dates and invitations needs to be factored into the budget, as you might choose standard USPS postage, or curate a grouping of vintage stamps for the mailing.
Bottom line, as you start to think about wedding stationery, you’ll be deciding whether fully custom or semi-custom is right for you!
Pricing Tip for Stationery #3 – Quantity
The quantity of stationery needed will be a major factor when calculating the total cost. Keep in mind, the quantity of save the dates and invitations will be based on the number of households, not the total guest list. The number of households will be around 50% of the invited guest list, as many guests will be couples or families (our tip, add a few more than you think you need!). Costs for items like escort cards or menus will be based on the final guest count, which couples can only estimate early in the planning process. Some stationers require ordering in increments of 5, 10 or even 25, while others allow ordering at any quantity, which will also impact the bottom line.
Typically, stationery takes up 5-10% of the overall wedding budget. It’s very personal though, we’ve found that our clients will spend more on stationery if it’s a priority. Wedding stationery is an area where couples can infuse their personality, set the tone for the day, and save pieces as keepsakes. On the flipside, it’s also an area where couples can keep things very basic, if stationery is not as important to them.
As a well-established custom stationery company, we believe in cost transparency. Our investment details can be found right on our website. Most reputable custom stationers will provide information about their average order costs or minimum investment, and will offer estimates based on project specifications. Overall, couples can expect costs for semi-custom stationery be as little as few dollars per invite, while custom stationers are likely to have minimum investments of $1,500 on the low end to $5,000 on the high end.
Questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with [email protected] and we can help!
