Wedding invitations are one of the most annoying costs associated with planning your big day. They are a must-have, if only to prove to your parents and relatives that your wedding is actually happening. Saving money on invites is possible, but cheap wedding invitations are a far cry from inexpensive ones. Here are a few tips to ensure that your invites look good, but cost less.

Fact: Invitations Are Not Just Pieces of Expensive Paper

On first glance, wedding invitations include a piece of heavy paper, an envelope, and a stamp, right? Wrong-o. Wedding invitations can and do include any and all of the following: inner envelopes, outer envelopes, envelope liners, reception cards, response cards, response envelopes, direction cards, bows, ribbons, stripes, dots, glitter, and oh, yes, the actual invitation. What starts off as an inexpensive venture can quickly grow into an epic production if you're not careful.

Cheap Wedding Invitations - What You Absolutely Need

Cheap wedding invitations are all about appearing expensive without including any unnecessary adornments. If you're looking to save cash, eliminate ribbons, pockets, stripes, dots, and anything that requires extra assembly. Remember, assembly equals cash. For every glue dot you order, take a dollar out of your pocket. Less is more, so keep your invites down to the bare minimum: outer envelope, inner envelope, invitation, and response card/envelope. An added bonus? Cheap wedding invitations translate into light envelopes, which means you won't have to hawk your first born to the USPS just to send an invite to Aunt Mildred.

Though you may be tempted to skip the cost for proofs, you'll live it regret it. It's pretty likely that the first go-round of your invitations will have a few mistakes that will make them unfit to print. If you order your invitations without giving them the thumbs up, you might find yourself stuck with a bunch of unusable "Invite You to Our Weeding" scratch pads.

Cheap Wedding Invitations - What You Don't Need

If you're certain that you want cheap wedding invitations, avoid looking at the fancier invitation books when you're selecting your top choices. It's common practice for stationers to show the high-dollar options first, leaving you craving engraving services that you didn't even know existed before you walked into the store. Set your budget ahead of time (how much you want to pay per invite) and let the stationer know your limits from day one. It's also likely that you'll find yourself drawn to low-cost extras that will make your cheap wedding invitations that much more sophisticated. Don't do it. The two hundred dollars you spend on envelope seals will receive only a cursory glance from your guests, while sealing the envelope with good old-fashioned saliva is completely free.

Above all else, avoid the extra cost of reception and direction cards. Include the pertinent dates and times on your main invitation and include all of the details about attire and directions on a free wedding website.

A Word About Email Wedding Invitations

If you're really crunched for cash, consider creating an e-invitation. Keep in mind that while this might fly with your more tech savvy guests, it's sure to create an uproar among older relatives. For these guests, write individual letters or use store-bought invites to convey the necessary information.