How much do wedding invitations cost on average?

For a 100-guest wedding in 2026, most couples spend $400-$900 on semi-custom invitations and $1,500+ on custom designs. Digital invites cost $0-$50, and DIY runs $80-$200.

Is it OK to send wedding invitations digitally?

Yes, and more couples do it every year. Paperless Post, Greenvelope and website RSVPs are fine anywhere short of a black-tie wedding. They save $400 to $1,500 and keep the replies in one list.

How do you make wedding invitations yourself?

Start from a Canva or Etsy template, print on heavy uncoated paper at a local shop, add one detail like a wax seal or vellum, and send replies to your wedding website. Expect $80 to $200 all in.

What's the cheapest way to do wedding invitations?

Digital invitations through your own wedding website, which costs nothing. Most platforms handle the RSVP, the meal choice and dietary notes for you.

Do I really need save-the-dates?

Only for destination weddings, holiday weekends, or peak-season Saturdays where guests need lead time. For local off-season weddings, skip them and go straight to invitations.

Is EverVow a one-time purchase?

Yes. One payment gives you lifetime access, with plans starting at $49. There are no subscriptions, renewals, or hidden fees.

What can I plan with EverVow?

Everything in one place: your guest list and RSVPs, budget, seating charts, vendors, gift registry, honeymoon, and your full planning timeline, plus a public wedding website for your guests.

Does EverVow include an AI planner?

Yes. An AI co-planner is built throughout the app. It can generate checklists, draft timelines, compare vendors, suggest honeymoon destinations, and help arrange seating.

Can my guests RSVP online?

Yes. Each guest gets a simple, mobile-friendly RSVP page where they confirm attendance, meal choices, and dietary needs. Responses show up on your guest list automatically.

Cost & DIY

How Much Do Wedding Invitations Cost? (Plus DIY Guide)

2026-05-14

What invitations actually cost in 2026, from digital through fully custom, the fees nobody quotes you, and how to make your own for a couple of dollars an envelope.

A couple assembling DIY wedding invitations together at a sunlit dining table

Updated May 2026
Real prices
DIY walkthrough

What wedding invitations actually cost in 2026

Per-invite cost for a 100-guest wedding (so roughly 75 envelopes once you account for couples and households):

Digital invitations: $0-$50 total (Paperless Post, Greenvelope, or your wedding website).
Print-at-home + mail: $80-$200 total.
Semi-custom from Minted/Zola/Etsy: $400-$900 ($4-$10 per envelope).
Fully custom (designer or local stationer): $1,500-$4,500.
Letterpress, foil, or vellum: $3,500-$8,000+.

Hidden costs everyone forgets

Postage: heavier or square envelopes get charged a non-machinable surcharge ($1.10+ each in 2026). Test one envelope at the post office before printing 100.
Calligraphy: $2-$6 per envelope for handwritten, or $0.50-$1 for printed calligraphy.
Save-the-dates: a separate $100-$400 line item most couples forget.
RSVP card postage: if you include a stamped reply envelope, double your postage budget.
Reprints. Someone will spot a typo after they ship. Keep 10 percent aside.

Do-it-yourself wedding invitations: a 5-step walkthrough

Made at home, invitations run about $1 to $2 an envelope, and they look good as long as the design stays simple.

1. Pick a template. Canva, Adobe Express, or a free Etsy template. Stick to one font for the names and one supporting font for everything else.
2. Order paper from a print-on-demand house. Vistaprint, Mpix, or a local print shop. Ask for heavy uncoated stock, 110 to 130lb. Weight is what makes paper feel costly.
3. Add one nice detail. A wax seal at 30 cents each, a vellum overlay, a deckled edge, one foil stamp. Pick a single one and stop there.
4. Print the envelopes. A $40 envelope-printing app and an ordinary inkjet beat handwriting you rushed at midnight. A service like Postable also works.
5. Send replies online. Skip the reply card and its stamp. Your wedding website can collect RSVPs for you.

When it's worth splurging

This is one of the easiest lines to cut quietly. Spend on it if paper genuinely matters to you, since letterpress on cotton is a keepsake people frame, or if the invitation sets the tone of the whole thing. A black-tie wedding announced on a $2 card does read strangely. Otherwise move the money to photography or food.

Frequently asked questions

How much do wedding invitations cost on average?: For a 100-guest wedding in 2026, most couples spend $400-$900 on semi-custom invitations and $1,500+ on custom designs. Digital invites cost $0-$50, and DIY runs $80-$200.
Is it OK to send wedding invitations digitally?: Yes, and more couples do it every year. Paperless Post, Greenvelope and website RSVPs are fine anywhere short of a black-tie wedding. They save $400 to $1,500 and keep the replies in one list.
How do you make wedding invitations yourself?: Start from a Canva or Etsy template, print on heavy uncoated paper at a local shop, add one detail like a wax seal or vellum, and send replies to your wedding website. Expect $80 to $200 all in.
What's the cheapest way to do wedding invitations?: Digital invitations through your own wedding website, which costs nothing. Most platforms handle the RSVP, the meal choice and dietary notes for you.
Do I really need save-the-dates?: Only for destination weddings, holiday weekends, or peak-season Saturdays where guests need lead time. For local off-season weddings, skip them and go straight to invitations.

See where invitations fit in your budget

The budget tracker starts with a stationery line at realistic 2026 prices and adjusts what is left as you book.

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