Where to start when it comes to finding your wedding invitations

You’re engaged, and it’s time to get started on wedding invitations. You’ve Googled, scrolled endlessly through sites like Minted & Etsy, and still, you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. If that sounds familiar, don’t worry — most couples feel the same way. Let’s break it down & help you find the wedding invitations of your dreams.

CDS semi-custom wedding inivitation suite

Types of Wedding Invitations

Before we dive into where to find your wedding invitations, it’s important to understand the different types of invitations out there. Understanding these differences will help you narrow your search to find exactly what you’re looking for and determine what’s within your budget. 

So what kinds of invitations can you get? Basically, there are 3 types:

• Pre-designed wedding invitations

• Semi-custom wedding invitations

• Fully custom wedding invitations

Custom wedding invitations designed for K&M’s yacht club wedding in Centerport, New York

Pre-designed wedding invitations

Pre-designed wedding invitations are exactly what the name implies – invitations that are pre-designed for you to plug your information into. These are the most limited kinds of invitations, meaning you typically won’t be able to change much about them. 

For example, let’s say you found a design that speaks to you, but you’re not totally in love with the font, or the size & spacing doesn’t seem quite right … you probably won’t be able to change that. But luckily, there are tons of pre-designed options out there, so you might just have to keep searching!

When looking for pre-designed invitations, use search terms that match your vibe (try “elegant wedding invitations” or “modern wedding invitations”). Obviously the more specific you get with your search, the more likely it is you’ll find what you’re looking for. But what if you’re still not finding “the one”?

Chartreuse color option for details card in the CDS semi-custom suite

Semi-custom wedding invitations

Enter semi and full custom invitation suites. Semi-custom wedding invitations are similar to pre-designed invitations, but you’ll have more choices and options when it comes to colors, fonts, paper types, and print methods.

For example, you found the perfect design but want to change some of the colors or fonts, and maybe there’s a small detail you think would look great printed with gold foil instead of regular ink. If that sounds familiar, then semi-custom invitations might be for you.

With semi-custom invitations, you’ll be working with an invitation designer, so you’ll get a little more personal service, but it’s important to note – just like the name implies, you only get to customize some of the design. So while you’re more likely to get wedding stationery that feels more personal to you, you’re still working within a pre-designed template, and most likely, the choices are still limited. 

Custom wedding invitation suite for E&J’s fall wedding at City Winery Hudson Valley in New York

Custom wedding invitations

Now this is where custom wedding invitation design comes into play. Whether you have a specific vision for your invitations or you know the vibe but can’t seem to find invitations to match, custom invitation design is for you.

With custom invitations, you’ll work closely with a stationery designer who will bring your vision to life. They’ll create invitations you literally won’t find anywhere else, which makes custom design the perfect choice if you’re looking for unique wedding invitations.

E&J’s wedding invitation card for their custom wedding invitation suite

Where to Get Your Wedding Invitations

Pre-designed invitations can be found on sites like Zola, Minted, Etsy, Zazzle, etc. It’s important to note that getting your invitations from big box retailers like these is a mostly transactional experience. You may be able to ask a few questions about the design via email or live chat, but it’s mostly a click-and-buy type of thing. 

With semi and custom wedding invitations, you’ll work with a wedding stationer or wedding invitation designer. Finding the right stationer involves a little more work – I suggest starting by searching for stationers local to you. 

From there, you’ll want to consider a number of factors, including the artist’s overall aesthetic, pricing, and most importantly, their professionalism & personality. Because after all is said and done, you want someone you enjoy working with, who gets your vibe, and is someone you can trust with your love story.

Invitation card featuring custom venue illustration & calligraphy for K&M’s custom wedding invitation suite

The Cost of Wedding Invitations

So, how much can you expect to pay for each type of invitation?

Naturally, the cheapest options are pre-designed invitations. For 100 invitations, these can range anywhere from approximately $450 - $1,500. For semi-custom invitations, expect to pay anywhere between $1,500 - $3,500. With custom invitations, pricing varies quite a bit – depending on the designer, it can start at $3,500 and go up to as much as $10,000 - $15,000, sometimes higher. 

Now, I realize that can feel like a truly wild price tag, but what’s important to emphasize is that custom design is a service, not a product. Not only is your invitation designer an artist who will create something completely unique just for you, but think of them like your wedding stationery concierge – they’ll help guide you every step of the way, providing valuable insight and advice you wouldn’t get with pre-designed templates or even semi-custom suites.

Please note – these prices aren’t a hard and fast rule … they’re just rough estimates. Of course, you might be able to DIY it for a cheaper price tag than those listed above, but between learning how to use design software (even if it is a simple tool like Canva), researching different paper suppliers, printers and print methods, that will take up a lot of your time and energy. But if that sounds fun to you – go for it! This is your wedding, and I believe it should be exactly how you want it to be.

RSVP cards for the CDS semi-custom invitation suite

Finding Unique Wedding Invitations That are Right for You

At the end of the day, you want to consider the overall experience. Do you want to go online shopping and simply click and buy? Or would you prefer a little more flexibility and personalization? Or, do you want something completely one-of-a-kind, along with personalized service and expert guidance on all the questions that pop up along the way?

Here at CDS, I know how important invitations are in bringing your special day to life. So whether you’re leaning toward pre-designed, semi-custom, or fully custom invitations, I hope this post helps you understand the countless options when it comes to wedding stationery. 

Ready to make your wedding invitations as unforgettable as your day? Reach out or click here to learn more about the custom design process. Together, we can create an invitation suite that’s uniquely yours.