Custom Invitations- How much did you spend?

Hello, I made mine at home. We are having a beach them wedding indoors due to some family members that can not travel and so far everyone loves them.

Heres a picture

We did ours through a local designer and paid $1,118 for 130 of them, so about $8.60 each. We're in the Boston suburbs. That price included everything, design time and labor, she put them all together (invitation and details cards are mounted and everything in a pocket), addressed and stamped the RSVP envelopes, numbered the RSVP cards, stuffed and addressed the envelopes. All we had to do was buy outer stamps and seal them.

@Angela- thank you! Our quote was about $2500 but we're in Philadelphia, where the wedding industry is SUPER expensive for some reason. That's also for 150 invitations (inner and outer envelopes in upgraded paper and gold foil return address, invitation on 220 lb paper with gold foil, rsvp card with black and gold foil address and information card), so the materials are expensive too. I think we're going to dial down a few components and see if that brings the price down.

You're welcome! We opted out of the inner envelope, I never understood the purpose of providing 2 envelopes that people throw right in the trash. The pocket was a must and my FH thinks I'm a crazy person! $2500 is pretty high though, that's more than $16 each

Yep! We love the designer and think her work is great but it's EXPENSIVE. Granted, the quote we got for a very boring, ecru with black engraving Crane & Co invitation was $3400 so...

Too bad you're not down here or I'd refer you! I definitely think it's worth it to get custom ones if it's in your budget. You have plenty of time to look around for other designers and get quotes

It sounds like you are looking at engraved foil invitations. There are options that offer foil with a different method (hot stamping) that are less expensive. I just did 150 Save the Dates in full color with this method of foil production for less than $400.

This one is available in several design options for $500 for 100 invitations. Custom design options are available.

Wait...you just said the quote you got for a "plain, very boring, ecru with black engraving..." invitation.

So what does this invitation look like? Because the plain with black engraving IS a true black tie wedding invitation. If you're looking for something more decorated, you're not actually having a black tie wedding.

Black tie isn't just a dress code. It is also a set of expectations that the host must meet as well, including at least two live bands, a multiple course plated meal, a ballroom venue, valet parking, white glove service, etc.

I would think finding affordable _black tie_ invites would super easy, since they're just a nice plain card with the information.

@ MNA- We're having all of those things you mentioned- live music for ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, a 5 course plated meal, ballroom and valet parking. We instead are looking for a very elegant black and gold invitation that evokes the same grandeur. I did not want an ecru invitation on Crane paper with black engraved script, so we're not doing that.

@Fall Bride- We contacted Minted and unfortunately they can't do any custom foil stamping, so that rules them out. Our designer has to make a custom press with our invitation text and design to be foil stamped.

Seems like no one really knows what black tie is.....

@Celia- I wasn't actually asking for commentary on my choice of invitation. I was asking what other people paid for their custom invitations, preferably formal.

Have you tried Etsy? Some of those designers may be able to work with you for less $$. I would try searching within the United States though as it initially searches world wide...

And I wasn't actually commenting on your choice of invitations.

I work with two colleagues who do invitations. The hand designed suites range from 7-20.00 for each one. Simple does not always equate to cheaper. And foil never does.

Spent way too much, $1500, but totally worth every penny!

We customized a Carlson Craft design through a local stationer that was a mix of rose gold foil stamped and black thermography. We got out at $975 for 100 invitations, custom outer envelopes with printed return address, inner envelopes, RSVP cards and envelopes with printed addresses, double sided details insert cards, back pockets, and 175 matching escort cards.

They were so easy to work with and let me move the design motifs around on the cards between proofs until everything was exactly how I wanted it.

For reference, the shop I went through is in AZ, and the cost I provided included tax, shipping, and the studio's design fee.

$400 for 70 invites on Etsy

We spent $3300 but that includes a custom monogram, 100 magnet save the dates, 100 invitations (gold foil and laser cut detail), custom lined envelopes, inner envelopes, RSVP cards, digital calligraphy for addresses, response cards and all day-of stationary.

Eta: I forgot to include thank you cards.

To cut some of your cost down, I would forgo the foil on the RSVP cards, since those come back to you, and should be on light colored card stock for writability. The 220lb cover is a double-thick or triple-thick weight - so you may be able to go with a slightly less thick paper, but that depends on your artisan's engraving process how thick it needs to be. That could save you a little more off the overall cost. Ask your designer if any of these options are recommended for the product you are looking at.

With foil invites I actually don't recommend skipping the inner envelope. It provides more protection during the mailing process. (You don't want your $16 invitation to get damaged in transit.)