If your budget is tight or you don't want to blow a large portion of it on something you would probably regard as frivolous, then you are probably looking at your wedding budget & trying to cut costs where you can. One place where you can save money is on your wedding invitations. Many people think you have to spend a fortune for good looking invites but it needn't be the case. With some savvy shopping you can achieve beautiful & elegant budget wedding invitations. Check out these top 10 ways to save on your stationery:

1. Shop Around

Crafting & cardmaking are big business these days & there is a wealth of places where you can get supplies to make your own or buy pre-printed versions at budget prices. Check out stationery stores, card shops or online. You maybe surprised at what you can get for your buck. If possible order samples before you order up all the stationery you will need, that way you can be sure of the quality paper & print first.

2. Different Printing Techniques

Do some research on the different printing techniques that are available. Engraved invitations are very elegant but are also the most expensive, thermography however, will give the same appearance but cost slightly less. Also look at printing them yourselves on a laser or inkjet printer, which can look just as good & is a good choice for a low key or informal wedding.

3. The Little Extras

Some invitations come with a lot of detail & extras such as vellum sleeves, ribbon bows, crystal gems & inner leafs. But give consideration as to the cost of all those extras, you may also be charged a fee to assemble them or you may have to do it yourself. Additions such as sleeves or wrappers also increase the cost of postage - not only in sending the invitations to you in the first place, but also to you when you send them out to your guests. Where budget is concerned, less is definitely more. Choose timeless classic invitations such as single or flat card invites, unlined envelopes & lots of little details.

4. A Package Deal

Look for printers/stationers that can offer you a good package deal, particularly if your budget is tight. Buying a matching range as a full set in a large quantity, can work out cheaper than buying invitations, envelopes, RSVP cards & anything else, separately. You may also find stationers that will offer you a discount if you order all your stationery, including the thank you cards at the same time.

5. One Envelope

It was once tradition to send your wedding invitations in two envelopes so that they would stay pristine. However, these days mail delivery has advanced enough to make just one envelope sufficient. Ask the post office to cancel stamp them by hand to minimize wear & tear.

6. Standard Size Invitations

Don't be fooled into thinking that you can use first class post as long as your invites weigh less than 1oz. This isn't the case & besides, most invitations will weigh more than 1oz. You will incur a surcharge of $0.13 on one oz minus envelopes, if any one of the following apply:

* It is a square letter

* It contains very rigid items such as wood or metal

* It has clasps, string, buttons, or similar closure devices

* It has an address parallel to the shorter dimension of the letter

* It contains items such as pens that cause the surface to be uneven

* The length divided by height is less than 1.3 or more than 2.5

The length to height ratio is the main cause for confusion with regards to wedding invitations. Check out the calculator on the post office website, you may think $0.13 doesn't sound like a lot but it can add up.

7. No Reception Card

If you are holding your ceremony & reception at the same venue then you don't need to send a separate reception card. Simply write ?reception to follow? or ?dinner & dancing to follow.? Even if you are having separate locations you can still include details of the reception on the invitation, for example - ?Reception to Follow, Jamestown Country Club? underneath the ceremony details. You could also include some directions or photocopied map.

8. Proofread

You should do this for every invitation & every piece of stationery you present to your guests. Many people don't proof read the invites they send out & it is surprising how many will contain mistakes such as typing errors, mis-spelt names or even the wrong date or time! Check all your details twice before sending them to the printers & then check the invitations again once they have been delivered. Some guests may be upset if you spell their names wrong or do not address them correctly or even miss spouse or partners altogether!

9. Postcard RSVP

Your RSVP is simply a card on which your guests will either respond yes or no to your invitation. They are something you file together & will probably flick through regular to check details, numbers or names. They do not need to be anything fancy so you can save money by just including a flat postcard style response card instead of a folded card. The benefit of a postcard is that you can include your return address on the reverse; your guests will just need to affix a stamp & post. A folded card would require an additional envelope which will add to your costs in terms of purchasing & postage.

10. Order extra invitations and envelopes

You may think this ludicrous as you are trying to save money, but you will be surprised at how much you will need them! Always have some extra in case of mistakes with the first ones - particularly if you are handwriting them or printing them at home. It is a good idea if you are writing them out yourself to have some spare to practice on first. You may also find that there are nearly always other people you want to invite that you didn't include first time around. There is also a case for having spare invitations for those guests on your ?B? list who you want to ask as some people on your ?A? list can't come. Having at least 10 spare invitations will save you money, as ordering more later on could cost you more.