What's the best online resource for wedding invitation designs?

February 8, 2009 1:25 PM

What's the best online resource for wedding invitation designs?

Neither my fiancée nor I are graphic designers, but we would like to have some nice wedding invitations made up without spending too much money. We're looking for a place that is reasonably priced but doesn't make some clip-art looking junk. One of the cheaper places I found used straight quotes instead of curly quotes on their ugly designs, but then a nice place I found was charging in the range of $10 per invite. There must be a happy medium.

posted by yesno to grab bag (11 comments total)

I would hire a graphic designer. This sounds like a perfect job to post on MetaFilter. Or, do you have any artsy friends/relatives? This could be their wedding gift to you. Print them yourself. They have inexpensive, basic kits at Michael's, or Paper Source has an amazing, modern selection (if you're in Chicago, go to their store).
posted by desjardins at 1:35 PM on February 8

Also, Paper Source will custom design them for you, and for 250 invites/rsvp cards/announcements it's $4.84 per set. I don't have any connection to them, but their staff was amazingly helpful - when I needed something that was out of stock, they tracked it down for me and shipped it to me free of charge.
posted by desjardins at 1:42 PM on February 8

I liked the variety at Wedding Paper Divas, but decided against them because I found out that my fiance's friend wanted to do them (awesome). Etsy also has some really cool individual style that is worth noting. The people on there are definitely willing to work with you.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 1:48 PM on February 8

This is from my wife, the Super-Bride :)

Atricle about wedding paper divas
posted by spacefire at 1:50 PM on February 8

oops beaten to the punch!
posted by spacefire at 1:50 PM on February 8

All my graphic designer friends are busy making wedding invitations for other people, so I'm planning to order from these people. They were recommended on Offbeat Bride, but I don't have any direct experience doing business with them (yet). Send me a note in about a week if you want to know how it goes with them :)
posted by Meg_Murry at 1:51 PM on February 8

The most reasonable price for (letterpress) invitations i've found so far was this shop at Etsy - i contacted the woman about potentially getting some and she was very nice and will also do custom designs (which is more expensive). I haven't ordered from her, though, so I can't speak from experience.
posted by ukdanae at 2:05 PM on February 8

You can browse a lovely selection of invitations between $5 and $6.25 on etsy, and have your choice of different designers to work with.

Actually, this seller has invitations at $3 - I like these :)
posted by DarlingBri at 3:00 PM on February 8

My wife is a designer and a letterpress operator, and has done a few wedding jobs, so I've had a chance to look over her shoulder and learn a few things.

Here's the big thing: 80% or more of your costs with invites are fixed; that is, they don't change if you're inviting 20 people or 200. The only marginal costs with letterpress printing are paper and ink, and if you're doing multiple colors, the additional printing passes. Design and press set-up are the same no matter what.

If you've got a small wedding, your per-unit costs are going to wind up being huge. You can get something unique and very nice, but there it is.

I will second the recco for Paper Source (or, you know, my wife, but I'm biased).
posted by adamrice at 3:05 PM on February 8

We used Wedding Paper Divas and were very happy.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 3:44 PM on February 8

I just got my invites from Wedding Paper Divas and they are fantastic. Probably the best deal out there IMHO.
posted by ydontusteponit at 9:42 AM on February 9