Determining Your Choice of Wedding Invitations Relating to your Budget

Wedding etiquette requires that your invitation show the kind of wedding that you're going for. The more formal your wedding, the more elegant or formal (and more expensive) your wedding should be. Other than that rule of thumb, nonetheless, you are wide open regarding what to select. Your selection of invitations is going to come down to two factors - your budget and your style. The style is up to you, but there are some things to take into account as pertain to your budget. The biggest element of your invitation expense comes down to the selection of paper that is used. Wedding invitations come in all colors nowadays - you aren't limited to the usual white or cream colors anymore. So, the method in choosing invitations has grown more complex through the years. Understanding how the paper selection affects your total expense is critical in making this budget item come in at or below cost.

1. Weight

This is the #1 factor in wedding invitation expense. It's calculated in pounds, just like all other papers. The more the poundage - the thicker the paper is - the more expensive it is. As a point of reference, the paper you utilize in your printer for your daily use is likely 20 pound paper.
Wedding invitations should be on paper that's at least 80 lb or heavier. Any less and the invitation will appear cheap and unimpressive. Not the impression you wish to create with your guests. Heavier paper has a more elegant look and feel to it that allows your guests know they are being invited to a truly special event.

2. Composition

The materials used to actually create the paper come into play with the price as well. Pulp paper is the least expensive by a long shot. Linen paper, with its cotton ingredients is costlier. And any paper that contains any kind of recycled material is going to be costlier.

3. Finish

This is the surface texture of paper. Elaborate finishes such as a shimmery effect will cost you more than a flat finish.
4. Artistic edging
Invitations that have a beveled edge or rough cut edge will cost you more than the ones with a straight edge.

5. Texturing

Textured papers don't have the smooth texture of paper that you've encountered in your home printer. Some textured papers are actually manufactured from woven figures, so they will be costlier. A number of manufacturers integrate seeds or other elements into the paper to get a different texture. Of course, a faux parchment paper is going to be less expensive than the real McCoy.

6. Method of manufacturing

How a paper is actually manufactured will affect the cost as well. Rice paper, uzen (a silk screened Japanese paper) and other hand made papers are substantially costlier.

7. Shipping costs

While you may not be interested in doing so, you have the option of ordering unique, imported paper from anywhere across the globe. Of course, the cost of these invitations will set you back more than the traditional invitation and they will cost even more because of international shipping charges.