| Wedding etiquette dictates that your invitation reflect | | | | cheapest by a long shot. Linen paper, with its cotton |
| the type of wedding that you're having. The more | | | | content is more expensive. And any paper that has |
| formal your wedding, the fancier / formal (and more | | | | any type of recycled content is going to be more |
| expensive) your wedding should be. Other than that | | | | expensive. |
| rule of thumb, however, you are wide open in terms of | | | | 3. Finish |
| what to choose. Your choice of invitations is going to | | | | This is the surface texture of paper. Fancy finishes |
| come down to two things - your budget and your | | | | such as a shimmery effect are going to cost you |
| style. The style is up to you, but there are a number of | | | | more than a flat finish. |
| things to take into account as they pertain to your | | | | 4. Artistic edging |
| budget. The biggest component of your invitation cost | | | | Invitations that have a beveled edge or rough cut edge |
| comes down to the choice of paper that is used. | | | | are going to cost you more than the ones with a |
| Wedding invitations come in all colors these days - you | | | | straight edge. |
| aren't limited to the basic white or cream colors | | | | 5. Texturing |
| anymore. So, the process in choosing invitations has | | | | Textured papers don't have the smooth feel of paper |
| grown more complex over the years. Knowing how | | | | that you'd find in your home printer. Some textured |
| the paper choice impacts your overall cost is critical in | | | | papers are actually made from woven figures, so they |
| having this budget item come in at or below cost. | | | | are going to be more expensive. Some manufacturers |
| 1. Weight | | | | embed seeds or other elements into the paper to get |
| This is the #1 factor in wedding invitation cost. It's | | | | a different texture. Of course, a faux parchment |
| measured in pounds, just like all other papers. The | | | | paper is going to be less expensive than the real |
| higher the poundage - the thicker the paper is - the | | | | McCoy. |
| more expensive it is. As a point of reference, the | | | | 6. Method of manufacturing |
| paper you use in your printer for everyday use is likely | | | | How a paper is actually made will affect the cost as |
| 20 pound paper. | | | | well. Rice paper, uzen (a silk screened Japanese |
| Wedding invitations should be on paper that's at least | | | | paper) and other hand made papers are substantially |
| 80 lb or heavier. Any less and the invitation will look | | | | more expensive. |
| cheap and junky. Not the impression you want to | | | | 7. Shipping costs |
| make with your guests. Heavier paper has a more | | | | While you may not be interested in doing so, you have |
| elegant look and feel to it that lets your guests know | | | | the option of ordering unique, imported paper from |
| they are being invited to a truly special event. | | | | anywhere in the world. Of course, the cost of these |
| 2. Composition | | | | invitations will set you back more than the traditional |
| The materials used to actually make the paper come | | | | invitation and they will cost even more because of |
| into play with the price as well. Pulp paper is the | | | | international shipping costs. |