Wedding costs, they all add up don’t they? Spreading the costs out over a longer period of time can make spending more manageable. When you order wedding invitations and stationery with me, the cost can be spread out over up to 2 years.
How is that I hear you ask? In this blog, I am going to explain how my ordering process can help you to spread the cost of wedding invitations and stationery.
What stationery do you need at different times during your wedding planning?
Wedding stationery includes a whole range of items from save the dates to invitations, everything for your ceremony and reception (order of service for the church, place cards & table plan for the reception for example), and then finally thank you cards. So that’s four separate ‘bundles’ of stationery that you will need, each being ordered and paid for at different times.
1
SAVE THE DATE CARDS
up to 2 years before the wedding
2
WEDDING INVITATIONS
6 to 12 months before the wedding
3
ON THE DAY STATIONERY
2 to 3 months before the wedding
4
THANK YOU CARDS
up to 2 months after the wedding
When will you need to order and pay for each part of that stationery
Your ordering process can start with me at any one of these points on your wedding planning timeline. Here’s an example of how you can spread the cost of wedding stationery. If you book the whole process with me, starting with save the dates, up to 2 years before your wedding your payment will be split into four amounts
1
Up to 2 years before the wedding:
Pay for your save the date cards in full, plus design deposits* for your invitations & on the day stationery
2
6 to 8 months before the wedding:
Pay the balance for your wedding and evening invitations
3
6 to 8 weeks before the wedding:
Pay the balance for your on the day stationery
4
6 to 8 weeks after the wedding
Pay for your thank you cards
*What is a design deposit?
When you order wedding invitations and stationery with me, you will need to pay a design deposit before I begin work. This deposit secures your places in my production schedule, and covers the time I spend creating artwork and proofs for you. This deposit comes of the final invoice for each part of your stationery (i.e. when you’ve approved proofs, confirmed exact numbers, and before I start printing)
Tip
If you want to, you can include (and pay for) your thank you cards in the final instalment, so that they will be made at the same time and you’ll have them ready to send out when you get back from your honeymoon. See example 2 below.
Some worked examples of how to spread the cost of wedding invitations and stationery
So, to put that into a practical example, let’s use some figures. I’ve based this scenario on a church wedding for 100 guests, with a reception afterward. No further guests will join in the evening (if evening invites were required they would be part of the wedding invitations section).
Example one: for a wedding of 100 guests, with save the dates
This couple are super organised, and what to send out save the dates just over a year before the big day. They want to keep on track with their planning so choose to book in production slots for their invitations and on the day stationery up front. They’re not sure about thank you cards that early on, so add those onto their order after the wedding. Their costs are split into four payments.
18 months before the wedding:
Save the date cards x 55 @ £1.00 each
= £55.00
(based on calendar style postcard size cards)
PLUS design deposit for invitations
+ £50.00
PLUS design deposit for on the day stationery
+ £50.00
Total to pay here £155.00
6 to 8 months before the wedding:
Wedding invitations x 55 @ £4.50 each
= £247.50
(based on pocketfold invitations, including guest information & reply cards)
LESS design deposit for invitations
– £50.00
Total to pay here £197.50
6 to 8 weeks before the wedding:
Order of service x 55 @ £2.50 each
= £137.50
Wedding welcome sign A2 x 1 £49.00
Table plan A2 x 1 £59.00
Table name cards x 10 @ £2.50
= £25.00
Place cards x 100 @ £0.85
= £85.00
LESS design deposit for on the day stationery
– £50.00
Total to pay here £305.50
6 to 8 weeks after the wedding
Thank you cards x 60 @ £1.50
= £90.00
Total to pay here £90.00
Example two: for a wedding of approximately 100 guests, without save the dates
Let’s say that our couple have decided that they don’t need save the date cards after all, and will send their invitations a little earlier. This is how they will spread the cost of wedding invitations and stationery. They will also pay for and have their thank you cards made along with their on the day stationery. Their costs will now be split into just two payments.
10 months before the wedding:
Wedding invitations x 55 @ £4.50 each
= £247.50
(based on pocketfold invitations, including guest information & reply cards)
PLUS design deposit for on the day stationery
+ £50.00
Total to pay here £297.50
6 to 8 weeks before the wedding:
Order of service x 55 @ £2.50 each
= £137.50
Wedding welcome sign A2 x 1 £49.00
Table plan A2 x 1 £59.00
Table name cards x 10 @ £2.50
= £25.00
Place cards x 100 @ £0.85 = £85.00
Thank you cards x 60 @ £1.50 = £90.00
LESS design deposit for on the day stationery
– £50.00
Total to pay here £395.50
Just to reiterate, these examples are to show how my ordering process can help you spread the cost of wedding invitations and stationery. Of course, every wedding is unique in terms of the number of guests and the items of stationery required. The cost of wedding stationery for your big day could be very different from the scenarios used here, but the method for calculating the payments due at each stage would be the same.
The figures used in both these examples are based on my prices, correct at the time of writing. Please check my wedding stationery price guide page for the most up to date information.
Here’s a great blog about how much wedding invitations cost, and why…
If you need some help to work what stationery you need for your wedding and when you should order it, go and grab my free planner and checklist.
I hope these examples have been useful in showing you how to spread the cost of invitations and wedding stationery. If you have enjoyed reading this, you might also like these other blogs that will help you plan your wedding invitations and stationery.
When to order your wedding invitations
What stationery do you need for your wedding ceremony
What stationery do you need for your wedding reception
And finally, I’m always happy to chat through what stationery you need for your wedding. Talk about different design options, clarify quantities, and give you a full quote for anything and everything. You can book a call or studio visit with me by clicking the link below.
Book a call or studio visit with me to discuss your stationery
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